Precious Medals

The Team Indiebike p/b Angie's List Cat 3 men and Cat 1/2 women swept the medals at NUVO Indiana Criterium Championships winning a bronze, silver and gold between them.  Miles Johnson and Dustin Jones were at the front of the field sprint to take silver and bronze respectively, while Sierra Siebenlist brought home the gold for a second week in a row after previously capturing the Indiana State Road Race title.  The team will wrap up its road season at this weekend's Fountain Square and Zionsville criteriums.  But that's not the end of racing.  In just a few short weeks a full contingent of Indiebike cyclocross junkies will be hitting the dirt in the Indiana Cyclocross Cup and OVCX series.  We don't stop.

High Fashion

Here is a sneak preview of the skinsuits that will adorn the the riders from Team Indiebike p/b Angie's List this fall.  Now just imagine them with mud splashed all over.

Fast Women

Competitive women's cycling is growing rapidly in the midwest, and particularly in Indiana.  Recent winner of the Indiana State Road Race Championship, and Team Indiebike p/b Angie's List rider, Sierra Siebenlist was recently featured in NUVO along with other top female Indiana racers (Read the entire article here).  You can come out and see these fast ladies compete for the top spot this Saturday, August 11th, in downtown Indianapolis at the NUVO Elite Indiana Criterium Championships.  

And we're back...

All- a great day at Indy crit.

Thank you to all who raced. It was very nice seeing everyone out there and being a part. The event was incredibly ran and the races were difficult. Seeing a premier event in Indy is great and our results showed that we have been working hard. (cough cough ..... Me aside)

A few crashes , a few podiums, and a lot of hard work went into it. Few mentions:

Scott Baumer takes 2nd in men's 3/4 race, then crashes, then races 1-2-3. Great job Scott. Your determination and drive is paying off.

Joe Laux proves that even after a Friday night reg'n in meridan Kessler that he can hang with the boys and finish in front of 139 3/4 racers for 11th. Nice!

Farm strength lives up to his name and bails hay prior to the race for barriers and then comes in 10th in the 3/4 race. Also note he raced 3 races on the day and kept the rubber side down.

Corbin Schmitz was back for the first time after the collarbone and shows us his junior ability will be back in action for cross season!

David morse finishes the men's 1-2 race in good form. fast Fridays at the track must be paying off.

Felipe raced twice and netted 6th in the masters and field finish the 1-2 race. Felipe has found second wind after turning 40 recently and is in great shape.

Cory lasts 24 minutes of the 1-2 race before getting pulled. He morns (not really) after the race and realizes he is in bad shape....but cross is in the air we hear?

Sierra (do I need to elaborate?) takes a hard 4th against the Riley girls dominating the race as they planned. Sierra the jumps in the men's 1-2 race to finish right beside cory (nearly girl'd him)

Dustin jones shows he still has the crit mind and puts himself in perfect place for a great finish until someone puts their wheel In the wrong place- into Dustin's derailleur. Rough season for DJ

Miles (little Johnson) finally quit studying and is in shape again killing strava KOM points and raced a hard 3/4 race and 1/2 race. If miles is in position at the end- everyone is In trouble! (mass ave goals, right ?)

Steve ellis brakes his frame over another guys skull. At least that's what I heard happened.

Lastly, there was a Sheridan spotting. Holy crap. Apparently he was the fastest guy on the monon yesterday. I believe him.

Many others worked hard and were noticed. I apologize If I am missing anything important.

Mass ave is in a month. We have rented the same spot as last year Nd plan to have a great time just like we did last year. We do hope that the racing is successful and the fun for the team is just as important. As long as Sierra continues to bake, we will all continue to have fun.

See you all soon

Team Indiebike Training Camp 2012: The Evidence

Well if you wondered what all went on at training camp this year, here it is. Thanks Marc for documenting our trip.

Rules of the Road

This past weekend at Team Indiebike's spring training camp in Franklin, TN we experienced something unfamiliar and refreshing. By in large, motorists in and around the Nashville area seemed to coexist peacefully with cyclists. This phenomenon has yet to make its way north to central Indiana in spite of the ever increasing miles of bike lanes. In the absence of signs and stripes on the road to keep everyone in their proper place, even the late model, full size pickup trucks in TN seemed agreeable when encountering the occasional group of cyclists. It made me wonder. What accounts for this unusually harmonious balance? It seemed that drivers had reckoned with the notion of sharing "their" roadways with other, much smaller, vehicles.

It begged the question. How does this shift in thinking occur? It couldn't simply be southern hospitality. My belief is that gradually, as a result of the increasing frequency of encounters, both motorists and cyclists eventually realized that most of the individuals on each side were actually decent people who showed courtesy to the one another. Only when this common courtesy is displayed from both sides can each exist with the other peacefully and safely.

As cyclists, and one equal part of this equation, we have a responsibility to move the relationship in the right direction. I recently came across the following list of dos and don'ts created by the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association. Following a few simple, common sense, principles like these is probably the best way that we can make the roads a better, and safer, place for ourselves and others.

1. Be courteous and share the road. Being courteous gains respect and helps make the roads safer for all cyclists.
2. The law allows you to ride two abreast, but it may not be the courteous or safe option. If you hear a vehicle approaching from behind, ride single file. Don’t ride three abreast.
3. If you’re blocking a whole line of cars and there’s a place to safely pull off be courteous and stop.
4. Don’t wander all over the road. Try to ride predictably and as far right as safely as you can. This does not mean to ride in an area that is littered with road debris or places you at risk.
5. Do take the lane if it safe to do so if there is a blind corner, high-risk junction or narrowing of the road.
6. Use common sense — don’t pee in people’s yards or hang out across the entire road if you’re waiting for a regroup.
7. Stop at stop signs and signals. By law, cyclists must obey all traffic control devices.
8. Signal your intentions if you can safely do so. If you are turning, point in the direction you plan on going. If you are slowing, put your hand out behind you.
9. If you wave a car around you, don’t get impatient. Remember that it is their decision to make as to whether it is safe to pass.
10. If you’re in a group, take leadership, set a good example and do your best to make everyone ride courteously.
11. Pay attention! While it is the responsibility of drivers to avoid hitting you, ride defensively to minimize risk!
12. Remember the 5% rule. 5% of drivers are jerks. Don’t let that 5% get to you. Take a deep breath and move on.
13. Be friendly. If someone is courteous to you and does the right thing, wave and smile. Everyone likes to be acknowledged for doing the right thing.

Let there be light!

Just 10 days left until Daylight Savings Time begins (Sunday, March 11). For us cyclists that means the return of after work group rides and the start of consistent outdoor riding. Gone are the days of basement base miles. And of course, the Tuesday night East Loop will be on again from Indiebike (52nd St. and College Ave.). There will likely be some new faces so be friendly and plan to stick together for the first two weeks so everyone can get familiar with the route. Once we all know our way home, its game on! Bring on the sun.