Posted By Benjamin on March 12, 2010

FYI – It’s looking like rain, but the ride is still a go! Don’t be a wimp, break out the rain jacket and fenders!

2010 St. Patty’s Day Pub Ride
Saturday, March 13th, 2010 – 1 p.m.

1:00p – Brugge Brasserie (Monon Trail & Westfield Blvd)
Upland Brewery (49th & College)
Melody Inn (38th & Illinois)
Tip Top Tavern (13th & Capitol)
Living Room (Penn & St. Joseph)

3:00p – MacNivens (Mass Ave & New York St)
Sun King Tasting Room (Ohio & College)
O’Reilly’s Irish Bar (Penn & Maryland)
Claddaugh (S. Meridian & Jackson Pl)
Spencer’s Stadium Tavern (West & McCarty)
Vollrath Tavern (Palmer & Talbott)

5:00p – The Brass Ring (Shelby & Sanders)
McQueen’s Too (English & Keystone)
Si Green’s Pub (10th & Emerson)
Golden Ace Inn (Washington St & Temple)
Lockerbie Pub (Michigan & College)
Dorman Street (9th & Dorman)

Note: There are only THREE timed stops, the group ride will be at these destination at this time so that people can join the ride if they can’t make it to the beginning.

Category: indycog | 2 Comments »
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Posted By Christopher on March 12, 2010

Forecast is looking a bit rainy, but slap a set of fenders on and you should be good to go! Tonight is the night!

Meet across from the Central Library at 5:45. Ride starts at 6.

* We’ll ride a bit slower to ensure that no one is dropped and that the Mass stays a mass.
* We’ll stop at all red lights. If a light turns red mid-mass, the riders who made it through should pull over to wait for those who were caught at the light.
* We’ll only take up one lane, at most two, if it is a major thoroughfare.
* We’ll signal our turns.
* We’ll be inclusive–sadly, cliques happen, but more than anything, CM/CM encourages cyclists of all kinds to attend, and hopes to foster an attitude of celebration to all things two-wheeled and pedaled.

Our whole point is to be a part of traffic, to be a visible and positive example of the cooperation that can exist between cars and bicycles if people generally respected not only laws, but each other.

Category: Critical Manners | 3 Comments »
Tags: Critical Manners

Posted By Christopher on March 12, 2010

Written by: Anna, long-time cyclist and industry insider

So what to do about bike fit? (Just joining us? Read Part 1 of this article here.)

Option 1: Custom Geometry Bike

In my next bike, I wanted something that actually worked for me but I was not going to find many options in bike stores. Any women-specific road bikes that I saw at the time tended to be way too small for me (I am 5‘11“ and unfortunately, many bike manufacturers equate women with “small“). Because I was pretty solid on what kind of riding I wanted to do, I was fitted and had a custom frame made for me. The difference was incredible. The back and wrist pain went entirely away and I immediately found that I could ride all day without issue. It was awesome.

And I got to paint my bike all sorts of obnoxious colors.

I have been fortunate in that this was an avenue available to me…but custom frames can cost a small fortune. Do not go this route unless you have done a lot of riding, know your body, and know exactly what kind of riding you want to do on this bike. Do go this route if you know exactly what you want in a bike, have the money, and want to invest in a single bike that you can ride forever. This is also a good route if you, like me, fall outside of the typical range of stock bike sizes.

Option 2: Women-Specific Stock Bikes

We are wicked fortunate to be in a time when companies are catering to women and our awesome physical proportions. Cannondale, Specialized, and Trek are some big companies that have solid women’s lines of bicycle product. There are also some companies that have almost only women-specific stock sizes, generally in a larger range than the bigger companies, such as Terry and Luna.

And I know that I’ve dropped the name before, but have friends with Terry bikes that absolutely adore them.

This is a great option if you fall into the available range of sizes and don’t have the cash or desire to get a custom bike.

Option 3: Womanize a Stock Bike

If you absolutely fall in love with a bike that doesn’t fit you like it should, or ride a bike that you want to improve, there are options available to you. Here are just a few:

1. Get an appropriate saddle (see previous post).

2. Shorten your stem.

If you find yourself stretched-out on the bike or putting too much weight on your hands, you can install a shorter stem. The stem is the part of the bike that clamps onto your handle bars and physically connects them to the rest of your bike:

I have been in several situations where I have had to borrow a bike that didn’t fit me and have remedied the situation by installing a stem 10-30mm shorter.

