Hope Ride (Indiana)

[Giulianna23]

Registered for the 50 mile category...

I was going to get my new bike by the end of August but because I really want to practice and train for this event I will try my best to get it in by the end of this month or first week of August. I am really concern about "saddle" comfort and want to have time to get use to it or find out if I need a new one and get it before the event.

Now... this will be my very first time ever doing this so I have no clue about it so please excuse my ignorance. I have some questions about if I should go the same day very early or should I just go the day before and spend the night at a nearby hotel?...should I take a friend or family member as company or can I just go by myself?...

I already know I have to re-learn how to fix a flat tire but what about practice?...During the week I am only able to do my 18 mile commute but I have Sat and Sun to practice. How should I practice as far as speed and strength?.. Hills and flats?..is there a time frame to complete the miles?

I would greatly appreciate your advice.

Thank you!

[Catrin]

It will be a lot of fun! I will drive down early that morning but I am not that far away. I think the closest hotel is in Columbus if you choose that route.

If you have a very long drive you might want to consider the motel route so you can be rested - they also have free tent camping at the starting point (a school) if you are inclined. Many people do come on their own, so don't feel you must bring someone if that doesn't work out. I will be registering for the same distance...let's meet up! I would be happy to ride with you, just warning you that I am not very fast

[Giulianna23]

Catrin ....I am 1 hour away... not too far either. But yeah let's meet up. I think I will be driving as well early that morning..that way I will be really awake when we get there. Should we meet downtown and drive down there together? How early we gotta be there?

[Catrin]

Catrin ....I am 1 hour away... not too far either. But yeah let's meet up. I think I will be driving as well early that morning..that way I will be really awake when we get there. Should we meet downtown and drive down there together? How early we gotta be there?

hmmmm, I just noticed you are in Indianapolis I intend on being there by 6:30 at the latest and get some coffee before starting - and they will have breakfast as well. I've a hitch rack on my Kia Soul that takes two bikes, I think we can work something out here What part of Indy do you live in? I am on the NW side...If you aren't too far from me, my complex is a safe place for your car - but we can work that out closer to time via PM.

As I remember it took longer to get to Hope than I thought, so we will want to allow a bit more driving time than we think.

[Giulianna23]

I am on the Westside close to Plainfield.

Kia Soul?...cool !.. In mid 2009 I got 2010 Kia Soul Sport ..the one with the fancy red black seats and all the extras but I sold it last year. Nice car and Really fun to drive.

Yeah I think we can discuss meeting up via PM later. I have a friend that wants to go not to ride but just to hang out and check out the event. So I might be driving. If she decides not to go then I think it would be a good idea to drive down there together in the same vehicle. So lets keep in touch.

Thank you

[indysteel]

Registered for the 50 mile category...

I was going to get my new bike by the end of August but because I really want to practice and train for this event I will try my best to get it in by the end of this month or first week of August. I am really concern about "saddle" comfort and want to have time to get use to it or find out if I need a new one and get it before the event.

Now... this will be my very first time ever doing this so I have no clue about it so please excuse my ignorance. I have some questions about if I should go the same day very early or should I just go the day before and spend the night at a nearby hotel?...should I take a friend or family member as company or can I just go by myself?...

I already know I have to re-learn how to fix a flat tire but what about practice?...During the week I am only able to do my 18 mile commute but I have Sat and Sun to practice. How should I practice as far as speed and strength?.. Hills and flats?..is there a time frame to complete the miles?

I would greatly appreciate your advice.

Thank you!

Just keep riding. Gradually up your mileage during your weekend rides if you aren't already comfortably riding 40+ miles. If you can ride hilly terrain (which isn't necessarily easy to do in Indy) then by all means do it; hills always provide better training than the flats IMO.

Hopefully, you'll be able to get comfortably dialed in on your new bike prior to the Hope Ride. The quest for a decent saddle can take a while though so if you're not comfortable on what you have on the day of the ride, either ride a shorter route and/or generously use your chamois cream of choice paired with your best shorts.

This is my only word of caution: The Hope Ride attracts a lot of casual riders and riders who aren't used to riding in groups. You might see people not really following the rules of the road very well, not signaling, passing you without warning, and other types of behaviors that might be dangerous and/or annoying. Here are a few suggestions:

Stay to the right of the road unless you're passing. If you want to pass somebody, look behind you first to make sure nobody else is trying to overtake you (including cars). As you approach someone, announce "on your left" or "passing." Then get to the right again after you pass them. Ride single file unless it's safe to ride two abreast. At the start of a ride, I try not to ride two abreast until the riders thin out. Stay alert to what other riders around you are doing and to other conditions along the route. In other words, ride defensively.

If you're among other riders, announce and signal when you're stopping, slowing down or turning. Announce the presence of cars as necessary (for instance, if you become aware of a car approaching and riders are up ahead of you, yell "car back." Or if you come to a stop sign where you need to turn right, for instance, and there's a car approaching from the left, yell "car left"). Just try to do what you can to help other riders ride safely and hopefully the favor will be returned. That said, I always look both ways at an intersection before proceeding even if someone yells "clear."

