national bike month

Faster Frame Propels Yellow Jacket at Cycling Nationals

admin — Tue, 27 May 2025 20:34:41 +0000

Faster Frame Propels Yellow Jacket at Cycling Nationals admin Tue, 05/27/2025 - 16:34

Elanor Finlayson, a master's computer science student, secured her spot on the podium at the recent Collegiate National Road Cycling Race on a bicycle designed and built by a fellow Yellow Jacket.

As a high school athlete, the Atlanta native often used cycling for cross-training, but she began cycling more frequently during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, in northern Virginia, Iain MacKeith, ME 2023, continued his cycling ambitions on the bike and in the shop.

Combining his interest in mechanical engineering and cycling, and having competed in races since he was 9, MacKeith began constructing steel bicycle frames. He designed and built six frames in six months before arriving at Tech in August 2020.

Once on campus, Finlayson and MacKeith both sought out a cycling community and joined the Georgia Tech Cycling Club. They began training and racing together, and when Finlayson found out about her training partner's side hobby, she commissioned MacKeith to make her a gravel bike. MacKeith has since made five more bikes for Finlayson, including the carbon fiber road bike she used in the recent national competition — a race she was determined to compete in after breaking her collarbone in 2024.

"I was off the bike for two months and in a sling, but once I figured out a way to get on the indoor bike trainer, I was ready to get back to training,” she said. “Once I had the all-clear from the doctor, I knew I was going to throw everything into training and gear up for nationals."

Finlayson was unable to participate in nationals while completing her computer science degree due to her finals schedule, but as a graduate student, she knew she had the chance to compete. Confident in her equipment and herself, Finlayson's goal was to earn a spot in the top five. With the finish line in sight at the end of the 60-mile race in Madison, Wisconsin, she was overcome with emotion.

"Coming into the final straight, I just started screaming. It was a combination of intensity, the fact that I was pushing myself so hard, and it was such an insane moment to realize that I would be on the podium," she said.

MacKeith, former cycling club president at Tech, is familiar with the feeling of crossing the finish line, but as the maker of Finlayson's bike, he found a similar sense of accomplishment on the sidelines.

"I think it's an accomplishment and a sense of relief. The interesting thing about cycling is that, even though it's one person on the podium, it's a team sport in a way, and we can share this feeling, and there's a great satisfaction to playing a part in someone else's success," he said.

As a mechanical engineering student, MacKeith gained a better understanding of the materials needed to construct a more aerodynamic frame, particularly carbon fiber. While at Tech, he spent hours in campus makerspaces as a prototyping instructor at the Flowers Invention Studio, where he taught other students how to create their own frames.

Since graduation, MacKeith has worked at a space and aerospace manufacturing company, but he hasn't stopped constructing bicycles. Without the makerspaces, he built a home studio and retrofitted an oven to handle curing abilities for carbon fiber parts.

MacKeith intends to keep making bicycles but doesn't intend to mass produce his designs, because his joy comes from fitting each frame to its rider's specific needs. He also continues to improve the design of a filament winding machine, which he created as a student at Tech, that allows him to robotically layup carbon fiber tow into tubular shapes to increase efficiency in the construction process.

Through her lab work on campus and her studies, Finlayson has become increasingly interested in the use of data and has implemented it in her training methods. Set to graduate in December, she intends to enter the data analytics field with a focus on improving public health outcomes.

No matter where their professional paths take them, MacKeith and Finlayson have a shared desire to compete and win, so they will continue to race and motivate each other along the way.

Subtitle

A Georgia Tech student placed in the top five at the Collegiate National Road Cycling Race, thanks in part to her custom bicycle frame built by a fellow Tech cyclist.

Summary sentence

A Georgia Tech student placed in the top five at the Collegiate National Road Cycling Race, thanks in part to her custom bicycle frame built by a fellow Tech cyclist.

Summary

A Georgia Tech student placed in the top five at the Collegiate National Road Cycling Race, thanks in part to her custom bicycle frame built by a fellow Tech cyclist.

