Catherine Dusing's bicycle travels have taken her around the world.

She and her husband, Edward, founded the Central Indiana Bicycling Association (CIBA), which has inspired generations of bicycle enthusiasts in the Hoosier State. She recently spoke about her affiliation with the non-profit group.

"My husband and I got involved with CIBA in 1964, but we were involved with bicycling long before that. I've ridden a bike all my life. I've ridden thousands of miles around Indianapolis and the state. I've also ridden around the United States, Europe and China. I went with the League of American Bicyclists through the Ambassador program. I've also gone to various bicycle events around Indiana and rode through Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Holland. When we rode through Luxembourg City, we had lunch across the street from the palace. I've also ridden from Indianapolis to Kalamazoo, Michigan. When the Indianapolis Scarborough Peace Games took place, we rode up there carrying the torch when they had the games in Scarborough, Canada," she recalled.

"When we had our national rallies for the bicycle organizations, we went to Nashville, Kalamazoo, Denver and Gettysburg. We took our bicycles with us and took an extra day to see the sights of each city. We always went during the summer months," she said.

"I volunteered during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta with their bicycling event. They called me as I was retired. I worked in one of their communications offices and went out to the three various events for bicycling. I've volunteered at every national event (except the Winter Olympics), like the National Sports Festival, the Pan American Games, Police World and Fire Games," she added.

"It (bicycling) was just something my husband and I did together. We got CIBA started in 1964," Ms. Dusing said. CIBA's mission is "To provide opportunities for bicyclists of all ages and abilities to ride their bicycles on safe, friendly and well-organized rides; to be informed of bicycle events and related activities; to volunteer in support of CIBA and other bicycle-related organizations; and to socialize with other bicyclists." You can find a ride and learn more at www.cibaride.org.

In addition to bicycling, she also had a career and other hobbies. "I retired as an office manager at Miller-Eads Company, an electrical contractor, in 1989. It was a small company, we had electricians out in the field doing the work. I have had my own tax return business the first three months of the year for 45 years. I also belong to the American Sewing Guild where I am their treasurer. I made all of my own clothing when I worked and I still do today," Ms. Dusing said. She has two daughters, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Though she stopped riding her bicycle three years ago, Ms. Dusing has not slowed down.

"I'm the volunteer coordinator for The Hilly Hundred, which is October 19-21. I've been involved with this event for 43 years. In Rocky Ripple, we had a Pedal and Park Program for the festival where we parked 286 bicycles. We don't have a parking lot for this festival and I was out parking cars in yards so we could get them off the street. There were several thousand people out there. It was a gorgeous day," she noted.

Her volunteer efforts have extended to other events as well. "At the end of the State Fair, I received an award - I've been involved in parking over 20,000 bicycles in the last 12 years in their Pedal and Park Program. I've done the Broad Ripple Art Fair, Penrod and did the 100 Acres event when they opened at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. At this year's State Fair, we parked 1,800 bicycles in 17 days. It was not as busy as what I hoped it would be and the State Fair attendance was down a little bit, too. When we do the Broad Ripple Art Fair, we usually park about 250 to 300 bicycles per day. Almost 70 percent of those riding bikes don't have to park in Broad Ripple," she explained.

A popular bike model has taken her on some memorable journeys. "I rode my Schwinn Paramount, which was handmade in Chicago. My grandson has it now, as he wanted to keep it in the family. We got it around 1960 and I rode it until about three years ago, but now I do the volunteering coordinating for the NITE (Navigate Indy This Evening) Ride, Pedal and Park and The Hilly Hundred, which is a big event. We usually have close to 5,000 riders. We used to have The Hilly Hundred at Bloomington North High School, but they did some remodeling and there was no longer room there and we needed to get to a larger headquarters and moved to Ellettsville. There are several schools on the grounds where riders can bring their tents to the campgrounds. We have sleeping bag space for them in the schools. It's a two-day ride. We have over 400 volunteers, but we need 25 more for Saturday," she mentioned. Those interested can register at: www.hillyhundred.org/Registration6.html or read www.hillyhundred.org for more information.

The Hilly Hundred route on Saturday, October 20 covers 57.5 miles starting on the corner of Sycamore Road in Ellettsville, going southwest through the towns of Whitehall and turning around to proceed northeast through Solsberry. Sunday's ride of 43 miles has Reeves Road as the starting point again, but pedals east and north before returning southwest to the Ellettsville Schools, providing a scenic bicycling mecca in southern Indiana.

She reflected, "It was a shame that I quit riding when we have these bicycle paths and trails today after working several years on them and its great to see them getting used. I did this for the sport of bicycling. Its great to see all these people out riding their bicycles now. The Monon Trail has the possibility of expanding from Westfield into Frankfort."

Her efforts also created a popular bicycling facility: "We spent 10 years trying to get the Major Taylor Velodrome built. It was a money issue trying to get it done, but we got it completed in time for the National Sports Festival in 1982. Its been rewarding to me because I'm a people person. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't be doing this anymore. CIBA made me an honorary board member."

The next time you're out riding on a bicycle trail, thank Catherine Dusing. Her pioneering spirit has made Central Indiana bike trails a reality for riders of all ages today as she continues making an impact on the community.