Road Bike Indianapolis

Sometimes a product comes along that is very difficult to describe, or explain in words how to use or why you need it.  When I first saw the XDK Slug, A Hydration Pack Tool I knew I had to have one.  

Now I am a rarity, a road rider who uses a CamelBak. I know a CamelBak on road bike just yells FRED, but hear me out. I was first introduced to them while riding in Washington State.  Off-road riders are constantly in mud, so CamelBaks were used for both for hands-free drinking, and reasonable clean access to water.  A lot of the off-road riders would train on the road, so they kept the CamelBak habit.  I am on a tandem a lot, so hands free is nice for that.  Finally, our kids were tandeming with at a very early age, and a strapped on pack let them drink without playing the "drop-the-water-bottle" game.  So our work-out storage includes hooks for four hydration packs and extra's.

Now the Omegaport lid is a great improvement over the original CamelBak.  You can easily add ice (especially nice at quick shop ice machines!), and clean and dry the bladder.  But for some, it can be very difficult to open.  In our household, I am the official CamelBak "opener". (Along with bike mechanic, roof rack bike loader, tire inflation specialist, etc.) With the Slug, which inspired the video below, I have 1 less official job at home.  Now if someone will just invent a PowerBar opener. . . .



CamelBak and XDK 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.

I am completely at home taking care of the different types of bicycle brakes I have used over the years; side pulls, center pulls, cantilevers and linear-pull/V-brakes.   I have had them on the bikes I have owned, assembled and maintained.  But disc brakes are a completely new animal for me.  I don’t own a disc-equipped bike (yet, of course!), and they only came into wide-spread use after my days as a full-time mechanic.  However, I had a unique opportunity to learn more about Hydraulic Disc brakes when Josh Prater, one of the service leads for Bicycle Garage Indy, scheduled a training session for BGI’s Service Department to share what he learned at a recent Park Tool Tech Summit, I jumped at the chance, and it turned out to be a very interesting couple of hours!

My name is Sandy Spears and I work at BGI South and this is the story of my first bike ride of 2010. I like many others have been itching to get outside and ride bicycles, the weather on the other hand has not cooperated, unleashing on the city mounds of snow and bitter cold temperatures. This past Sunday however, held the promise of warmer temps enticing me to make a date with my bike and my friend, I was not going to let this opportunity slip through my pedals. Donned in my cold weather clothing I loaded my bike on to the car rack and made my way downtown to meet my friend. They sky was cloudy and the streets were wet and sloppy from a light misting of rain and melting snow, I knew my bike was going to be a mess before I even started to ride, but I didn’t care I was not to be denied this day or the anticipation of the simple pleasure of being back on my bicycle. On the road we encountered a wide array of conditions including puddles of water, sheets of ice, piles of shoveled snow and light drizzling rain. Now you might be thinking that’s a little reckless getting out on a road bike in those conditions. Rest assured this was not a job for my road bike, nor would I be using one of my mountain bikes or my hybrid, no this ride was going to take a very special type of bike to handle these conditions. I would need to use my sweet little single speed Trek Wasabi for this journey. Oh the fun that was had that day as we rode around the Canal and White River trails. We barely noticed the 39-degree temperature and wet feet as we pedaled away the 14.5 miles made up our adventure. Ah, how could it possibly get any better? Well you end it all with a shared meal and more relevant conversation. “Life is Good”

Name: Sandra Spears
Bicycle: Trek SS Wasabi
City: Indianapolis
State: IN

I work at BGI and usually buy a new road bike every year. It's always a little melancholy, to sever that attachment and start a new one, but it's wonderful to try all the different options out there. Last year I took the plunge and bought a much nicer bike than I'd ever had before (that's me in the yellow). I was a little concerned about the extra investment, the risk of expensive damage, etc, but as soon as I started riding it: holy moly. Fast, agile, and most of all, smooth. I wasn't sure if it was the right choice when I ordered the bike, but it's been a great year, and I'll remember it fondly. I rode it a bunch, I got my best race results on it, and I'm sad to see it go--until the next one arrives.