Dateline

Tue, 05/27/2025 - 12:00

steven.gagliano@gatech.edu

Contact

Steven Gagliano – Institute Communications

Associated importer

Keywords

national bike month

georgia tech cycling club

News room topics

Campus and Community

Ride Into National Bike Month

admin — Fri, 10 May 2024 12:37:39 +0000

Ride Into National Bike Month admin Fri, 05/10/2024 - 08:37

May is National Bike Month, and the spring weather makes it a perfect time to explore options for cycling on and near campus. Georgia Tech has been designated a Gold level Bicycle Friendly University and there’s no shortage of amenities for those who want to enjoy a ride.

May 13 – 19 is Bike to Work Week. For Tech employees, switching to a bike or other alternative mode of transportation can be lucrative — cash incentives are offered through Georgia Commute Options.

Whether you’re a student or an employee, if you’re new to biking on campus, you’re joining a culture of bike enthusiasts. In October, Georgia Tech placed first in the annual Biketober competition.

If You’re New:

Georgia Tech has more than 4,000 bike parking spaces, including two secure parking areas in the Dalney Building and Tech Square Hotel deck.
All campus cyclists are encouraged to register their bikes with the Georgia Tech Police Department, which can help with locating bikes in the event of theft. (Scooter owners can also register their scooters through the same system.)
Parking and Transportation Services offers a virtual bike/scooter safety class covering tips for bike care and rules of the road. Those who complete the class get a free helmet.

Happening This Month:

Log your rides and compete for prizes with the Love to Ride Bike Month Challenge, May 5 – 19.
The Atlanta Cycling Festival includes events and rides around the city from May 11 to 18.
The Midtown Alliance is hosting a Bike to Work Day breakfast in Piedmont Park on Monday, May 13.
Atlantic Station will host a free bike tune-up event on Wednesday, May 15, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the fix-it station near Stairwell 14 of the parking garage.
Georgia Tech Parking and Transportation Services and Propel ATL will host an in-person bike class this month on May 29 at 4 p.m. The ride begins behind the Campus Recreation Center. RSVP and bring a helmet.

Recent Infrastructure Improvements:

Georgia Tech has nearly 2.5 miles of active construction for new bicycle infrastructure on campus.
The Ferst Drive Realignment and Cycle Track project provides new bicycle infrastructure and safety improvements. Phase 1 of the cycle track installation is active along Ferst Drive near the CRC field to Atlantic Drive. Phase 2 is also underway and will include the installation of the cycle track from Atlantic Drive through Fowler Street. Phase 3 will start in June and will realign Ferst Drive at Regents Drive, which will eliminate the traffic signal and enable connectivity to the future planned bicycle infrastructure southwest of campus. The entire project is slated for completion by early 2025.
East Campus Streetscape Improvements include renovation of sidewalks and roadways to improve pedestrian and micromobility (lightweight, single-person vehicles such as bicycles, scooters, and skateboards) access. Improvements to sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, and lighting will align with paving, new curbing, and reconfigured access to Peters Parking Deck for alternative-mode routes. Phase 1, addressing Fourth Street, Brittain Drive, and areas adjacent to Peters, is complete. Phase 2a is also complete, encompassing the area near the Third Street tunnel and adjacent sections of Techwood Drive.
A Fifth Street Cycle Track is being installed along the north side of Fifth Street in collaboration with the Midtown Alliance. A new traffic signal is being installed at Williams Street, which will provide a dedicated crossing for cyclists to the south side of Fifth, connecting to the Ferst Drive Cycle Track.
Work at the corner of 10th Street and Northside Drive is nearly complete, providing a multi-use path connection to Hemphill Avenue.
Follow campus construction plans and progress at facilities.gatech.edu/exterior-projects.

Summary sentence

May is National Bike Month, and the spring weather makes it a perfect time to explore options for cycling on and near campus.

Summary

May is National Bike Month, and the spring weather makes it a perfect time to explore options for cycling on and near campus.

Dateline

Thu, 05/09/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Kristen Bailey

Institute Communications

Associated importer

Keywords

national bike month

bike safety

News room topics

Campus and Community

Mercury ID

674614

Source updated

Fri, 05/10/2024 - 08:37

national bike month

Faster Frame Propels Yellow Jacket at Cycling Nationals

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Ride Into National Bike Month

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