Hoosiers Out On Tandems
Although the name “HOOTs” has been around since the mid-nineties, the Central Indiana Bicycling Association (CIBA) has been promoting the fitness and social aspects of tandem riding for at least forty years. Many of our rides are in the nine-county Central Indiana region, but we will host two multi-day events in 2024 that appeal to teams from the rest of the state and beyond. Middlebury will be the home of our first multi-day event on the weekend after Memorial Day. The second multi-day event will be held in the Southbend area in mid-October.
HOOTs History
HOOTs originally started out in the western part of the state by Tom and Mona Smith around 1990 under the name of TOIS (Tandems Of Indiana & Illinois). In 1993 Tom, who was also a member of CIBA, began to have discussions with CIBA about hosting the 1995 Midwest Tandem Rally. In 1994 TOIS was brought under the umbrella of CIBA which could provide many more resources to the tandem group. At that time the name was changed to Tandems Of Indiana Society (TOIS).
Keith and Janice Conaway headed TOIS in 1994 and 1995, hosting MTR on the northside of Indianapolis.
There was a short time in late 1995 and early 1996 that the name changed to TRAIN (Tandems Riding Around INdiana). In 1996 Sue and Gary Robinson took charge of the group and its name changed to HOOTs. The name represents the entire state, and it also followed the trend of tandem groups to name themselves after animals.
New HOOTs Organizational Structure for 2024
- HOOTs Committee Chairs – Jay & LInda Hardcastle
- Treasurer – Dolly Craft
- Event Registration & Calendar – Kent Ellis
- Website – John Calhoun
- MTR 2025 – Rick & Anna Stanley, Madelyn Zalon & John Calhoun
| Year | HOOTs Chairs |
|---|---|
| 2024-present | Jay & Linda Hardcastle |
| 2020-2023 | Kent & Anne Ellis |
| 2013-2019 | John Calhoun & Madelyn Zalon |
| 2007-2012 | Jay & Linda Hardcastle |
| 2001-2006 | Don & Dolly Craft |
| 2000 | Don Hughes & Debbie Beaudin |
| 1998-1999 | Don & Chris Kirk |
| 1996-1997 | Gary & Sue Robinson |
Midwest Tandem Rally
HOOTs hosted the first Midwest Tandem Rally (MTR) in Kokomo on Labor Day Weekend of 1976. In 2019, we hosted “Rediscover Columbus;” the seventh time that HOOTs has hosted an MTR.
Midwest Tandem Rallys Hosted by HOOTS
| Year | Location | Chairs |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Fort Wayne | Kent & Anne Ellis |
| 2019 | Edinburgh | John Calhoun & Madelyn Zalon |
| 2014 | Fort Wayne | Kent & Anne Ellis |
| 2010 | Shipshewana | Don & Dolly Craft and Danny Graber and Rhonda Yoder |
| 2004 | Columbus | Don & Dolly Craft and Charlie & Diane Zaharako |
| 1995 | Indianapolis | Keith & Janice Conaway |
| 1985 | Anderson | Wayne & Phyllis Shirey |
| 1976 | Kokomo | Mont & Pam Williams |