Name: Toby Holsman
Bicycle: Trek Madone 6.5 Pro
City: Indianapolis
State: Indiana

 (Part 4 of a series on the Trek Off-Road Tech Update for BGI Staff  from Ken Derrico of Trek Bicycle.)

Traditional suspension systems will mount one end of the shock on in a fixed position on the frame.  With Full Floater, Jose Gonzalez, Trek Bicycle's Director of Suspension Technology,  connects the two ends of the shock to live members of the suspension; the EVO link at the top, and the extension of the chainstay at the bottom.  First introduced in 2008, the Full Floater now takes full advantage of the DVRC short, and Active Braking Pivot for a very efficient, compliant suspension system. (Follow this link to YouTube for Jose's detailed explanation of Full Floater.)

The Full Floater is found on all Trek Full suspension bikes, including the Remedy and Fuel series of high performance Trek Bikes Indianapolis, available at both Bicycle Garage Indy-North and Bicycle Garage Indy-South in Greenwood.

That covers the four key elements of Trek's full suspension systems.  Watch for future posts on other aspects Trek's off-road bike technology.

 (Part 3 of a series on the Trek Off-Road Tech Update for BGI Staff from Ken Derrico of Trek Bicycle.)

The rocker link is essential in connecting rear suspension members to the frame.  Most are bolted together plates.  To tie all the elements of it's rear suspension together, Trek relies on the one piece EVO Roller link casting.  One piece design dramatically improves stiffness and reliability in Trek's hi performance off-road bike.  The EVO also incorporates pressed in sealed bearing, rather than bushing, for increased durability.  (You can see more EVO details on YouTube from Trek's Jose Gonzalez.)

The EVO Link is found on all Trek Full suspension bikes, including the Remedy and Fuel series of high performance Trek Bikes Indianapolis, available at both Bicycle Garage Indy-North and Bicycle Garage Indy-South in Greenwood.

We will cover Full Floater shock mount next in Part 4.

This week, Sales and Service staff at both BGI North and South had the chance to participate in a Trek Off-Road Tech Update with Ken Derrico of Trek Bicycle.  We have put a few of the pictures up on our Bicycle Garage Indy Flikr site.  In this and several posts to follow, we will highlight some of these new offerings, in development since 2006, when Trek began, with considerable investment, research efforts to completely retool it's off-road bikes. These efforts are now bearing fruit in industry and rider recognition.

Along with it's carbon frame building technology (Lance and Madone, need we say more!), Trek is highlighting four Suspension technologies; Fox Dual Rate Control Valve (DRCV), Active Braking Pivot (ABP), Full Floater Shock Mount, and EVO 1-piece rocker links.   We will talk first about the DRCV shock first, and cover the rest future posts.

Built by Fox and engineered by Trek, DRCV allows for both small bump compliance and "big-hit" control in an air spring. The first stage functions as a standard Fox Float air shock.  Halfway through its travel, the plunger opens a valve to the upper canister, providing "big-hit" performance, without the loss of pedaling efficiency of a long travel shock.

The DRVC Shock is found on the Remedy and Fuel series of high performance Trek Bikes Indianapolis, available at both Bicycle Garage Indy-North and Bicycle Garage Indy-South in Greenwood.

We will cover the Active Braking Pivot in our next post.

This year, several women learned the joys of bicycling in a fun group through Nothing But Us Chicks rides. Pattie came to her first group ride in July. At the time she was riding a hybrid bike, but with most of the rest of the group on road bikes, she had to work harder on her bike. She started renting road bikes from BGI for the evening rides and liked the feeling of freedom she got when riding a lighter, more responsive bike. So at BGI's Labor Day Sale, Pattie picked out a beauty! Pattie bought a Giant Avail 3 W. She was so excited she rode it that same day and texted me while on her first ride: "I'm on my new bike!" (I have to assume she was stopped at the time!)

Pictures of Pattie and her new bike when she rode it on the Monon:



Pattie has gone on several bike rides since then. The last time I rode with her in October, I had a hard time keeping up!

