Friday Photo - Guinea Pig on Bicycle

Guinea Pig riding bicycle

Check out the high tech wheels on his bike! He must be training for the Guinea Pig Olympics. I'm guessing his frame size is probably around 3 centimeters.

Wednesday Video - Homemade Garden Plow Made from Old Bicycle

How to convert an old bike into a garden plow

Some of you will probably be planting gardens soon, so I thought this video was timely. In this two minute and nineteen second video, the host shows you how to convert an old bike into a garden plow. This looks like a good use for an old bicycle that is no longer worth fixing up to be rideable.

Circle City Bicycles and Fitness

5506 Madison Ave.

Indianapolis, IN 46227

(317) 786-9244

ed@circlecitybicycles.com

www.circlecitybicycles.com

Thieves Robbed Chris Boardman in March

Thieves broke into Chris Boardman's house and stole a Boardman SLS 9.8

Early in March of this year, thieves broke into Chris Boardman's house and stole eight bikes and the kitchen sink (literally). One of the stolen bikes was a Boardman SLS 9.8 that retails for around $5,000. They also stole his diving gear and Kohler kitchen sink, which cost well over $500. You can get all the details at the Daily Mail.

Now if you are a burglar and a police officer stops you and asks why are you carrying around a kitchen sink in a residential neighborhood, how do you explain your way out of that one?

Friday Photo - Transporting Bricks by Bicycle

Better make sure those tires are aired up!

Our Friday photo this week shows a gentleman in the African country of Burundi using his bike to transport bricks. This photo comes from Peter Gostelow, who has done plenty of cycling through Africa. From 2009 to 2012 he cycled from England to South Africa. In 2015 he rode through Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Somaliland. Gostelow's website shows lots of photos from his African travels.

Wednesday Video - Ostrich Chases Cyclists

Ostrich in pursuit of two cyclists

This week's video was filmed somewhere in Africa, but I'm not exactly sure where. A group of cyclists were riding along and an ostrich started chasing them. There are two cyclists out front being chased, and the one filming hangs back behind the ostrich. According to Wikipedia, ostriches can weigh over 300 pounds run at a speed of forty miles per hour. Those two front riders must have been going pretty fast to stay ahead. The ostrich chased them for about one minute. Here's the full video, which is one minute and twenty seconds long:

Tips To Help You Stay Safe On Your Commute

Riding Your Bike To Work Doesn't Have To Be Scary

1. Get the right bike / Helmet

First, you need to make sure you have the right type of bike. There are bikes specifically designed for commuting, but most road bikes will do just fine. Also, make sure you are wearing a well-fitting helmet that was designed for cycling.

2. Have your bike checked regularly

Come in to Circle City Bicycles! We'd love to show you a few things about your bike to help you keep it tuned up between visits. We have an excellent service department that will have your bike ready for the road in no time!

3. Know the proper signals, and make sure you're visible.

Communication is all important on the road. Road markings are static, while traffic is dynamic. Sometimes markings on the road put you in a tough position. Take cues of where you should be based on your whole environment. Never let paint think for you.

Like the image on the right shows, it is easy to be hidden from opposing traffic, especially in intersections.

Make sure you are visible to crossing and turning traffic. This often means leaving a bike lane and moving to the left side of the general use lane.

Never ride within 5ft of a parked car. This area is called the “door zone.” A suddenly-opened car door can be deadly. Some bike lanes are striped entirely within the door zone.

Passing a queue of stopped traffic on the right can expose you to many crash hazards. Sometimes it’s better just to wait in the queue.

Never, ever pass a large truck on the right!

4. Don't escalate harassment

If somebody yells at you from a car or the street, just smile and wave (with all five fingers). Just let it go.

5. Plan your route in advance

When planning, it is safer (and often nicer) to seek out smaller streets that have less traffic.

6. Keep an eye on the forecast

You can choose to take the car to work on rainy days, but there are plenty of products designed to keep you and your work clothes dry and free of dirt. If your ride is going to be longer than 20 minutes, you may want to wear cycling clothes instead of your work clothes, and change when you arrive.

