History of Harvard Cycling

Previously known as the Harvard University Cycling Association, or HUCA, the club was founded in 1890. The nation's oldest college cycling group, it was initially dedicated "to the intention of broadening the sport into areas hitherto unattained."

The club was re-established with the original name in 1982 by David "Deke" Smith '58, an official in the University Development Office, and a Massachusetts Masters 45+ cycling champion. HUCA, with other Boston collegiate cycling teams, sponsored the "Greater Boston Collegiate Criterium,” held in Needham Industrial Park (also known as Wells Ave), and drew 96 participants from 19 colleges, making it the largest American collegiate meet in recent history.

The club has always fostered a love for cycling, sharing it with anyone willing to listen and learn. The club relies on fundraising and donations from private sponsors for support, and volunteer coaches.

John Allis, B '74, was the team's volunteer coach starting 1982, and spent nearly 30 years as a HUCA coach. Allis is a three-time Olympian who rode for the United States in the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Games and is a member of the Cycling Hall of Fame. In 1985, Ed Sassler, then a Northeastern University student, joined the club, riding first as a student and then as a coach. Local coach Mark Bowen also helped coach HUCA for a decade. The team currently has no coaching services.

Not all of the members of Harvard Cycling Club race. Training rides build fitness and valuable bike handling skills which help with all riding, whether it’s riding up mountains, in the woods, or in traffic. In 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with group activities and races cancelled and many students off-campus, Harvard Cycling Club took to the online platform Zwift to hold virtual group rides on weekend mornings, with the goal of maintaining our community in spite of physical distance.