Bloomington Bike Summit

by Keith Vogelsang

The city held its first ever Bike Summit on April 28th, hosted by city staff and held at the Bloomington and Monroe County Convention Center. The BBC was a proud sponsor of the event, along with help from Bikesmith’s , the Bicycle Garage, Bloomington Pedal Power, Bloomingfoods, Downtown Bloomington, Inc., City of Bloomington Commission on Sustainability, and BTOP.

Chad Roeder, owner of Bloomington Pedal Power

What is a Bike Summit? That’s the question the city’s Transportation Manager Scott Robinson raised in his opening remarks. Essentially, this was a very public opportunity for the city’s Platinum Task Force to begin rolling out some of their findings, and get feedback on what kinds of projects should receive priority. The city has set an ambitious goal of earning a Platinum-level award as a bicycle-friendly community by the year 2016. The League of American Bicyclists directs the program and evaluates applications. Implementing recommendations from the Platinum Task Force will be a crucial part of upgrading Bloomington from in current silver to gold or platinum. The final report of the task force is expected sometime this fall.

 Scott Robinson discussing bike survey results

Communities are scored along the five “E” rubric of Engineering, Evaluation & Planning, Education, Enforcement, and Encouragement. Summit participants were organized into focus groups around each of these five categories, and asked to develop their own list of projects. Then, each focus group displayed their priorities list, and the entire assembly then had an opportunity to vote on projects. Each participant received five red stickers to be allocated at will. Some of us put all five stickers on a single project, while others preferred to spread the votes around equally.

Voting on engineering prioritie

Vince Caristo, the city’s new Bicycle Coordinator originally proposed the idea of the summit to the task force. Vince then approached me for help in making it happen. The BBC was well represented at the summit, and it was gratifying to see how our partnership with other sponsors could bring together so many bicycle enthusiasts. There seemed to be enough energy (along with great food and drink) for the meeting to have continued beyond our scheduled three hour block of time. The city staff did a splendid job organizing and keeping the event moving along to get the most out of our limited time. The organizers even provided extra bike racks to accommodate the group. Even with the thunderstorms, the racks were at capacity.

Cathy Meyer chats with Raymond Hess

Mitch Rice from the city's Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commission

City councilman Chris Sturbaum

Platinum Task Force member Jim Rosenbarger

BBC Safety Director and Platinum Task Force member Chris Tietz discusses enforcement

Triple Creek, Alt.

We had a nice group of about 20 out for the Tuesday OWLS ride. Tom R went over the planned Triple Creek route.

We had hoped that the flooding along Brummett's Creek Road would not extend as far north as the intersection with Fleener. But one person had heard that the intersection was indeed flooded. So on the fly Tom worked out an alternative route. We started as planned down Kerr Creek, a wonderful, long, shady downhill and through the valley. At Getty's Creek Road we planned to turn north instead of south. When joined Mount Gilead and headed north to Highway 45. We then jogged over to Robinson Road via Tunnel. We took Robinson to Old 37, up Firehouse Hill, and back into town via Cascades. We took a short rest stop at the Fire House, where fresh water is available.

Altogether it worked out to about a 28 mile ride for those who made the full loop back to the church parking lot. A great job of re-routing!

Breaking Away Ride, Year Three

By Dan Hickey

“Why is it that a team from the BBC could never win the Little 500?”

  

This was the riddle that Jim Schroeder used to kick off the Breaking Away tour, a gentle 30-mile excursion that visits many of the scenes from the movie that made Dennis Quaid a star and helped get a generation of kids on bikes with its 1979 release.  It was a perfect Spring day, one day after the 60^thannual Little 500 bike race that was featured in the movie.  Jim pointed that this was the first time ever that the ride did not have to be postponed because of rain.

From our gathering place in Bryan Park, we first headed up Lincoln Street, and  just up the way was the Free Methodist Church shown in the very first part of the movie.  

Onward north to the corner of Lincoln and Dodd, Davey’s house, with its distinct slate roof, was instantly recognizable. From there it was a few miles west  to the intersection of Highways 446 and 46, the starting line for Cinzano 100. In case you have forgotten (because of course you have seen the movie), Davey crashed out when one of the smarmy Italian riders jammed a bike pump in the young upstart’s spokes.

