In Which Early Spring Brings More Than 30 Miles

During Feb. 25 ride, I stop to check if first flowers have bloomed at Mount Mercy University Campus. They had.

Between Ely and Cedar Rapids on Hoover Trail, resting on a bench and enjoying the woods on Feb. 25 ride.

Feb. 23--First commute to work on road bike after replacing front tyre.

Feb. 27--Bike parked at MMU Grotto. Windy afternoon, next day was the one day this week I didn't ride--below-zero wind chills in the morning.

I suppose, technically, that I own four bicycles—but one is an old tandem, used primarily for short summer rides with either my wife or a grandchild.

Grandchildren and spouses, in my corner of the world, don’t do a lot of bicycling in the chilly early spring, which is what February has turned out to be in Iowa. In a normal year, it would still be winter and I would be weeks away from writing about spring. This is not a normal year.

And that’s added up to some extra biking miles for me.

My first ride of the year of more than 30 miles was Sunday, Feb. 25. I went some distance south on the Cedar River Trail for the first time this year, rolling to Ely and then back. It was oddly warm for a February Sunday, and when I rested in a park at Ely, small spiders were skittering across the pavement. Bugs in February. It’s not Heaven, it’s Iowa, but it’s hot like Hades, at least “hot” for this time of year.

Feb. 25--Resting at mid-point of long ride in Ely. I will have to dig up sunscreen, got a mild sunburn on this ride.

Feb. 25--Sunny view of Cedar River on trail headed south, south of river. Mount Trashmore in background.

Feb. 25--Large bird of prey. I think it's a young bald eagle that hasn't grown into its adult colors yet. Although it could be a hawk. What say you, internet hive mind?

Feb. 25--Geese in Ely city park.

I didn’t have time to continue riding south to Solon for a much longer 50-mile or so ride, and I wasn’t dressed for it anyway (I need bike shorts for longer rides).

It was a pleasant ride. I took two brief rests, one in Ely and one on a bench in the woods on the way back. It was a bit breezy, but still a good day to be out. The ride totaled 32.88 miles.

It was on the road bike, which I have finally repaired. I took it to Goldfinch, because I’m too old to easily read tiny black numbers on black rubber, and no, I don’t have my bike tyre size memorized. They concurred that I needed a new front tyre, but advised the that worn back tyre is still good for a few months, although it will need to be replaced before longer summer rides.

Changing the tyre is never my favorite thing, but honestly it worked out to be easier than changing the tube on my mountain bike, which I had done a few weeks ago.

Feb. 21--Bikes in rack near Regina Hall, MMU. None mine. Seeing lots more bikes in February than is normal.

Feb. 23--My bike parked at Warde Hall, early ride after fixing road bike. Hawk feather has blown against rear wheel--there are a pair of red-tailed Hawks that nest on Warde Hall, I assume this is their greeting card.

So, recent rides have seen me taking advantage of the full trio—the long weekend ride and some commutes on Argent, my road bike. When I’m in the mood or worried about poor weather, rolling on The Fancy Beast, my mountain bike. And several routine commutes using the all-purpose pickup truck bike, my hybrid, Clarence.

I rode 224.29 miles in February and 6.94 miles on March 1, giving me 362.62 miles for the year so far—more than 10 percent of my goal in the early winter months of the year. I hope that foreshadows a good riding year. I’m not sure the year includes RAGBRAI—they have a hilly, southern route this year, which doesn’t, frankly, appeal to me much, and last year’s crowded, hot ride kind of spooked me a bit.

I may be ready for fake RAGBRAI this year, where I just try to top 300 miles during the week of the ride. We’ll see. And that way, I can ride my variety of bikes as the mood strikes me—maybe even the tandem (which has no name right now).

Feb. 25--I wondered if first flowers had bloomed, so rode to campus on my way home from Ely. Yup, early spring is official. Building in background, Warde Hall, is oldest on campus and where my office is.

In Which June Begins with the Best Rides

June 2, Cedar Valley Nature Trail about 5 miles north of Hiawatha. This kind of afternoon, June beauty.

Summer is not really here yet—the solstice is late in June—but weather wise, and culture wise, we’re now in summer.

And the best part of summer for biking is often June—July and August typically are hotter. June, in Iowa, is the wettest month, but this is a dry year so far, and most Junes have their fair share of beautiful, sunny days. Today is one of those days, and after my morning coffee, I may push farther north than I rode yesterday.

On June 2, I made my first ride to Lafayette, a tiny town 7 miles north on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. I noted on an earlier post that a bridge was out, which meant then I could not get to Lafayette—apparently, I wrote that post on one of the final days that bridge was closed, because the next day my sister rode much farther north, crossing the new bridge.

Approaching new bridge.

Crossing new bridge, headed north.

Bike parked at Lafayette.

The ride to Lafayette, there and back again from my house, was 22.73 miles. I know that they have paved more of the trail north, my sister reports it’s paved now to Urbana, but I didn’t start my Thursday ride until late in the afternoon, so did not go that far.

