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.