In Which Summer Rolls Into Fall

Sept. 11--One of several rides this month down Grant Wood Trail, bike parked on bridge near east end of paving.

September—astronomical fall arrived late in the month on the equinox, but weather-wise, in the Midwest, cool, crisp air is a normal feature of this month, which usually feels like autumn.

We often see our first mild frost in September, sometimes by mid-month. Not this year. September turned out to be both very warm, with summer-like highs in the upper 80s many days, and very dry.

Since I have a new tricycle to ride—as yet unnamed, by the way—I took advantage of this warm month for some longer rides. I’m not doing any RAGBRAI-length days yet, but rolling beyond 20 miles wasn’t an unusual distance for me in September. For the month, I rolled 438.97 miles, almost double the total of any other month this year. So far in 2025, I’ve rolled 1,409.17 miles on my bikes or my trike (and not all my September miles were trike miles, I’m still a CR Biker, too).

It was a beautiful month for riding. Monarch butterflies, rare earlier this year, were common as they are flying through Iowa on their long migration from across the continent to overwinter in Mexico. Asters, those pretty fall flowers, appeared, while some summer flowers persisted. Often, I saw Monarchs drinking from Asters.

Asters by Basile Hall on Mount Mercy University campus, seen on Sept. 15 trike ride.

Another campus view, this one Sept. 28, Bee on Asters behind Warde Hall at MMU.

Sept. 22--Summer-like sun on first day of astronomical fall, Cedar Lake.

Long-blooming summer flower, Day Lily, in garden at Lowe Park on Sept. 21.

Sept. 21--Monarchs on Asters at Lowe Park.

Sept. 21--Flowers in gardens by art building, Lowe Park.

Early this month, I rode my nameless tricycle north as far as Center Point. On the final day of September I went farther south, riding to Ely.

That final ride was noteworthy because I rode with Mike Miller, a neighborhood friend. I usually ride solo, but in September my two longest rides were both just over 30 miles and both with companions, my sister Cate Sheller on one, Mike on the other.

On Sept. 30, Mike and I headed own the Cedar River and Herbert Hoover trails to Ely, visited the ice cream shop there, and headed back. We paused at the clock tower by the National Czech and Slovak Museum, and watched as it chimed 1 p.m. The clock puts on a bit of a show, playing music and opening doors to have cultural figures rotate into view.

Sept. 30--West clock face near Czech and Slovak Museum. Note this face shows months and zodiac signs. East face shows sundial. Analog clock is above those faces on both sides.

Sept. 30--My biking friend Mike Miller suggested staying at clock until it struck the hour. It was a good idea.

The clock has a standard face, plus a sundial on that same face, and a second face that marks the months and zodiac signs.

The clock marks time in many ways. As I mark distance in miles. Not many miles, I concede—my rides are modest for a biker—but the miles have been increasing, which is nice. When winter sets in, it’s likely that I’ll be doing more bicycling than triking, just because I can wear warm winter footwear when riding a bicycle.

The trike requires biking sandals or shoes. My specific bike footwear is not insulated.

Me at Center Point, 13 miles north on Cedar Valley Nature Trail, starting to do longer rides.

Rode to Ellis Park and crossed Cedar River on bridge there on Sept. 15.

Sept. 9--Common sight on Lindale Trail. Indifferent deer.

Sept. 23--Rode past paving and limestone to grassy end of Grant Wood Trail.

Riding the new trail on the west side of the lake--seeing Pelicans and other birds at Cedar Lake Sept. 22.

Mixed messages seen by Cedar River Trail at south end of Cedar Rapids Sept. 8.

Rode to east end of Grant Wood Trail on Sept. 23.

Still, that colder weather is a challenge for the future. How far into the future, I wonder, as summer weather has continued through the first month of what would usually be fall.

Not that I’m complaining. I’ve enjoyed the increased miles on the anonymous trike. My one question for your consideration and comment—what would you name this tricycle?

Sept. 30--Trike in Ely, south end of final day of September ride. What should this trike be named?