- Sun
- Hot sun
- riding
- resting
- coffee
- chats
- stamps
- postcards
- more sun
- peaceful rural roads
- chats and chilling
- general route confusion (standard)
- resting
- Colfax
- Coffee
- ridingLebanon
- recommendations & local knowledge
- local reporter
- amazing hospitality
- pretty girls
- distractions and food
- cycling
- suncream
- sensible
- sidewalks
- highways
- trails into Indianapolis
- runners
- property
- A city,
- a motel
- in the centre
- on a friday
Left the motel early, and pretty soon after a little highway negotiation we were cycling down blissful country roads.
Yet again there were so many incidental things during the day that may or may not warrant commentary. But they were mostly superseded by a very busy evening in Indianapolis. We had a couple of nice stop offs in Colfax and Lebanon. Lebanon was a particularly good one, where we were greeted by the lady from over the road who brought out some postcards of the town and called the local reporter. We were given some tips on where to go in Indy. I popped over to get a soda and was very tempted to just stay in Lebanon for at least the rest of the day. Our little venture seemed to have become the talk of the town.
Nic & Sarah went off to take a more 'direct route' to speed into Indianapolis, while the 7 of the remaining team rode on along the busy highway to join the Monon trail into town. A brilliant rails to trails project that links up the northern limits of town to the city centre. Has been a catalyst to other improvements too not least of which is the cultural trail that goes around the centre of the city.
The level of detailing and quality of surfaces, almost all the way around is probably the most comprehensive active transportation project we've seen on this trip, and probably the most impressive I've seen anywhere. Excellent signage, detailed surface work, incorporation of drainage in the planting. All very impressive.
I had to claim that Indianapolis is my new favourite city when Jamison led us to the Indy Bike hub, which was right next to the Market. The bike hub is a pretty comprehensive well, bike hub. There's ample parking, showers, lockers, a YMCA gym, a bike shop and mechanics. A few of the P2P riders had various mechanical and cosmetic issues to attend to for their steeds which were well addressed. I know that in the 6 or so months since I bought my new Surly (which actually almost exactly coincides with the amount of time I've been a non smoker... neat) it's done a little over 5,000 miles what with pre P2P training, and the whole riding across America thing. I attempted to change the chain back in Three Forks but it was already too late so I'm just running the chain set into the ground now, and am pretty hesitant to take it to a mechanic, like a man with a mysterious lump on his balls may avoid seeing the doctor. You just know that if you take it in to get sorted out it's gonna cost more than you can afford and take a good chunk out of your available time.
After a beer in the Market, which reminded me of an American, more sanitised, bigger version of Brixton Market. Jamison took me on a mini tour of the Cultural Trail. Very glad I did so, and also that I took some notes for future reference. Yet again I am bowled over at the hospitality and enthusiasm of our hosts. I am all to aware that many of the people we meet are firmly in the pro-bike camp and all my discussions the last seven weeks revolve in some way about bikes, but as the journey continues I see my view of how the research is shaping up being better defined. There are trends and patterns, across all the energetic successes that we are seeing.
I have spoken before about the unfortunate nature of our trip that we only get a fleeting taste of any one place at a time. It is such a shame to glance through cities like Milwaukee and Indianapolis cities which I must admit hadn't registered too much in terms of the research side of this trip, and not much outside the wider cultural reference points (e.g. Happy Days, The Indy 500). But these 'smaller' cities along with the main break points have all thrown up some really interesting points of focus for how modern cities in a changing world are incorporating cycling into a wider agenda, and the reasons why.
Anyway, more on the cycling research at an appropriate time. As I am sure you, lovely reader, after trawling through all this dirge want to know all about how I went out and ate a massive burger and had the rest of the team pay for it. No? OK then, just ask me when you see me.
Like I say It was a shame to skip through Indy so quickly. Beyond the interesting bike stuff it seemed a lively city, and as the state capital it would have been great to have been able to hang about a bit more to actually take in some of the cultural features on the cultural trail!
But we're off, and another day in the saddle, to Columbus IN.
I wont go into too much detail.
- It was hot
- it still is
- very hot
- that burger didn't sit too well
- nice pace though
- some lovely shaded rolling hills and scenic roads
- relaxed mood and an early arrival
- Lots of riders out oin a Saturday morning as well
- clearly a thriving bike 'scene' but how many use those swish machines (or an alternative) for anything other than bombing down the lovely Indiana roads on a weekend?
Too late for a haircut now, best try and get some dinner.
oh and I feel a little bad for the lovely people of Indiana that before I arrived basically this was all I knew about the state. But I know a little more now :)
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