During triathlon competitions, I suggest that you start and finish the bicycle leg in your lower gears. Why?
1. As you exit the water, your legs may feel a bit wobbly. Jumping onto a bike in high gear can tax those already fatigued legs. On top of this, many triathlon staging areas are lakeside, which means at the bottom of a hill. Not a good place to be in a big gear. So before you park your two-wheeler in the staging area, first make sure you have left it in a comfortable, lower gear. You can quickly shift back up as you start rolling.
2. Just as you start your bike leg in low gear, I suggest you finish in a lower gear as well. The reason is, if you push really big gears in your last few miles of your bike leg, the transition to running can be downright painful. Tight hip flexors lead to tiny little baby steps on your run. Ow! Don’t let this happen to you. As you enter into your final miles on the bike, simply shift into a slightly easier gear and ramp up your cadence. Then when you get off your bicycle, you can move seamlessly into your long, beautiful running stride.
Bicycle Garage Indy recently sponsored the Go Girl Triathlon, and carries a wide range of of triathlon clothing, accessories and bicycles.
Here is long-time customer Linda Downer picking up her new Cannondale Synapse 5 from Bicycle Garage Indy North. Linda just completed
her first century ride with a group of friends, and we hope the new bikes allows her to do many more!
Name: Linda Downer
Bicycle:
Cannondale Synapse 5City: Carmel
State: IN
Bicycle Garage Indy is a sponsor of the Hoosier Outdoor Experience, Saturday & Sunday, September 18-19, 2010, at Fort Harrison State Park, Indianapolis, IN.
The Hoosier Outdoor Experience is Indiana's largest, hands-on outdoor recreation event. Featuring over 50 activities and 120 grassroots partners, this no-charge weekend at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis will provide the opportunity to learn the basics of outdoor recreation activities available across Indiana's extraordinary public lands.
I'm Kat and have been a Bicycle Garage Indy customer for years!! I love all the staff,they are helpful and accomodating at times when I needed them! I currently own 3 bikes,all from BGI and I LOVE every single one for what they are to me!!! My Hybrid bike is a Giant Sedona.It is my Cadillac.All comfort,upright positioning,moderate in weight and solid...great for touring,camping and the NITE RIDE!!! #2 bike is my Cannondale Six road bike-my sports car!!! Wow,light and FAST and incredible!! Never thought in a million years I would love road biking (MTB biker at heart..)..Beautiful bike!!! Gets lots of looks...#3 bike- my dream bike,Cannondale red Mountain Bike!!! Wow!! This bike eats trails like crazy!!! Did Town Run many times and Westwood...so, at 49 years old,this old lady can still run the trails..may take me alittle longer,but that doesn't matter to me!! Thanks BGI for great service and the amazing bikes in my life!!!
Name: Kat Andrzejewski
Bicycle:
Giant Sedona/
Cannondale Six/Cannondale MTB
City: Greenfield
State: Indiana
Thank you Kat, from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy! Glad that we can be part of your bicycling fun!
A common misnomer is that, as long as your helmet looks okay, then it is okay. Not true. Over time, the materials in your helmet will begin to break down. This includes the outer shell, the shock absorbing material in the shell as well as the strapping material. UV exposure, perspiration and body oils all contribute to this progressive decline. A good rule of thumb is to replace your helmet every 5 years. However, some manufacturers, like
Bell and
Giro, recommend that you replace your helmet every 3 years.
This is especially important to understand with helmets for our children. I think of when my kids were younger and growing so quickly. Much of their bicycle gear consisted of hand-me-downs. A great option for clothing, but not always so great with helmets. Be sure to learn the purchase date of a hand-me-down helmet and replace it after 5 years.
Is your helmet beyond the 5 year mark, perhaps 10 years or older (think hard shell Bell Biker)? Helmet technology has improved dramatically over the past decade, with newer helmets being considerably lighter, better ventilated and with better fitting systems. So stay safe and be sure your helmet will protect you.
