Blog Post

One of those lost riders told me when he finally got home that he and two other riders had taken a wrong turn. I don't know the details of where they went, but it was a heck of a detour since he ended up with 42 miles for the day, park-to-park.

Since I missed last Saturday’s ride today’s Hendricksville Ride marked the beginning of my club biking season. It was a beautiful day, bright and clear. At start time it was a bit nippy at about 39 degrees. Everyone had tights on. Jen Miers led our group of some 19 riders on this club favorite early season ride.

Ron Brown led us out of town via the new part of the B-Line Trail. We took Second Street to Morton and from there got on the trail headed north through town. The new part curves around northwest allowing us to get onto Vernal Pike AFTER the infamous RR crossing. The paved trail comes to an abrupt end at Adams Street. Going straight onto the street involves dropping off a curb probably 4 inches high. The better plan is to stay on the sidewalk for half a block to the intersection and roll onto the street through the curb cut. We took Adams north to 11th Street (where there is an all-ways stop at a T intersection) and then 11th Street west to Vernal.

Our main re-grouping spot was at the R & J Store at 43 and 48.  Although I was in the trailing group, when we got to the store another group of 4 or 5 was missing. We never found them. We suppose they failed to stay on Vernal as it goes up to Highway 48 and took the Oard Road short route by accident. I’ve done that before, but soon turned around when I hit Rock Crusher Hill. I’m still waiting to hear from those riders.

The BBC board had its March meeting on Thursday evening, the 8th, at the MCPL. The elected officers Keith Vogelsang (president), John Bassett (VP), Kathy Cummins (Sec), and Jerry Arveson (treasurer). In addition Allan Edmonds (blog), Tammy Berger (membership), and Ron Brown (advocacy) were present for one of the shortest meetings in recent memory.

The meeting started with approval of the minutes of the January meeting and the February annual business meeting.

Jerry made a brief treasurer’s report. We currently have a healthy bank balance with RAIN reservations coming in. The RAIN jersey for 2012 has been designed and can be viewed on the club web site. Ron Brown has purchased some special timing and recording equipment for helping at the finish line. With his system in place he plans to post the finisher list by sometime Saturday after the big ride is over. Tammy reported that we still have trouble with people not confirming their addition to the BBC email list at Google. If a new member doesn’t click on the confirmation button they will not be added to our list! Blog activity is just starting to pick up as the ride season gets going.

Under new business board members filed their conflict of interest forms with Kathy. We approved Keith, Jerry, and Kathy to have signature rights on our checking account. We also discussed procedures for handling our credit card accounts, which have separate numbers for all users, mainly associated with running RAIN, but all go to the same monthly statement that Jerry receives. One informal goal for later this year is to develop a regular budget based on the last couple of years of experience.

WE named Ron Brown as our club representative to the Citizen Action Committee associated with I-69 Section 5 planning.

More financial business: Keith is preparing the IRS 90 form, with assistance from Jerry, to be submitted by the end of the month. Finally we authorized disbursement of funds to the grant winners determined at the last board meeting. Keith will write to each applicant, explaining as much as possible to those that went unfunded why their application was not approved. Jerry will add a check and mail the letters.

Grant awardees include Banneker Community Center, the Bike Project, Bloomington Parks and Rec, Boys and Girls Club, DeCycles, Girls Inc., Monroe County Parks and Rec, New Hope Familiar Shelter, and Stepping Stones.

For members who are interested, more formal and complete minutes are being posted in the Members-Only part of the club web site (after they are approved at a subsequent board meeting).

By Jim Schroeder


I’ve seen quite a few interesting signs on roads in southern Indiana since I moved here eight years ago.  There’s this one sign that always made me wonder and I’ve never gotten an explanation from fellow riders and I’ve never had enough guts to ask the county engineer.


All of you have ridden Vernal Pike just before the western end, haven’t you? Remember the sign on both directions “Road Under Investigation”?


Well, it’s gone!  


It’s been at least a long eight years worth of long hours of detective work, but it’s been solved!  What? I have no idea.  All I can say is, “Good bye signs, hello new asphalt!”


Well, at least all the pot holes on this miserable pike have been patched with some decent asphalt.  That stretch of road returning home for supper or a Bakehouse smoothie had always been a struggle, but tonight it was rather enjoyable.


Oh yeah, the case of Vernal Pike in the City has been solved, too.  It’s open!

Club Tour Director Mike Finger passes along the following invitation to all club members. Now’s the time to have a voice in the planning of club rides for the new season.

And do consider volunteering to lead a ride or two. For those new to the idea: After you get comfortable with going on some club rides, find a route you like, check it out by bike or car on your own if you need to, and then volunteer to lead it sometime. A great place to start on that would be the OWLS or FOWLS.

Let’s also give a shout-out to the Sunday afternoon Nice ‘n’ Easy Rides and to Slow Spokes. It’s these rides that have the potential to attract people who haven’t been much involved with cycling before. In particular I hope some interested folks step up again with Slow Spokes options. The club is at its best when we have opportunities for all  interest levels. But it often requires one or two people to accept the challenge of taking a turn providing some leadership.

The Ride Planning Meeting will be held at my house on Friday Feb 10th at 7pm. I live at 4500 Blackstone Ct., in Parkridge East. Take 3rd St. east toward Nashville. At the top of the rise before you get to 446, take a left onto Parkridge Rd. Follow Parkridge Rd. past Morningside, the tennis courts and Cambridge, to Blackstone Ct. on the right. I’m down near the the end of the deadend street, on the right.

There are a number of things to be discussed at the meeting, but the main purpose is to set the Saturday touring ride calendar for the season, and to assign leaders for these rides as much as possible. We will discuss the rides for OWLS, FOWLS and the women’s specific training rides, as well as the traditional training ride. We will get to talk about the new UnRides that will be on the calendar, and many other things!

