Indiana University has always prided itself in the traditions that make the university special. However, students, faculty, and alumni seemingly always remember “The World’s Greatest College Weekend”, also known as the Little 500. Though the campus chooses to celebrate for the week leading up to the race, there is another side to this tradition that is often overlooked: the students who train for the race.

Student cyclists train year-round leading up to the big event and often sacrifice much of their time preparing their bodies for the late-April race. Many of the teams in the race often represent Greek life or independent organizations, but that isn’t the case for all of them. The Chi Alpha Cycling team is an exception to this and many other similar trends associated with the race. Fielded by the ministry of Chi Alpha, the cycling team rides for a much bigger mission than doing well in the race.

“Chi Alpha in Greek X-A, and it stands for Christ ambassadors. We see ourselves as big Christ ambassadors on the track by being the best representation of what a follower can be,” Chi Alpha Cycling Head Coach Chris Anderson said.

Formed in 2018 by Anderson, each team has trained year-round in preparation for the big race. Senior Jon Frazier, the captain of the team, is the only returning rider from last year’s team. Frazier and Anderson recruited potential riders through the ministry and was able to have a full team by October 2022.

Senior Sean Grim, a former member of the Indiana Wrestling team, quit the sport to join Frazier and Chi Alpha Cycling. Grim committed to the the team on the track immediately after the conclusion of the Men’s Little 500 in 2022.

“I’m quitting the wrestling team at IU and I’m going to ride bikes with you guys,” Grim told Frazier. 

Five days later, the team was in the process of gaining another rider. Senior Spencer Puett, who was on the Indiana Club Baseball Team at the time, started to seriously consider joining the ministry’s team after the 2022 Little 500. Puett had never been to the race before the one in 2022 and it changed his whole perspective on cycling. A few days before students left Bloomington for the semester, Puett went to Soma Coffee House with Anderson and committed to the team then.

“In that moment I really felt my heart was like, ‘Dang, this is something you’re built to do,’ this could just be such a cool experience, such an awesome way to finish out college,” Puett said.

Going into summer training with three riders solidified Chi Alpha’s core but missed one last piece in order to have their full race day roster. That all changed in October 2022.

Junior Ryan Lo, who left Black Key Bulls Cycling to join the Chi Alpha Cycling Team, had been training for the 2023 Little 500 for as long as the rest of the Chi Alpha Riders. Lo had been a member of the Chi Alpha Ministry since he was a freshman at IU, and after a change of heart, felt that Chi Alpha Cycling’s mission resonated with him.

“BKB [Black Key Bulls] stands for winning, winning championships, and being the best competitor you can be. Chi Alpha is like that too but it takes it to a higher level. And what’s the higher level? It’s the faith aspect.” Lo said. 

Despite indifferences in their backgrounds, the team has bonded through faith in order to be the best representation of their beliefs. Whether it’s their weekly Bible Studies, trip to Austin, Texas, or six hour long endurance rides, the team’s mission will always be the same; to use their talents to glorify God.

Chi Alpha Cycling has found a simple, but very effective way to successfully get its mission across; using the bike as a platform to spread its mission. Their goals often aren’t dealing with placing in the race as they see cycling as an opportunity to spread their beliefs within the Little 500 community. 

Frazier didn’t know what the team’s roster was going to look like, but he relied on his faith and his prayers were answered. After many sleepless nights, he could finally rest, knowing that he had a team to lead.

“If you look at each of our stories, the way we got here is a miracle,” Frazier said.