Bike Ride Indianapolis

If you are going to commute, do it with a flare.  Arriving for his shift at Bicycle Garage Indy North, Victor rides a fixed gear Masi track bike , finished with clear coat over bare steel.  "Riding the fixed gear is just great for your cycling form." says Victor.  To top it off, he has the new Catlike Whisper Plus helmet, (just in stock at BGi).  "Coolest and lightest helmet I have ever owned.  You don't know it is there."

Name: Victor Suarez (Sales Staff, Bicycle Garage Indy North)
Bicycle: Masi Track Frame
City: Indianapolis
State: IN

Bicycle Garage Indy is proud to be a long-time sponsor of the N.I.T.E. Ride, held on June 26^th. 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:

"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

So, here's what it looked like at oh-dark-thirty on Saturday morning…

When I started looking for a new bike I really wanted a road bike, but that didn't work out. I got a Giant Rapid 3 and it is great. Since I got it, alot of my riding has been in places that would be dificult on a road bike. This includes gravel trails, very sandy areas, and even a few dirt roads. Though it handles well there, it can still can ride like a road bike.

Name: Ben Handy (Product Runner - Bicycle Garage Indy North)
Bicycle: Giant Rapid 3
City: Indianapolis
State: Indiana

The Giant Rapid 3 is just one of the Giant Bicycle Indianapolis available at either BGI location: North, Clearwater area in Indianapolis and South, just west of I-65 on County Line Rd, Greenwood.

If you are like me, you leave the nitty gritty of bicycle maintenance to others.  Rebuilding headsets and truing wheels just isn’t your thing.  However, even the most mechanically challenged of us CAN keep our 2-wheeled machine well lubricated. 

Lubricant comes in two forms:  liquid drops or spray.  Bicycle Garage Indy carries an assortment of lubricants for chains and other moving bicycle parts, and for wet, dry and off road conditions.  These include products from Finish Line, Tri-Flow, and White Lightning.  If you tell the staff at Bicycle Garage Indy about your bike and riding style, they will help you choose the right lube for you.

To apply lubricant is very simple:
1.    Find the moving part
2.    Apply lube
3.    Move the part, to allow the lubricant to penetrate
4.    Wipe off excess lube On a bicycle, the most common place to lube is the chain.  You can plan on lubricating your chain monthly, or every 100–150 miles.   And of course,  apply a fresh coat should you get caught in the rain. 

Other common spots to lube would be on the moving parts of the front and rear derailler, as well as the moving parts of the brakes.  You should do this a couple of times per season, and after any rain.  CAUTION:  Wipe up any excess lube and do not get it on the wheel rim or brake pads, or you will have no brakes!

If you use a step-in pedal system, like Look or S.P.D. then this is one last spot that requires periodic lubing.  Once I notice that it is getting harder and harder to click out, I just put a spot of lube on the cleat mechanism both on my shoe and on my pedal.  Clicking out is once more a breeze!  (Note:  With Look pedals, which involve metal on metal, normal lubricant works fine.  But with S.P.D.’s, which involve plastic on plastic, you will want to use STP Armour-All or another non-petroleum lubricant.)  SPECIAL CAUTION:  Do not walk on your carpets after lubing your cleats!!!!

Good luck with these first steps in taking good care of your bicycle.

Finish Line, Tri-Flow, and White Lightning are just three of the many brands of bicycle tools 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)

I had an opportunity to ride the other day in Anderson IN. Normally I go to Brown County which is awesome as everyone knows. But for something closer that is different from 96th St. The trails are well maintained and there are a lot of man made features in a little extra park they have on the side. Here is my map from www.MapMyRide.com. If you don't have this yet I really suggest you check it out. Works great with the iPhone and is a great way to check out other rides you may not know about.

Name: Chris Baggott
Bicycle: Cannondale Rush
City: Greenfield
State: IN

Chris: Thanks from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy for sharing Your Bicycle Ride suggestion.  And of course, you are now in the running for our next- Your Bicycle drawing - Visit our two Bicycle Garage Indy locations, North (Clearwater area in Indianapolis) and South (just west of I-65 on County Line Rd, Greenwood)

 Our 12-bike household requires 24 tires, with the four of us riding around 12,000 miles a year.  This summer 4 bikes were ready for new tires, so I get to try a wide assortment of the tires available at Bicycle Garage Indy.

It was time for a new pair of gloves, and after a month of riding, I am very happy with the 2010 version of the Pearl Izumi Gel Selects.  In fact, they replaced a pair of Gel Selects with two full seasons (8,000+ miles) of warm weather riding.

I have tried dozens of different cycling gloves over the years. For me, a typical pair is good for about two full seasons, though your mileage may vary.  I replace them when the palm padding breaks down, or if the body of the gloves begins to wear or look especially grungy.  With the fabrics, leather treatments and padding materials available today, you can extend a gloves life with rinsing and washing with a gentile detergent; check the manufacturers label before you do.

What to do when you are a couple who wants to bike together, but one of you is so much stronger than the other?  We have seen this scenario play out so many times.  The stronger spouse is holding back, putting the brakes on their speed and fun.  And the slower spouse is busting a gut – struggling to hold a pace that is much too fast.  The ride is frustrating and not much fun for either person.  After a few more attempts, the slower spouse usually gives up, leaving only the faster one to continue with the sport of bicycling.  This is where a tandem bicycle comes in handy.  A tandem is the great equalizer – allowing couples with greatly varying abilities to ride together seamlessly. 

