Bicycle Garage Indy Receives Thanks from N.I.T.E. Ride Chair

Thursday, August 19, 2010 by Connie Schmucker

Bicycle Garage Indy is proud to be a long-time sponsor of the N.I.T.E. Ride, held on June 26th. Not only does BGI help promote the event, we provide supplies and service before and during the event, including riding support who do small repairs on the route as well as support vehicles to bring in those who can’t finish the ride. In recognition of our efforts to provide service to the riders before and during the event, we received the following "Thanks" from NITE Ride Director Dan Shields:

Bicycle Garage Tech Services at NITE Ride"On behalf of Central Indiana Bicycling Association (CIBA), I would like to thank you and the entire BGI team for your efforts to help make 2010 N.I.T.E. Ride (Navigate Indy This Evening) such a huge success.

This year’s event, on June 26, 2010, far surpassed our registration record that was set just last year, with nearly 3,300 paid registrations. We are also clearly reaching more novice riders as evidenced by an even higher rate of growth in riders needing assistance, whether for bicycle servicing before the event or SAG support during the ride. BGI’s incredible support in this area has been crucial to achieving our mission of promoting bicycling for fun, fitness, commuting and touring while maintaining a great experience for all participants.

We are also thankful for your working with Giant Bicycles in providing the bicyclies for the BGI Great Bike Giveaway", the prizes for the "L.I.T.E. Up Your Bike" contest, BGI’s efforts to co-promote the event and all of the other valuable elements of BGI’s sponsorship.

Please accept our thanks for your fine support of N.I.T.E. Ride 2010!

Dan Shields
Chair, 2010 N.I.T.E. Ride Committee"

Bicycle Garage Indy looks forward to supporting the N.I.T.E. Ride in 2011!  (June 25th, 2011)

Connie Szabo Schmucker
Advocacy Director
Bicycle Garage Indy
Indianapolis and Greenwood, IN

Dream Bigger - Win your Dream Bike from Trek

Friday, July 16, 2010 by The Latest Buzz from Bicycle Garage Indy
Trek's Dream Bigger Contest is now in progressBicycle Garage Indy wants you to know about Trek's Dream Bigger contest, starting July 16 and running through the end of the Tour De France on July 25th.  Just visit Trek's Web site (www.trekbikes.com) and follow the Dream Bigger links.  One bike winner will be picked every day by Trek, and hundreds other prizes will be awarded.

You will also find all Trek Bikes on sale during the BGi Big Summer Bicycle Sale going on now though July 25th.  We also have hundreds of essentials on sale, our new bike buyer discounts on helmets, and our $75 Value Intro fit included with every bicycle, or credit toward any of our selection of bicycle fitting services.  

Visit Bicycle Garage Indy’s two locations, North (in the Clearwater area in Indianapolis) and South (just west of I-65 on County Line Rd, Greenwood).



Rack Trunks: Great for Day Trip Essentials

Thursday, July 8, 2010 by Jay Hardcastle
Bontrager Rack Trunk at Bicycle Garage IndyRack Trunks are great for day trip essentials: Bicycle Garage IndyThere are a lot of bicyclists who can put their complete riding needs for a day in a couple of jersey pockets.  I am not one of them.  It is not that I am a totally fred rider.  While a strong believer in self-sufficiency on the road, contrary to rumor, I can't quite overhaul a bike on the roadside. However, I am the family ride sherpa, responsible for sunscreen, food, spares, rain gear, our restaurant lock, and anything else that I was supposed to bring.  And then there is a camera that comes on almost every ride ride.  So I have a rack trunk on my touring bike and our tandem.  Rack trunks are also great for 3-season and day-trip riders with space for jackets, vests, arm and leg warmers.
 
