In Which A Pretty September Invites Road Biking

Road bike parked in leafy rack at Warde Hall, Thursday morning.

I hope to take two of my bikes, the  hybrid and mountain bikes, into the shop soon—both need their rear wheels made true.

That, and the fact I’ve been pressed for time this busy semester, has led me lately to don the backpack and ride my third bicycle, the road bike, to work.

And although I have not taken the time to ride extra miles—going down to the lake, for example—I’ve enjoyed some quite pretty rides. We had some rain this week, and Friday I drove to campus a result, but I’ve been been otherwise able to ride and dodge the rains.

And Wednesday and Thursday it was on the road bike. The fallen ash leaves by the Warde Hall bike rack are a reminder that fall is on its way, and the sunny days this week were finally pretty and comfortable and not terribly warm.

October is coming. We have a fall break trip planned, and I have some hopes that we may do some biking, weather willing. Despite Friday’s rain, the weather was wiling this week.

Used to seeing sun dogs when it's super cold in winter, but I guess they can happen with high clouds that are probably way up there where it's super cold. Sun dogs Tuesday morning, seen on my bike ride to work.

In Which the Crazy Lady Flies

My sister Pat posted this for me on Facebook this week—this video of something called “artistic” bicycling.

The young lady, a German named Violra Brand, has strength and athleticism, and does things with a bicycle that I would not have done even when I was young and would never do now. It’s both exhilarating and a bit disturbing to watch.

Children, don’t try this at home. And I don’t hope to ever see anybody doing this on RAGBRAI!

In Which a Door Closes on Ride’s Eve

Garage door, closed for now.

For a while, getting to my bicycles will be a challenge. A monarch caterpillar crawled up onto my garage door and built it’s little “I’m going to be a butterfly” house there, which my wife found on Thursday.

So on Friday, I had to wheel my hybrid bike through the basement and muscle it up the stairs. It was not fun. Then, I had to squeeze it into the van and drive to a shop where we were leaving off a car.

Morning light on Cedar Trail,

 And from there, I rode to campus. Actually, despite being Friday the 13th, it was gorgeous. A cool day after some hot, humid ones. I had to get to campus as quickly as possible, but on the ride home, I took more time to enjoy biking on a nice fall afternoon, riding down to Cedar Lake.

On a cool September day, with some clouds and some sunshine, and breeze, riding is nice.

And I am happy that one of the caterpillars from my garden built a chrysalis. Although, I also would have picked a different spot, where it up to me.

Cedar Lake in the afternoon.

In Which I Tour a Lake Thrice in Two Days

Late afternoon sun at Cedar Lake, Sept. 3, 2019, around 5:30 p.m.

Cedar Lake—it’s not the prettiest body of water. It’s stuck next to rail tracks near a giant grain mill in a downscale part of town.

But it has its charms. If you want to view a sunset in Cedar Rapids, it’s one of your go-to places. It’s a good place to watch birds—geese and ducks. One cold icy spring day, I even encountered an eagle there.

I like Cedar Lake, and look forward to the not too distant future when it’s part of the big “Connect CR” project.

And I had the opportunity to enjoy Cedar Lake three times in the past two days. On Labor Day, I rode in the Linn County Mayors’ Bike Ride, sponsored by the Linn County Trails Association (a group that my wife recently renewed my membership in as a birthday present).

Monday was warm and muggy, but thankfully cloudy, too, which kept it from getting hot. The air was still, and a breeze would have been nice, but it was a still a pleasant enough day for an easy ride, which the Mayors’ Bike Ride, at 8 miles, is. My sister and I rode by the lake on the way to the ride, and circled more of it later in the morning as part of the ride.

My sister's trike gets inspected before the Mayors' Ride at Ellis Park.

During the Mayors' Bike Ride, trail by Cedar Lake.

I mildly regret not making more images at the lake Monday—the still air made it unusually calm, and Cedar Lake looked like a giant mirror, which is not its usual appearance.

Well, Monday was a nice ride. The crowd was maybe a bit smaller than in the past. I did run into Laura and Mike, biking pals from my neighborhood, but didn’t see other MMU Mustangs at the ride. At least I wore my colors. Some more images of the ride and after the ride:

Heading home after Mayors' Bike Ride--liking the new bike infrastructure by the courthouse. Barriers between cars and bikes, and new drains that are bike friendly And a kybo just to make us think of RAGBRAI.

Near end of ride, passing by Cedar River.

Photo with my sister at the end of the ride.

Biking along Third Avenue during Mayors' Ride.

Today was another warm, muggy day. The weather is expected to cool after today, which will be nice. Even today, however, was merely warm and a bit sticky—not really summer hot. So even if it was a little uncomfortable, I still enjoyed the ride down by the lake.

And—drum roll, please—CRANES! Three huge white birds were hanging out near the north end of the lake, fishing and fussing at each other and posing for photos.

Well, I hope you get a chance to check out the lake and see some birds there. It’s not Iowa’s premiere body of water, but it does have its charms, and I am often thankful that this urban pond does have a very useful bicycle trail around it.

Cranes on Cedar Lake, Sept. 3, 2019.

In Which I Test New City Bikes

City scooter and bike at MMU.

On my birthday, Friday, the city of Cedar Rapids and its Bike Share Program vendor VeoRide brought some toys to The Hill, and I got to try some.

I had not ridden the electric-assist bicycles that the city has for rent. But before I rode the bike, I tried a newer vehicle—an electric scooter.

This summer when I visited San Francisco and San Diego, electric scooters were fairly common, and a bit of a menace. They aren’t so common in the Midwest, but they do provide a way to get around.

And, to be honest, they are kind of fun to ride. I launched myself from the Rohde Family Plaza and zoomed down to the Warde Hall parking lot, then turned around and headed back up. I ran off the sidewalk at one point, but otherwise did OK on the trip. No pedestrians were hurt, either, in my first scooter ride.

I’ve not gone over to the dark side. I’m still a biker, not a scooter.

And then, after the scooter, I rode the bicycle. It was a surprising experience—the bikes have an electric boost that magnifies the impact of pedaling.

Student (background) and Dean of Students test city scooter and bike at MMU Friday.

Other MMU employees and had lots of fun trying the city program vehicles out, too. I hope the city program succeeds.

But as for me, I am willing to stick with riding my own bicycles.

Logo on city bike.

Pond on C Avenue on the way in on my birthday.

Me riding scooter at MMU--Photo by Caroline Groesbeck.