Teams wishing to ride in Ball State's McKinley Mile Bike Race on April 9 have until 5 p.m. Friday to register.
The cost of registration is $60 per team and includes a snack and a t-shirt for each team member. A team includes four riders and an alternate.
Teams have the choice of participating in one of two races. According to the registration application, the Benny Race is for more experienced riders and the Cardinal Race is for less experienced riders. However, for each race riders are encouraged to wear interesting and unique costumes.
Brett Watson, program coordinator for the Office of Student Life, said five teams have registered for the two races as of Wednesday. He said he has also spoken with 11 other teams interested in registering.
Watson said the Office of Student Life has made promotion of the event their top priority.
"We've put posters up in various places and given information at RHA, SGA and hall council meetings. We've even gone to fraternities and sororities to promote. One big advertisement was the Communications Center email," Watson said.
Another promotion technique used by co-sponsor University Program Board is Facebook. The Facebook event, titled "McKinley Mile 2011," currently has 440 attendees.
UPB's McKinley Mile coordinator, Rhiannon Racy, said the organization is in charge of the Field Day, which is entertainment outside of the bike race.
"We're looking for a carnival street-fair type feeling," Racy said. "We'll have inflatables including slides and maybe a maze. We'll also have live music."
UPB is working with several bands who might play during the event Racy said, but only UPB Battle of the Bands winner, The Goodnight Fields, have been confirmed.
Other possible entertainment includes face painting and airbrush tattoos. Racy said another idea is to have street performers walking up and down McKinley Ave.
Both Watson and Racy said there have been some problems with coordinating the event.
"Our biggest problem was finding a location for the field day portion of the event. Since LaFollette Field and University Green are under construction, we had a limited choice of where we could host it," Watson said.
Watson said North Quad was a possibility but was too far off the path. Those involved settled on the patio of The Atrium and the lawn in front of the David Letterman Communication and Media Building.
Another problem for organizers is teams who have not confirmed their registration.
"Having a lot of people say they'll [ride] is reassuring," Watson said, "but it would be even better to get confirmation on those."
Teams have a short amount of time to register, but both Watson and Racy are holding out hope for a successful event.
"It's all dependent on how many people come out for the bike race," Racy said, "but it's going to be awesome and I think a lot of people will come."
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