Please join us for this annual event. There will be refreshments (beer) and snacks, and good company!

Mike Finger

The BBC marked the end of the 2011 biking season and the beginning of the 2012 season on Saturday, January 28, 2012, with its annual meeting and banquet. A group of about 60 members and guests gathered at Chapman’s Banquet Center for food, fellowship, and (a little) business.

After some informal gathering, the evening began with the business part. President Keith Vogelsang reviewed highlights of the year past, with an emphasis on the success of RAIN, especially the club’s emphasis on involving volunteers at all stages of planning and staging this big event.

Then several committee chairs made short presentations. Mark Villanova discussed plans for RAIN 2012: Jennifer Miers is handling registration; Jim Schroeder is doing the route and the start line; John Connell will be handling the finish line at Earlham College in Richmond; Sylvia Stoub is working to recruit additional volunteers needed to staff the event. Keith Vogelsang is also serving on the RAIN committee, as is webmaster Klaus Rothe.

Touring Director Mike Finger discussed plans for the coming year and announced an open meeting coming soon to establish the Saturday ride calendar for 2012. (Jim Schroeder, who is known for his frequent century-length additions to Saturday rides is also planning some “Un-Rides” with more of a focus on fellowship, fun, and food. Look for more details later.) Advocacy Chair Ron Brown mentioned some of the issues he dealt with over the last year. Membership Chair Tammy Berger said we now have about 230 members. Allan Edmonds, Blogmaster, mentioned that we have now completed our third year with the blog venue for sharing club information, with 50+ posts each year. Social Chair Sylvia Stoub talked about the new “second Monday” socials. The next one is Game Night, set for Monday, February 13. More information will be forthcoming by email and on the club web site.

Finally the nominating committee presented its slate of candidates for the elected officers of the club, including two carry-overs and two new people:

• President Keith Vogelsang
• Vice President John Bassett
• Secretary Kathy Cummins
• Treasurer Jerry Arveson

Note: This piqued my interest since I know some BBCers do some serious stair climbing in Ballantine Hall over the winter. – AE

American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb

Stair climbing is a great way for cyclists to increase both strength and endurance during the winter months.

Stair climbing works the legs in a more balanced way than cycling, primarily working your hamstrings and glutes, and engaging your core. Most of us naturally have stronger quads. Stair climbing works other muscle groups, which makes it a good cross-training activity for cyclists.

Stair climbing can also help cyclists build endurance. Stair climbing burns more fat per minute than almost any other form of exercise and it is the easiest way to increase your intensity and cardiovascular condition. When you bike, you are always putting stress on the joints in the same way. Stair climbing is easier on the joints than walking, and by supporting and moving your own body weight, you burn more calories and strengthen your bones.

Cyclists who do not bike outdoors during the winter could replace their rides with stair climbing to come back stronger and faster in the spring.

Interested in stair climbing? Challenge yourself by participating in the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb on February 18, 2012. Participants climb 32 floors to the top of the Hilton in Springfield, Illinois, or compete in the “ultimate climb” where they climb 32 floors as many times as they can in 1 hour. For more information or to register, please go to www.lungil.org or contact Kelsey Dyckman at (217) 787-5864.

Thanks for organizing the great pizza party, Sylvia!

-Keith V.

Please feel free to contact me anytime you are looking for a ride in South Bend…most of us ride all year round (Bella Vita Cyclists)if the pavement is dry we'll be out there! Greg Olen 269.832.7609

By John Bassett

I was having a little trouble figuring out how last Saturday’s club ride got its name.  Yes, the ride goes though the little north Lawrence County community of Bartlettsville.  But, it was not apparent until I looked at the route map (south part shown here) that you actually go through Bartlesville twice (about mile 20 and 28).  So, Bartlettsville x Bartlettsville = Bartlettsville².

Saturday was one of those great, sunny fall days that begs a bicycle ride and served to break the funk associated with last week’s cold and rainy weather.  It was a little brisk in the morning (31oF) but soon warmed up to the very low 60s.  About 20 riders assembled at 10:00 at Bryan Park, and we picked up at least one rider along the way out of town.  The basic “A” route was on the order of 52 miles.  Jim Schroeder had laid out “B” and “C” routes of about 70 and 105 miles, and there were several takers for those distances.  I’ll stick with the “A” route having decided it was best not to spend the entire day riding my bicycle.

Bartlettesville Squared is sort of a lop-sided figure-of-eight centered at Bartlettsville.  The top loop goes around Lake Monroe with the smaller bottom loop following rural roads in northern Lawrence County.  The county roads in this area are generally very good and traffic is low.

The loop south from Bartlettsville is particularly scenic.  After a steep climb with a switchback at about Mile 21, there is a nice view back to the north into the South Fork Salt Creek valley,

Then follows a very pleasant peddle along Ramsey Ridge Road through a piece of the Hoosier National Forest.

Coming back off Ramsey Ridge, there is a nice level section running several miles back down the South Fork Salt Creek valley, to complete the lower loop of the figure-of-eight, and across the Salt Creek valley to head back north.

At Mile 34 this pleasantness comes to an end with a long climb up “No Name” hill to Judah.  This one appears to have a couple of false summits.  But, not to worry, as refreshments are available at a couple of places once you reach Old 37 a few minutes later.

The ride follows Old 37 back north to Bloomington.  The total climb of about 3,300 feet is comparable to a day of the Hilly Hundred and was a good follow up to last weekend’s event.

This was a very pleasant Fall day on a nice route with a great group of people.  Many thanks to Jerry Arvesen and Jim Schroeder for leading.

Bloomington Bicycle Club Web Site