Stems come in a ton of types and sizes. If you want to go this route, go to your neighborhood bike shop and ask for assistance in finding the right stem for you. You may have to order one, especially if you have an older bike, but it can certainly be worth the wait.

3. Raise your handlebars.

Women also have proportionally shorter arms. If you find yourself too low on your bike, often you can raise your handlebars to alleviate this. If you don’t know how, take your bike to your friendly neighborhood mechanic and see if this is an option for you. (Editor’s Note: Do yourself a favor; pay attention to how they do this so you can do it in the future without needing a mechanic. It’s generally an easy process, but it can be tricky with certain types of stems, and there are different methods for different bikes, so we can’t give a play-by-play here without taking up a lot of word count. For more information, see Anna’s comment in the comments section.)

4. Get a rack.

If you ride with a heavy bag on your back (because you commute or because you think of your messenger bag as a kind of turtle shell), you are putting even more weight on your wrists and butt than you would normally. By installing a rack for your load you can easily alleviate this.

…

But seriously, a bike shop with a good service focus can probably help you fix your fit (but if they tell you your beloved bike is too old or worthless like some bike shops will in order to push new product, tell them where they can go and find another shop). Go this route if you are just starting to ride and want to learn about bike fit, don’t necessarily know what you want in a bike, and/or don’t have a lot of cash available.

The moral of this whole story is that your bike can and should be comfortable, despite the current industry bias. There are always options available for you. Figure out what works for you, and it will improve your riding experience beyond your wildest dreams.

Category: Women & Cycling | 3 Comments »
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Posted By Christopher on March 11, 2010

Written by: Anna, long-time cyclist and industry insider

If saddles are the single best way of improving your ride, then an appropriate bike fit is the second.

Up until about 4 years ago, I had been riding hand-me-downs I stole from my parents, or just whatever was around. I was in college; I didn’t have any money. Free bikes were the best bikes as far as I was concerned.

But on longer rides (30-60 miles) I would consistently develop terrible pain in my back and wrists and my hands would often go numb. I really loved riding my bike, and especially while on internships, I was in irresistible riding territory, so I generally suffered through it. The people around me (dudes) told me to stop whining and that if I hurt it was because I just needed to ride more to “get used” to my bike.

But I rode a freaking ton, and the pain didn’t go away.

This pain was the direct result of ridiculously inappropriate bike fit. The bike I was riding had been my father’s; though my father and I share the same inseam, his torso is much longer than mine. I found myself stretched out, unreasonably, over the top of the bike, forcing me to put a lot of my weight on my hands to stay balanced (ideally, you should not have to put any weight on your hands, it should be over your saddle). To compound this situation, I was also riding on his minimal man-saddle, so I was over-compensating for that additional discomfort.

Fortunately, this last hand-me-down was absolutely destroyed in a freak accident while out on a ride. Though completely devastated at the time for the loss of my constant companion, this accident opened up a whole new world for me.

Generally, women do have shorter torsos with respect to their legs and men, generally, have longer torsos with respect to their legs. Unfortunately, ladies, most bikes are, and have been, made for men. Extra unfortunately, the current big trend in at least road bikes to push bike geometry bias even more towards those with longer torsos. If you have typical female proportions, you are likely to find yourself also stretched over the top of your bike with pain, numbness, and general discomfort.

So what to do? Tomorrow, we explore a few different options.

Category: Women & Cycling | 1 Comment »
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Posted By Benjamin on March 10, 2010

From League of American Bicycles

Washington, D.C. – March 10, 2010 – The League of American Bicyclists is proud to be the forum for Google to announce what all bike riders have been waiting for – Grab Your Bike and Go with Google Maps. Google is announcing at the Opening Plenary Session at the National Bike Summit that they are adding biking directions in the U.S. to Google Maps.”This new tool will open people’s eyes to the possibility and practicality of hopping on a bike and riding,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists. “We know people want to ride more, and we know it’s good for people and communities when they do ride more – this makes it possible. It is a game-changer, especially for those short trips that are the most polluting,”

Users can now choose biking when deciding how to get to their destination, starting today, March 10, 2010. If you’re one of the 57 million Americans who ride a bike, mapping your daily commute, and planning recreational or trail rides just became easier. According to Google this has been the most requested addition to Google Maps, and the League is delighted that they have chosen the National Bike Summit to unveil this new feature. Google’s announcement further proves the importance of the Summit and the bicycle movement in helping our nation become a more Bicycle Friendly America. The Google biking directions will make it that much easier for bicyclists to get to work, school or play.

