In Which I Seem Near My Goal

Dec. 19--Cedar Lake sunset, rode by lake on one of the nice December afternoons.

I don’t want to jinx it, but as of Dec. 19, I have ridden just about 3,293 miles this year—just 7 miles short of my 3,300-mile goal.

It’s been a weird December—in the pattern of November, it’s been mostly dry and unusually warm, although it also featured a few very cold days where full winter regalia was called for.

December is a very busy month, so squeezing miles in has been a challenge—but again, it appears I may soon reach my biking goal, so I can’t complain.

One reason was a fine ride in Des Moines. My youngest son who lives there is traveling to California with his wife and son to be with her family over the holidays, and we drove to Des Moines Dec. 14 to pick up their dog, who is staying with us for about two weeks.

He’s very big, but not, knock on wood, not a lot of work so far—we feed him and walk him and play a bit with him and he seems content. While his family is on vacation in California, he gets to be on vacation with us.

Dec. 14--Des Moines ride.

Anyway, we made a day of it. We drove to Des Moines in the morning, ate a late breakfast at a very fine diner there. In the afternoon, after the grandson’s nap, the plan was to play at a park. It was, in this warm December, one of the nice days, and my daughter-in-law and I decided to ride bikes to the park, while my son, wife and grandson drove there.

It turned out to be a ride of a bit more than 9 miles on a very fine afternoon. At first, we rode north through relatively quiet residential streets, and then met a bike trail that snakes along the south bank of one of the rivers in Des Moines. We turned east. In the distance, we could see the skyline of downtown and then the state Capitol, but the trail had a nice country feel to it, and the last few miles literally felt like a countryside ride along a pretty river valley.

Our goal was a playground at Easter Lake. We got there, we played for a while, and considered riding the 9 miles back—but it was December, days are short, and light was going to fade soon. One disadvantage of a country trail in Iowa is that when it gets dark, it’s very, very dark, and there would be no moon to help. Well, the drivers had brought a bike rack with them, just in case, and thus we put the bikes on the car, all squeezed in and rode back.

Dec. 14--My son's and daughter-in-law's bikes--my son let me borrow his--parked at Easter Lake Park. Grandson has a big smile for grandpa, too.

It was a pleasant ride. Not the longest of the month for me, as I did ride a 15.5-mile route on Dec. 9—but I really enjoyed the Des Moines trail and look forward to more visits on two wheels to Iowa’s capital city.

The final week of the semester at the university where I teach featured the taste of winter. There were mornings in the 20s where the windchill approach single digits. It was indeed cold, but the afternoons weren’t as bad, and with long underwear, warm boots and multiple layers, I found I could handle the commute, although I’m pretty sure I would not have wanted any longer rides on those days.

Today, we had an out-of-town commitment, which is a shame because it was again one of the unseasonably warm, sunny days. So no miles. Rain is coming—Christmas for us won’t be white, bur rather wet. Still, I’m hopeful to get in the few remaining miles, maybe, weather willing, on Thursday.

We’ll see. Still, it’s been a good December to be a biker in Iowa, and I’m closing in on my goal with a week and a half left in the month. That’s nice.

Miles so far this year: 3,292.97. As of Dec. 19 (I did not ride Dec. 20, as I noted), for the month: 116.16.

Map of the longest ride and more images from December rides:

Dec. 9--the longest ride.

Dec. 19--Passing Christmas lights on the way home.

Dec. 19--Another look at Cedar Lake.

Dec. 19--On colder days, mostly rode mountain bike, but today, rode the road bike. Parked at campus.

Dec. 19--Another view of the Christmas lights seen on ride home.

Dec. 19--Geese at Cedar Lake.

Dec. 12--Frosty morning at C Avenue Pond, one of the cold days.

Dec. 12--Grey and cool on bike ride home, but swing by Cedar Lake. They are a bit distant, so I'm not 100 percent, but I think three juvenile eagles were fishing.

Dec. 8--Deer by Boyson Trail on warm day.

Dec. 8--More deer by trail.

Dec. 8--Mountain bike on Boyson Trail.

In Which December Brings Rides Cold and Warm

Dec. 8--I ride mountain bike to campus due to possible snow. It did flurry in the morning, luckily no accumulation. I'm in full winter gear (my helmet strap is fastened when riding, I've arrived and unsnapped it before snapping this selfie by vehicle my wife drove. I stowed some bags in it so I didn't have to carry them on the bike.) I was hoping some snowflakes would show in this image, but I don't think that they do. Winter on this day--one week later a summer storm would strike.

A derecho—a weird, unexpected, December derecho.

Multiple tornadoes, a powerful, bow-shaped storm, winds of hurricane force—once again, Iowa saw a derecho sweep across the state on Dec. 15. I had decided not to ride my bike that day, despite a pleasant morning, because strong thunderstorms were in the forecast.

I know Iowa was lucky. Kentucky had a high death toll for storms the day before, and although there were some fatalities associated with this December weather disturbance, we got off lucky. The line of storms was thin, moved through quickly in the evening, and weren’t as strong as the derecho storm that severely damaged much of the state in August of 2020.

