We are members of Melanzana Cycling, a women’s cycling team that competes in the nation’s largest intramural collegiate bike race, the Indiana University Little 500. Since its initiation in 1951, the Little 500 has raised over one million dollars for student scholarships, and each year, more than 25,000 spectators flock to the race to watch 33 teams of four riders compete 100 laps (200 for men) on a cinder track. We are proud to help carry on this tradition after our founding in 2012 and participate in Melanzana Cycling’s 13th Little 500.

As an independent women’s team, we are not affiliated with a Greek house or other campus organization. This means that we are also financially independent and must raise yearly funds to cover our costs. These yearly expenses includes our race day registration fee, the two required Little 500 bikes, registration fees for Little 500 spring and fall series, registration fees for USA cycling collegiate races, race kits (uniform), and our winter training trip to Sarasota, Florida. Contributions to the team significantly improve our ability to train effectively and perform well in the race.

Messages from the 2024-2025 team:

Name: Evelyn Morris

Year: Junior

Major: Accounting

"Hey friends! As a veteran rider and captain of Melanzana, I can confidently say this team is something special. Over the past year, being part of Zana has taught me to better athlete and friend, all while having an absolute blast. One of the coolest parts of the Fall '24 semester? Recruiting, teaching, and learning from our rookies—they bring so much energy and perspective that keep us all on our toes.

Outside of Zana, I give IU campus tours, work as an undergraduate accounting research assistant, and serve on IUSF's Riders Council. But nothing lights me up like training and racing with this crew. As we head into the winter and spring, we’re asking for a little help to keep the magic going. Your support means better training, stronger team bonds, and a season to remember. Every bit helps and we can’t wait to show you what we’ve got. Thanks for being in our corner!"

Name: Erin Milligan

Year: Junior

Major: Marketing

“Hi everyone! I'm a junior veteran rider studying marketing. I joined Zana during the Spring of 2024 because I used to be on the IU track team but due to multiple injuries I decided to stop running competitively for both my physical and mental health but still wanted to be active and part of a team. A few of my track teammates who who had similar experiences to me joined Zana after they stopped running so decided to give it a try and I am unbelievably grateful that I did! Zana has taught me an entirely new sport and allowed me to get to know some pretty incredible girls that I am so glad to call my teammates.”

Name: Allison Craig

Year: Sophomore

Majors: Finance & Accounting

"Hi everyone! I’m a sophomore rookie studying finance and accounting, and after conquering the intramural sports world my freshman year (yes, I’ve got a futsal and basketball championship under my belt), I figured it was time to give biking a try. Little did I know that I would be diving headfirst into an amazing community full of supportive teammates, mentors, and friends. I’ve probably learned more about bikes this semester than I have in any of my classes! Racing in rookie events has been an absolute thrill, and I’ve loved getting to be part of the Little 500 culture. I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to spend hours on end with—I’m grateful for every laugh, challenge, and mile together!

Outside of Melanzana, I am involved in the professional fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi, Women in Business, and serve on the advisory board for the Hutton Honors College. Each involvement brings something unique, but nothing quite matches the adrenaline I get from racing and training with this group of women. Thank you for supporting this amazing team!”

Name: Paris Miller

Year: Sophomore

Major: Sports Media

Name: Gloria Friesen

Year: Freshman

Major & Minor: Secondary Math Education & Spanish

"Hello, I am a freshman rookie studying Secondary Math Education with a minor in Spanish. On one particularly nice day I attended an event fair and was stopped in my tracks by some Little 500 members who asked me if I was interested in joining. I promptly said no because I did not want to join a sorority. Luckily for me they recommended I join an independent team, and the rest was history. I have met so many great people through Little 5 and I have not only grown stronger physically but also mentally. With all the time on the bike it gives you ample opportunity to think through the difficulties of life and process them in healthy ways such an exercise!! I've loved the long rides, the racing, and the many inside jokes already created. I cannot wait to see how our team grows individually and as a whole.

Outside of Melanzana I work at the Bloomington Center for Global Children where I encourage Spanish immersion learning with young children. I was also a part of two intramural teams this fall, soccer, and volleyball. While it can sometimes be difficult to manage everything on my plate, I would never give up being on this team. Cycling has truly become a vital part of my life. Thank you for your contribution and support to help us become the best we can be!"

Name: Sophie Peterson

Year: Freshman

Major/Minor: Management & Music

"Hi, I'm Sophie Peterson, from Indianapolis, Indiana, a freshman studying management with a minor in music. I first thought about joining Melanzana the summer going into freshman year. My sister was previously on Zana and enjoyed it immensely and wanted me to at least check it out. I had never ridden a road bike before, so suffice to say that I wasn't sure what I was getting into or whether I would like it that much. But just the 2 months I've been with Zana has convinced me how much I want to be on this team. Everyone brings something different to the table, but the one thing that stays consistent is the compassion we have for each other and excitement about what we are doing. Part of the reason that I decided to try out biking was to work towards a goal and be passionate about something with a group of people. I can confidently say that I've found that.

Outside of biking, I thoroughly enjoy singing and have taken lessons intermittently over the past five years. I’m also a member of the All-Campus Choir, where we learn around ten pieces to perform at the end of each semester. I am committed to improving my vocal abilities and have also discovered a passion for enhancing my biking skills. Biking has become something that I'm sure I will be thinking about a lot more!"