Circle City Bicycles and Fitness

5506 Madison Ave.

Indianapolis, IN 46227

(317) 786-9244

ed@circlecitybicycles.com

www.circlecitybicycles.com

Velo in the Ville

Some routes pass through Oldenburg, the "Village of Spires"

Batesville hosts its annual "Velo in the Ville" on Saturday, May 21. There are a variety of route lengths available:

• 6 miles
• 16 miles
• 28 miles
• 42 miles
• 56 miles
• 75 miles

These routes go through the rolling hills of southeastern Indiana and pass through small towns such as:

• Oldenburg
• Metamora
• Hamburg
• St. Mary's
• Brookeville

For more information, please visit their website. You can register for the ride at SignMeUp.com. Proceeds go to the Margaret Mary Health Foundation.

Friday Photo - The Locust Bike

The locust bike unfolded and folded

Our photo this week shows the locust bike designed by Josef Cadek. The bike looks a little odd, but it folds up into an amazingly compact bundle. According to his website, this design is Locust 1. He is working on Locust 2, which he says will be "Vastly superior to the Locust 1 in practicality, light weight, simplicity and overall user experience." His intent is to bring it to the retail market, but he does not say when he expects that will be.

Monday Night Beginner Ride

Three hardy riders at the April 11 ride

It rained almost all day on Monday, and I'm sure a lot of cyclists gave up on our first Monday night beginner's ride. Fortunately, the rain stopped around 5:00 PM, and three cyclists showed up for the ride. Each Monday this summer the Indianapolis Beginner & Intermediate Cycling Meetup will lead an easy, one-hour ride starting at Circle City Bicycles. It's a leisurely, no-drop out and back ride. According to Mike Schwab, the distance is typically about ten miles in spring, and around fifteen by the end of the season.

Wednesday Video - 2016 Tour of Flanders Finish

Cancellara and two other riders on cobblestones at the 2016 Tour of Flanders

Here's a video showing the last 8.5 miles of the recent Tour of Flanders. Fabian Cancellara was trying win it for the fourth time in his final try. Did he succeed? You'll have to watch the video to find out. This video runs for 19 and a half minutes.

Bike to the Ballpark This Week!

Photo of the 2014 Ride to the Ballpark

IndyCog and Sun King Brewing Company will hold their annual Ride to the Ballpark this Thursday, April 14. The ride leaves Sun King Brewing's south lot at 6:00 PM, but the pre-party starts at 4:00 PM. Mayor Hogsett will lead the ride. The ride is free, but you do need to sign a release. You also need to purchase a ticket to the Indians game against the Columbus Clippers. For more information, please visit the Sun King Brewing Facebook page.

Friday Photo - Tick Tock the Croc

It takes 6 cyclists to power Tick Tock the Croc

The Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race will be held on Saturday, May 7 this year (It's always the first Saturday in May). Every year has a theme, and for 2016 it is "Myths and Monsters." Pictured above is an entrant from 2014 and 2015 called "Tick Tock the Croc." This one would fit into this year's theme, since it is truly a monster. Who wouldn't be terrified of a 35 foot long crocodile weighing three-quarters of a ton? This entrant won the People's Choice Award the past two years.

Here are two videos of Tick Tock in action. One shows him on land, and the other shows him out in the water of Chespeake Bay.

Wednesday Video - Mountain Biking Southwestway

One of the mountain biking trails at Southwestway Park

We think the nicest mountain bike trails in Marion County are at Southwestway Park, which is about eight miles form our store (Click Here for a Google map). The park is located on Mann Road, just a little south of Southport Road. The trails range from easy to intermediate in difficulty. Trail lengths vary from 0.5 to 3.7 miles. For more information please visit our Indianapolis Mountain Biking Page.

Here's a YouTube video that shows three guys out mountain biking at Southwestway Park.

Tour of Flanders

Fabian Cancellara waving to the crowd after completing his last Tour of Flanders

The Tour of Flanders was held on Sunday, with Fabian Cancellara attempting win an unprecedented fourth Tour de Flanders on his final attempt. Unfortunately he came up a little short. With a breakaway group already down the road, Cancellara missed a move by Peter Sagan and two others. He chased after the group and eventually passed everyone except Sagan, and finished 25 seconds behind the winner.

Friday Photo - England's Sea to Sea Route

Two cyclists streaking across an old stone bridge

This week's photo comes from the MacsBike website. They offer self-guided cycling tours, such as this one, which uses England's Sea to Sea (Often abbreviated "C2C") route. The route is about 140 miles long, and it runs from the Irish Sea in the west to the North Sea in the east. Highlights include cycling through England's Lake District, the Castlerigg Stone Circle, and a 1900' climb up Hartside Pass. For more information, please visit the Sea to Sea Cycle Route webpage.