The Trek Rear Trunk Bag is good basic bag of 600 to 800 cubic inches. It easily has room for day trip sundries. For quick errands, small packages easily fit in a trunk, or you can get drop down pannier models like the Bontrager Interchange Deluxe Plus Rear Trunk.  This type of bag is also popular with commuter cyclists.  Rack trunks will attach easily and securely using combination of straps and velcro, or the Bontrager Interchange system of spring loaded clips and matched racks.Bontrager Deluxe Plus Rack Trunk at Bicycle Garage Indy

Obviously, a rack trunk needs a rack, and there are two types. Traditional 4-point racks from Blackburn or Bontrager, which require eyelets on your bike. Or seat post mounted racks like the Bontrager Seat Post Rack. Note that if your bike has a carbon fiber seat post, check with the manufactures specs before using a seat post rack.
 
Bontrager and Blackburn are just two of the hundreds of brands of Bike Accessories Indianapolis, in-stock now at Bicycle Garage Indy North in Indianapolis, and Bicycle Garage Indy South in Greenwood.

Why Do Bicyclists Wear Those Funny Looking Clothes?

Saturday, June 19, 2010 by Linda Hardcastle
Cycling clothing is designed to maximize comfort and visibility.Lycra shorts with a “diaper” sewn in and brightly colored tops with pockets in the back.  Why do those serious cyclists dress so funny?  In a word, because bicycle clothing is functional.  It is designed to maximize your comfort while keeping you visible. 

The Pearl Izumi Quest Short from Bicycle Garage IndyThe bicycle shorts are all about comfort.  The thick chamois pad (called a "chamois" since they were originally chamois leather) may look somewhat odd while you are walking around, but as soon as you sit on the bike, it pads your toosh and absorbs excess perspiration while riding.  The longer cut on the leg also prevents chafing from occurring between your upper thigh and the nose of the saddle.  When I first stared riding, I was a hold-out for a long time, continuing to bike for months in my nylon running shorts.  But once I was on my first bicycle tour, with 60 miles each day, I quickly realized the need for bicycle shorts and bought my first pair during the tour.  Since that day 28 years ago, for anything longer than a few miles, I ride in bicycle shorts.  If you are looking for your first pair of cycling shorts, the Pearl Izumi Quest Shorts or Bellwether O2 Shorts are two to consider.

The other interesting article of clothing are the pocketed tops, called jerseys.  The bright and sometimes even gaudy tops help to keep you safer, by making you highly visible to motorists.  And those pockets in the back are great for holding things.  In the “olden” days, it held our bananas and bag of gorp.  Today it still holds all those great snack foods, for eating on the go, but it also holds your cell phone.  Others may carry a multi-tool and a spare inner tube for quick and easy access.The Pearl Izumi Quest Jersey at Bicycle Garage Indy    The Pearl Izumi Quest Jersey is popular basic jersey.

If you are new to cycling, you may still be bicycling in your running shorts or even your cut-off jeans.  But I can guarantee, if you stick with the sport, you too will become a convert to those “funny looking clothes”. 

Pearl Izumi and Bellwether are  just two of the many brands of bicycle clothing Indianapolis available from Bicycle Garage Indy.  

Indy Pedicabs

Saturday, June 12, 2010 by Customers, Friends and Fans of Bicycle Garage Indy
Indy Pedicabs is the Original Pedicab Co. servicing Indy. This past Sunday we had the opportunity to show off our wonderful downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods. A guest fromt the Hilton Garden Inn made a reservation with us for a 45 minute tour of dt and some historic neighborhoods. She was a young lady from Tampa; she sent us an email when she arrived home telling us that her Pediab Tour was the highlight of her stay.

Name: Nick Crist
Bicycle: Mainstreet Pedicab
City: Indianapolis
State: IN

Nick: Thanks from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy, and good luck!