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

Gloves for cold weather cycling have to meet a variety of requirements.   Along with providing the normally expected vibration protection, they have to block the wind, and keep your hands warm and dry.  They must do this and not interfere with shifting and braking.   The right pair of gloves can make big difference in how comfortable you feel when riding in the cold.  You will typically find three weights of cool and cold weather cycling gloves.  How cold you ride will determine what works best for you.

Well, thanks, Daylight Savings Time!  The forecast looks favorable for the first time in weeks, so we've got a group of people riding from the shop at 7:30.  Bring your road bike and we'll be back at 9. 

Just reloaded my winter clothing wardrobe.  My new Pearl Izumi jacket and booties are winners.

Looks like I'll finally be able to pop the cork on my cyclocross season at the Major Taylor Velodrome!  Nice to go into a race with no expectations.  Or preparations.  I also hear that there's a hill which might not be rideable on my singlespeed rig.  If the race is decided by my running prowess, it might get ugly. 

It's rained the last few Fridays, and it's in the forecast again for this week.  Still, I'm not quite ready to give up.  8 AM, at North, on road bikes.  Just an hour or so.  Come ride before it's too nasty!

First of all, the Friday ride is ON for 10/9/09.  Start at 7:45, back at the shop at 9.  Daylight is definitely getting scarce in the morning, so come out and ride while we still can.  There are some showers in the forecast, so plan road biking.

Second, I did a ride I've been looking forward to for the last couple of years.  My inlaws are participants in a battle reenactment north of Marion, and I rode from their house to the battleground on the morning of.

Meet my daughter, Kaia, age 18 months.



One of the great things about being a father is that you now have a reason to explore a whole new world of bike accessories.  For example, there's my new BabyJogger Switchback, which I'm very excited about.  It can be used as a jogging stroller, a bike trailer, and cargo hauler!

Kaia loves being outside, so much so that you can't say the word aloud without having her grab her coat, run to the front door, and scream bloody murder if she's not instantly turned loose.  I'm hoping that I can use some of the bike paths outside my Indianapolis neighborhood to do some safe, fun cruising. 

Kaia tends to nap for 2-3 hours each afternoon.  If she loves the trailer, that could be a great thing for daddy's fitness.

Don't forget that children in a trailer should wear a bike helmet.

Once the rain goes away, I'll have a full report, and some more cuteness.

Safety Second.

This title can lead to so many thoughts... but for now, it's because I'm thinking about helmets.  Over the past few days I've been riding on the Monon Trail, the first of Indianapolis' bike paths, and was simply stunned at the low percentage of riders wearing bicycle helmets. 

It doesn't take much to "ring your bell," and the downside risks are enormous.  All  you have to do is catch your wheel in a rut, slip in some gravel, or have a moment of inattention, and...  Oops!

Why not wear a bike helmet, Indianapolis? 

• Too fashion conscious to be seen in one?
• Can't find it?
• Just going around the block?
• None of the cool kids wear helmets?
• It's too hot?
• It doesn't fit right?

The responses to these objections are sooooo simple that they don't even bear repetition...  --You already know them. Please please please, don't slack on this!  Do you wear a seatbelt in the car? Then by all means wear a helmet when you ride a bike!  Ridership is increasing, and incidence of bike accidents will inevitably increase, too. Please don't become a statistic!

Drop by Bicycle Garage Indy and take a look at our wide variety of helmets.  From infants to triathletes, we have helmets to fit the head AND the budget.  My favorite is the Bell Influx.  It's a mid-priced helmet that offers the versatility I need to use it for mountain bike riding, road bike training, and neighborhood jaunts.  Let us help you find the perfect helmet for your uses!

It just takes a second to be safe.

As you may know, I got a new Trek Madone 6.5 Pro this year: 

Yes, it's dirty.  I commute past a gravel pit every day.

Yes, I have a funky position due to my abnormally short arms and legs (thanks, Mom and Dad!).

Anyway, I love it.  I never really know how I feel about a road bike until I get a little racing done, and the first test was a big success.  The bike was snappy, solid when cornering, and most of all was really, really smooth.  This is my first time on a bike that is fitting this well, accelerating this quickly, and riding this smoothly. 

