Check Out The Monon Trail In Indy and the Valley Bikes Shop

The Monon Trail has a lot to offer the walker/runner/biker/blader. First there is a good 10.5 mile stretch of great paved trail that connects to another 5 mile section called the Monon Greenway of Carmel. Most of it is tree lined making it peaceful and quiet as well as cool. There are also other branches that join the Monon. The Fall Creek Trail, and the Central Canal Towpath which leads to the Wapahani Trail. Several extensions are in progress to both extend and connect new sections for even more improved greenways.

I noticed several coffee shops along the way, as well as three bike shops. Valley Bikes is right on the trail at 41 2nd Ave. N.W. in Carmel. Mike and sons, Dane, Dirk and Drew keep things running, along with master wrench Pete Chenoweth. Valley Bikes specializes in recumbent trikes, and has the highest sales volume for trikes in the U.S.

Even so, to satisfy the occasional Diamond Frame rider he has just recently picked up a line of Fuji DF bikes as well. Sort of a reverse on what you usually see at a bike shop. If you’re on the Monon Trail, and you see a recumbent trike pedaling along, you can almost bet it came from Valley Bikes.

Mike rents bikes, and offers test rides any time. You can bet you’ll get the very best attention even if you’re not making a commitment to buy any time soon. It would be rare for any respectable bike shop to sell a bike without the buyer taking a ride first, and maybe several. It’s the only way to make sure the bike “fits!” Recumbents are no different. Mike is committed to getting everyone who walks through the door on the seat of a recumbent. There is never any pressure, but loads on encouragement to “try it!”

(Check out the most unusual thing I've ever seen in my life while I was at the store!)

Indianapolis just recently had a special presentation to highlight the bike trails and greenways in and around town. Because of the tremendous impact Mike McDowell has had in the bike community, he was invited to be one of the guest speakers for this presentation. When you go to visit Valley Bikes, let Mike know you saw it here.

The character of the Monon Trail is pretty neat! What does character mean? Well, consider not just the shaded trail, but the bridge crossings that can be somewhat spectacular, especially when you can look down and see a full grown doe watering at the rivers edge. That doesn’t happen every day in a city the size of Indianapolis!

Then there are the unique tunnel crossings, the trailside coffee and sandwich shops, signs to let tourists like me know exactly where they’re at, clean and well decorated cities like Carmel that makes the experience almost like taking a step back in time. You might have a different experience, but those are some things to look for.

Indy merchants have gotten together to raise funds for bike racks to place along streets downtown to encourage commuters and other trail users to visit their stores. That sure does speak of a community that supports the idea of bike paths and greenways!

There were also lots of access points along the way without too many crossings like we see on the Pinellas Trail here in Florida. While there were several major avenue crossings, there were only a few smaller streets that intersected the trail. Cars were very respectful of the riders and as often as not, would stop to give the rider the right of way to cross.

The trail was clean, well maintained and well used. On the two Saturday mornings I have had occasion to ride, about 8 AM things get pretty busy. There are probably more runners and walkers that use this trail than bikers. They do come out in large numbers. But you will see many bike riders as well.

For more information about Indiana Trails and Greenways visit www.indygreenways.org.. For more information about Valley Bikes go to http://www.valleybikes.com/main.html. For information about other Bike Trails in the U.S. go to http://www.traillink.com to find trails in or around your state.