INDYSTAR: Velocabs in Bloomington?

I'm a fan, wish we could see these in Downtown or Broad Ripple, but from what I've heard it's been attempted but some obscure law stifled it from flourishing.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Bicycle-powered cabs similar to rickshaws could soon be legal on Bloomington streets, with some seeing them as a possible downtown attraction.

A city councilman has introduced an ordinance regulating the velocabs, setting rules on the type of equipment used, insurance and licensing.

Talisha Coppock, executive director of Downtown Bloomington Inc., said she looked forward to seeing the cabs.

"Any time you can add an attraction and an amenity to an area is going to be helpful," Coppock said. "I think it's very interesting and fun and adds one more element to making it an exciting and interesting area."

City Councilman Michael Satterfield told other council members the velocabs were an environmentally friendly form of transportation and that the ordinance provides regulations to ensure safe operation.

Chris Waggoner, the owner of Fresh Air Taxi, who first proposed starting the velocab service for Bloomington and the Indiana University campus last year, said he was happy with the proposed ordinance.

"I guess the biggest positive thing is now it's sort of been hanging over my head for the entire 20 months (the issue's been debated) that they might come up with a really discriminatory law," Waggoner said.

Original Article

Bloomington Bicycle Club offers grants for safety

Bloomington is inarguably a bike town – cyclists are everywhere. IU is home to the Little 500, and when gas prices rise or the economy slumps, people are more likely to pull out their 10-speeds.

To keep the positive bicycling atmosphere alive and thriving, the Bloomington Bicycle Club offers annual grants to nonprofit groups, schools and other organizations that are interested in creating cycling-friendly programs in and near Bloomington.

Full Article

Show Up Weekly Rides

The good dudes at Show Up have started a weekly gathering now that school is back in session. Should be some pretty fun times.

Creativity + bikes = smiles. Thanks for this submission, Show Up.

Shooting Solo from Jason Smith on Vimeo.

A couple pals down in Bloomington are putting together some pretty awesome multimedia stuff. It all has a great sort of Midwestern feel to it--laid back and unassumingly awesome. Here's the latest video one of them, Jason, shot and edited of him getting used to his new Bruiser.

My old buddy Ryan has recently moved down to Bloomington and has been doing some great photog work with the Show Up guys. Check it out what these guys are doing over at the Show Up blog. I love seeing this kind of stuff--people taking two things that they love and making something solid and expressive.

B.R.A. brings Friday Night Sprints to B-Town

From the B.R.A. Bloomington blog:

We're going to start a little tradition : the second to last friday of every month we're holding sprint races. This is to complement the sprint races held in Indy the last friday of every month. In following their lead, we will have a cash prize for the first place winner. Entry will be 2 dollars and we will meet at 505 South Maple. A group ride will take us to where the sprints will be held. We'll probably get things rolling (pun totally intended) at eleven. So, come out and show off your skills !

Hell of the Midwest Recap

Check the BRAblommington blog for the recap and more photos!

B.R.A. Bloomington: Hell of the Midwest - 6/27/09

The race will be two person teams drawn at random from your entry number ( helping eliminate a ringer team ). Meet at 505 South Maple at 11 AM for registration. Registration is 5$. The race won't get underway until mid-afternoon, but get there early to get your stuff and we can take a laid back cruise around town or get some lunch. It's going to be a long race, so you're gonna need all the fuel you can get ! Once everyone has registered we will ride to the starting point as a group. After the race has ended the awards will be given out back at 505 South Maple ...probably followed by a group nap !

Click here for more details and info on B.R.A. Bloomington

Map Posted!

Video from B-Town

Fix Life Ride a Bike from Isaiah Neeld on Vimeo.

Some guys I know from Bloomington just released a little video over on Vimeo. The choice of The Shins for the music makes it feel really relaxed, and suits the footage a lot. Really captures that lackadaisical feeling of just hanging out and playing around on your bikes a little.

Little 500 Wrap-Up

There's a good write-up on the Cutter's victory at last weekend's Little 500, complete with the Michael Phelpsian photo of Eric Young at the finish line shown at the right.

The wreck would not stop them.

The penalty did not slow them.

The field could not beat them.

Despite everything the Cutters faced during Saturday’s men’s Little 500, the team rode into race history when sophomore Eric Young sprinted across the finish line.

The all-time winningest team in Little 500 history won its 10th race and became the third team with three consecutive victories.

Full story here.

Also, here are a few really solid photo galleries on the Indiana Daily Student website of the race.

2009 Men's Little 500
2009 Women's Little 500 (sup, sup sup, sup, supsupsup, sup)
Little 500 Festivities
Bloomington Welcomes the Little 500

Little 500 Clips

As we all know, or at least most of us know, this is Little 500 weekend, and we've done little to cover it. We're not really sure why, but by all means, we do know that it wasn't a subconscious effort to say that it isn't worth covering. In fact, plenty of media sources out there are pimping out the Little 5, and so, we will bring those to one cozy little place here at Indy Cog for your easy perusal.

First off over at NUVO, a great little bio on Dave Blase, the inspiration behind Breaking Away, the movie that put Little 500 in the spotlight.

