Timeline
1957
Beer-Bike in its infancy
In April, representatives from Baker, Hanszen, and Will Rice Colleges competed in a 15-mile bike race. Bikers were requested to chug beer before their teammates could proceed on the next segment. A week later, there was a second race; this time Wiess entered as well. In May Rice held its first Inter-College Bicycle Race, racing around the Inner Loop and chugging beer after every lap. The first 10 laps were raced by men only; the 11th lap was biked by women.
1960-1967
Danger!
Beer-Bike was an official part of Rice tradition. The course was a small portion of the Inner Loop, using Alumni Drive as a cut-through from the Student Center toward Wiess College. The 90-degree turns and the students' tendency to watch the race from atop their college buildings resulted in frequent accidents. [Click here to listen to Jen Cooper talk about accidents at Beer-Bike.] The first push-start was attempted by Hanzen and later perfected to become a common feature of the race.
1966-1975
From Tea Trike to the Womens' Teams
After the opening of Brown College, Jones and Brown women began their first pseudo-Beer-Bike with "Tea Trike." In '72, Brown and Jones held their own chugging and biking races. When colleges became co-ed in 1974, Baker and Hanszen submitted women's teams. Women also joined men's teams as chuggers and bikers.
1968
Beer-Bike moves to the Stadium Lot
The first stadium lot track included a 90-degree turn for spectator entertainment value.
Wiess College used the first, and last, slingshot to propel bikers forward ‹ its success rate was less than 100%.
1976
Something Different
Lovett entered a motorcycle, a tandem bicycle, a unicycle, a high wheeler, and a rickshaw.
1985-present
Something Familiar
After moving to the newly built Hackerman Field in 1985, biking at Beer-Bike has remained mostly unchanged.
Listen to the history of Hackerman field (mp3).
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