Dry County 1000-2007

Thursday, June 10, 2010 by Customers, Friends and Fans of Bicycle Garage Indy
In 2007, I had been practicing law for over 25 years and needed a getaway. I read a story about the (Adventure Cycling Association) National Bicycle Route System and decided I would gear up and ride the Underground Railroad from Indy to Mobile, Alabama. I started to train, educated myself, bought a Trek 520 touring bike from Bicycle Garage Indy. Had it fitted by Frank, bought the touring bags and set out, on my own, the day after the Memorial Day weekend. I had never ridden such a distance before and had never ridden a bike with 50 pounds of gear on it. To make a long story short, 1100 miles, one flat tire and two weeks later, I rolled into Mobile. I promptly rented a car and drove to my brother's house in Panama City, Florida. I discovered myself and discovered that there are a lot of friendly people on the road. There are also a lot of dry counties in Kentucky, Tennesse, Mississippi and Alabama. It was a great trip and a great way to get away. Ride America!

Name: Alan Ladd
Bicycle: Trek 520
City: Indianapolis
State: IN

Alan:  Thanks from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy for Your Bicycle Story.  

Friday ride is ON for 5/28/10

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 by Toby Holsman
Well. loyal readers, not much to report these days, other than that we will be riding as usual this Friday.  Meet at the shop at 7.  Back by 9. 

A handful of other things:

Attended the annual Bike To Work Indianapolis celebration, which had a great turnout despite rain in the forecast.  Well done, Bicycle Indiana!

Bicycle Garage Indy got a visit from ProTour rider Dominique Rollin today as part of his trip to the Zipp factory.  Nice fellow!

Took the first broccoli out of the garden and planted the beans and tomatoes.  Peas should be ready any day now.

Visited the alma mater to play against this year's incarnation of the Carleton Ultimate Team and hoo boy, are they good (please don't laugh.  We take it really, really seriously). 

Took a few too many days off the bike and the numbers show it.  Time to rebuild fitness.  Next race will probably be McCormick's Creek, and after that it's time to target my favorite:  the Bloomington Grand Prix!

Seat Bag Essentials

Monday, May 3, 2010 by Jay Hardcastle
Seat Bag essentials for the day rider from Bicycle Garage IndyWhat should be in a seat bag is a question we hear a lot.  And the basics needs are quite simple; fix a flat or tighten or adjust anything on your bike.  A seat bag can also be the place for things that might go in a clothing pocket; Snacks, ID, Keys, Cell phone and money.  The list below takes care of the needs for most day riders. 

Seat Bag Essentials
Spare Tube(s)
Patch Kit
Tire Levers
Frame Pump, Mini-Pump or CO2 inflator.
Multi tool (Matched to the needs of your bike)
An energy bar
Emergency Money
Identification
House or Car Keys
 
Fixing a flat tire is the most likely problem any bicyclist will encounter, and the first items into a seat bag.  You will need a pump or inflator, tire levers and a tube and/or patch kit.  You will also need to know all the steps in removing a wheel, removing the tire and tube, and then putting it all back together again.  Even if you don't know how, carry these spares; if you have them along a good samaritan can help you out.
 
The other problems you will encounter and be able fix are going to depend on your mechanical skills.   For basic around town and day rides, a simple multi tool will let you do most of the adjustments you need to finish a ride or get home; tighten something that came loose,  adjust a seat height or straighten handlebars.    Allen wrenches and screw drivers take care of most needs. Bicycle Garage Indy offers Maintenance Classes and Mini-Clinics where you can learn these skills.
 
If you move on to more challenging riding, like technical off-road or multi-day self-supported touring, you will want a few more tools and a few spare parts, and training in how to use them.

Bags, pumps and tools from Giant, Serfas, Park Tool, and Bontrager, are among the hundreds of bike accessories Indianapolis available at either Bicycle Garage Indy location, North (Indianapolis in the Clearwater area) or South (Greenwood, just west of I-65 on County Line Rd).
 
