Since arriving at Rice University in 2021, Osvaldo Miguel Colin has had one goal in mind: to compete in Beer Bike.
“I’ve dreamt about being in Beer Bike since I joined Rice,” said Colin, a fifth-year doctoral student in physics.
This year, in his final stretch as a graduate student, he made that goal a reality — serving as both a rider and a chugger (also known as an ironman) in one of the university’s most iconic traditions.
Dating back to 1957, Beer Bike combines an intramural bicycle race with a relay-style chugging competition, bringing together undergraduate students, graduate students and alumni for a day that blends competition with celebration.
Each team consists of 8 riders, 8 chuggers (6 riders and chuggers for the alumni race) and a pit crew. In each leg of the race, a participant must finish a beverage — beer for those 21 and older or water — before the next rider begins laps around the track. The result is a fast-paced, highly coordinated event governed by detailed rules but fueled by campus-wide enthusiasm.
For many graduate students, Beer Bike offers something rare: a chance to step beyond academic life and connect with the broader Rice community.
“This is the most fun day of the year at Rice,” said Purvez Captain ’93, a longtime organizer and donor. “It’s very rare that graduate students and undergraduates get together like this. This is it.”
That sense of connection is central to the experience. Graduate students from across disciplines come together to train, compete and cheer — often alongside alumni who return year after year to support the teams.
“You meet all the grad students from different departments. You build a really great community,” said Nicholas Lindell, a graduate student and team captain.
For alumni like Frank Cano '95, Beer Bike is also about mentorship, discovery and family.
“The opportunity to get people that are just discovering bicycling and helping them discover what’s possible … that is just priceless,” Cano said.
Cano’s connection to the tradition deepened when his son, Raymond, attended Rice and competed in Beer Bike as a member of Wiess College. Now, the two have shared the experience across generations — with Cano returning as an alumni rider and mentor, helping coach and train teams.
The tradition’s reach extends well beyond current students. Alumni frequently return to campus to mentor riders, help with training and compete in alumni races, reinforcing a multigenerational bond.
“More alumni come back for Beer Bike weekend than homecoming,” said Pippa Jarvis ’14, a longtime participant. “That shows what Beer Bike means to campus.”
The event’s unique blend of intensity and humor is part of what makes it so enduring.
“It’s very serious, very competitive … but it’s also really ridiculous,” said Australian Fulbright graduate student Margot Moy. “It’s a chug competition … people wear costumes. I like that contrast.”
For many participants, the experience becomes a defining moment of their time at Rice. For Miguel Colin, that moment came as he crossed the finish line after months of preparation.
“I wanted to be part of the team. I wanted to be memorable,” he said.
Now, as he prepares to complete his graduate studies, Beer Bike stands out as a milestone in his Rice journey — a moment that brought together years of anticipation, community and personal achievement.
“This is the highlight of my grad student career,” Miguel Colin said.
As Beer Bike approaches its seventh decade, stories like Miguel Colin’s continue to define the tradition — not just as a race, but as a shared experience that unites the Rice community across generations.
To view more photos from Beer Bike, please visit this link.