Hope Ride (Indiana)

[Catrin]

The registration page is up for the 2012 Hope Ride in southern Indiana. This is a great ride that is well supported and serves as the annual major fundraiser for local area foodbanks - this isn't a wealthy part of the state and this is the 25th annual ride. The entire community comes out to support this ride and they have a great sense of humor

The SAG stops are great and have live music, and one of the stops is at a local winery. There isn't much climbing on the 50 mile routes and shorter - their "metric" is 75 miles. I hope to do this one myself, or at least the 50 miler.

If you are in driving distance you might want to consider it. They do have teams, the largest team takes $2500 home to their local food pantry. It would be great to have a TE team just for fun

Information page here
For fun
Photos

[Giulianna23]

Wow Catrin..thanks for the info. Sounds like fun. I am very interested I would love to do the 50miles I know I can do it even with my vintage commuter bike but hopefully I will have my baby Giant roady at least a month before that event....I wouldn't mind at all driving down there to participate.
I will check the page. The only thing I am affraid of is that I really don't know how to fix my bike if something happens (like a flat tire for example) . But I guess I shouldn't worry too much if I will be using a brand new bike right?...or should I? Another thing is I have no one to ride with . I have a friend but she lives in Noblesville , she rides her new Raleigh on the weekends but because she is not close to me we never get to ride together..we always say we are going to do it but never do... I am going to tell her about this event to see if she wants to go and we can ride together....I dunno..
With my steel Schwinn I average aprox. 12.42 MPH and I am getting better each day . When I first started commuting I needed about 52 minutes to get to my office and about 1 hr going back home ,8miles each way (the way back home its harder) and that was killing myself and getting to my destination without breath and with my legs shaking. Now it takes me about 35 minutes going to the office and maybe 40 going back home and on a easy pace (not killing my self) So I think I can do the 50miles.

I hope nothing comes up at the last minute to prevent me from doing this.

[indysteel]

@Guilianna, new bike or not, it's arguably worth your time to learn how to fix a flat well before you're in that situation. As your LBS if they'd be willing to do a demo for you and then go home and practice. But at group rides, I'd say it's better off if you get a flat than if you're riding on your own. As people pass you'll, most will ask if you need any help and somebody would likely be able to help you. Still, it's a necessary skill to have regardless of the rides you do.

[Giulianna23]

Thanks for the heads up Indysteel. It is ironic that now I don't know how to do it and I used to when I was a kid. I do have an idea but I dont think I can do it correctly now. But yeah I better start practicing.

Whan about them youtube videos?..

[Kathi]

Print off instructions for changing a flat and carry them with you. It sounds silly but before I was proficient at changing my flats that's what I did.

The terrain on the Hope ride is fairly flat. Because the ride is in 25 mi loops you can decide at the sag stop if you want to continue on.

The last time I did it I rode the century. That was an epic week for me, I had just finished the week of the TRIRI tour, approx 300 miles, then rode the Century on the Hope ride.

[indysteel]

To the best of my knowledge, they periodically change the routes for the Hope Ride, so I don't know that past year's routes should be used as a guide as to how hilly/flat it will be this year. I did the 50 mile route two years ago and there were some hills. Not sure I'd call it hilly, but it wasn't flat.