My husband Jay and I are the perfect example.  Being a triathlete, my training miles are spread between three different sports.  As a die-hard cyclist, Jay’s miles are focused entirely on the bike, and therefore he is a much stronger cyclist.  Yet we can come together on the tandem and BOTH have a fantastic ride.

The other benefit of tandeming is the ease of talking which it provides. A couple on two single bikes can have quite the disjointed conversation what with moving back and forth to accommodate passing cars and road hazards.  With a tandem you are always together and the talking flows so much easier. From the female perspective, definitely a big plus.  But from the male perspective, I wonder, ……do you consider this a positive or a negative?????? 

Tandems have come a long way from the single speed resort bikes you rode as a kid.  The Cannondale Road 3 feature a light weight aluminum frame, has a 30-speed Shimano drive train, front and rear disc brakes, and is ready for fun for couples and families of all abilities.  It  is just one of the performance Cannondale Bikes Indianapolis, available at both Bicycle Garage Indy North and Bicycle Garage Indy South in Greenwood.

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 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 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.  

Having recently moved to the Indianapolis area I have been enamored with the trails and bicycle friendly atmosphere around the city. I've been riding my 14 year old Giant CFR two for several years, and so I thought it might be time for a new ride as well as something more commuter friendly. I looked on Bicycle Garage Indy's website and was smitten with the look of the Cannondale Bad Boy Disc (love that Lefty front fork). I e-mialed with some questions and got a quick response which I greatly appreciated. A few weeks later I visited the store for the first time. Victor lugged out at least five different bikes for me to try in the parking lot. He never pressured but only wanted to help, which was a great experience! Later that week I ordered the Cannondale (despite riding several other very nice bikes) and I picked it up a week ago today. While I only have a little over 100 miles on it so far, I love it! Couldn't have asked for a better experience or be happier with my decision. Thanks BGI and Victor too.

Name: Rob Miller
Bicycle: Cannondale Bad Boy Disc
City: Indianapolis
State: IN

Rob:  Thanks from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy for Your Bicycle story.  The Bad Boy Disc is just one of the many Cannondale Bikes Indianapolis we have ready for test rides at both BGI locations.

2 years ago I did my first MTB race, a week later I had an accident that put me off my bike. Last weekend I did my first DINO Race since my accident at the Brown County State Park race. I would like to say I placed but for me, I beat my previous time by 17 minutes which was a win for me.

Name: Rick Beauchamp
Bicycle: Kona Hoss
City: Indianapolis
State: IN

Rick:  Congratulations on your return to racing and PR from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy.  BGI is a very active sponsor of the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association.

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.  

About 9 years ago I purchased a Giant Sedona hybrid bike and tag-a-long to tow my autistic son on the Monon Trail. This was actually the first "new" bike I had ever had in my life and LOVED it! My son soon outgrew the tag-a-long and we purchased tandem recumbents to replace it. My poor hybrid just sat unused in my garage for a couple years all by itself. When I was introduced to mountain biking and "real" road riding in 2008, I fell in love with sport! My sister Julia saw how much I loved it and started riding my hybrid. I eventually gave it to her as a present in 2009 but she quickly graduated up to a MUCH nicer road bike and has been quickly become an avid rider herself. Julia then gave the hybrid to our sister Brenda who began taking her kids on family bike rides in Beech Grove. Brenda has since started losing weight and became more interested in road bikes. Her oldest son has "filched" the family bike and frequently takes it out for rides. If you have a bike languishing in your garage, use it...or give it to someone who will. You will be amazed at the diffence it can make in a persons life!

Name: Linda Waddick
Bicycle: Giant Sedona
City: Westfield
State: IN

Linda:  Everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy thanks you for Your Bicycle story.  The Sedona continues to be a popular "starter" Giant Bike Indianapolis at Bicycle Garage Indy.

I bought this bike from a small shop run by two Indonesian brothers in a strip mall in Carbondale, Ill., in 1982. I was attending graduate school at Southern Illinois University at the time. I wanted to by a heavy, 3-speed Schwinn Varsity, but the co-owner sold me on a black Panasonic Training Track Bike with deep drop bars and a fixed wheel in back. It was drilled for brakes and brakes were installed. Plus, he cut the price to $229, which still seemed like a lot of money to me then. I still have the bike, though now I have a flip-flop hub in back and ride a 17T cog in back most of the time to go with the 48T in front. The drop bars are long gone. I've commuted on this bike to work in Champaign, Ill., St. Louis and here in Indianapolis on many occasions over the years, including on the Monon from Carmel to Downtown. The only major repair was to replace the bottom bracket from wear. But I use a Schwinn 564 aluminum bike made in Greenville, Miss., in 1989 or 1990, with early Shimano index shifting and a 14-speed, more often.

Name: Abe Aamidor
Bicycle: Panasonic Training Track Bike
City: Carmel
State: IN

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

We had 6 tandem couples and 2 single bikes for a 50 mile ride in the hills southeast of Columbus, Indiana on Sunday June 6, 2010. Here is a group picture from our lunch stop at Crouch's Market.  The HOOTS (Hoosiers Out On Tandems) is a part of the Central Indiana Bicycling Assoc. http://www.cibaride.org

Name: Jay & Linda Hardcastle (Bicycle Garage Indy Staff)
Bicycle: Santana Sovereign
City: Carmel
State: IN

Bicycle Garage Indy supports teams, clubs and bike rides Indianapolis.