Secondly, an article over at VeloNews tracing a bit of the history of the race alongside the backdrop of Breaking Away's fame and reminding everyone that the Little 5 is, in fact, a real race, and not just a macguffin for the film.

Here's a little clip from the Examiner outlining some of the festivities of the event, along with times and such.

And, lastly, um. Ludacris. Not even joking. He'll be at the Little 5. Soulja Boy, too, and Young Jeezy.

Photo from 2009 Little 500 blog.

HDNet Rolls the Little 500 for a Seventh Consecutive Year

Network covers historic bicycle races LIVE from Indiana University - April 24 and 25

DALLAS, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- For the seventh consecutive season, HDNet will cover the greatest single-speed bike races in the world - the Men's and Women's Little 500 LIVE from Indiana University. Steeped in tradition and high on excitement, these races are known as the nation's premier intramural collegiate cycling event. With dozens of student athletes and amateurs competing for their personal and team honor, these races have the reputation of being the best of their kind anywhere in the world, earning the nickname "The World's Greatest College Weekend."'

The Women's race will air live on HDNet on Friday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m. ET. The Men's race will air live on HDNet, Saturday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. ET.

The Little 500 is a major annual event for Bloomington, Indiana, and for the University, as it acts as a fundraiser for student scholarships. To date, the race has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships and provides countless leadership opportunities for IU students.

Contestants race on specialized track bikes (single-gear, coaster brake racing bikes) and compete relay-style in teams of four, giving the event a very unique quality. The races are patterned after the Indianapolis 500, with up to 33 teams lining up for the start in 11 rows of three. Starting positions are determined by qualifying times, with the fastest team nabbing the pole. As many as four riders can compete on a team. When one rider on a team is tired, he or she exchanges the bicycle with a teammate. The Women's race is 25 miles -- 100 laps on a quarter-mile cinder track. The Men's race is 50 miles -- 200 laps on the same track.

Full Press Release

American Profile: Lights, Action...Bicycles!

Steve Dodds was just starting his bicycle repair business in Bloomington, Ind. "I had a truck that I would drive around to do repairs," he recalls.

Daniel Stern was hoping to break into movies. "I had just sold all my furniture trying to pay the rent in New York," the actor says.

Then something came along that put both of them in the spotlight.

The movie Breaking Away, filmed in the hometown of Indiana University and released in 1979, launched the movie careers of Stern and fellow actor Dennis Quaid, who starred alongside Dennis Christopher and Jackie Earle Haley. And dozens of Bloomington residents, including Dodds, found themselves in the film's intersection of real life and Hollywood.

Read more...

Show Up Classic pt. II

Despite the rain, the second race of the Show Up Classic happened last Saturday in Bloomington. Masi Mark took first in the sprints, and Mike (formerly of Joe's Cycles) took first in the hill climb, giving them both a pretty substantial lead over everyone going into the last race. Best Trick was evidently postponed due to rain.

More info (including point standings) and photo highlights of the day and the Classic can be found at the Show Up Alleycats blog.

Awesome stuff that the Show Up guys are doing down in Bloomington. I keep meaning to get down to these races but something always ends up being in the way. I hear nothing but positives from everyone who makes the drive.

Mark your calendars, update your Blackberries, or whatever you have to do for Part III, the Alleycat, on April 18th. Again, I would be there, but I've an annual meeting of the Indiana Bicycle Coalition to attend. We'll be posting the flyer and more info for Part III as we hear it.

Bloomington, IN: The Show Up Classic Part II

Part II of the Show Up Classic is right around the corner. The cost will be $5 for part II, or $8 for parts II and III. If you've already registered for all 3 events, bring your spoke card, we've got your names.

* The Sprints will be about 1/10 to 1/5 of a mile. We'll run heats of 3-4 riders until everyone has ridden 1 heat. The fastest 4 riders after heat 1 will all race a longer 2nd heat. First rider to cross the line of heat 2 wins top points.

* For the Hill Climb, riders will start from a standstill, and have a certain amount of time to ride as high as they can. The rider who gets the furthest up the hill wins top points.

* For the Trick Off, riders will have 1 minute to do their thing, winners will be judged by crowd reaction, Tom, and myself. Points assigned accordingly.


After the event, we're going to be cooking out at the park. So, bring whatever food/beverages you care to enjoy.

Meet and register at 3pm, Sprints begin at 4pm.
A simple map will soon be posted to aid out-of-towners.

An updated points breakdown will soon be posted as well.

Check out http://showupalleycats.blogspot.com/ for updates and more info.

Happening tomorrow in Bloomington, IN

Bloomington is having a 3 event series called the Show Up Classic, the first of which is on Friday Feb 13th. There will be a pairs relay (come paired, or be prepared to be paired), trackstand-off, and skid comp. Most probably it is going to be held entirely in a parking garage, but everyone is meeting at 7pm at People's Park (Kirkwood Ave & Dunn St).

Prizes will be given to winners of the day, and all riders will be competing for points. The points earned carry over to the subsequent 2 events, sprints and an alleycat. After all 3 events, the riders with the most accumulated points will win some substantial prizes. We've been fortunate to get some awesome sponsors.

This is going to be a lot of fun, and we'd love to see a good Indy turnout.

More info at Show Up Alleycats.