For years bicycle advocates have been working to improve Indianapolis for bicycling. The first attempt in 2003 to receive Bicycle Friendly Community designation from the League of American Bicyclists was met with a "Honorable Mention".
Much has changed in Indianapolis in the past 6 years. The newly established Indianapolis Bicycle Advisory Council set a goal of applying for and receiving a Bicycle Friendly Community designation. There are 5 "E's" in the evaluation of a city: Engineering, Education, encouragement, Enforcement and Evaluation/Planning. The application is quite comprehensive. A committee of 15+ worked for several months to complete the application, gathering information about the bicycling activities and infrastructure in Indianapolis.
Just completing the application gave those on the committee a better idea of the opportunities and challenges Indianapolis has in becoming more bicycle friendly. While we're pleased to have received a
Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community Award, we're already making plans to achieve Silver Status.
Bicycle Friendly Community - Indianapolis' profile The Indianapolis Advisory Council is working with Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard to hold a celebration of this achievement in Spring 2010.
Connie Szabo Schmucker, Advocacy Director
Bicycle Garage Indy / BGI Fitness
Indianapolis & Greenwood, IN
cschmucker@bgindy.com
I'm not a patient person. Bicycle Advocacy seems to go at a snail's pace sometimes. But every so often I'm reminded that progress is being made. I got such a reminder when Kevin McKinney of NUVO forwarded me this article about 2009 Year in review, highlighting all that has happened in the past year to improve bicycling in Indianapolis:
NUVO ArticleWhat's even more impressive than the list of accomplishments for bicycling in Indianapolis is that
BGI had quite a bit to do with nearly everything mentioned in the article:
- BGI supported the Handmade Bicycle Show as a sponsor, promoted the event and helped recruit volunteers
- For the Mayor's Bike Ride, BGI was not only a financial sponsor, but also served on the organizing committee and provided mechanical support for the event
- BGI sponsored the Corporate Challenge for Indianapolis Bike to Work Day and several BGI staff lead and participated in the group commuting rides
- BGI sponsored and helped promote the Indiana Bicycle Summit
- BGI sponsored the Mass Ave Crit
- BGI has been involved in not only developing but getting the SustainIndy BikeWays bike lane plan implemented
- BGI Founder and President Randy Clark and I serve on the Indianapolis Bicycle Advisory Council that submitted the Bicycle Friendly Community application leading to the Indianapolis receiving a Bronze Award
- Randy Clark helped facilitate getting tickets on the Monon reversed
- IN BikePort supplied the bike racks mentioned in the article
I'm hoping 2010 may be just as exciting for bicycling in Indianapolis!
Connie Szabo Schmucker
Advocacy Director
Bicycle Garage Indy / BGI Fitness
Indianapolis & Greenwood, IN
cschmucker@bgindy.com
Our best deal on bicycle services.
40% off labor for overhauls
20% off labor for the "Total Tune-Up"
Why is this a good time to service your bike?
1) Take a discount off BGI's current prices & get the jump on upcoming price increases.
2) The turnaround is quick.
3) Don't let the grime turn to cement. A cleaned & lubed bike 'stores' better.
4) Avoid the rush & make use of the offseason. When the sun comes out in 2010, you'll be ready.
Whatever your bike needs, BGI can do it. Bicycles for service must be dropped-off & checked-in by 1/31/2010. Some restrictions apply.
Click here for details. No Coupon Required.
When You need Bicycle Maintenance Indianapolis, Bicycle Garage Indy is your first stop!
The quiet of a bicycle is part of the attraction. Once away from the urban din of Indianapolis, we only expect the sounds of tires on pavement or trail, the mechanical buzz-purr of the chain, and our own exertion. But sometime there will be another noise, a tick, or click or rub. It may be continuous, only occur in certain gears, or have an infrequent mystery source.
In my first summer of riding, my bike was plagued by a recurring tick from the cranks. It would vary from side to side, and could not be found when in a repair stand. In the course of a month I repacked the bottom bracket and pedals, without a solution. It wasn't until I purchased my first pair of cycling shoes later that summer that I realized the source. It was the aglets, the metal end of the laces on my sneakers, hitting the steel cranks when tied just right.
