Rider Information
Area Bike Shops
Hodsons Bay Co., 360 Brown St, West Lafayette, IN 47906
765-743-3506
Virtuous Cycles, 632 Main Street, Lafayette, IN 765-807-6557
The Bicycle Barn, 7643 W. SR 26, Rossville, IN
765-379-9700
765-379-9650
Email: Ivan Hess
Bicycle Repair, Turning Point, 3560 Division Road, West Lafayette, IN
765-746-3900
Valley Bikes-Recumbent Dealer, 41 2nd Ave. N. W., Carmel, IN 46032
800-730-9021
317-582-5539
Fax: 317-582-5540
Club Rider Guidelines
The following are some suggestions that will make your rides with a group safe and fun:
Choose rides for which you can maintain the scheduled speed and advertised distance and terrain.
Make sure your bicycle is mechanically sound.
If you have any questions call the ride leader in advance of the scheduled ride.
Take basic equipment for you and your bike: water bottles, helmet, identification, money, sun tan lotion, snacks and minor repair tools.
Build up to longer rides so that you have a reasonable capability to do the ride.
Arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled ride start time. Be sure to sign the ride roster.
Bring and wear a helmet.
Know your ride leader and other riders. Introduce yourself.
Pick up a map. Pay attention to any special ride instructions from the ride leader.
Ride in a safe manner: Call out road hazards to others. Pass other riders only when safe. Let riders know when you are passing them by yelling "On Your Left" and never pass on the right unless you get permission from the rider in front.
Obey traffic laws. DO NOT RUN RED LIGHTS!
Point out potholes, road kill and other hazards to cyclists behind you.
Do not yell "Clear" to other riders behind you at intersections. Everyone has the responsibility to make their own decisions in traffic.
If there are motorists behind you, do not wave them to pass. You cannot predict their actions and you are not responsible for their safety.
Pace yourself to complete the ride.
Assist other riders where needed.
Cross railroad tracks at a 90 degree angle to prevent getting your wheel caught in the groove.
If you have difficulties or decide to leave the group for any reason, tell the ride leader or another riders.
If you choose to ride ahead of the group, you do so at your own risk.
Be aware of the other cyclists around you. Keep a proper distance between bikes. Only draft another rider with his or her permission. Give hand signals as needed. Remember! If your front wheel overlaps and touches the rear wheel of the rider in front of you, it is most likely that YOU will go down.
Exercise courtesy toward cars and pedestrians, thus encouraging acceptance of cyclists on the roadways.
Soak in the scenery, make a friend, HAVE FUN!
Thank the ride leader.
Join your fellow riders for pizza!
Dog Control Laws and Ordinances in This Region
Detailed Dog Control Laws and Ordinances in this Region
Dog owners are required to either keep their animals locked up or under control at all times. Please report all incidents to the proper authorities. Also, remember, a dog does not have to be Mastif to cause problems. Many dog-bicycle accidents are because the animal ran into the front wheel of the bike causing the rider to go down. Here are phone numbers of authorities in this area if the situation is not an emergency. In an emergency dial 911.
Guidelines from Chloe Harshman if you are bitten by a dog: Go to the nearest house and call the animal warden and/ or the law. Do not leave until you can file a report or complaint . Keep carbon copy of report....get medical help..take pictures of injury , get witness names . Keep all carbons and info relating to the incident. Call animal shelter to make sure the dog is quarantined for 2 weeks and has rabies shots. Above all do not leave the scene until someone in authority can validate the event. This way you have proof of the incident if you should need to sue for damages or get the dog owner to pay your medical bills. This procedure also will produce a record of first offense directed at the dog owner. A subsequent offense will be handled appropriately by the authorities.