And of course, if you should take a spill and land on your head, no matter how light the impact, you should always replace your helmet. Just because there are no visible cracks or damage to the outer shell, that is no guarantee that there is no damage to the all important absorbing material on the inside. This is one rule of thumb which should never be ignored. If in doubt, contact your helmet manufacturer, who may offer inspection or a crash replacement program.
Giro,
Bell,
Trek and Catlike are among the
Bike Helmet Indianapolis which you can find Bicycle Garage Indy’s two locations, North (Clearwater area in Indianapolis) and South (just west of I-65 on County Line Rd, Greenwood)
My wife researched vacation spots and settled on Blowing Rock and nearby Boone North Carolina as picturesque artist communities full of galleries, good restaurants, and close to the Blueridge Parkway. We made cottage reservations and, when we arrived in the area, were energized by the narrow winding tree-covered roads up mountains with folksy names that suddenly swept down into the ‘hollers’ where homes clung on the hillsides. Many times we came up on road cyclists grinding out the long serpentine climbs and each one gave me a chance to pine for my own bike which hadn’t made the agenda for this trip. But I had wanted to try off-road biking so, on the last day, I rented a mountain bike, got directions to a set of trails near a local reservoir and took off to try it out. I wish I had the space here to express how fantastic the experience turned out. Little did I know. A week after returning home I was amazed to read a bicycling magazine article that identified the area as one of the top five mountain biking areas in the country. Dumb luck indeed.
Name: Alan Edgar
Bicycle: Cannondale Synapse 3
City: Yorktown
State: IN
Alan: Thanks from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy for sharing your story with our Customers, Friends and Fans.
(
Continued) To understand the third option, visualize a small CamelBak which is mounted on your waist, not your back, and you have the
CamelBak FlashFlo. Being an avid fan of
CamelBak’s for my riding, I was instantly sold on this waist mounted option for running. Water remains ice cold for the duration of your run. The drinking tube is unusually long, and hooks to the waist strap. When thirsty, you just unhook it, take your sip, then rehook it to your pack. I do find that I need to cinch the pack up quite tightly, in order to minimize pack bounce.
Our last option for drinking/food replacement while running is the fuel belt. This is a belt which holds assorted containers for your food, gel, fluid, etc. These are extremely popular, judging by the number I see worn in the weeks leading up to local marathons. However, they probably are not as important until your runs begin to exceed one hour in length. The FuelBelt Hydration Belt and Nathan Speed Belt hold anywhere from 2-4 containers. The Nathan Booster Belt can hold your race number AND clip on flasks are available separately.
Bicycle Garage Indy has a full line of
Hydration accessories from
CamelBak, Nathan and FuelBelt for cross training, running, triathlons and adventure racing.
Bicycle Garage Indy, North (Clearwater area in Indianapolis) and South (just west of I-65 on County Line Rd, Greenwood)
We just sent our
latest email newsletter, (partial image shown below).
Inside, you will find:
• Labor Day Sale Coming
• Bicycle Indiana License Plate Announcement !
• Bicycle Garage Indy Events Calendar
Buy any folding bicycle tire, and get an inner tube free with the latest online coupon from Bicycle Garage Indy. And there is no limit on the number of tires and tube combos you can buy. So if you have put on a lot of miles this summer, or you want to upgrade to lighter, higher performance tires, this offer is just for you. Here is the coupon, or you can get a coupon from the
bgindy.com web site.
Bicycle Tires and Tubes from Bontrager, Continental, Michelin and Serfas are just a few of bicycle accessories Indianapolis you will find at 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).
We are experiencing one of the hottest and most humid summers in recent memory. Proper fluid hydration during exercise is particularly important this summer (How much do you need to drink:
Exercise and Fluid Replacement). Whereas I used to carry water only on my longest runs in the peak of summer, I am even bringing it along on some of my shorter runs. Consider the following options for accomplishing this.
