A Cool Ride on a Frosty Morning

I was a bit rushed this morning—Monday—and had to buy gas for our minivan, which my son is using for a trip.

Got it done, he’s on his way, and I made it to campus at a reasonable time on my two wheels. It was one of the more gorgeous rides. The temperature was in the 20s, and a heavy frost lay on windows, roofs and grass.

Had to scrape the van before my gas trip, but it’s nice to ride a vehicle that has nothing to scrape!

When it’s in the 20s, it’s cold enough for almost full winter clothing—two pairs of socks, long underwear. I wore a shirt and sweater, as well as my usual nylon biking jacket—a thin jacket that says “Canon” on it—it came from a camera store in town—but which has a hood I can wear under my helmet. And though thin, the coat cuts the wind very well.

And wind matters. If it had been breezy, it could have been a very cold morning. Since it was not, it was very pleasant.

I was thinking about how much I’m saving in gas. I “drive” 10 miles a day on my bike. If I drove our Beetle, it might burn ½ a gallon a day (that’s in-town miles). That would be 2.5 gallons a week—maybe $8 worth of gas. If I ride to campus 30 weeks a year, that would be $240. The bike costs $50 a year or so to maintain, but it’s payback would be around two years.

Of course, there are other values at stake. For one thing, I don’t always bike—rain or snow will stop me. And, even if there were no savings or payback, I would still bike.

It’s my quiet alone time. My think about the day time. My get a little exercise time. My I don’t seem to suffer seasonal depression because I see the low morning sun even in the dead of winter time.

Totally worth it.

Did not have the heart for this earworm ....

Image from:

KATY PERRY // Official Website // Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)

It must have been fate. I didn't bike today, simply because in the afternoon, I had to drive across the state to pick up my son Ben at Iowa State.

And this song was played several times on several radios stations as I crossed the state.

Now, some Katy Perry songs are fairly bearable. Not so much this one. So just the silent image, and the the hope that "Last Friday Night" won't get stuck in your head. And may my return to two wheels Monday make for better earworms.

Kinda Looks A Lot Like Christmas

Giving tree at MMU. Time to think of Christmas gifts.

In these cold November days, I’ve noted some holiday signs on my daily ride.

Several houses along my route are starting to display Christmas lights. “The Giving Tree” is out at the MMU campus. We’ve had our first snow, which is long since gone, but mornings have been cold—so cold this morning that I wore my skiing underwear and two pairs of socks for the morning ride.

It wasn’t overkill.

The Christmas lights may not be the most environmentally friendly tradition, but many of the streets I bike on are rather dark, and even the dim ambient light of a few twinkly Christmas strands can help.

Mid November. Too soon for Christmas? Maybe, but as the weather gets cold I can understand people who don’t want to wait. And I appreciate the light.

When Does It Get Too Cold?

I was chatting with a student at school today, and she asked me when it gets too cold to bicycle.

Clearly, not today. It was chilly and windy this morning, raw and damp, temperature in the 30s. But, I rode.

In fact, it was not even close to being too cold. I wore two pairs of socks, but no long underwear—and long underwear is my final line of defense.

I will ride when it’s 20. Even 15. With no wind, I will consider zero—zero is cold, but, if you’re dressed well, not THAT cold. Unless there is a breeze.

So, it’s not the cold that will limit me, but snow and ice. I do need bare pavement. But today was actually a fairly pleasant biking day.

Thunder Snow in the Morning, Cold PM Sun

My deck this morning, blanked in a little wet white snow. Petunias and planters aren't happy!

No, I did not ride today. Too wet. It was odd to look out, see morning snow spitting down from the sky, and then see lightning and thunder—thunder snow. Not unheard of in Iowa, particularly when a storm starts as rain and straddles the rain-snow line, but a bit odd anyway.

Not too cold—I plan to ride tomorrow. And the first snow of the season, which fell this morning in Cedar Rapids, should be off the pavement by then.

I try not to ride in any ice to snow, but cold alone won’t stop me. Had to drive today, but I will ride tomorrow!

The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring, Tra-La!

Spring flower from late March at MMU. A peek into the future as the northern world turns brown.

November is slowly closing in, although this has been a long, pleasant fall in Iowa.

A bit of a cool rain is forecast over the next few days, and that, plus recent frost, may encourage the last of the trees to finally surrender their leaves—but in my yard, the maples and tulip are still hanging on to a fair amount of foliage, and the pears have yet to acknowledge autumn in any serious way.

On my commute, the Ash are all bare, but there are plenty of colorful maples and burning bushes left, and lots of lilacs have yet to turn brown.

From the bike parking rack at MMU I can look north across the valley that I cross on my commute and see fairy leafy-looking hillsides.

The November time when it all turns brown is coming soon enough. I actually enjoy the look of the stark bare landscape—you can see the hills in woods that are hidden in summer—but the brown scenery is a pale substitute for summer glory.

So this year, Audrey and I planted flower bulbs. Hundreds of them. I put lots of clumps of crocus in my front and back yards, hoping for that first splash of spring color that will herald spring. In addition, daffodils, tulips and hyacinth are planted at the bases of trees in my yard.

Along my commute, there are several years that are especially resplendent with flowers—one in particular at E Avenue and 42^nd Street. There is also a yard near MMU that used to have lots of crocuses in the lawn, although I think they may have been killed by weed spray last year.

Oh well. As the trees finally surrender the final leaves and the earth strips of its leafy cover, it’s nice to think that come spring, there will be the welcome signs of green and color.

So thank you, anonymous gardeners who plant your flowers between Bowman Woods and MMU—personally, I’m looking forward to the flowers of spring. Tra La!

Getting Into An Old-Time Groove

I was sick Monday, and rain Tuesday and Wednesday had me driving.

But I was back on two again today.

Anyway, I've not been feeling well all week and have been sleeping poorly, but on the other hand, for some reason, Wednesday night when Audrey was teaching I was having a 1970s music fest all night long as I worked (yes, I did work) in the basement.

Some Beatles, some Yes, Don McLean but, for some odd reason, the loudest music put me in the best mood. Thank you, Freddie and Queen.

The album of choice: Did it reflect my feelings of ill health? Not sure, but it was Sheer Heart Attack. So here is what was running through my mind as I pedaled the cool streets of CR today. Warning: You should turn up the speakers on your computers only after you hide the kids and cats--the song sounds mild just for the opening.

Then it gets all Queeny. Nice and loud.