We headed down 446 and stairstepped SSW across five miles of familiar roads to the Empire Mill and Quarry.  About half of us cleated our way down the gravel road to the quarry.  It was the first time I had seen actual quarry and it was awesome!  

It looked just as inviting as it did in the movie, and if it had been warmer I might have gone for dip.  From there we headed up the Clear Creek trail (which was definitely not there in 1979) to Woolery Mill on Tapp Road.  This was a working mill when the interior scenes were shot.  Now apparently in a state of suspended-renovation, the mill itself is still wide open and you can ride right through it.  Curiously, an old bus now rests in the cavernous mill pit.  

From the mill we headed up Countryside Lane and Rockport Road back into town on South Walnut.  We first came to 1010 S Walnut.  This was the site of the used car lot where Davey tried to get his dad to buy back the boy’s crapped-out Corvette (“refund?  Refund!!!).  Next was downtown to the square.  We first passed Opie Taylor’s, which was Pagalia’s pizzeria in the movie.  Jim pointed out that William’s Jewelry is the only business currently on the square that was there when they were filming.  

Then around the square for a full view of the Monroe County Courthouse where Moocher and Nancy got married, after combining their spare change for the wedding license.  

We got sight of Bike Smith’s, bike shop whose owner Jean Smith built the custom road bikes for the Italian team.  Several years ago on a ride, Jean had told me the story of how the producers had given him carte blanche to build the bikes, and how great it was that they then just gave them back to him after filming.  We didn’t stop in but apparently there is some good memorabilia from the film in the shop.  Then past Indiana Theatre and Nick’s English Hut, both which were prominent featured.

After a short hop to the IU campus, we got to take some laps around the track at Bill Armstrong  stadium, the current location of the race.  The race banners were still in place, and the cinders were well-packed from a rainy race.  

We rode past the Wells Library to Arboretum, the site of the original track where the race formally took place.  At the stone structure that was formerly a ticket booth, we checked out the brass plaques honoring previous winners.  Jim pointed out the plaque honoring Dave Blase.  Blase was the legendary 1962 Phi Kappa Psi champion who provided team mate and IU grad Steve Tesich the inspiration for the screenplay.  Blase ended up with a role in the movie as the race announcer.  Jim explained that because they filmed the race scenes in the summer, they had trouble finding enough students to fill the stadium.

When we got to the Indiana Memorial Union, Jim finally clarified something that has confused me ever since I watched the movie.  I could never figure out the location of the drive-by scenes that led up to the big fight with Robin’s boyfriend in the IMU.  Jim explained that before the Sample Gates were built in 1987, the road went right through campus and right past the IMU.  Mystery solved.  

From the IMU we headed to Rose Well House outside of Maxwell Hall. The gazebo is where generations of IU coeds reportedly could clinch a future husband with a midnight kiss.  I am pretty sure this gazebo is where Davey confesses to Chi Delta Delta Robin that he is not really an Italian exchange student after all.  She slaps his townie face (hard!) and breaks his townie heart.  

We finished with the Tri Delta house where Davey had earlier serenaded Robin and her sorority sisters.

  We also learned that the Subway on 3^rd Street was the franchise where the biggest-loser-of-all Jared lost 240 pounds while living in the second floor apartment upstairs.  He was featured in article in the Indiana Daily Student which then got picked up nationally.  You know the rest of the story.

While I certainly did not get much of a workout, this was one of the most entertaining rides of my life.  After I got my car in Bryan Park, I drove back up to get a shot of Davey’s house.  The current owner was out front working on the garden.  I can’t recall his name but he was full of stories about the house and actually had overseas guest inside who had come to town just for Little Five.  He explained that he had been working in France in 2009 when Jim led the first Breaking Away ride.  A photo of the group in front of Davey’s house ended up in the Herald Times, and a friend mailed it to him.  It ended up being a rather complicated bit of hometown quaintness to explain to his French colleagues.  I propose that next year we ask him to let us stock his bar in exchange for letting us use his house for the pre-ride screening of the movie.

