Your NITE Ride Checklist

Are you riding the N.I.T.E Ride this Saturday? Here are some tips to make sure you are ready to Navigate Indy This Evening while having a fun, problem-free ride.

You can start out on the N.I.T.E Ride website tip pages, which includes the ABC Quick Check for you bike - Air (tire pressure and condition), Brakes, Chain (your bicycle drive train - chain, cassette and derailleurs), Quick (releases) to make sure your wheels are mounted firmly and properly.

Next check out the rest of the things you need to load in the car before driving the start in downtown Indy. We have a Bicycle Road Trip checklist (PDF) that will help you remember the common things like shoes, helmets and gloves. (Every NITE Ride, BGI will sell a lot of helmets to riders who forget theirs!)

There are also a few other considerations, especially if you are not a regular night rider. First, of course, are lights, both a white headlight, visible 500 and a rear taillight (or reflector) visible for 500 feet. (Here some tips on choosing the right bike light.)

And if already have lights, don't forget to check the batteries; you will need at least 1.5 to 2 good hours of battery life from start to finish, so a fresh set, or a full recharge is not a bad idea. And be sure your lights are securely mounted; dropped lights can found on the road after every bump along the N.I.T.E. Ride route.

Do you ride with cycling glasses? Don't forget to bring your clear or amber night lenses, if you have them, or glasses suitable to riding after dark.

If you will be coming early for the CIBA Dinner Ride, or bicyle touring downtown on your own, don't forget a lock and cable for while you are dining.

Finally, if you are bringing some friends along, be sure you space for everyone and their bikes.

Bicycle Garage Indy will be right across from the N.I.T.E Ride registration tent, with an assortment of essentials on sale right up the start of the ride. Or visit any of our 3 locations; Bicycle Garage Indy North (Indianapolis, in the Clearwater area on 82nd St.), South (just west of I-65 on County Line Rd, Greenwood), and BGI Downtown, in the Indy Bike Hub YMCA.

We hope you will stop by the BGI tent and say hi, and be sure to watch the BGI Facebook page for pictures from this years N.I.T.E. Ride!