Great Lakes - Riding Indianapolis

I moved to Indy last summer from the Twin Cities of MN and I am finding it difficult to find some decent riding roads. I am right off of 79th street on the west side and the few times I went out last year I was buzzed on a regular basis by semis and cars. I've ridden out to Brownsburg and a few other roads west of 465, but there still seems to be lack of shoulders and roads are still pretty busy. I wondered if anyone had some suggestions on better places to ride. I am not too excited about having to drive to find a better place to ride, but it is better than being roadkill.

I'm more familiar with the east and north sides, but W 56th St. around Eagle Creek isn't too bad. If you can find a good way east to Spring Mill Rd. that's not so bad, at least north of 106th St. Obviously Michigan sucks and I'd try to avoid it.

It may sound crazy, but US 40 isn't so bad west of Plainfield.

I'd say your best bet is 56th St. to Eagle Creek and head northwest in that area between 65 and 74. Shoulders pretty much don't exist in central Indiana except on highways, so the only thing you can really do is search for the roads with the lowest traffic volume.

Take that for what it's worth. I'm pretty comfortable in traffic. Here's a recent century I did, which is basically 267 to 56th St. on the northwestern portion of the loop.

Thanks for the advice. I think Spring Mill Rd might be doable. I know the roads on the north side are busy, but at least they're a little wider. That century looks pretty good. I might have to check out mapmyride.com and see if they have some other routes.

Are there any organized group rides in Indy?

Check CIBA for a calendar: http://www.cibaride.org/

If you haven't already, check out the Greenways Foundation (http://www.indygreenways.org/index.html). Once you get north of 71st St., Lafayette Road has pretty light traffic. Also, there are quite a few lightly traveled roads north of 56th St. after you get west of Eagle Creek Reservoir. BTW, if you don't get a season pass to Eagle Creek Park, there is something very, very wrong with you ;)

I am mostly a commuter so my perspective may be different, but I really like the Greenway system. I live near 56th and Georgetown, so I work my way toward's the White River in whatever way seems safest and then hop on the paths. It gets me to work downtown, or over to the Monon.

--Andy

+1 on US 40, I live way, way out west in Brazil, on US 40 in fact. I ride it all the time, went all the way Bellville last Saturday and back, great ride, great rode, the traffice will almost always move into the passing lane around you. Don't blame if you get killed though.

Don't know how far west you are on 79th, but if you go up Moore Road or Lafayette Road you can find some nice roads with not a lot of traffic in the Whitestown - Zionsville area. Have a look at some of my SportyPal ride logs to get an idea of where I'm talking about — http://www.sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/237518 is a pretty nice route. And as someone else mentioned, a season pass at Eagle Creek Park is a good thing.

I have a good time buzzing the hybrid riders on the Monon when I make it there. Assuming traffic is light, you can take it from downtown to Westfield in 45 minutes. With heavier traffic, you can still go nearly as fast, but your tires will suffer...


ETA - 1500th post!

Thanks for the advice. I think Spring Mill Rd might be doable. I know the roads on the north side are busy, but at least they're a little wider. That century looks pretty good. I might have to check out mapmyride.com and see if they have some other routes.

Are there any organized group rides in Indy?

http://www.meetup.com/IndyCycling/

Also check in at Nebo Ridge. They have lots of rides.

If you make it out west (Greencastle - I'm out by RacerOne), stop in the shop and I can point you toward some good rides. Or join us on one of ours. This weekend we're riding from Greencastle to Stilesville (for Pie!) and back, and then on Sunday we're riding the Morse Lake Metric up in Arcadia.

Yep. I agree.....go to the Nebo Ridge Bicycle Shop in West Carmel, near 106th Street. Talk to them about their rides
and a map or two of the roads to the north of them. I take my bike on car rack about 18 miles just to get to those roads to ride on them.
Low traffic, safe, good pavement. The best area in Indianapolis area to bike.