The component group works great.  Shimano Dura-Ace continues to evolve and set the benchmark.  SRAM Red is the hot group of the season, but I still feel like Shimano shifts more quickly, has better braking modulation, and a better feel at the lever.  Different strokes for different folks.

Now this bike has a criterium under its belt, it's time for an entirely different test:  the Brown County State Park Road Race.  Hoo boy.  Last year it was 5 mph on the climb and 55 mph on the descent, and I was happy just to finish.  No sitting in the pack; that climb gives you nowhere to hide.  Either you're strong enough to hang, or you're not.

Even though I'm not going to finish well, I love this race.  The terrain is as challenging as anything you'll find in Indiana, and taking that challenge on makes me feel like a real bike racer.

Goal:  expend enough energy to feel totally justified about ordering whatever I want at the HobNob.  I love Brown County!

I must confess, I had 3 great rides this past weekend but toward the end of that last day I was getting some tired legs.  

So I was wondering if you all knew we have started our rides yet. We have been taking the road bikes out for about 4 weeks now. Training rides now are whats going to get you through the Bicycle season in fine fashion.

So if you ride bike paths, bike trails or are on the road, keep riding.

A couple hours after Saturday's ride I noticed something I haven't seen in an awful long time - SUNBURN!

My first reaction was excitement.  It is actually warm and sunny enough that I was able to ride in shorts and short sleeve bike jersey!  Finally!  After bicycle commuting Indianapolis throughout the winter and spring wearing layer after layer of cycling clothing, it felt so nice to ride in shorts.

Nice as it was, my excitement was a little short lived.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still excited that the weather is (finally) nice.  But, although sunburn is a nice reminder of good weather, it's also very harmful to your body.  This hit home when Kathy discovered she got a little sun on her leg where she missed spreading sunscreen.  Kathy has basal cell carcinoma (a form of skin cancer) and must have spots painfully removed every year or so.  For people like her, that means using sunscreen religiously - even stopping during a ride to put more on.  For people like me who don't have BCC that means we  need to do whatever we can to prevent getting it.  I should have used sunscreen yesterday.  And you should too.  

Kathy's dermatologist recommends Bullfrog as the best sunscreen - it's the longest lasting sunscreen available according to him.  Others are more readily available, you'll just need to reapply more often.  I like the Dermitone .5 oz tin because it's easy to carry on the bike.  It's available in SPF 23 and 30.  Get it here: http://bgindy.com/page.cfm?PageID=225&action=details&sku=TA4000


for more information on BCC, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal_cell_carcinoma

Great ride on Friday.  This group has dubbed itself the Monon Commuters since we started it 5 years ago (sometimes we refer to ourselves as the Moan-oners!).  While there are 20-25 members who follow our tread, not all ride on any given day.  Yesterday we had 14 at our meeting place in at the McDonalds in Broad Ripple at 7 am.  I think that's record!  Here we are:
About half of the commuters continued on to downtown Indianapolis and about half went back to North Indy and Carmel.

We had people on all manner of bikes including road bikes, touring bikes and mountain bikes.  And all manner of cycling gear. 

Don was all hyped up.  He had just purchased a Giant TCR Advanced road bike at BGI's Spring Expo.

Just can't believe the number of other commuters we saw out on the trail at that hour!  I just might be happenin'.

If you follow road bike racing at all, you probably know George Hincapie.  He was Lance's most trusted teammate during all those Tour de France wins.  He's also no slouch in his own career, but has a reputation for not having won as many races as his talent should allow.  I bring this up because of this hilarious article from the BikesnobNYC blog.  The Bike Snob can be offensive at times, but frequently has pearls of wisdom hidden under the rough edges.

That being said, it's important to remember just what this fellow can do before you call him an "underachiever."  I consider myself a perfectly decent recreational cyclist, and yesterday I did an all-out 15 minute test in which I averaged 300 watts (yes, bring on the mocking).  That test left me pretty much shattered--and Hincapie has been known to do that pace for hours and hours while in training.  So criticize his results, agonize over his failures, but have some respect for what he can do.