And yes of course, the riddle.  So why is that Bloomington Bicycle Club team could never win the Little 500 race?

“Because they would be slowing all the time to point and exclaim ‘gravel."

Sorry to make you slog through all of these details if you were only interested in the answer to the riddle.  If it made you laugh then it a sure sign that you have ridden with the BBC, and perhaps with Jim.  As some of the nicest cyclists you will ever meet, BBC members are compelled to warn everyone behind them of every pothole or spot of gravel as the ride past them. 

I took the pics with my phone, which seems to have lost some functionality halfway through the ride.  You can view the Breaking Away Trailer at YouTube.

Almost to Paragon

By Allan Edmonds

Saturday saw the club ride head north to Paragon, as we typically do once a year. It was a well-deserved day of nice sunny weather, if a little windy.

Leader Bob DeGroff got the large group of about 40 riders organized, and off we went.

It was an interesting group of all levels of experience. It was clear from the beginning that we would - and should - break up into several smaller groups, after regrouping a couple of times on the way out of town. Bob took the leader's role of watching out for the newer and/or slower riders seriously.

Bob assured us that he had checked that Bottom Road was unflooded and passable, although he couldn't vouch for the final 4 miles into Paragon.

A few people took the 29 mile shortest option, including Tammy and Glenn B. who were riding dual tandems with kids on the back. They've often been out with a tandem, but this was the first time they brought both kids and both tandems, and they thought it prudent not to push their luck too much.

I was in a small group that decided not to to the out-and-back portion to the stop in Paragon and do the 38 mile middle option.

We were taking a short break in the Morgan-Monroe Forest when some of the other riders caught up to us. It had turned out that the route into Paragon was flooded and they had given up trying to ride through the water. At that point some riders had opted for extra miles by going on to Martinsville and following our M and M route. Others met up with us and decided to go through the forest, DOWN Beanblossom Hill and back to Old 37 on Anderson Road, instead of staying on Old 37 the whole way back into town.

For those new to the club, who naturally wonder how fast club rides go, I note that my small group averaged around 13.5 mph, including time in town on both ends, and a little under 12 mph including stops. For most of the ride we were averaging somewhat over 14 mph. We were definitely among the slower riders.

P.S. I was a bit surprised to have gotten a bit of a sunburn on my arms. I guess it's time to start being more careful about sunscreen.

P.P.S. Note for next year's ride calendar: We've been flooded out several times on this ride. Maybe it needs to be a little later in the Spring!

Hoosier Hills 60k

by Keith Vogelsang

With such cold, gloomy weather this past Saturday, I certainly didn’t expect much of a turnout for the Hoosier Hills ride around Lake Monroe. The Doppler radar indicated a narrow window of opportunity as our 10AM scheduled time approached, and because I was the designated ride leader, it was my call on whether to roll or not.

I’m glad we went for it. Eight of us showed up at Bryan Park, including Mark and Andrew, two new members. At the halfway point, Mike, Stan and Paul split off to add some extra miles. Here’s Mike’s summary of the day:

“Paul, Stan and I enjoyed our extension to today's ride. We went to (near) Heltonville by way of Bartlettsvile, then back to Bartlettsville. From there we worked our way over to Judah and back into town on Old 37 and the Ketcham cutoff over to Victor. Distance of 65 miles, avg. speed 16.4, climbing of 3500 ft. We weren't too cold as long as we kept moving, and though it started raining again on the way back into town, we managed to stay fairly dry. It's not the kind of day I would have chosen for a ride, but I wouldn't have missed it for anything. I had a blast.”

Yeah, that about sums up my day, too. We had a fun group, all working at the same pace. Although my toes were cold and the skies gray with drizzle, I stayed dry enough to get in a good workout on the hills. Jim and I both narrowly missed the same frightened, confused squirrel on a fast descent down Ramp Creek—lucky day for us and the squirrel!

