In Which I Wonder at a Sign During 30-Mile Day

Swallowtail butterfly on flowers in my front garden. Saw one at park on early bike ride, and this one appeared when we got home from that ride.

Friday was another warm early summer day. Thursday, we had gone to a county park with grandchildren in tow, and almost melted in the humid heat. I ended up with no time for a ride Thursday, and only regretted it slightly.

Today was another warm one, but not quite as hot and breezier, which helped. One reason I did not ride yesterday was that my wife and I were caring for five grandchildren. Today, we had one—and he’s the 4-year-old who is my biking buddy. I asked him if he wanted a ride.

He said OK, and at first wanted my wife to go on another ride—his idea is that he and grandpa would ride somewhere and grandma would ride somewhere else.

These days, his closest buddy is grandma, so I think he was just being ornery, and he relented and conceded that both my wife and I could ride with him (it’s automatic in my case since my bike is the one that has the towed seat he can ride).

We headed out late morning. There was a fair number of people at the first city park we passed, and we kept going, looking for a more isolated place to play. On the way to park two, which proved too muddy to play at (we had rain last night), just before we hit the 2-mile mark on the ride, he started to ask to go home, but that’s normal. He loves a bike ride, and also loves it when it’s short.

We reminded him that we had packed snacks, and he was willing to continue. We rode out to park three, more than 3 miles from the house. A drink and a snack and some play worked wonders. While there, I spotted a 4-leaf clover, which he picked and took home. Such a clover is supposed to be lucky, but most of this clover’s 3-leaf cousins are still growing in the ground, which made me wonder about the whole premise. It’s the same as the age-old question about a rabbit’s foot—if it brings good luck, why isn’t the rabbit still doing well?

Grandson (above) holds clover. The lower one has four leaves. Wife (below) holds the same one. I found a second one when putting the bikes away.

Anyway, after play and a snack, we headed home. It was a slow ride—I was towing him, and it was hot and humid. We reached 7 miles, which was by far this young dude’s longest pedaling ride so far, and he did quite well. I am sure he rode more than 7 miles when he was small enough to sit on a toddler seat, but this was his longest with pedals under his feet. Although my wife reports that when she was following us, she noted he wasn’t using those pedals all that much.

After he went home, I headed out on a solo ride. I note I’m the same rider on the same bike, but my average speech was much faster on the evening ride. It was not as hot, for one thing. I wasn’t towing a grandson. And I rode north on a trail—country trail miles always go faster than in-town miles.

On the second ride, I saw that the city has placed new signs at the crosswalk where C Avenue crosses Collins Road. That sidewalk is a recognized dual walk-bike route, and the signs instruct bikers to dismount. I complied, but I also question the wisdom of the rule.

New sign. If I dismount, but then get back on bike to ride across the street, am I OK?

I have to hoof it to get across the four lanes of Collins Road in one light “cycle” on foot. It’s sure easier to roll across. And I’m taller, and I think, more noticeable when mounted—why would I be safer on foot? Hmmm.

Maybe it makes walkers feel safer because they’re not worried about bikers while crossing the street—but I use this corner frequently—every day when I rode to work in a former life—and it’s rare to have a walker and rider at this corner at the same time.

Well, whatever. Between the two rides, I made it to 30 today. I hope to ride many more tomorrow.

Today's rides. Tadpole with long tail and tadpole with very fat head.

Bunny on Cedar Valley Nature Trail--rode north to Lafayette and back.

Computer at end of second ride.