In Which Spring Teases Bikers

Rockwell-Collins pond on C Avenue Thursday morning. Pretty, but that's snow on the grass.  We're kind of over that by now, Mama Nature, please.

To be honest, I don’t totally hate April snow. I’m ready for it to be over, understand—I want warm weather, too—but, except for the days like Wednesday when it was actively snowing, biking has not been all that bad this cool April.

Take this morning, for instance. It was cool, with a little snow showing in the grassy areas, but I rode Clarence because the streets were dry and clear enough to accommodate the hybrid. Later this afternoon, the Mount Mercy Bike Club is to meet, as bikes are brought out of winter hibernation.

Of course, some of us crazy bikers didn’t hibernate this winter, but have been out there riding. I did not have to wear them this morning, but at times this week I’ve had on winter layers on my legs and winter boots on my feet—very odd biking for April.

Tuesday, before the storm, I shot these images on my ride home—the top one contrasts with the snowy pond above, the other image is just a sign near some street work or pipe work that I find amusing. When is a dead-end block ever open for “thru” traffic?

Tuesday afternoon, looking west over pond on C Avenue (morning view above, of course, is looking east).  A pretty afternoon before the storm.

Isn't this road, the stub of 39th Street NE at Lennox Avenue NE, always closed to "thru" traffic?

And “thru?”

Anyway, I rode the winter bike Monday, but had an OK ride day Tuesday. Wednesday was the return of winter, but spring came back today. I hope it wants to stick around. I don’t hate April snows because they slow down the plants that you don’t want to emerge and freeze in early spring—but seriously, we are getting past any reasonable definition of “early spring,” so I’m willing to let the plants take their chances with afternoon sun.

In other CR biking news, Iowa City is starting to plan its RAGBRAI party. All I can say is, please don’t take too much advice from Coralville. When the ride recently stopped there, city planners committed one of the worst rider infractions that is possible—they routed incoming bikers through the vendor area before delivering them to camp sites.

No, no, no! After a day of biking, a riders wants to set up their tent and shower before heading out for the eat-drink-music of the evening. Nobody wants to be forced to walk their bike one more time unexpectedly at the end of the day.

Got that, Iowa City? Camp first, vendors second, please.