But it is December. Iowa gets storms like this—in June or July. This December derecho was very weird. The day set record highs in the 70s, with warm humid air from an unusually hot Gulf of Mexico drawn up to the middle of the continent in a month where we worry more about ice and snow than tornadoes.

Well, Dec. 15 was just one day. And I rode quite a bit this month, I just was too tied up with work and Christmas parties to have time to write posts about those rides.

Dec. 3 early evening bike ride to campus--December featured many pretty sunset skies, so if the sun left us early, at least it left us pretty.

Dec. 3--I rode the hybrid bike, here I pause in the parking lot behind the building where my office is.

Dec. 8--It melted later in the month, but C Avenue pond covered in ice in the morning.

But a lot happened in December, from a biking point of view. Early in the month, during winter weather that was more normal, I rode with my full winter outfit for the first time—long underwear, long shirt under a warm sweatshirt, two pairs of socks, insulated boots, a thin headband under a thin hood under my helmet, mittens and a jacket.

Even if the middle of the month briefly and weirdly warmed up, it was a month of winter rides, of using the low gear for the occasional “wind hill.” This is the darkest month of the year, and lights were important in both morning and afternoon rides.

Right now, the semester has ended and, while I have to do prep work for a January term and spring, I have fewer bike commutes to campus. I got a short bike ride in today (going to a store in search of a Christmas present), but I’m not sure how bike friendly this winter break will be.

At least, I hope there won’t be any days where I have to avoid rides due to a summer storm …

Dec. 9--Another morning view of C Avenue pond.

Dec. 17--Sidewalk on my route has been blocked for weeks, but now is open, as is new gas station.

Dec. 19--Quick Sunday afternoon ride on Boyson Trail, pretty December winter view.

In Which We Enter the Dark Times

Pretty morning sky Monday, Nov. 27. It's maybe 8 or so, and I've just pedaled up the hill to the Rohde Family Plaza. I have not had to use the winter beater bike much this week, as it's been nice enough for Clarence.

Dec. 1—for this time of year, today was a warm, pleasant one. It was frosty during my morning ride, but not windy, with a pretty soft blue winter sky.

It got warm in the afternoon, but by the time I was riding home from work—I got home close to 5—had cooled again to jacket weather, although I did ride home without hood or gloves.

Two 5 p.m. looks at almost full moon reflected in pond on C Avenue, Dec. 1.

We’ve arrived at the dark times, when I often have to use my lights for both the morning and afternoon bicycle commutes. So far, however, this particular Iowa winter has been nice. We’ve had a dry fortnight, although fortunately it’s at this time of year when no plants are trying to extract water, and warmer than usual weather.

That’s supposed to change. I may need to dig out my headband, mittens, thermal underwear and boots next week, when a Canadian air mass is supposed to give us a reminder of what winter in Iowa means.

Well, for me it means wearing a few more layers and biking on! I hope you can get out some even during these dark times.

Almost home, Dec. 1. Dry Creek valley--you may not see them well, but there are two deer about to cross the creek bed. 

In Which The Snow Brings A Safety Pause

I was playing bells at a Mount Mercy evening concert last week, and had ridden Francis to campus. One of the other people there noted my bike, and, as it turned out, is also a bicycle commuter.

We chatted, and this other commuter commented that he has learned to ride on ice and snow, and thus rides during the winter. I, on the other hand, will tackle cold, but not ice or snow. So my biking time is on hiatus until the Cedar Rapids streets and a few key sidewalks (along C Avenue and Blair’s Ferry) are clear.

It might be a while. We didn’t have much snow Sunday—maybe 2 to 3 inches—but it’s been very cold since, and we’re to get another dusting tonight. In a “normal” weather pattern, snow is often followed by cold nights, but within a few days there will be highs in the 20s. That’s below the freezing point of water, but if sun shines on shoveled pavement and the air temperature is above the mid 20s, that’s enough for much of the residual white stuff and ice to start to melt from the streets and be scooped away by the dry winter air.

It has not happened this time, however. Highs have not made it out of the low teens, the snow that’s around remains persistent, and more is on the way.

I don’t ride on the white stuff. It’s a personal rule I learned the hard way.

So, some thoughts on safety as I await a thaw. I noted today that, a new video is being promoted on social media.

I think the video is fine, although I doubt dangerous drivers will take the time to watch it. It’s actually fairly balanced, noting that bikers are responsible for road safety along with car and truck drivers. But it’s a reality of physics that a one-ton tiny car will trump even a 250-poind (290 or so with bike and bags factored in) biker guy, who is also not protected by a plastic, aluminum and steel frame.

I have more lights to add to Francis before my riding resumes. While I’m afraid fall semester rides are shot, I hope to hop back on the bike early in 2014.

Maybe, since we are having dead of January weather now, we’ll have our warmer December weather then. And may both bikers and drivers remain safe when the snow relents and bicycling can begin again!