My name is Jay Hardcastle, and I am the new Marketing Manager for Bicycle Garage Indy. I am very excited to join the nationally recognized, award winning team of BGI. More than just a bike shop, Bicycle Garage Indy, and BGI Fitness have been part of the greater Indianapolis cycling and business community for over 27 years, a remarkable achievement. I encourage you to take a few minutes and read the BGI mission statement and history, it is a great story, and one that I am now proud to be a part of.Bicycles and cycling have been a part of life my since my early teens in southern Michigan. Much to the consternation of my auto-centric family, I was on my third bike and first tandem before I owned a car. I had ridden my first century and first multi-day tour by the time I was 17. Four years later I met my wife, Linda, on a club ride. In our first 10 years together, we toured over 6,000 miles by tandem in 13 states and Canada. Our son's Tyler and Justin almost grew up on bikes, each moving from trailer, to tandem, and now their own bikes on day rides and tours on the west coast and across the midwest.
Along the way I have ridden single track in the Cascades, I-5 in Southern California, and every type of road surface in between. I worked my way through Purdue in bicycle shops, and have given back to the sport as a bike club volunteer when ever time allowed. Linda and I are currently coordinators for Indiana's tandem club, the Hoosiers Out On Tandems, or HOOTS.
Yet with all that, my story is not unique on the BGI team. There are lots of stories like mine, and the fun part of my job will be getting to share those stories to your benefit. THE BGI staff has decades of experience in helping customers, and tens of thousands of riding miles. Relating that practical experience to you is all part of BGI's "E3" mission, to Educate, Excite and Expand.
Welcome to The Practical Cyclist. Enjoy the ride, and keep it safe!
Jay Hardcastle
Marketing Manager
jhardcastle@bgindy.com
www.twitter.com/BicycleGarage
First up was our Santana Sovereign tandem. It got a pair of 700x28's Continental (wire bead) 
Next up was my wife's 2008 Trek 1.2 WSD and our youngest son's venerable, hand-me-down `90 Trek 1200. Linda rides for sport and triathlons, while Justin is riding to school, and on club and family rides. For their bikes I went with the durable and economical 
Finally, my `83 Trek 850 commuter bike was due for new rubber. I had to replace (mid ride!) one tire last summer, so on the rear I have a Bontrager H2 Hardcase 26 x 1.5". My front tire, which had plenty of tread left, but had sidewall breakdown after 3 years of all-day, outdoor parking was replaced this spring with a 
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 
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.
Cycling gloves provide additional padding to protect the hands from vibration, especially the Ulnar nerves growing across the palm. For my tandem and my high mileage riding, I combine a good pair of gloves with Fizik Bar Gels, under a padded tape, like Deda Tape. Gloves also protect you hand from abrasions in the event of spill or during normal riding for off road riders.
There 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 
And if your best intentions and plans fail, look for the Bicycle Garage Indy Tents at the Velodrome. We will have our "Got Air" station, mechanics for quick bike checks, and merchandise for new (and forgetful) riders.
Headlights serve two functions; let you been seen (meeting the legal requirements for being on the road at night), and to allow you to see obstacles in your path. While every headlight at Bicycle Garage Indy will meet the first requirement, when, where and how you ride at night will determine which type of headlight is best for you. Remember that for legal and safe night riding, a tail light is also recommended. You should always consider what you are wearing and where you are riding before riding at night, and follow all rules of at the road to be seen and safe.
For the occasional or casual ride at night; say you get caught out late after riding to dinner or ice cream, or for around the campground on your summer vacation, a goodbasic battery headlight is the 
Loading 4 bikes and gear may appear challenging, so here are some tips from our many summers of practice. We are a typical family of four, and we sometimes leave town for a ride, or to explore a new locale. We started our family outings when our boys were infants, so we have LOTS of practice.
When loading bikes on the Big Horn, each bike alternates front to back, and it may take a couple of tryw to find the combination for your families bikes. The bike holders can slide (tip, a quick shot of Formula 409 or similar cleaner eases sliding them). We also run a security cable through all the wheels to secure the bikes onto the rack.
Finally comes your apres ride extras. Fresh clothing is nice, especially on hot days. A a cooler of of drinks is also a good idea. If showers aren't available, we throw in some baby wipes, for quick clean for the drive home.
We are now carrying the Detours Money from Trash recycled bags from Detours. Bicycle Garage Indy has in stock the Detours TooCan pannier ($84.99), the Transit Box rack trunk ($54.99), and Day Tripper handlebar bag ($29.99), all in the woven, Juicy Box material.
Hundreds of bicycle commuters converged on Monument Circle Friday morning for the 2010 Indianapolis Bike to Work Day. After a forecast that threatened "paddle" to work, riders woke to grey, but dry skies. 
Bicycle Garage Indy Staff were among the volunteer ride leaders for Broad Ripple and South side rides.
Here are a collection of tips based on my 10+ years with a 3 mile, one-way, commute, and 4 years of a 16-18 mile one-way commute. 
What 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. 
Our newest Bicycle Garage Indy custom shop jerseys by 
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 
My training is complete, I have my base, and after 35+ years of this I know how to ride back-to-back centuries. If I can ride 70 miles, I can ride 100, get a good nights sleep, and wake up and do it again. And yet there I was on a cold, wet, windy day, knocking off another century, to be sure I was ready.
Of course, the weather got worse after half way. It was never a hard rain, never a full headwind, never too cold. I was dressed on the edge of hypothermia, not able to stop too long. The constant pedaling was balancing body temp on a knife against the wind and rain that found a new vent in my jacket with every turn. When I finally stepped off the bike, at 105 miles, the act of stopping and stripping off wet clothing was enough to start a bout of shivering that didn't stop until I had been under HOT water for 5 minutes.
Learn the basics of riding: shifting, stopping and starting. Come by Bicycle Garage Indy North for a free, drop by, 20 minute info sessions to help you care for and enjoy your bicycle even more! Held at 6:30 pm at Bicycle Garage Indy North, Wednesday, April 21.
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