 

Be Prepared for Week End Rides

Friday, April 30, 2010 by Jay Hardcastle
Pack with a check list, to avoid leaving essentials behind.The weekend riding season is upon us!  We check the calendar, get dressed,  load up the car, drive to the start of the ride, unload the bikes, get ready to roll and then have that Doh! moment we we realize our helmet, bike shoes or sunglasses are still at home!    I see this happen at almost every ride I attend, from local weekend CIBA rides to big out-of-town events like TOSRV or Hilly Hundred.
 
The easiest way to avoid these disappointments is have a road trip check list to use while you are packing, and before you leave the driveway.  While our check list started when we began bicycle touring, it really became useful when we began to ride with our children.  Here is are basic outline for day rides and weekends where car travel is involved.
 
Bike:  Bike (w/ front wheel!) Tools (on-bike), frame pump, bike computer, on-bike bags.
 
Tools (off-bike): Tire Pump, chain lube, spare tubes and tires, bike lock and keys!
 
Clothing: Shorts, jersey, socks, shoes, helmet, gloves, glasses, (and weather appropriate gear; tights, jackets, vests, rain gear, hats, etc.).
 
Food:  Bottles, hydration packs, energy bars and drink mix & fresh fruit.
 
Extras:  Sunscreen and chap stick, maps, after ride clothes, bike lights.
 
I can tell you that anything on the list has been forgotten, or needed, at least once.  We didn't leave a front wheel at home; although we almost left one behind after the ride.  However, we did leave the keys behind for bikes locked to the roof rack! Typically, we pack bike gear separate from our street clothes, and we also use storage tubs for packing helmets and on-bike gear as the bikes are loaded on our car rack.  This was handy for a family of 4.  If it is just yourself, you may not need that much organization, but even a mental check list before you leave will save you a lot of frustration and get you on the road!

The experienced staff at either Bicycle Garage Indy location, North, (Indianapolis in the Clearwater area) or South in Greenwood (just west of I-65 on County Line Rd.) can help you choose the right bike accessories Indianapolis for a trip around town or across the state.
 

Bicycle Friendly Celebration and Visits from Washington DC

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 by Connie Schmucker
Bicycle Garage Indy was involved with getting Andy Clarke, president of League of American Bicyclists, to Indianapolis for a celebration/photo op with Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard to celebrate Indianapolis' designation as a Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community.  BGI was also recognized at the celebration on Thursday, April 22, 2010 as a Gold level Bicycle Friendly Business.

After the celebration, I took Andy Clarke on a tour of Indianapolis, highlighting what's been accomplished and what we hope to acheive in the near future. He was duly impressed. Andy had been sent the feedback Indianapolis has been given last fall when we received the Bronze designation and as he listened to Mayor Ballard tout the most recent accomplishments, he realized we has already accomplished much on the "to-do" list we had been given.

The next morning Andy led the bike train for St. Thomas Aquinas Walk/Bike to School with Your Grandparent event. I participated in the bike ride and got the opportunity to meet Rep. Andre Carson, Mayor Ballard, and USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood. It was a whirlwind 24 hours.

Here are some links of media coverage of the event:

LAB's blog about the 4/22 event
http://www.bikeleague.org/blog/2010/04/indianapolis-bicycling-and-ray-lahood/

LAB's blog on the Bike to School event:
http://www.bikeleague.org/blog/2010/04/big-names-at-indianapolis-safe-routes-to-school-event/

USDOT Sec. LaHood's blog
http://fastlane.dot.gov/2010/04/grandparents-day-safe-routes-to-school-mash-up.html

NUVO item
http://www.nuvo.net/NewsBlog/archives/2010/04/23/indianapolis-a-bicycle-friendly-city

Courier-Journal - Louisville, KY
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100423/NEWS02/4240304/-1/EXTRAS05/Obama+official+walks+kids+to+Indianapolis+school

IndyStar
http://www.indystar.com/article/20100423/NEWS04/4230374/Obama-official-walks-kids-to-Northside-school

USDOT policy article/backlash
http://www.theindychannel.com/automotive/23144733/detail.html

