In Which Three Rides Aren’t Quite Enough

Image of sky seen from Marion Library as I wait for other Bookworms June 2.

I didn’t exactly make my biking goal this weekend—in total, I rode about 45 miles.

The weekend started with the Bookworms on Bikes ride, meant to go from the Marion Library to the Iowa City Library, passing by the Hiawatha, Cedar Rapids, Ely, Solon, North Liberty and Coralville libraries on the way.

The weather forecast was a bit dicey, with a 40 percent chance of rain midmorning, with a greater chance later in the afternoon.

Still, a small band of us—Michael Miller, Laura Runkle and I—met before 7 a.m. at the Marion Library and headed off on the ride. We rode over to the Boyson Trail, then took the Lindale Trail to some roads behind Target to reach the Cedar River Trail and pass by the Hiawatha Public Library.

At that library, I checked the weather radar on my phone. It looked like a big band of rain was headed our way.

We continued south towards downtown Cedar Rapids. As we circled Cedar Lake, it started to sprinkle.

But, while it remained unusually cool, the sprinkles eased off as we pulled into the farmers market in downtown Cedar Rapids. The Linn County Trail Association was offering some free snacks for National Trails Day, and I was happy to grab an extra muffin. My co-riders grabbed some breakfast and then we conferred.

Nice man giving out information at LCTA booth. I am glad to say CR Biker joined the LCTA this year.

The radar picture continued to look bad, and we decided it was not worth it to attempt the ride to Ely, so the ride this year got cut off early.

We split up, and I headed to a popcorn stand—since I was going home early, I thought I could bring Audrey a treat she likes, so I got some kettle corn. And after I purchased it, realized I was riding my road bike, not the hybrid bike with the nice big bags in back. How would I carry the corn?

I emptied the right side of my small bike bag. There I had the snacks I brought for what was to be a more than 50 mile ride, and I stuffed them in my pockets (thank you, fashion trend that decreed old men would wear ridiculous cargo shorts). As it turned out, while I could not then zip the pocket closed, I could insert the popcorn snugly enough that it would remain on the bike as I rode.

Bike on the way home--stuffed with popcorn. Yes, I shot this while riding.

I returned home.

My ride totaled about 25 miles, but I reached 30 for the day when we took a bike ride after supper with a 2-year-old grandson who was staying with us overnight. Today was dedicated to a different set of grandkids, but this evening I managed to squeeze in a quick 15-mile ride up to the city park in Robins.

A few evening sprinkles, but grandson wanted a ride, so my wife and I took him on a 5-mile ride in our neighborhood after supper. C Avenue Pond reflects interesting evening sky June 2.

I also climbed the neighborhood hill several times.

All in all, I had hope to ride more than 45 miles this weekend, but still, 45 is 45.

And it never really did rain Saturday, not that morning nor later. The rain gods were teasing us. Images of Sunday ride:

On trail in Hiawatha, headed north. Late sunshine on trail.

Sun going town in countryside between Hiawatha and Robins.

I rode Cedar River Trail to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail only as far as side trail that leads to Robins park. Snake on that side trail--first snake sighting of the year!

Crossing creek as I exit Robins to return to Cedar Valley Nature Trail.

Heading south, sun dipping below horizon.

Top of Bowman Woods neighborhood hill--Venus in the sky.

In Which We Consider 50-Mile Bookish Rides

Early February--Feb. 2, I think. Cool mornings with pretty sunrises, at Rockwell-Collins pond (above) and MMU (below).

An acquaintance from the neighborhood just “friended” me on Facebook, partly so he can invited me to his group there. He is planning an interesting bicycle ride—from the Marion Public Library to the Iowa City Public Library, a journey that would travel mostly on bike trails, with some streets near the start and in the final third of the journey.

He says the rout would be about 50 miles, which makes it a doable ride by May, I think. It will have some hills along roads beyond Ely, but since most of the miles of the ride are on bike trails, most of the miles are also fairly flat. Besides, I do need some hill climb practice, too.

Well, I’m happy to have been invited to the Facebook group. The plans aren’t final—no date has been set—but I assume at some point others would be welcome to join this Reader’s Ride, the Biking Bookworms, the Page Peddlers. (I think the B idea is closer to his title).

I’ll let you know when I know more.

Anyway, it’s been almost a fortnight since I last updated the world on my biking life, and I’m almost certain you’ve bene clamoring for an update. Clamor no more, here it is.

Feb. 9--Faux Spring no  more--winter is back, baby! Morning of my winter-coat ride.

 The past two weeks have certainly ben a study in contrasts. In Iowa, the first half of February has featured some warm days that foreshadow spring, and some bone-chilling cold mornings, too. Snow this past week, kept me off my back for a grand total of one day, as it wasn’t much snow, and I was able to wear enough clothes to brave the sub-zero wind chills the next morning.

Speaking of sub-zero wind chills, I made a happy accidental discovery. Last year, my wife got me a new winter coat. I don’t usually wear it to bike—it’s rather heavier than I usually need, and I like the thin hood of a windbreaker that I normally wear. But on one super cold morning this week, I just wanted more warmth, and reached for the winter coat. But I wanted head protection, too, so I put on the winter coat hood and mashed on my helmet—and, well, even the winter coat’s hood came be made to fit under my helmet.

So I was way more comfortable than usual on the coldest morning this week. The week ended with rides that were far from cold—in the same week that I discovered I can wear my heavy winter coat to bicycle, I also rode home (Friday) for the first time sans coat, because it was too warm for anything more than a sweatshirt as my outer layer.

Today, a granddaughter is coming over to celebrate her 4th birthday—she insisted that grandma host the party, and the child’s parents certainly weren’t against that plan. Anyway, with any luck, she may come over a bit early, and if the rain stays north, as it should, I may hitch the Tagalong seat to Clarence and take her for a birthday spin.

That would be fun And springlike.

Turkeys at top of Bowman Woods Hill--did the hill climb on my way home from the gym Feb. 11.