Cycling Indianapolis

I have been bicycling for over 30 years now, but always on a more traditional road-style bicycle. The goal was usually to cover a large distance in a short time. But earlier this year I participated in a Downtown History Tour by bicycle,  presented by Nathan Smurdon of ActiveIndy Tours.

We were all provided an extremely upright, comfy bicycle from Bicycle Garage Indy's rental bikes. What fun this was!! The upright posture allowed us to drink up the downtown sights without crashing into each other. Never having tried such an, upright,  comfy bike before, I was hooked! So this summer I have a Giant Cypress for my leisurely "toddles" on the trails around Indy. I will continue to use my road bike for faster rides out in the countryside.

Name: Linda Hardcastle
Bicycle: Giant Cypress
City: Carmel
State: IN

Linda is the Exercise Physiologist for BGI Fitness and Bicycle Garage Indy, providing both Personal Training in the use of fitness equipment purchased from BGI Fitness, and an instructor for BGI's Get Back on Your Bike Corporate Wellness programs.

Last week, a cycling pal of mine flew in from British Columbia and we drove to Saluda, North Carolina for five days of biking in the mountains. We rode over 300 miles and climbed over 20,000' while sharing lots of laughs, good food and good spirits!

Name: Doreen Crenshaw
Bicycle: Bianchi Vigorelli
City: Indianapolis
State: In
 

Doreen:  North Carolina seems to be a very popular cycling destination for a lot of folks. Thanks from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy for sharing Your Bicycle picture and story.

Bicycle Garage Indy is proud to be a sponsor of the the 5th Annual Mayor's Bike Ride.

This year the ride will start at Butler University and highlight the new bike lanes on Illinois Street and Capitol Avenue. Participants will enjoy a casual 10 mile bike ride that will loop back to Butler University.

Bike safety information, children's bike helmets, door prizes, and snacks will be available for participants. FREE T-shirts will be provided to the first 200 participants that register! Shirts will also be available to purchase on the day of the ride.

What: Mayor's Bike Ride

Where: Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46208

When: Saturday, June 1, 2013

Time: Registration/Check-In 9 a.m. Ride Starts 10 a.m.

Complete details and registration at: http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DPW/SustainIndy/Bikeways/Pages/Mayor's-Bike-Ride-.aspx

Last year JoAn and I did our maiden tour. From Miami airport to Key West. We loved the idea of seeing America at 14 MPH. Retirement is here for me and soon for her. We have new touring bikes and plan to have three week long tours this summer. Assuming we don’t get lost. A great way for life part two.

Name: Joe Hettle
Bicycle: Bianchi, Vigorelli
City: Indianapolis
State: IN
 

Hi Joe & JoAn:  Sound like a great start to Part II.  We hope you many fun miles, ahead! Thanks from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy for sharing Your Bicycle picture and story.

NEW! You can now email Your Bicycle Picture and Story to: yourbicycle@bgindy.com
 

I pretty much ride my bike everyday, doesn't matter if its raining or snowing out i will be out there, the big event i do is RAGBRAI (Register Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). I don't race I just ride for fun. It shouldn't matter how fast you are or how often you ride just get out there and have some fun!! Be safe out there, always wear you're helmet, share and follow rules of the road!!

Name: rj zeph
Bicycle: 2011 cannondale synapse
City: carmel
State: indiana

Hi RJ.  Glad the new wheel are working out, they should be a lot of fun riding in Iowa this summer!  Thanks from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy for sharing Your Bicycle picture and story.

BGI customers on our email list have recently received our latest email newsletter.  
Here some of the useful items from the latest edition:

• Sale on bikes & gear @ BGI
• 12 Biking events coming
• Share Your Bicycle story (and win a Garmin 800)

Bicycle Garage Indy has three locations to serve you; Bicycle Garage Indy North (Indianapolis, Dean Road at 82nd St.),  South (Greenwood, just west of I-65 on County Line Rd), and BGI Downtown, in the Indy Bike Hub YMCA.

- Jay S. Hardcastle, BGI Marketing Manager 
 

I have only been commuting to work for a few months. I knew I would not miss driving but the unexpected perks are daily. Today, I stopped in the American Legion Mall to drink my coffee. Earlier this week I stopped to watch some ducks. And seriously, it's just plain fun.