The simplest option is to carry the water bottle in your hand. This used to be quite cumbersome, as the action of gripping the water bottle prevented your arms from swinging freely. However, the CamelBak Quick Grip offers an adjustable comfort grip for a water bottle. By attaching the bottle to your hand, you no longer need to grip and thus your hand remains relaxed and your arm swing normal. There is even a stash pocket for your key, gel or other small item.
A second option that I used for several years also involves a water bottle, but one that is placed in a pack around your waist. I preferred this option as my hands were left totally free. The original design was limited in that the pack would bounce a fair amount on your back. But newer designs, such as the Nathan Triangle Hydration Pack, have reduced this problem by angling the position of the water bottle. The bottle snugs up into the natural curves of your back, keeping it much more steady. These packs today also come with a zippered pocket.
Whatever product works best for you, just be sure that you keep drinking on these lovely, hot and oh so humid days.
Bicycle Garage Indy has a full line of
Hydration accessories from
CamelBak, Nathan and Fuel Belt for cross training, triathlons and adventure racing.
Bicycle Garage Indy, North (Clearwater area in Indianapolis) and South (just west of I-65 on County Line Rd, Greenwood)
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 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:
"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
Join BGI on a fun, casual, social ride. 15-20 miles on quiet roads, great conversations. Ready to Roll at 6:30 pm, we'll return by 8:30 pm.
Click Here for Event Details and Registration Information. Phone (317) 777-9630
The Ride starts and finishes at Bicycle Garage Indy North, 4130 E 82nd Street (in the Clearwater area in Indianapolis).
Visit the
BGI calendar for a complete listing of all upcoming store events.
This past Sunday, (8/15) a group of us from the Indy's North side drove up to Kokomo for the Break Away Bicycle Club's Sizzling Century. Our group of 15 ranged in ages from 21 to 61, with experience ranging from first century to dozens, (including double and triples). The goal was to ride as a group, and we did, everyone working together and finishing in 8 hours. We had miles of corn and bean fields, but also great scenery along the
Mississenwa River and Wildcat Creek. It was hot, steamy weather, but the group spirit was great.
Name: Jay Hardcastle
(Marketing Manager, Bicycle Garage Indy)Bicycle: Motobecane Gran Sprint (2008)
City: Carmel
State: IN
One day I got lucky and bought a frame for a Guerciotti stage racing bike that was in my size. I installed all Dura Ace gruppo parts using a Shimano Triple setup no less. It has been a great bike, fast and very nimble. The tires are Vittoria Open Corsa's. The handlebar is a semi-aero design with a large flat area on top, which is handy on those long rides.
Name: Earl Bollinger
Bicycle: Guercriotti
City: Grapevine
State: Texas
Earl, thanks for you post from the staff at Bicycle Garage Indy. Let us know the next time you are up north!
So, here's what it looked like at oh-dark-thirty on Saturday morning…
Our good friend Rob caught a wicked virus last year. It attacked his heart muscle, and really brought him to his knees. He went from bike-commuting a 70mile round trip several times a week, to not being able to keep up with household chores. He's on the mend, but behind the curve…
On Saturday, about 20 of us descended on their house and blitzed through a season's-worth of chores. We blew sticks off the roof (they live in the woods) and cleaned the gutters. We got rid of wasp nests in the downspouts and in the grill. (Did you know that plantain neutralizes venom?!) We raked and mowed and ran the string trimmers. Raspberry bushes that were engulfed with nightshade breathed a sigh of relief. Volunteer tomato plants were untangled and draped over cages. Herbs were found amongst brambles. Walkways between raised beds were found and cleared. The pile of weeds we pulled was bigger than our couch!
We'd planned to ride Gnaw Bone Camp afterward, but that didn't happen. Ride plans morphed to Sunday, and it ended up even better than we imagined!