Fortunately, my first experience with the Hoosier Hills ride coincided with beautiful riding weather. And during Saturday’s ride, it occurred to me that this particular route was my initiation into recreational cycling in Bloomington. Years ago, the city hosted a 20k, 60k, and 100k version of the Hoosier Hills ride as a fund raiser for the local food bank. And at one time, the Bloomington Bicycle Club used the ride as its own fund raiser.

Back in 2004, a friend suggested that we take our kids, clamp on our trailer bikes, and sign up for the Hoosier Hills 20k. Surely we were both strong enough to complete a short 20k route with kids in tow; right? While chatting during the ride, we missed our turn onto Swartz Ridge Road from 446. By the time we had realized our error, we were nearly to the causeway, and decided to just keep going and try to complete the 60k. We knew there were hills, but no one told us about “the alps!” Oy…

I remember feeling so empowered after completing this challenging route with my eldest son, Mac, in tow. It’s hard to believe that was about 28,000 ride miles ago, but it was this particular ride that motivated me to seek out other touring opportunities, and eventually, brought me into the BBC.

Roundabout Trouble in Bloomington

Some of you are aware of the city's plans to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Sare and Rogers Rd, near where our OWLS group starts most of its Tuesday-Thursday training rides. We send large groups of cyclists through the intersection about once a week in season.

Just take a look at the planned monstrosity:

It looks like something more appropriate for I-69. It is completely unacceptable for use by all but the most daring bicyclists, and completely unacceptable for pedestrians.

This plan is on the verge of final approval!

Local transportation activist Buff Brown (founder of B-TOP) made an eloquent plea a couple of weeks ago to the Citizens Advisory Committee, pointing out serious flaws in the plan and advocating for a more sensible, vastly smaller, four-way stop sign. (Even in its current state the intersection is vastly too wide, at 100 feet between the east and west stop lines.)

The proposal is part of a larger package - called the Transportation Improvement Program - of such roundabouts. In addition to its intrinsic flaws it will eat up much or all of our local federal allocation for transportation infrastructure. It is now moving on to the Metropolitan Planning Organization's Policy Board meeting, Friday, April 8, 1:30 pm, at City Hall.

If you are concerned about bicycling infrastructure (not to mention urban sprawl, increased vehicle traffic, speeding traffic, etc.) it would be worth putting in an appearance at this upcoming meeting. There will only be a limited opportunity to get this proposal changed.

Buff Brown has prepared a detailed 16 page document addressing fundamental concerns about this proposal and proposing more reasonable alternatives. Click here to download it. (6.8MB PDF file)

Edit Monday April 4: Taking into consideration the public input we have received, including the resolution passed by the Citizens Advisory Committee, Mayor Kruzan has decided to postpone the construction of the Sare and Rogers roundabout by one year until Fiscal Year 2013.  This will allow for more consideration of the design and details of the roundabout.  The City will be making this recommendation at the Policy Committee meeting on Friday, April 8. [From City Director of Public Works, Susie Johnson.]

Goodbye to George Van Arsdale

This last Saturday afternoon we remembered and said goodbye to George Van Arsdale who died on March 13, 2011, after a several year battle with a rare type of cancer. George was a long term member of the BBC. A funeral mass was held at Trinity Episcopal Church, with several BBC members attending. He had lots of connections in the community in addition to biking. The arts community was especially well represented.

I took the photo above out near the Waterworks in the fall of 2006 during the Persimmon Ride led by Joe Anderson.

I think we all recognized George in the description of him in the eulogy. A serious talker with knowledge and opinions on almost everything. He was unique and we'll miss him.

George served a term as president of our club back in the 1970s. He recorded some of his memories of the early days of the club in a document that used to be on the club web site. I searched for it, but couldn't find it there. I did eventually locate a copy by going to www.waybackmachine.org and searching there using the presently dead URL http://bloomingtonbicycleclub.org/history.html in the year 2007. You, too, could find it there. Here's a link for the history that currently works http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20071021074419/http://bloomingtonbicycleclub.org/history.html Maybe it will reappear on our regular web site again sometime. But if you've ever lost something on the web, there's at least a chance you can resurrect it using the Wayback Machine!