St. Thomas Aquinas website - photos
http://www.staindy.org/school/section.php?page=3-84

another Indy website coverage
http://www.indy.com/posts/obama-official-walks-kids-to-northside-school

And in our own blogs:
http://blog.bgindy.com/blog/bicycle-garage-indy/0/0/bicycle-friendly-city-event-in-downtown-indianapolis

Connie Szabo Schmucker
Advocacy Director
Bicycle Garage Indy / BGI Fitness
Indianapolis & Greenwood, IN
cschmucker@bgindy.com
www.bgindy.com


This Old Bicycle

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 by Customers, Friends and Fans of Bicycle Garage Indy
The first year my husband and I were married, one of our first purchases together was new Schwinn bikes...that was 1982! We’re still married and I still ride my Schwinn, now commuting 10 miles downtown to work a couple of days a week. It is heavy by current standards, but a great bike with no other problems. I don't worry about someone stealing it, and bike stores love it because it is still in excellent condition. It was one of the last bikes made in Chicago, which is where I'm from, so it holds more than a little sentimental value for that, too.

Name: Kathi Moore
Bicycle: 1982 Schwinn Le Tour
City: Indianapolis
State: IN

(Thanks Kathy! Great to hear another Bicycle commuting Indianapolis story.  - the BGi Blog editor)

Commuting Gear Reviews

Friday, April 9, 2010 by Brian Clissold
Hello Friends!

Well, technically my section of the blog is supposed to cover both touring and bike commuting Indianapolis. I obviously haven't done any coverage of commuting, so I thought I'd start with a couple pieces of gear that I like. 

If you've read my posts regarding my tour last summer of the Great Allegheny Passage and C & O Towpath, you know I have a Trek 7.3 hybrid bike. I originally purchased this bike for commuting and have logged some pretty good miles on it doing exactly that. My ride from home to Butler (I'm a grad-student) is about 9 miles one way. I use a combination of surface streets, bike paths, and bike lanes to make the journey. All are paved. In reading one of my new favorite mags, Bicycle Times, I saw a handlebar that caught my attention. I did a little research, and found out it's the Jeff Jones "H-Bar." The original is titanium and retails for about $400, but Titec makes a licensed knock-off for about a quarter of that price.

Here's a picture of the Titec version on my 7.3:

H-Bar
As you can see, there are a variety of options for hand positions, and places to mount lotsa stuff. I have a NiteRider headlight on top of the bar, Blackburn Voyager 3.3 mounted underneath (I use it in flashing mode), Trek Beacon Bar End Lights, a bell, and of course shift/brake levers. Like most bars, it doesn't come with any tape or grips. Taking the lead from the Jeff Jones website, I installed black cork grips and black cork handlebar tape. It is super comfy. The width is great for rough roads, climbing, or cruising upright, but the extensions are great for getting a little aero (when I'm late for class!)


This bar is for a pretty niche market, so we don't keep them in stock, but we are happy to order it for you and can have it within a week's time. Labor to install a new handlebar and move all the stuff over is only about $30, but sometimes there is a need for new, longer cables depending on your old setup. That can run an additional $20.

I hope these tips help you in your commuting adventures. Stay safe out there folks...the drivers are not yet used to looking for us (are they ever?) Remember to stop in to BGI for more tips, service on your bike, or critical commuting gear such as lights, fenders, etc.

And always remember: A clean bike is a happy bike!

bc
(NiteRider, Bontrager and Blackburn are just three of the many brands of Bike Accessories Indianapolis found at Bicycle Garage Indy’s two locations, North (Clearwater area in Indianapolis) and South (just west of I-65 on County Line Rd, Greenwood), editor)

BGI Is Going to Provence France - Info Party on March 30th!

Monday, March 8, 2010 by Connie Schmucker

BGI Trek Travel Luxury trip to Provence FranceLooking for a new bicycling experience this year? Join Bicycle Garage Indy on the trip of a lifetime to Provence France.  BGI will be hosting a private Trek Travel trip for 22 persons going to Provence for 6 days and 5 nights on September 19-24, 2010. 