Name: Shelly
Bicycle: Giant FCR
City: Indianapolis
State: IN

Hi Shelly:  Glad you are enjoying and sharing all those fringe benefits of bicycle commuting. Thanks from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy for sharing Your Bicycle picture and story.

NEW! You can now email Your Bicycle Picture and Story to: yourbicycle@bgindy.com
 

Just over one year ago I decided to start saving some gas by taking the bus to work.  The problem?  The nearest bus stop to my house was over 1 mile away and I would have to leave very early (5 am or so) to walk there in time for the bus. The solution? A bike, I started with a used one from a pawn shop and liked it so much that I soon upgraded to a "real" bike (with multiple gears and everything).  I rode in the Bicycle Garage Indy Get Back On Your Bike program and won the $400 that year.  Since then I have saved a lot of money and lost over 90lbs.  I ride to and from work some days and can be seen riding around downtown at lunch most days.  I love my bike and am always looking for more chances to ride.

Name: Sam Cohen
Bicycle: Schwinn
City: Indianapolis
State: IN
 

Sam: We are glad you enjoyed Get Back on Your Bike, and congratulations on your weight loss!  Thanks from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy for sharing Your Bicycle picture and story.


 

Celebrate National Bike Month with BGI!

Share Your Bicycle
Picture and Story
during May!

Your picture is a chance to win a Garmin Edge 800 GPS from BGI!
The first 20 entries will receive a $10 BGI Gift Card

No matter how you ride Your Bicycle during the League of American Bicyclists National Bike Month in Indianapolis, Bicycle Garage Indy  would like to hear your story, and share it with our customers, friends and fans.  

You can share a picture from your commute to work, your workout ride, your favorite outing with friends, or even your latest jaunt for coffee. 

And when Bicycle Garage Indy shares Your Bicycle picture and story, you will be entered in a prize drawing for a Garmin Edge 800 Touchscreen GPS for Your Bicycle.

The contest is easy.  Submit Your Bicycle picture and story using this form www.bgindy.com/for/yourbicycle. Eligible entries* must be submitted by Midnight, May 30, 2013. Once your entry has been processed, you will be entered in random drawing for the Garmin Edge 800.  The drawing will be held and the winner will be announced on Friday, May 31, 2013.

Bicycle Garage Indy has dozens of Your Bicycle pictures on our website, from our friends, fans and customers.  We also have 2 video albums (Vol. I, Vol. II) with pictures from the last year of Your Bicycle stories.

Find the latest information on National Bike Month events in Indianapolis on the BGI Website - www.bgindy.com/for/bikemonth.

*Indiana Residents only, full details on the entry form web page at www.bgindy.com/for/yourbicycle.

It is an industry recommendation that you replace your bicycle helmet every three to five years (or after any impact or accident).  There are variety of reason for this.  Over time, exposure to sunlight, body oils and perspiration can start to break down the straps, pads and enegy absorbing materials in the helmet, all of which can reduce it's comfort and protection.  The other reason is that the helmets just keep getting better.  Jay Hardcastle, Marketing Manager for Bicycle Garage Indy (and a 5,000+ mile per year rider) picked up a one the new Bontrager Specter ($139.99) helmets last fall, and is very happy with his choice.

I choose the Bontrager Specter to step up a notch in helmets, and I am glad I did. It is a "pro" level helmet that doesn't break the bank.  At just 340 gram (12 oz) in my XL size, the Specter is 2 oz lighter than my prior helmet.  But the newest ventaltion designs are incredible.  In the Specter, it is so effective I had to add a helmet cover or cap for even just cool (55 and lower temps) riding.  I am looking forward to a helmet that cool when the warm weather finally arrives.  The fit and ajustment is a snap, and the anti-bacterial pads and premium soft straps feel great against my face and scalp.  And it's a great looking helmet too.  (My wife Linda likes her new Bontrager Circuit, but I will let her tell you about that.)

Bicycle Garage Indy carres a complete selection of helmets from Bell, Bontrager, Cannondale, Giro and NutCase. Stop by any BGI location and our staff will help find the right helmet for your riding style (and budget!), and make sure it fits you like a glove.  

