A Hub for Cycling Enthusiasts

Indianapolis Retailer Check-In:

Located across the street from the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is the Indy Bike Hub at the YMCA at the City Market.  This facility is a haven for just about any need a cyclist might have.  I spoke to Sean Hawk, manager of the Bicycle Garage Indy store that shares Indy Bike Hub operations with the YMCA center.

Anthony: “How would you describe the Indy Bike Hub?”

Sean: “The space is part commuter hub, part bike shop and part fitness center. It offers local bicycle commuters a good central location to park their bikes, clean up and be ready for work.”

Anthony: “What are the benefits of a facility like this?”

Sean: “Having a space like the Bike Hub encourages commuting by citizens and relieves some of the common barriers people give for not riding their bikes to work, like ‘where can I secure my bike while I’m at work,’ ‘how can I get cleaned up if I sweat during my commute,’ and ‘where can I keep my cycling clothes during the day?’”

Anthony: “What if you want a short-term location to securely park your bike?”

Sean: “If you don’t have a YMCA membership, you’d pay $1 an hour to park your bike. This is nice if you’re going to get lunch with a friend or going to the City Market farmers’ market. We make it handy to safely store your bike.”

Anthony: “What does the Bike Hub offer to people visiting from out of state?”

Sean: “We offer active travelers a place to rent a bike, service their bike, buy cycling accessories and get bike route directions. Many out of town customers rent bikes to stay fit or participate in local events. People fly in to do the Hilly Hundred, or a local triathlon, so we help provide a lot of the rental bikes for that. People will also be training for an event at home, so when they come here, they want to rent a bike. We offer a handy way for people to keep up with their training.”

“A space like the Bike Hub encourages commuting by citizens and relieves some of the common barriers people give for not riding their bikes to work, like ‘where can I secure my bike while I’m at work.'”

Anthony: “How much does it cost to rent a bike?”

Sean: “Prices range from $20 to $60 depending on the type of bicycle and duration of the rental. And, if you only need a bike for a quick trip across the city, we have a Pacers Bikeshare rack just outside our front door.”

Anthony: “Would you say you see more locals come in, or more people coming in from out of town on a visit?”

Sean: “I’d say we probably have about 15 percent of people coming in from out of town, and about 50 percent of the cyclists coming in are local commuters. The remainder would be local, downtown residents.”

Anthony: “What is one of your favorite things about the Bike Hub and its central location?”

Sean: “We feel really fortunate that we’re across the street from the Cultural Trail and right at the intersection of Alabama St. and Market St. When we send people out on bike rentals, it’s really seamless to have them go out the door and ride across the street, and then, they’re right on the trail.”

“When we send people out on bike rentals, it’s really seamless to have them go out the door and ride across the street, and then, they’re right on the trail.”

Jump to More Indianapolis Content:

1. Watch the Mobile Cyclist Indianapolis episode or read the episode recap.

2. Read Mobile Cyclist host Anthony Barr’s Top 5 Biking Spots.

3. Read Anthony’s interview with the city’s leading bike advocate.

Or, just visit our Indianapolis page to access it all in one place.