Get Out and Ride-Indy Style

Yesterday  I spent the day with the folks at Indycog out at the Major Taylor Velodrome for the final race of the 2012 season for Ohio Valley Cyclocross.  I had volunteered to help out for an hour, and ended up staying all day.  When you have no social life such things happen.  It was my first cyclocross event and I had a blast (as a spectator-not a racer).  If you get a chance to watch cyclocross do so.  Even better, if you are so inclined, participate.  These races look like they are a blast--in a masochistic bike racing sort of way.

After I got back home one thought kept popping into my head.  Indianapolis has a LOT of opportunities to ride a bike.  Cycling in Indianapolis is not just about casual Saturday morning rides along one of the city's greenways, or commuting to and from work.  There are many opportunities for many kinds of riding. 

Indycog and other groups, including the Mayor's office, sponsor rides throughout the year such as the NITEride which allow cyclists to come together for fun group rides throughout the city.  Bike shops and clubs also hold group rides for training and camaraderie largely for road cyclists.  There are also numerous charity and fun rides sponsored by a host of organizations either in Indianapolis or within a sort drive (or ride) from the city.  One good place to find such rides is the Bike Rides in Indiana website which has listings of most every organized ride in Indiana and some from surrounding states.

If organized group rides aren't your thing there is also Bike Polo, Cyclocross, and BMX for the competitive at heart, or those who just want to play on their bike.  There are even mountain bike trails within the city at Town Run Park, Southwestway Park, and Ft. Harrison State Park.  There are also mountain bike trails in several State Parks within a hour or two of the city such as Brown County, and Versailles. 

I know I am starting to sound like some kind of tourism liaison, but when I first moved here, and for a few years after, I didn't realize just how much there was to do on a bicycle around here.  I am willing to bet that fro a lot of people who live around here this is the same case.  So, for any of you who live here or are just here temporarily due to school or work, I would suggest getting out and looking around.  Indianapolis has more opportunities to get out and ride than you might think.