Bicycle Garage Indy has three locations to serve you; Bicycle Garage Indy North (Indianapolis, Dean Road at 82nd St.),  South (just west of I-65 on County Line Rd, Greenwood), and BGI Downtown, in the Indy Bike Hub YMCA @ City Market,

- Jay S. Hardcastle, BGI Marketing Manager 
 

It goes without saying, Connie Szabo Schmucker, Bicycle Garage Indy's Advocacy Director, is an avid cyclist.  Along with her husband, Randy Schmucker, they help lead and promote the very popular Grand Touring Ride series for the Central Indiana Bicycling Association.  Along with their own bikes, they are frequently seen out on their tandem.  Leading rides all over Indiana (and the Midwest) they have developed strong preferences in tires, and their favorite is the Continental's Ultra Gator Skin (or GatorSkin).:

These tires last 2x as long as any other tire I've used and are very impervious to flats. We rarely get flats. Since we ride our tandem ~2000 miles a year, this tire usually gets us through the riding season for the rear tire and through 2 years for the front tire barring any punctures.

Mileage my husband and I generally get before needing to replace the tire from wear on this tire: 5000 miles on rear, 10,000 miles on front on single bikes vs. 2500 rear/ 5000 front with other tires 2000 miles on rear, 5000 miles on front on tandem vs. 1000 rear / 2500 front with other tires.

(How do we know this? My husband has a maintenance log for all of our bikes and tracks how long the tires last and when we need to think about replacing them.)

Bicycle Garage Indy carries a complete selection of Continental bicycle tires, along with tires from Kenda, Bontrager, Michelin, Mavic and Serfas.

- Jay S. Hardcastle, BGI Marketing Manager 
 

Jeremy Blocke, Sale Floor Lead at BGI North, is really pleased with his new Burley D'Lite trailer. 

I am excited about the newest model (2013) of the Burley D'Lite trailer.  The suspension is much better them in previous years.  This baby used to have rubber bumpers for a suspension, and now has metal springs that are adjustable depending on whether you are caring 1 child or 2.  I can now slowly go off a curb without having to get off the bike and my 2-year old doesn't feel like I have just pushed the ejector button.

Bicycle Garage Indy carries a complete selection of Burley Trailers and accessories.  And you if you are visiting downtown Indianapolis, you can rent a Burley D'Lite from at Bicycle Garage Indy downtown, located inside the Indy Bike Hub YMCA.

Join Bicycle Indiana for the 2013 National Bike Challenge (NBC). The lead sponsor for the Challenge is Kimberly Clark and it's presented by the League of American Bicyclists. Bicycle Indiana is an authorized organization (AO) and will once again be leading the charge for Indiana.

The National Bike Challenge officially begins on May 1st and will conclude on September 30th, 2013. The Challenge is no-charge to anyone who lives in the U.S. or works for an organization with U.S. employees.

The Bike Challenge records both your transportation/commuting and sport/recreation miles.  Regular commuters can preset their one way distance, and record both rides.  The challenge rewards extra points for transportation/commutting miles and trip; you don't have to ride mega miles to get a high ranking.

Riders are also organized by their place of employment and into self-selected clubs and teams, making the competition even more intersesting for groups and companies.

Join Today! http://www.endomondo.com/campaign/nbc2013

You can join the National Bike Challenge now; activity will be reset to zero on May 1st. If you would like more information about starting a team or registering your business, contact Bicycle Indiana.

- Jay S. Hardcastle

May is National Bike and if you are the BGI email list, you have just recieved lots of details on the exciting month ahead in our latest email newsletter.  

Here is a quick summary of the Indianapolis Bike Month Events covered in our latest newsletter:

• BGI's Bike Month Kick-Off Event
• Tour de Tires (on Mass Ave)
• Bike-In Movie @ Garfield Park (Indy Parks)
• Indianapolis Cultural Trail Ribbon Cutting & Get Down On It Grand Opening
• Indy Cog Two Wheels One City 
• Indianapolis Bike to Work Day 
• 2013 National Bike Challenge - Bicycle Indiana
• More Events On The Calendar (designed to make happier, better bike riders)

Bicycle Garage Indy has three locations to serve you; Bicycle Garage Indy North (Indianapolis, Dean Road at 82nd St.),  South (just west of I-65 on County Line Rd, Greenwood), and BGI Downtown, in the Indy Bike Hub YMCA.

- Jay S. Hardcastle, BGI Marketing Manager 
 

Bicycle Garage Indy is pleased to announce it will be hosting  Bike Month Kick-Off - a brand new event, and evening of connections, contacts and info. Come to BGI North on Wednesday, May 1 (first day of National Bike Month) from 5:30-7:30 pm. You'll meet representatives of bicycle organizations, find out what going on in Indianapolis and Indiana for bicycling, find out about upcoming events and get ready to celebrate Bike Month and Bike to Work Day!