BGI Provence France Trek Travel TripWhether you are a historian, a foodie, an artist, a wine connoisseur, a leisurely rider or a serious cyclist, you'll spend the week in Provence France sharing in the art of living well. The beauty, location and style of each of our hotels are beyond anything one could imagine. You'll have the opportunity to experience quintessentially French moments, from perusing the Bédoin market in search of the best locally grown produce to tackling the mighty Mt. Ventoux. Travel treasured cycling routes to the most prized hilltop villages and features a landscape whose beauty was destined to be captured on a canvas.

 

Find out more from Trek Travel's Angela Horvath at the Provence, France Luxury Tour Info Party on Tuesday, March 30 from 5:30 - 8:00 pm. (Registration required - Limited to 40 people)



Connie Szabo Schmucker
Advocacy Director
Bicycle Garage Indy
Indianapolis and Greenwood, IN
 

 


Bicycle Love

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 by Customers, Friends and Fans of Bicycle Garage Indy
My husband bought me my first "real" bicycle the spring before we were married. We were going on a bicycle vacation in Vermont for our honeymoon and I needed a better bike to ride than his old Schwinn Varsity. He bought me a Trek 400 Elance - a sport/ touring bike that I continue ride today. It cost more than my wedding ring! My bike has taken me on lots of adventures in many states, but now mostly serves double duty as my in-town touring and commuting bike. It only travels outside of town when our tandem is out of commission. Although I've biked throughout my life, my first "real" bike started me on a life-altering love of bicycling, infusing bicycling into every facet of my life, which ultimately led me to a career as a bicycle advocate.

Name: Connie Schmucker (Advocacy Directory for BGI)
Bicycle: Trek 400 Elance
City: Indianapolis
State: IN



Great Story from one of our Customers

Friday, January 29, 2010 by Jay Hardcastle
Cannondale Touring 1Bob Walters, a customer of Bicycle Garage Indy - North, has a great blog post about a new Cannondale Touring 1 bicycle being assembled and customized for his missionary work in Africa.  Looks like a very interesting story worth following.

The Touring 1 is just one of many high performance Cannondale Bikes Indianapolis, available at both Bicycle Garage Indy-North and Bicycle Garage Indy-South in Greenwood.

12 Days of Gift Ideas, Day 12: Provence France from Trek Travel & BGI

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 by Jay Hardcastle
Provence France Luxury Bicycle Tour
Exclusive from Trek Travel and Bicycle Garage indy
September 19-24, 2010
 
Randy Clark, Founder and President, Bicycle Garage IndyRandy saves the best pick for last as, once again, Trek Travel and BGI have teamed up to to offer an exclusive bicycle travel experience.
 
 "Looking to cure your winter cycling blues?  Start planning your next bike vacation!  Join BGI on the trip of a lifetime to Provence, France. . .Now that I have personally gone on two Trek Travel trips, I am a true believer - it was total luxury in terms of accommodations and cuisine!" 
 
Randy Clark, 
Founder and President, 
Bicycle Garage Indy

Girl Power - Fixing Flats and Touring Indianapolis Museum of Art

Friday, November 20, 2009 by Connie Schmucker
BGI's Nothing But Us Chicks rides were held once a month, but that monthly ride wasn't enough for many of the "chicks" so there were several who would get together on "unofficial rides" more often. I had the opportunity to join them in August. We rode through Broad Ripple and toured the Indianapolis Museum of Art grounds before returning to BGI.

During the ride I had the opportunity to give an impromptu "fix a flat" clinic.
Yep - it's flat!!