If I'm unfamiliar with a route, I take a good look at the cue sheet to identify when I can expect the SAG stops and at what point the route I'm doing breaks off from other routes. I, personally, don't like to linger too long at the SAG stops, but if memory serves, some of the SAGS at the Hope Ride can get kind of crowded. The lines for the porta-potties were long. My strategy for that is to grab some food and then stand in line to go to the bathroom as I eat. I also always carry some of my own food. I've been to event rides where they've run out of food or food that I can tolerate. It's always good to carry your own stash.

I don't remember what the time cut off is at the Hope Ride. The big lunch spot will get picked over pretty well though if you arrive overly late. It sounds like Catrin intends to start the ride early and you're not doing the longer routes, so I doubt you'll run into problems there.

Have fun, ladies! I'll be on my way home from Maine the day of the ride, so I won't be doing it this year.

[Catrin]

I think the cut off for lunch was 2:30? That might differ from year to year though. There isn't a mass start however which is quite nice, though there will still be plenty of cyclists starting at the same time. I am just not all that fast which is why I like to start early, take my time to enjoy the ride and still arrive at lunch before the food runs out

I agree those first few miles in particular can be interesting, especially with those who may not ride often or haven't learned how to ride in groups. That seems to usually be sorted out by or before the first SAG stop - at least that has been my experience.

[Giulianna23]

Wow Indysteel...Thanks for all the tips...

I do 20 miles every Sat and Sun mornings and I am always up to do a few more miles but I have to be at home at certain time. I guess I am going to have to wake up earlier than ussual to take advantage and add 5+ miles every weekend.

Thanks again for the advice.

[marjjohn]

Thanks Giulianna23 for asking those questions.....I wondered the same thing! I'm a fairly new rider & also live on the west side. I've been interested in signing up for a local ride but am a bit intimidated having never done one & not knowing anyone that rides. It sounds like this might be the perfect opportunity to get out there!

[indysteel]

Here's my two cents about group riding, although others may disagree with me. Before you do a group ride or an event ride in particular, get comfortable riding on streets and roads either on your own or with a small group. Learn how to use hand signals appropriately and know the rules of the road as they relate to cyclists.

Once you feel relatively comfortable, I personally would recommend that you do an organized ride with CIBA (the Central Indiana Bicycle Association). They are offered most weekend days in and around Indianapolis. If you go to www.cibaride.org and look for the "non-repeating ride" schedule, you'll find a list of the rides, along with contact information for each ride's leader. Feel free to email the ride leader and indicate that you'd like to do the ride and would appreciate being able to ride with a mentor if at all possible. A mentor will help show you the ropes of riding in a group. Then introduce yourself to the ride leader the day of the ride. Even if you don't have an official mentor, someone will likely be available to help you out.

I've done the Hope Ride. It's fun as others have suggested, but I think it could be a bit overwhelming for someone new to riding. While the crowd does eventually thin out, it's pretty thick near the beginning and thick with other new or casual riders who often ride a bit erratically (nothing against new riders, but I think there's a tendency at casual event rides to sort of forget that they're on a public road. With cars and other users).

[Giulianna23]

Thanks Giulianna23 for asking those questions.....I wondered the same thing! I'm a fairly new rider & also live on the west side. I've been interested in signing up for a local ride but am a bit intimidated having never done one & not knowing anyone that rides. It sounds like this might be the perfect opportunity to get out there!

Welcome to TE


I am always looking forward to meet other people to ride with. So whenever you have a chance let me know and we could maybe go to Eagle Creek Park . I also need to practice with my new bike and will be going this Saturday

[Kathi]

A couple of weeks ago I did the Sagbraw tour in Wisconsin. Here's some of the stupid things I saw riders do. On the first day a group stopped at a stop sign and blocked the entire lane. This was a 4 way crossing, it was at the top of a rise and they not only blocked me but the cars coming behind them. My only choice was to cross the yellow line into the oncoming lane and go around them or stop behind them. I stopped behind them and had to walk my bike to get around them. I heard later that week that a police officer warned riders about blocking the lanes and told them he would ticket them if they continued.

The same day a woman started drafting me. We were riding along the Lake Michigan shore on a bike path. She said nothing but no matter how I tried to drop her she stayed on my wheel. I don't draft and feel very uncomfortable with a rider I don't know so close to my rear wheel. Finally, I told her I was stopping and pulled over. She caught up to my SO and drafted him. It was very obvious what she was doing.

The next day a young guy passed my SO on the right with no warning. Later I heard him complain the hills were slowing his average speed.

There was a couple riding side by side taking the whole lane, talking away. They were oblivious to those around them so passing was difficult. This happens a lot on these tours.

Another day I went to pass 2 older men also taking the entire lane. I said "passing" but they didn't move over. I yelled "passing" again and they still didn't move over forcing me to cross the center line to pass them (visibility was good). When I passed the rider on the left yelled back "well, I'm not passing!" I took that as his excuse for not moving over.

My perspective on all of this is these are people who have not ridden on group rides and aren't aware of the dynamics going on around them.

Interestingly enough, by the end of the week these riders seem to disappear. I often wonder if they leave the tour or spend the last few days sagging.

[Megustalaplaya]

This ride is coming up again. How was it for everyone?

[indysteel]

I've been out of town for it the last few years (and will be again this year).

[Catrin]

This ride is coming up again. How was it for everyone?

It is a very good/well supported ride. If you are considering it debate no further - and it supports regional food banks. Sadly I can't go this year - between my mom's health and my move I can't go