In the years since my aglet mystery, I have encountered other many noises while JRA (Bicycle Mechanic for Just Riding Along) on my own bikes and with other riders. The sources have included:
- Tire bulges (Both failing tires, and tires not seated correctly)
- Stones stuck in brake pads
- Rusted chain links
- Sand and tar on tires contacting the frame. (Don't laugh, a couple riding in Australia totaled a tandem frame with this one!)
- Out of true wheels hitting the frame
- Jackets and packs rubbing on the rear wheel through a rack
- Loose or broken spokes
- Small pieces of metal inside bicycle rims and frames
- Loose bottle cages and racks
- Springs in frame pumps
- Slipped front derailleur
- Those extra, unused, mounting bolts in some cycling shoes
Many of these can be found and resolved with an ABC Quick check before you ride (a few will require a bicycle mechanic):
- Air (Check tire for pressure, and check for tire damage from your last ride)
- Brakes (Levers don't touch the handlebar, pads adjusted to clear the rim)
- Chain (Lubed, with no visible rust)
- Quick Releases (Wheel mounted in frame correctly, and quick releases correctly set)
- Check (Make sure accessories bolted to your bike are snug)
Make this a very simple routine before every ride, with more extensive periodic checks throughout your riding season. It will help keep your bike quiet and safe. And if you would like assistance with a noise, or want more extensive review of your bike's condition, the trained bicycle mechanics at either Indianapolis Bicycle Garage location will inspect your bike for free, and offer you
tune up or overhaul alternatives. It is good for peace, and quiet, of mind.
Do you have a good bicycle noise or service story? Please tell us below:
Did you buy your bike with the intention of using it for exploring Indianapolis bicycle trails or to try bicycle commuting in Indianapolis, or riding for recreation and fitness. But then you got stopped from experiencing the joy of bicycling because you didn't feel comfortable riding on the roads or couldn't find a good commuting route?
One of the best ways to get around Indianapolis can be by bike, but it helps to be "street wise" in your journeys by bike.
You have a great bike - BGI wants you to enjoy riding it! Your comfort level riding on the streets is a combination of knowledge, skill and experience. We can help with the knowledge and skill portion and help provide you with additional resources to increase your experience level.
Increasing your personal comfort level riding your bike on streets will not only increase your joy of bicycling and expand the areas you can explore by bike, you'll also be a safer bicyclist.
Launched in June 2009,
BGI One-on-One StreetWise is personalized One-on-One bicycle instruction. You tell us what you need or want to learn to enjoy bicycling more and we will give you one-on one personalized bicycle training in Indianapolis. Your needs, your schedule!
One-on-One StreetWise is based on skills and topics in the
League of American Bicyclists' SmartCycling Traffic Skills 101 curriculum. If you want to feel more comfortable riding on the streets and develop the knowledge and skills to handle most situations,
sign up for a one-on-one session, customized for your riding style and experience.
Connie Szabo Schmucker
Advocacy Director
Bicycle Garage Indy
cschmucker@bgindy.com
Today's bicycle repair tip: Carry a repair kit
In order to fix minor repairs while you're cycling Indianapolis, it's helpful to carry a small repair kit with you. Most repair kits fit into a small bag designed to fit underneath your saddle. Typical repair kits include a spare tube, patch kit, tire levers (to remove your tire from the rim), a small multi tool, and enough space left over for your ID, keys, and a bit of cash.
Expect to spend $30 or more on a good repair kit. Many different versions available or you can purchase the under-seat bag and tools of your choice. Here's a good example of a ready to go kit:
http://bgindy.com/itemdetails.cfm?LibId=39181.
Stop by and talk to your local southside Indianapolis bicycle mechanic to answer all your questions and check back here for more helpful tips!
This Saturday, Kathy and I had a fantastic 30 mile ride stopping midway for coffee at Strange Brew in Greenwood. Rolling hills, not-so-bad traffic, great company (I love riding with my bride to be), and perfect weather made this the best ride so far this year. We felt so good that we even pushed the pace a bit and ended with an average speed of nearly 12.5 mph!