I had a gap in my rides due to a recent trip. On the final day of May, I hooked up the Tag-A-Long seat to Clarence, my hybrid bike, and enjoyed a quick few miles with a grandson who is, I think, about 11. On June 1, I rode a quick late afternoon ride—both rides, I think, painted pretty animal pictures on my computer, one of a bird, one of a snail or possibly a whale. The longer ride I took June 2 was just a straight up north ride—not a very exciting image.

I’ve enjoyed these early June rides. On the short ride was around the nearby Boyson-Lindale Trail complex, I noted a new side trial that will lead under a busy street to a park on Geode in Marion is taking shape.

June 1 ride, on Clarence, I was seeing if new bag would work for larger camera--it does, so when I ride this bike, I don't have to wear camera bag. This is where a short new side trail will branch off the Boyson Trail and go under Alburnett Road to a city park on Geode Street.

Bike parked at Hanna Park in Marion. As you will see below, I made many images of the flower garden there.

At Hanna Park, I paused an made images of the flowers blooming there. It’s Iris and Peony season, a great time to be outside rolling through this beautiful Earth on two wheels. I hope you’re enjoying your June rides! May miles: 209.98. June so far: 33.49. Year to date: 850.37.

Images from Hanna Park ride, including deer seen in creek along the trail (not at the park):

Milkweed forming flower buds.

Don't know what kind of flower this is.

Iris.

Iris.

Iris--Darker variety.

Peony with Iris in background.

I think this is called a bachelor button.

Peonies with irises in background.

Near where Boyson Trail goes under under new Milwaukee Road bridge, Doe seen crossing creek. This and the remaining images.

In Which CR Biker Rides Again

Late afternoon light at Cedar Lake.

Well, my personal ban on biking lasted just a bit over 24 hours. I re-read the city’s phone alert that I received Thursday, and recognized that it didn’t ban recreational biking.

It seeks to reduce public interaction, and on bike rides, I’m pretty solitary. I don’t mean to trivialize the city’s warning—I plan to take it seriously and bike as responsibly and distantly as I can.

That part about people over 60 not being on recreation trails—it was not an order or rule, but a suggestion. And one I don’t plan to ignore. I won’t avoid trails completely, but will endeavor to emphasize riding more along on solitary streets and avoiding crowded trail areas at busy times
.

The almost 4 miles between my house and the Mount Mercy campus are mostly quiet residential streets.

So, after supper tonight, I decided to take a solitary bicycle ride. I rode to the Mount Mercy University campus and shot some images of flowers in gardens there. It had snowed overnight, but by afternoon, all the snow was gone and the flowers looked fine.

Forsythia bushes in bloom  along the "hard way" onto the MMU campus--the back drive that goes to the library. It's the way I biked today.

Rohde Family Plaza as the daylight fades.

Daffodils are still blooming, and tulips are getting close, but still buds. Images of Robyn's Garden near the MMU library:

Some other campus images:

There were some blips on the radar, so I decided to ride the hybrid bike tonight. Bike (and shadow of biker) on Rohde Family Plaza, Mount Mercy University.

Statue of Sister Catherine McAuley, who founded Sisters of Mercy, at MMU.

Peonies (above and below) in garden at MMU plaza.

Rohde Family Plaza, MMU.

I then headed down to Cedar Lake. That involved some trail riding, but I figured few people would be on the trail at sundown on a cool Friday night. I passed two people in total, doing my best to maintain distance.

I decided not to circle the lake—I could see some other people walking on the other side, and after riding to a city park on the east shore to shoot some sunset images, I turned back.

Low sun at Cedar Lake.

Another view of the lake.

I did see some cool wildlife. A white pelican was hanging out at the lake. Some redwing blackbirds objected to my presence. And some deer darted across the trail and a street in front of me.

Where the wild things are:

The drake is king of the rock at Cedar Lake.

Pelican, view 1.

Pelican, view 2.

A herd of 6 or so deer crossed the trail and street on J Avenue.

Deer looks back.

The blackbird was not singing in the dead of night. He was angrily sounding an alarm at a passing biker.

Another blackbird.

I am adjusting my rides to try to keep more distance. I won’t be on the Boyson Trail, for example. I won’t head north on the Cedar River Trail, since it seems to be busy around Robins.

So, I’ll be more choosy and probably ride a bit less—but I think it’s OK for me to ride. It maybe is important for me to ride. It reduces my stress and helps keep me healthy, as long as I avoid the virus.

The danger is not the outdoors, it’s proximity to other people. So that’s what I plan to avoid. My bikes, on the other hand, I plan to use.

Sign on trail where it crosses J Avenue.

Hyacinth in bloom at Noelridge Park as I get near home.

Tonight's ride summary, and ride summarized on 2 apps (below).

Wednesday's ride, app finally updated map of that ride.