Organizations represented (as of 4/15/13):

• ActiveIndy Tours
• Bicycle Indiana
• BISSELL/ABG/Giant Racing Team
• Central Indiana Bicycling Association (CIBA)
• Greenways Foundation
• Hoosier Mountain Bike Association (HMBA)
• Indy Bike Hub YMCA
• Nine13Sports
• Shifting Gears

We look forward to seeing you here.

Jay Hardcastle
Marketing Manager - Bicycle Garage Indy
jhardcastle@bgindy.com

Bicycle Garage Indy is pleased to have Geoffrey Chandler join us and help our customers learn more about preparing for triathlons. His presentation will cover the following:

• Training
• Skills
• First Race Preparation
• Equipment
• Resources

If you have any specific question on one of the topics listed that you'd like addressed, please enter your question in the registration form at www.bgindy.com/for/trinight.

Geoffrey Chandler's bio: Based in Indianapolis, Geoffrey is a certified USAT level 1 coach bringing 28 years of multi-sport competition and passion for endurance sport.  Having competed in six World championship events of varying distances including Hawaii Ironman, ITU Wolrd Long-Distance Championship, ITU World Duathlon Championship, and ICU Masters World Cyclocross Championship, Geoff has a wide range of experience from which to draw. Geoff is also the 2012 Indiana State TT Champion in his age group and considers cycling his strongest suit.

Geoff's background as a teacher helps him appreciate the uniqueness of each athlete and find ways to turn challenges into strengths. He has a particular interest and knowledge relating to power-based cycling training.

Agenda

5:45 pm    Food/social time
6:15 pm    Welcome/Intros
6:30 pm    Presentation: How to Prepare for a Successful Triathlon - Geoffrey Chandler
7:15 pm    Shopping
7:45 pm    Door Prizes / Evening ends

Please fill out this form at to register for Bicycle Garage Indy's "Tri Night: How to Prepare for a Successful Triathlon" on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at Bicycle Garage Indy North, 4340 E. 82nd St., Indianapolis, IN. 

Jay Hardcastle
Marketing Manager - Bicycle Garage Indy
jhardcastle@bgindy.com

BGI customers on our email list have recently received our latest email newsletter.  
Here some of the useful items from the latest edition:

• TREKfest Sale (April 11 - 15)
• Vote (on Facebook) for Indiana's trail (funded by Bell Helmets) www.hmba.org
• BGI TRI (athlon) NIGHT coming 4/25
• Ladies' Night Thursday 4/11: registration open
• Indianapolis' 'Complete Streets' policy commended
• BGI Weekly Ride Calendar

Bicycle Garage Indy has three locations to serve you; Bicycle Garage Indy North (Indianapolis, Dean Road at 82nd St.),  South (just west of I-65 on County Line Rd, Greenwood), and BGI Downtown, in the Indy Bike Hub YMCA.

- Jay S. Hardcastle, BGI Marketing Manager 
 

Big News for future of bicycling in Indianapolis!

From Indiana Complete Streets Campaign:

BIG NEWS! The National Complete Streets Coalition is recognizing Indianapolis's Complete Streets Ordinance as the #1 Complete Streets Policy of 2012, and the top piece of City Legislation ever adopted nationally!! We are so proud of the City of Indianapolis and everyone who helped make its Complete Streets policy a reality. Congratulations!!

To see the full report:(with Indianapolis on the cover)
http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets-2012-analysis

From Inside Indiana with Gerry Dick:

Indianapolis Tops Complete Streets Policy List

The National Complete Streets Coalition has listed Indianapolis at the top of a list for the best policies of 2012. Coalition Deputy Director Stefanie Seskin says the city can serve as an example to other communities of what a streets access policy should look like. The Indianapolis ordinance was passed last August unanimously by the City-County Council and signed by Mayor Ballard. The policy applies to all construction and reconstruction.
 

For full article, click on this link: www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=58810

Some background:

In August 2012, the Indianapolis City-County Council unanimously pssed Indianapolis' Complete Streets Ordinance and it was signed by Mayor Ballard. 