It even works in Indianapolis! I entered my commuting destination and Google instructed me to hop on the Monon for 4.6 miles!

It looks like the Greenways and safe bike routes are included, but the recent bike lane editions are not included at this time.

Currently we are submitting unmarked bike lanes, but I’m sure Google would like to hear from everyone so be sure to submit any issues as the bike directions are in Beta. We’ve also added a widget on our resources page in the Getting Around Indy section.

Here is an example of Christopher’s commute on Google Maps (click the image for larger view):

Category: Commuting | 6 Comments »
Tags: By Bicycle, google maps

Posted By Christopher on March 9, 2010

From the Southeast Indianapolis Communities blog:

The next public meeting for the Indianapolis Cultural Trail will be Tuesday, April 27, from 6-8 p.m. at the Fountain Square Theater Building.

At this meeting, Trail organizers will provide an update on the plans, Trail funding, and construction timeline. I strongly urge everyone who is interested in or impacted by the ICT to attend — this is the official public meeting for the southeast corridor of the Trail. Everyone is welcome. I would appreciate a quick return e-mail if you are planning on attending, so we can plan room size accordingly.

Please contact me with any questions at the numbers below. Thanks to Linton Calvert, as always, for providing the room.

See you on April 27,
Bill

blovejoy123@yahoo.com

Category: Cultural Trail | 1 Comment »
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Posted By Christopher on March 8, 2010

So, what did you guys do with the first beautiful weekend of the year? Take a ride around town? Push a training loop? Stroll the Monon? We’d love to know! Chat it up in the comments section.

Category: indycog | 19 Comments »
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Posted By Benjamin on March 3, 2010

We recently received an email from a reader regarding an issue he had with an IMPD officer while commuting to work. He wanted wanted to submit the complaint to city, but he wasn’t sure who to contact directly.

About 3-4 times a week (weather permitting), I ride my bicycle from my home down near Southport and 37 to my office on 13th Street, 11.5 miles each way. I’ve got the proper headlight and taillight for early morning commuting, I’ve been doing this for two or three years now, and I can count on both hands the number of incidences I’ve had with motorists. I’d consider that a pretty good record.

This morning, while riding eastbound on West New York Street – in the far left lane as I turned onto Senate, a fellow in a Dodge rolled down his window and yelled to me, “You need to ride on the sidewalk.”

“You need to learn the law,” I yelled back.

He continued on his way, and I on mine.

About a block later a car rolled up next to me, window down.

“You need to check the uniform,” said the same fellow, who I now realized was a police officer.

“I’ve got a copy of the law in my back pocket,” I said.

“You need to get on the sidewalk. If you don’t care about your safety how do you expect anyone else to?”

With that the officer drove off.

* * *

I’ve had my share of complaints about Indianapolis and infrastructure for cycling, and I’ve heard countless people complain and share their stories — most of which don’t make it past friends and acquaintances. Fortunately, we are in a very unique position in Indianapolis as cyclists being that we have a Mayor who wants to hear from us.

The city wants to hear our opinions about the cycling infrastructure, and they want to know when we have issues or suggestions. Well, we here at INDYCOG have developed a platform for exactly this:

This graphic link will remain at the upper left corner of all pages on our site. Please feel free to use it, and we’ll do everything in our power here to make sure you are heard by those whose job it is to hear you.

Category: Action Alert | 13 Comments »
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Posted By Benjamin on March 3, 2010

It’s that time of the year again!

2010 St. Patty’s Day Pub Ride
Saturday, March 13th, 2010 – 1 p.m.

1:00p – Brugge Brasserie (Monon Trail & Westfield Blvd)
Upland Brewery (49th & College)
Melody Inn (38th & Illinois)
Tip Top Tavern (13th & Capitol)
Living Room (Penn & St. Joseph)

3:00p – MacNivens (Mass Ave & New York St)
Sun King Tasting Room (Ohio & College)
O’Reilly’s Irish Bar (Penn & Maryland)
Claddaugh (S. Meridian & Jackson Pl)
Spencer’s Stadium Tavern (West & McCarty)
Vollrath Tavern (Palmer & Talbott)

5:00p – The Brass Ring (Shelby & Sanders)
McQueen’s Too (English & Keystone)
Si Green’s Pub (10th & Emerson)
Golden Ace Inn (Washington St & Temple)
Lockerbie Pub (Michigan & College)
Dorman Street (9th & Dorman)

Note: There are only THREE timed stops, the group ride will be at these destination at this time so that people can join the ride if they can’t make it to the beginning.