Here we are at the IMA grounds:

Nothing But Us chicks visit the IMA

Connie Szabo Schmucker
Advocacy Director
Bicycle Garage Indy / BGI Fitness
Indianapolis & Greenwood, IN
cschmucker@bgindy.com
 

Fenders For The All Season Rider

Monday, November 2, 2009 by Jay Hardcastle
Touring bike with fendersMy first extended tour was 11 days and 900 miles, riding from Toledo, Ohio to St. Ignace, Michigan, and back.  It rained 7 of those 11 days; not rain showers, but all day, record breaking, cats and dogs cloud burst rain.  That was over 500 soaking wet miles. At the end of the trip, everything with bearings on my one year old bike needed to re-packed, and the headset and bottom bracket had to be replaced.  Ever since I have never toured without fenders, and they stay year round on my touring/wet weather bike.  I also keep fenders on the bike I ride for bicycle commuting in Indianapolis.
 
With routine care and maintenance, it is fine to get caught in the rain on your bike.  It is when you regularly ride in wet conditions that you want to consider fenders. The muddy streak running up your back is just half the story.  That grime is also being dumped on the exposed moving parts of your bike (chain, headset, bottom bracket and pedals), shortening their time between maintenance and usable life.  And when you ride year round or on early spring training rides, you also expose your bike to the sand, salt and other chemicals used on the roads during the winter.  
 
There are many styles of fenders available from Bicycle Garage. From Giant, we have theGiant Splendor, Half Fendor Splendor Full and Half Length Fenders.  Partial length fenders are more common for mountain bikes, which must stop mud but still have wide clearance to prevent mud build up.  If you don’t want a dedicated wet weather bike, clip on fenders like thePlanet Bike Freddy Fender Planet Bike Freddy Fenders are available for road or mountain bikes, and can be installed and removed without tools. These are just a few of the brands and styles available at BGI.
 

Along with protecting your bike from the elements, fenders are also part of your personal rain gear.  Your feet and legs stay dryer, and your clothing and gear are protected from from road grit and grime.  And if you are commuting, you co-workers will appreciate that!

Bike Tour Routes via Garmin

Thursday, October 8, 2009 by Brian Clissold

I promised this post a while ago and just haven't been on top of it. Very sorry! As I mentioned in my previous posts regarding the tour and, more specifically, equipment, I used a Garmin 705 computer for this trip. I use it in my daily riding as well of course. Originally I purchased this little machine because I'm new to Indy, and don't know the roads, good routes, and don't have a regular group of riding buddies to show me around. I know about and use mapmyride.com, so I knew I could create and download routes, as well as download existing routes from others, so I figured this would be the best method to learn some new routes. In short, I purchased this fancy shmancy computer for it's routing capabilities.

This won't be a full review of the 705, but rather a quick post on some of the pros and cons of it's routing abilities.

When I first received the device, it was easy to set up. Essentially it required the same level of programming as any other bike computer, which just involes putting in your wheel size, setting the clock, etc. This obviously has a few other bells and whistles, so I also was able to enter the stats for several bikes, including the bike weight, so that as I move the computer from one bike to another I just press a button and tell it which bike it's on so it provides accurate data. When I returned from my first ride, I loaded the software on my pc, connected the usb cable, and uploaded the route to my computer. I was then able to also upload it to a website. Both Bicycling Magazine's "rides" area and MapMyRide.com have great mapping sections. More on that in a bit.

Here is the map from my 3rd day of the tour from Map My Ride. This is created simply by uploading directly from my Garmin to the website. All of the data goes with it, including speed, elevation, heart rate (if applicable), etc.:




The base map on the device is, well, pathetic. I am SO glad that I purchased the North America micro-sd card that Garmin offers ($100). I went from seeing a grand total of about 10 roads in the metro Indy area to every little twist and turn and cul de sac. The map on the pc software, Training Center, is on par with the basemap that comes on the device...poor. That said, as long as you have an internet connection this is easily overcome. After you've uploaded a route you can select "view in Google Earth" and see your route placed over satellite imagery. Here's a screen shot:

