The whirring starts out faintly at first. Quickly, the sound builds as a group of cyclists ascends into view. The pack of racers, called a "pelliton," is tightly clustered in their baby-blue, burnt-orange, and multicolored jerseys. Riders calculate when to attack or let their opponents take the punishment of riding against the air currents (called drafting). Tires whine against the asphalt and wind as a small group of fans root for their favorite riders by name.

In the middle of the pack is a racer clad in maroon and white spandex with the words "Engage the Culture, Change the World" tattooed across her chest.

Welcome to the stage of freshman Kimberley Turner and the SPU Cycling Club.

The club represents SPU's first ever contingent in the spring season of the Northwest Collegiate Cycling Conference (NWCCC).

After racing competitively throughout high school, Turner came to SPU looking to continue cycling but with no outlet for her sport.

"My [high school] coach suggested starting up a team," Turner said. "So we registered with the school and USA Cycling. I designed and ordered jerseys. I'm glad that we got it done in time for racing season."

Teams from 22 schools with up to 40 members compete in the six-event season, which started last weekend with a meet in Corvallis and Eugene, Ore.

On Sunday, Turner and three other Falcon racers took part in the 2008 Husky Cycling Criterium at Seward Park on Lake Washington in Seattle.

Sunday's Criterium was supposed to be the third of a three-part series known as an "Omnium," which also features a 40-50 mile road race and team time trial on Saturday. For this Omnium, the road race and time trial were canceled due to snow in Bellingham, where Saturday's events were scheduled.

That left racers with just the Criterium, which is a continual loop around an approximately one-mile track. Each division had a set amount of time ranging from 30 to 60 minutes to continue rounding the loop, at the end of which came two to five laps for the riders to sprint to the finish.

Within the regular laps at a Criterium, there are also "preme laps," which are chosen randomly by the race organizers. Placing well in a preme lap earns additional points for a team score, so riders are likely to put extra effort into them.

On Sunday, Turner finished sixth while racing in the women's A division, which is for the racers with the most cycling experience and highest skill level.

"I was feeling really good and thought I could place top four," she said. "Then, on my last lap, I dropped my chain [the chain came off the bike]. Luckily, I was able to pedal it back on in a couple seconds, but I missed the break heading to the finish."

Earlier in the day, senior Colin Bartholomew earned SPU's highest finish, crossing the line in a virtual tie for third in the Men's C division. Bartholomew, who more often races triathlons and duathlons (biking and running), crashed when his wheel slipped from under him around a sharp turn but recovered to stay with the front group. Strategy played a big role in the race, Bartholomew said.

"It's probably a lot more complex strategically speaking than most people think," he said of cycling. "Everyone's considering the strength of other riders and tactics, such as drafting. Drafting plays a big role. If you're not riding behind someone, you're expending a lot more energy."

Bartholomew and other riders discovered that Seward's moss-covered track forced riders to decelerate around turns, especially with the conditions being chilly and wet.

In the first race of the morning, junior Mike Cleek raced in the Men's D division and finished 12th after sticking with the pelliton for most of the time. Senior Ryan Iddings finished the day for SPU by taking sixth place in the Men's A division.

After its first Omnium in Corvallis and Eugene, Ore. last weekend, the NWCCC season continues with trips to Portland, Ellensburg, Montana, and the conference championship in Pullman. Turner will also compete in the National Road Championships in Fort Collins, Colo., in May.

The team is still looking for members of all skill levels. Turner said she trains by riding an average of 40 miles per day, five to six days per week, as well as planning a diet tailored to the races in which she's participating. She added that not everyone is training at the same level, and, especially for a beginning cyclist, the competition is secondary at first.

"For me, I pay attention to my nutrition, sleep...cycling affects every part of my life," she said. "People get intimidated by that, but it's only as intense and competitive as you make it. We're excited to have different people on the team who are at different levels."