Bike rides Indianapolis, bike route Indianapolis, bicycle Indianapolis, cycling Indianapolis, Indianapolis greenways, Indianapolis bike path
Speaking of commuting in Indianapolis, today Saturday, April 18th we had 4 out of 7 employees commute the roads of Indianapolis to work this morning.
This awesome! I am so proud of our staff!
SOUTH ROCKS!
After you have visited the
coolest Indianapolis Bicycle Shop. After you have had a great
Bicycle Fitting. After you collect all the best bike gear in Indianapolis, what do you have left...Your best friend. Yes, a racers best friend is their race bike. You spend hours and hours with your bike. Racing and training. You become partners
in every way. As an example, the above happy customer is riding his new
Giant TCX in one of the OVCX races last fall. He and his bike flatted out of the race early, but both were all smiles and ready for the next race.
As hard as I try to ignore this simple truth, it still smacks me in the face every time I toe the line of a local Indianapolis Bicycle Race. I do a plethora of mental training, everything from m visualizing myself winning to self affirming exercises (I am good, I am fast, I can win without training). Yet each and every race I get the same results. Why, because I have drifted into that realm of belief that talking about training is just as good as training. I am not sure when this shift in belief took place. As a young lad, I understood the direct correlation between physically training on the bike and good performances results. Now, as a middle aged father of two, I have forgotten that simple truth.
Now understand, I have taken desperate measures to solve my problem of poor performances with out actually training. First it was bike fitting. I deduced that my problem was improper fit. I invested in a good, professional bicycle fitting. I have engaged in endless hours of study to determine the best pre, during and post race nutrition. I have spent much money buying the lightest bicycle parts in Indianapolis and having the best bicycle maintenance in Indianapolis. Yet I am still getting the same results.
I am starting to see that my only option to improve my performance may be to actually ride more, no matter what the weather. I may need to sit down and make a training plan and stick to it. I may need to spend more time on my Bicycle riding than sitting at the coffee shop thinking about riding. The more I write about this, the more I am seeing the light.
First thing tomorrow morning, I will get up and head out for Starbucks to start thinking about my training plan.
There is no doubt that Levi's bicycle was fitting him well during the spring Castilla Y Leon. He took the lead early and Astana defended it well till the end.
This leads one to ponder, what will Astana do for the Tour, Giro and Vuelta. How will they dispense the wins? Better yet how will the rider's egos handle the Astana commands? If you were Levi or Contudor, would you soft pedal and give a grand tour win to a team mate? Ask a very angry man name Greg LeMond about that...(85' Tour).
Last years' Vuelta gave us a glimpse as to Levi's thought process. I believe that Levi was putting the screws down on Contudor to show that he can and will fight to the end. As if he was saying the Astana powers "No I will not just throw my bicycle in the bike rack and give up! I will fight to the end."
The spring classics will be here very soon! During last week's Milan-San Remo, Cavendish showed a clear pair of heels to the world and loudly declared he is the MAN! I also give the young man a nod for coming from so far back to take the win. He could have very easily thrown in the helmet and not try to catch the escape.
All of this talk has got me itching to ride and prepare for the Indianapolis Road Racing Scene. I know the warm weather has spurred many of the local roadies to bar their winter white legs to the wind and start some serious cycling training. Ah, there are few things more refreshing than that sweet smell of embrocation in the spring! I will expound on the joy of embrocation at a later time, so till then pull out those bicycles and hit those Indianapolis bicycle paths.
Around Spring Break time each year, Bicycle Garage Indy has their biggest, best bicycle sale of the year. 2009 will be the 26th year. BGI puts hundreds of bikes in the stores and in parking lot tents. Bicycle manufacturers such as Giant, Cannondale, and Trek send their people to help the public. Car - bike rack makers Saris & Yakima send their expert installers. All the car racks go on sale, and then you get free on-site, immediate installation from factory representitives.
The bike sale is a fun atmosphere were everyone gets great prices. This year, world-class cyclist Jeff Lenosky will be performing his bicycle stunt show six times, at BGI North.
Get the whole story on the Bicycle Garage Indy home page:
www.bgindy.com
Powered by Compendium Blogware