Levi Leipheimer joins Maria Carrillo student ride

Members of a Maria Carrillo High School cycling club, clad in their usual yellow, were joined on their regular ride to school Wednesday by professional cyclist Levi Leipheimer.

For the students, who call themselves the Caravaners and bike as a group to school twice weekly, it was recognition of their efforts for health and the environment and another reason to ride on a cool morning.

"I did it my freshman year and sophomore year, but then fell off," said Joel Huckeba, 18. "This is inspiring me to do it again."

For Leipheimer, it was a show of encouragement.

"The kids are an example for our community," Leipheimer said. "It'd be really cool if other high schools took their lead."

The Caravaners, formed four years ago, have 50 members and regularly draw 10 to 15 riders on Wednesday and Friday mornings.

Yellow is their chosen color to show unity as well as be more visible to traffic, said junior Simmar Nijjar, club co-president.

"Biking is becoming more popular with this club," said Nijjar. "We are unified and getting exercise and saving the earth at the same time. There are so many pros to this club."

Leipheimer led the group of 40 students from Skyhawk Park for the two-mile ride to Maria Carrillo at 7:30 a.m., arriving and posing for a group picture just as the school bell rang.

The professional racer was wearing his red Team RadioShack jersey and rode his Trek racing bike.

The students wore mostly yellow jerseys, T-shirts and jackets and rode a collection of road bikes, mountain bikes and hybrids.

A few, like 17-year-old Parker Hampton, are budding racers themselves and wore the lycra jerseys and spandex shorts of serious riders.

"This attracts a lot of attention," said Hampton of Leipheimer's participation. "Moreover, it's cool."

Taylor Hopper, a novice rider and first-time Caravaner, rode a mountain bike with a broken seat and had to stop to ask for help with shifting.

Most of the riders, however, were occasional cyclists who were attracted by the chance to ride with Leipheimer.

"I just thought it would be fun," said 14-year-old Nick Ruppe. "I wish I rode more."

Leipheimer rode with the Caravaners last year and said he'll do it again next year.

"The kids are taking the initiative and riding to school," Leipheimer said. "They could easily drive, but they are showing it's possible to ride your bike to school or to work."

"We didn't take the record, but the atmosphere was great, I am proud of what we did," Nijjar said.