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HOOTs
HOOTs (Hoosiers Out On Tandems) is a statewide group that promotes tandem bicycle riding through social and fitness-focused rides and multi-day events for tandem teams from Indiana and beyond.
Although the name HOOTs dates back to the mid-nineties, the group has been championing the fitness and social joy of tandem riding for decades, primarily across Central Indiana.
Event Calendar
This ride list is for 30-weeks out. You don’t have to be on a tandem bike to attend a HOOTs Ride.
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.
Organizational Structure
HOOTs Committee Chairs: Jay & Linda Hardcastle
Treasurer: Dolly Craft
Event Registration & Calendar: Kent Ellis
HOOTs operates as a program of Central Indiana Cycling.
Midwest Tandem Rally
The 2026 Midwest Tandem Rally will be held Labor Day Weekend in Kalamazoo, Michigan; www.midwesttandemrally.org
HOOTs hosted the first Midwest Tandem Rally (MTR) in Kokomo on Labor Day Weekend of 1976. In 2025, we hosted “Race Back to Indiana” in Westfield, the ninth time that HOOTs hosted the MTR.
Midwest Tandem Rallies Hosted by HOOTS:
- 2025 – Westfield: Rick & Anna Stanley and John Calhoun & Madelyn Zalon
- 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
Membership Sign Up for the HOOTs Email List
If you ride a tandem and live in Indiana, you can consider yourself a HOOTs member. To keep abreast of HOOTs rides and activities, please add or update your contact information to our HOOTs email database by clicking on the link below.
You do not need to pay any dues to be a part of HOOTs. We function as a group due to our affiliation with Central Indiana Cycling; the organizational support we receive from Central IN Cycling and revenue from past Midwest Tandem Rallies we’ve hosted make our group rides, weekend rallies and social gatherings possible. However, hosting rides and events does carry a cost for insurance, ride support and food. Please consider joining Central Indiana Cycling to help defray those costs or continue to support your local bicycle club as a dues-paying member.
To sign up for HOOTs email updates complete the signup form using your current email address.
HOOTs Facebook Group
Visit the HOOTs Facebook Group
This discussion group is where we chat about upcoming tandem rides, events, and tandem related topics.
