Hope Ride (Indiana)

[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.

[Catrin]

Unrelated to Kathi's post, I think it is also important to not give into the "lemmings" approach when crossing intersections. While there are certain givens to crossing an intersection (signed or not, level of traffic, speed of oncoming traffic, visibility, etc.), there is also a range of of conditions that determine whether an intersection is "clear" to cross between individuals. What I might consider safe might not be for you, or vice-versa.

Conditions change quickly, so what might have been perfectly safe for several riders in front of you doesn't automatically follow that it will be safe for you. Take responsibility for your safety and determine for yourself if/when it is safe to cross.

[Catrin]

I've finally registered for the Hope Ride. Went for the 75 mile "Mad Cow Metric Century"...methinks the additional 13 miles is the "Mad Cow" effect While I registered for the 75 miles, I will decide that morning if it will be the 50 or 75 mile route. It will all depend on my legs and how much road riding I do in the next month. The 50 wouldn't be a problem now, the 75... probably not. Mountain biking is just so much more enticing these days than long road rides so we shall see

[Catrin]

The Hope Ride is next Saturday I just found out there are over 1,800 riders registered for this ride - talk about going for a bike ride with a few hundred of our best friends!