Amanda won the Women's Division of the Sub-9 SuperD race at Brown County State Park. Tim won the Overall title, wearing his HalfWheelers kit. (Woo-hoo, first team victory!!) Montana took 4th in Men's Expert. Alex raced and got to see world-class riders grinning ear-to-ear over the quality and challenge of the trails that he helped design and build.
Sally, Jill, Tom, Dno, Fred and I went to Versailles and rode the Dino course. Hooked up with Guy (VSP trailbuilder) Scotty (riding animal) and Tim (from Cinci) and Dave (webmaster from England-Idlewild) on the trails. Scott and Sally were still hungry for more, so they bid us adieu and we headed home. Scotty logged 75 miles before dusk, and Sally rode all night. She's training for this fall's World MTB Endurance Championships in Australia (the motive force behind Team HalfWheelers!), and came prepared with her night-riding lights. She said she had to put on arm-warmers by 4am, and that the sunrise was beautiful.
So… Things didn't go exactly as planned, but turned out even better!
BTW, here's my packing list: Bike (ABC quick-check done), shoes, helmet, gloves, shorts, jersey, socks, CamelBak (full and stocked w/ food & tools), cooler w/ water bottles, 2 PB&Js and a couple of apres-ride refreshments.
Mark Finney
(Sales Staff - Bicycle Garage Indy North)Bicycle: '08 Giant Trance Advanced
Indianapolis, IN
On the way home from work I took the trail behind my house. It was a little damp, but nothing to worry about until I took a sharp turn and realized just how moss covered the path had gotten. The knee and the hip will recover, but the new bike got her first real scrapes. Sometimes we learn the hard way. Watch out for mossy trails!
Name: Richard Meyer
Bicycle: Gary Fisher Rail Super
City: Fishers
State: IN
Sometimes a bike just isn't complete until you have that first scratch. Thanks from the entire staff at Bicycle Garage Indy for your post. You have won a CamelBak bottle and Elixir drink mix sample, and you are now eligible for our monthly prize drawing.
On July 1, we had one of the few evenings that was sunny but actually cool. Eight of us rode from Bicycle Garage Indy southeast to Fall Creek Trail and back, about 20 miles. No flats this time (unlike in June) and great conversations.
Thanks to Johnine Adomitis for taking our picture (she's the 8th person, not in the picture).
August 5
No photo, but we had 10 women for the ride - several regulars and some new people. We rode out to Fort Harrison State Park, did a loop in the park and headed back. Everyone stayed dry except me - I started riding home just as a big, dark rain cloud came overhead. About a mile down the road, I had ridden out of the range of the cloud, it stopped raining and I was dry by the time I reached home.
Email message from one of the new riders:
Hi Connie,
Thanks again for hosting the ride. I really enjoyed it. The weather, the light traffic, the scenic route, and the conversation were all good. I hope your ride back home in the rain was not too bad. I love my new helmet and look forward your Sept. 2 ride.
Kathy Hope to see even more women bicycling on our last Nothing But Us Chicks Ride, September 2nd. NOTE: On September 2nd, we'll be starting at 6 pm so we can return before dark.
Check out
BGI's calendar of events for this and other happenings.
Connie Szabo Schmucker
Advocacy Director
Bicycle Garage Indy
Indianapolis, IN and Greenwood, IN
I am for bikes. I'm for long rides and short rides. I'm for commuting to work, weekend rides, racing, riding to school, or just a quick spin around the block. I believe that no matter how I ride, biking makes me happy and is great for my health, my community and the environment we all share. That is why I am pledging my name in support of a better future for bicycling—one that is safe and fun for everyone and i also think ppl should wear helmets cuz one slip of ur pedals no helmet who knows what will happen
Name: rj zeph
Bicycle:
cannondale f9City: Carmel
State: IN
Thanks RJ, from the entire staff at Bicycle Garage Indy. We will be contacting you about picking up your Keen Deluxe OTL bag, and you are entered in Bicycle Garage Indy's next Your Bicycle Gift Card drawing in September.
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