GAP Tour Day 2 Google Earth Screen Shot

Of course, Map My Ride has a satellite image option as well, but you can't do this cool 3D view:

GAP 3D View

With all that said, there is a bit of a learning curve, and there have been some technical issues with the device. If you do much research you'll find complaints of it freezing in navigation mode. This was obviously a big concern to me before doing this trip, and I downloaded a software update to the device from Garmin that fixed the issue, even though my computler only froze twice. I had no problems on the tirp. In fact, I was unsure, on day 2, where to leave the trail for Fallingwater. So, I stopped when I thought I was close, told the device to find local attractions, selected Fallingwater, and it guided me to the house with turn by turn directions.

More will come, but this should whet your appetite about the Garmin 705.
In the meantime, remember, a clean bike is a happy bike! bc

Bicycles, BBQ, Blues and Balloons

Monday, August 24, 2009 by Connie Schmucker
Sometimes you just have a perfect day even if it doesn't start out that way. It was cloudy, cool (65 degrees) and although rain wasn't predicted, it looked like it could rain at any time. Against our better judgment we made the drive down to Madison for the Grand Touring Ride.  We ended up having a great day riding on Saturday Aug 22 in Madison,  IN.

The 45 mile route started from Clifty Fall State Park, went North and East of Madison into the burgs of Canaan, China, Pleasantville and various other little towns. It was a CIBA Grand Touring Ride led by Kerry Knipp.  There were a total of 7 people - 5 single bikes and our tandem. I was the sole female rider. We rode with George and his son Brendan, Tick, Mark, and Kerry (the ride leader). We drove down that morning. Everyone else had camped out at the park the night before.

Fixing flat tiresFlat tires At the Madison Grand Touring Ride in June, we assisted Mark with his flat tire. On this occasion, we were 2 miles from the park when Mark announced he got a flat tire. Mark is prepared - he even carries latex gloves to keep his hands from getting grease on them! His flat tire was fixed and we set off again, commenting that Madison must be a bad place for him to ride a bike. Another 2 miles down the road and Brendan got a flat tire. His dad George assisted while we looked on. 

All were hoping this was not a bad omen - flats had affected 2 out of 6 bikes so  far.  Brendan got his flat in almost the exact location where Mark got his flat last June. While George was fixing Brendan's flat, we were talking about how, back in June, people had been so helpful and someone driving by even went to their house to get a floor pump. Just as we were talking about that, a woman in bike clothes came up to us from a nearby parking lot.  She was with a group of bicyclists from Floyds Knob riding in the area. They had a floor pump that we could use if we wanted to. Pretty amazing.

We finally got back riding and eventually arrived at the country store for lunch. Over lunch we exchanged stories of our bicycling adventures and some told of their hiking adventures in Denali, Peru (South America) and the Appalachian Trail.
Roads never closed to bicyclists
We ran into a little road construction, but roads are never truly closed to resourceful bicyclists! (we walked our bikes through the dirt to the other side of the construction) The rest of the ride was fairly uneventful. There were long gradual climbs (5-8% for 1-2 miles) and long gradual descents and rolling terrain on the ridges. We had some awesome long views on the ridges. We ended the ride along the Ohio River before we had the hardest climb of the day -  the south entrance to Clifty Fall State Park (mostly 10% grade, spiked at 12%).



RibberFest at MadisonAfter the ride, my husband Randy and I went to the Ribberfest. Blues music, BBQ, Balloons. We ate pulled pork dinners while watching boats on the Ohio River and listening to blues music. After we finished eating, we went to watch the musical artists. Then aross the river,  the hot air balloons began to lift off for the balloon race. As we left Madison, we saw an awesome sunset on the way home - a beautiful end to an awesome day.

What's your bicycle adventure story?


Connie Szabo Schmucker
Advocacy Director
Bicycle Garage Indy / BGI Fitness
Indianapolis & Greenwood, IN
cschmucker@bgindy.com