Why is that so important?  In the realm of transportation and infrastructure planning and design, policies generally don't support planning for bicycles, pedestrians and mass transit on equal terms as other road users. So unless there was a specific special effort to get a bike lane or a sidewalk added as part of a road design, it generally wasn't done. What a Complete Streets Policy does is turn that around. Wth a Complete Street Policy,  it is now a normal part of the planning and design process to look at the needs of all road users and there needs to be a reason to not include their needs in the design. Once the policy is in place, the work is not done - it is just beginning. Now comes the hard work of making sure that steps are in place to ensure the policy is implemented. 

So it is exciting that Indianapolis not only passed a Complete Streets Policy with bi-partisan support, but that is is now getting national recognition as being the best Complete Streets Policy in the country!

 It's all a team effort. While there are many people who deserve credit for this including the Indianapolis City-County Council and Indianapolis Mayor Ballard, the Indiana Complete Streets Coalition and Health by Design deserve a bulk of the credit for spearheading this effort. Congratulations to all involved!

Connie

Connie Szabo Schmucker

Advocacy Director

Bicycle Garage Indy

Warm weather has finally arrived, and when you start riding more, it's time to take a look at your tires and decide when to replace or upgrade.  While it may be obvious that a tire is "toast", there are other things to consider.  A tire can still be usable with a considerable amount of tire wear, but may be more prone to flats. Also, if your tires are getting toward the end of their useful life, you may to upgrade before you next big event or training cycle, to make sure you spend time riding rather than on the side of the road.  

We have asked our staff to share some their favorites and a few their picks.

Toby Holsman, BGI's Operations Manager is big fan of the Michelin Pro4 Endurance ($64.99)  for a high mileage training tire - 

I love the Michelin Pro4 Endurance.  It handles, corners, and most importantly, lasts better than any other high-mileage tire.  You'll never go back to Gatorskins after owning these.

Toby picks the Continental GP 4000s ($74.99)  for his competitive riding and best all around performance -

The Continental GP4000 is one of the most expensive clincher tires.  It deserves to be.  No other tire strikes a better balance between high performance and durability.  It lasts nearly as well as training-only tires, and it performs on par with superlight race-only tires.  If I could only buy one tire for the rest of my life, this would be it.

Adam Haines, a Bicycle and Fitness Consultant at BGI North is also a fan of the GP 4000s - 

Light, grippy, low rolling resistance,  and durable.  Nuff said.

Jay Hardcastle, Marketing Manager at Bicycle Garage Indy, likes the Serfas Seca ($27.99) wire beaded tires for their value and durability for sport and distance riding - 

It is a great value tire, and we have used all three widths in our household of bikes - 23, 25 and 28, for every type of riding from sprint triathlons to centuries, and on our tandem.  

Bicycle Garage Indy stocks road tires from Continental, Michelin, and Serfas, with choices for every budget and use.   Bicycle Garage Indy has three locations to serve you; Bicycle Garage Indy North (Indianapolis, Dean Road at 82nd St.),  South (just west of I-65 on County Line Rd, Greenwood), and BGI Downtown, in the Indy Bike Hub YMCA at City Market.

Did you watch any of the Olympic Women’s Beach Volleyball last summer?    If so, you couldn’t help but notice the fluorescent shoulder taping of American Gold Medalist Misty May-Treanor.  What was that all about? 

Misty was using the latest product available to athletes for injury prevention and/or rehab – Kinesiology Tape.  Designed for sore muscles, joints and tendons – Kinesiology Tape offers targeted pain relief and support.  This product has taken off so much that it is now available directly to consumers without needing to go through a physical therapist.  BGI Fitness is proud to announce that we now carry KT Tape. 

KT Tape comes in easy-to-apply, pre-cut strips.  These strips will stay in place for up to three days, replete with multiple workouts, showers and even swimming in the pool.  The best part is the informative website for KT Tape.    Just click on your injured body part, and the video link will provide clear, step-by-step instruction in the proper placement of your tape. For example, this link shows a possible placement for a hamstring injury.

 You will quickly come to understand the motto of this exciting new product……

Prevent Injury

Recover Faster

Play Harder

KT Tape is now available at Bicycle Garage and BGI Fitness, along with many other flexibility and therapeutic accessories for any level of exercise or sport.

When you visit Bicycle Garage Indy, BGI Fitness is the same store. Bicycle Garage Indy-North (Dean Rd at East 82nd Street) and Bicycle Garage Indy-South (just seconds west of I-65 on County Line Road)