| West Lafayette Police | (765)775-5200 |
| Lafayette Police | (765)476-4045 |
| Tippecanoe County Sheriff | (765)423-9388 |
| Benton County Sheriff (Fowler) | (765)884-0080 |
| Carroll County Sheriff (Delphi) | (765)564-2413 |
| Clinton County Sheriff (Frankfort) | (765)654-5563 |
| Fountain County Sheriff (Covington) | (765)793-3545 |
| Warren County Sheriff (Williamsport) | (765)764-4367 |
| White County Sheriff (Monticello) | (219)583-7103 |
Laws, Regulations and Ordinances Affecting Cyclists in This Area
Drivers [of motor vehicles] must routinely share the roadway with two-wheeled vehicles such as...bicycles. Bicycles are entitled to the same right-of-way and are required to observe the same traffic laws as operators of automobiles. It is extremely important that the automobile driver be alert and on the look out for the two-wheeled vehicles. The automobile driver should also maintain a safe following distance in sharing the road with two-wheeled vehicles. A motorist... should increase the normal space between vehicles. Two-wheeled vehicles usually have significantly shorter stopping distances than heavier cars or buses. The safe and wise driver of four-wheeled vehicles will adjust for this and allow more room for the two-wheeled vehicle ahead. Indiana Drivers Manual.
Area cyclists are cautioned about the differences in laws that can be found in the different jurisdictions in this area (West Lafayette, Lafayette, Purdue University, Tippecanoe County and the State of Indiana). As an example, Purdue does not allow cyclists to ride on sidewalks except in designated areas. Lafayette prohibits cyclists on sidewalks only in the central business district. In West Lafayette, cyclists who are 16 years old or older are not allowed to ride on sidewalks at all. Another example of the differences is that Lafayette requires cyclists to ride in bike lanes even if there is a lane on only one side of the street which would require the cyclist to be riding on the wrong side of the road. West Lafayette has no such ordinance.
Rider Log
This form is for ride leaders to record signatures of their participating riders. The log is used to record the miles that each rider rode during the ride, but more importantly, the waiver gives us a modicum of liability protection in case of an accident. This form needs to be used on every club ride and all participants are required to sign it. Those refusing to sign the waiver should not be allowed on the ride.
Ride Leader Guidelines
Most rides will have a designated ride leader. The leader develops the route, stays with the slowest rider and turns in the mileage of the riders to the individual who is keeping the mileage log. The club also awards the leader $1 in discounts at Hodson's Bay Co. for each ride that they lead. The following are guidelines ride leaders should follow. For more information on ride leading the Cascade Bicycle Club has a great detailed booklet.
Plan your route ahead of time. If the route will take riders more than a couple of hours plan stops into the ride where riders can get snacks and use the restrooms.
Produce maps of the route to hand out to riders.
Bring at least the minimal amount of tools needed to fix minor road problems. Cell phones are getting to be more popular as well and are being used in emergencies.
Print out and bring a ride log sheet. Make sure that all riders sign the sheet and check to see if the signatures are legible.
Explain the route to everyone and either make sure that everyone understands where you are going or has a route map.
Keep track of everyone on the ride, and if you have to do so, stick with the slowest rider. These are often the riders who need the greatest amount of help.
Determine the mileage at the end of the ride and turn in the log sheet to the mileage log keeper.
Route Information
Back Roads of Indiana - This book, also by Charlie Myer, has maps of almost all of the counties in the state. All of the paved roads and many features and rest stops are listed on each county map. The book has a spiral binding which makes it easy to photocopy a page and stuff it in your bike bag. This book is A MUST for Indiana cyclists. The book can be purchased at:
Gilles Cycling & Fitness,
Indianapolis
Evansville
Hodsons Bay Co., 360 Brown St, West Lafayette, IN 47906
765-743-3506
Bicycle Garage Indy, 4130 E. 82nd St, Indianapolis, IN
Bicycling In The Lafayette Area - This is another book by Charlie Myer. This one lists a number of routes in the area. The book can be obtained at area bike shops.
WRCC Speed and Distance Categories
The WRCC recognizes that not all cyclists have equal potential. That's why we have devised a Ride Category System. All scheduled club rides (except for SHO-N-GO's which have no leader) have a posted category. The category is based on the AVERAGE speed expected on the ride. If you are unsure of your abilities, you should start at the very first level and work your way up.
A 19-21+ mph
B 17-19 mph
C 15-17 mph
D 13-15 mph
E 11-13 mph
Novice - for new riders