Category: Local Rides | 15 Comments »
Tags: Indianapolis, st. patty's day pub crawl

Posted By Christopher on March 2, 2010

Written by: Anna, long-time cyclist and industry insider

My personal biggest game-changer with respect to cycling product has been the female-focused bicycle saddle.

I used to teach a class primarily for women on basic bicycle maintenance. Over the course of my limited instructional experience and my group riding experience, most of the complaints I have heard regarding cycling had to do with back pain and personal-area numbness over the course of a ride.

Though many of these issues can be corrected with appropriate frame geometry, I have personally found the cheapest solution for improving riding comfort for women is through the adoption of appropriate saddles. Ladies’ sit bones are further apart, which generally translates to a preference for wider, flatter saddles.

Most readily available saddles on the market are made for men, so most trendy saddles (at least from the perspective of road bikes, which is the context with which I am most familiar) tend to be minimal in terms of width and padding, designed for racing. If you’re a lady, this makes the riding experience doubly unpleasant: not only is your saddle ill-fitting because it is so skinny, but it is minimally padded.

This can lead to pain from overcompensating the load in your legs and wrists and numbness in your personal areas. But it doesn’t have to be like this.

Here are a few saddles I have extensive experience with, which have greatly improved my riding experience.

The Terry Damselfly:

When I was at my road training peak, this saddle was amazing. It was wider than my previous racing saddles (designed for men) and much more comfortable. The saddle is softer in the front and middle of the saddle which prevented personal numbness. The saddle is also somewhat padded, which helped with shock absorption. I would not recommend it as a street riding saddle, but it was fabulous for road-riding.

Terry Bicycles is a company started by a woman and represented primarily through women-sensitive individuals. I am generally a big fan of their mission and of their product.

The Fizik Vitesse:

This saddle has minimal padding, but I found it to be the most attractive racing road saddle I have encountered. I do not generally appreciate padding in a saddle when it comes to road riding, as I wear shorts that give an appropriate level of support. Instead of physical padding, the body of the saddle flexes as you ride. I have never felt uncomfortable on this saddle while in lycra.

N.B.: I typically do not ride with this saddle on my commuter bike. It is not as friendly to Indianapolis city streets.

The Terry Butterfly:

This is my favorite overall saddle. I love this thing.

I ride this saddle every day when commuting the seven miles to work in plain clothes. I never think about this saddle, which is probably its best attribute. Indianapolis roads are terrible, between the pot holes and the general neglect of the bike lanes (where they exist). I have hit literally hundreds of potholes on this saddle, but have never been overly uncomfortable.

This saddle is especially wonderful because I use it on my ill-fitting 1983 Peugeot (the top tube and stem is entirely too long for me) which confirms its effectiveness. Because it is so comfortable, I do not find myself physically compensating due to discomfort, even without bike shorts.

* * *

I should emphasize that these evaluations are based on my personal experiences. As a lady, saddle appropriateness will vary depending on riding style and personal physical characteristics. It is important to be true to yourself when selecting a saddle. Choose one that is comfortable and appropriate to you and the way you ride, it will make you want to ride all-day everyday. Any lady on any bicycle is a good thing for all of us.

Fortunately, because the hip geometry on women is so varied, some shops have memory-foam or sand-based hip evaluation systems for sizing saddles (BGI & BikeLine). Also, many shops in town now carry female-specific saddles (Joe’s Cycles has some very appealing products at the moment that I am looking forward to trying).

And if your local shop does not carry lady-specific saddles, I highly recommend you suggest they do.

For a woman, an appropriate saddle can completely change your riding experience for the better. So make the investment; it is the single easiest and best improvement you can make to your ride.

Category: Gear, Women & Cycling | 4 Comments »
Tags: Fizik Vitesse, Terry Butterfly, Terry Damselfly