My own city, which is not Indianapolis, has a few sections of trail that locals tend to avoid because they're congested with homeless camps and while I've never had an issue, there is a perception of danger and it doesn't make for a relaxing ride. I go in the day and in a group, but not alone at night.

I am planning a daytime ride in Indianapolis along the Monon Trail from Carmel to Downtown, then circling back using the White River. Are there any sketchy or outright dangerous sections of trail I should know about?

The city glows bright red on crime maps, but so does almost every downtown in every US city over 500,000 people.

I've looked at what's available online. A lot of what I could find was either generalized or dated so I'm still looking for additional perspectives.

Grant Petersen designed #BridgestoneRB-1 (1989 in this case) has been a grail bike frame of mine for years.

This beauty showed up at a swap meet this weekend, and was complete and in great working order. Took it home for $250.

I have a full set of 11s 105 that’s going to make its way onto the bike, and I’ll keep the Suntour GTX components safe for the originalists out there.

Spring has sprung, the cycling networks in Québec, the Route Verte and other regional or municipal paths, are now mostly open.

So it's again possible to explore or use the network to go camping, as part of touring, or just to get from point A to B.

And you should know that if you are touring or arriving on a bike, there is a program called "Bienvenue Cyclistes" where all national parks (provincial parks here) will offer you a campground for less than $10. Keep in mind you also have to pay entry fees that are around $10 too. About the same for some wood. This is also possible in some other establishments. Consult the map linked above.

You should also know that you can use public transit around Montréal to bring your bike with you. It's included in the ticket. So you can take the metro, but more importantly, the REM, and the commuter trains. There are also some exo buses with bike racks. So you can go to St-Jérôme for Le P'tit Train du Nord in a commuter train with your bike for a few dollars. From that trail you can also reach another park, Parc national du Mont Tremblant

Today I'm going to see my family from Montréal to the Drummondville region. In the other direction. The ~140 km to get there is entirely bike trails/paths. I cut the itinerary in two stages and stop in a small national park called the Parc national de la Yamaska for a night of camping.

The first part to get there is using a network of local bike trails. The first from Longueuil to Chambly is called La montée du Chemin de Chambly. Then from the other side of the Richelieu river there is a trail called La route des Champs to Granby. And from Granby to the park it's local trails. They have very nice cycling infra in that region.

Here are some pictures of La route des Champs and the local trail before the park.

Then tomorrow, I will use another trail connecting to the park called La Campagnarde. This one goes to Drummondville, entirely on small gravel, and sometimes very remote and quiet.

I do this multiple times a year so I thought I would share some tricks and adventures. And I've been encouraged to by /u/Evkob.

Have fun cycling everyone!

A short video with dos and fonts to properly lock your bike. Tom from shifter, as good as always!

I can hear a bad bearing again, but in my infinite wisdom, I didn’t bother to write down what types of bearings this motor uses the last time I had it disassembled. So here I am again, trying to breathe some new life into these rusty mofos - hopefully, by the time I need to do this a third time, I’ll have clean, new replacements ready for all of them.

Also, I have no idea what I’m doing here, so here’s to hoping all the parts find their way back to the right spots and I don’t break anything else in the process.

Also, note to self: just buy them damn lockring pliers.

EDIT: I didn't fuck it up.

Winter project nearing completion, but I am having decision paralysis on the last few pieces. I'm thinking of a honey colored Brooks saddle and color matching bar tape (shallaced cotton maybe). Then some tan sidewall touring tires. Which in turn would all match the honey colored leather of the bag.

My biggest questions are color options for the saddle, bar tape, and tires in contrast to the blue of the frame? And on the subject of tires, what would you choose? Wheels are 700c, and I think 32s would fit.

Oh ya, and eventually there'll be hammered silver Honjo fenders when I can find them.

I'd had my Centurion LeMans RS since 2019, but never really got a bike fit adjustment for it. I thought my issues -- getting tired easily, hand pain at the palms -- were technique and fitness issues, but a few bike fit adjustments made a huge difference!

All we did was raise the seat for full leg extension (I.e. more efficient pedaling), change the stem and handlebar for a more upright, comfortable ride, and add a double layer of grip tape. I've also ordered padded gloves that I hope will help. I'm excited to bike more places!

Also $4.99 x 12 = $59.88, but first year "only" $59.99.

Josh Poertner goes into detail about tariffs and the current trade war affecting his company's bicycle products. He leads with SILCA's new mini electric pump, but also goes into why his US-made manual pumps became manufactured offshore due to a much earlier round of tariffs.