In Which I Take Some Pretty, Light Rides on Dark Days

Bike as I arrive at Cedar Lake in Cedar Rapids late Sunday afternoon.

Tuesday afternoon--I pause early in the ride on Geode Street in Marion to turn on lights.

Tuesday on my way home, ready to pass under Highway 13 at east edge of Marion.

Sunday, bike at sunset on trail at south end of Cedar Lake.

Leaving Mount Mercy University campus Monday. Bike in drive near Warde Hall.

The sun reached its most southern part of its annual sky trek early on Monday, the darkest day of the year.

On Sunday, Monday and today—Tuesday—I rode my hybrid bike late in the afternoon and experienced the daily transition from light to dark. The injured finger was tucked into a mitten and seems to be doing OK.

I find that shifting my front gear requires more effort and foresight. Apparently, the index finger is involved in that.

A set of sunset images made at Waldo's Rock Park, Marion.

 

 

 

These were light rides—moving at an easy pace on the hybrid bike in dim conditions—but pleasant rides, too. A winter blast is due to hit us right before Christmas, but these days have been warm for this time of year.

Of the three rides, Monday’s was the shortest as I basically just rode to work. About 7 miles in total.

Sunday, I enjoyed the afternoon sights at Cedar Lake, which included many ducks and geese crowded together where a stream runs into the lake and there is a bit of open water. I could not circle the lake, as a project has the trail on the west side of the lake closed.

Images of Cedar Lake on Sunday.

For today, I rode to Waldo’s Rock Park in Marion, along the Grant Wood Trail. I planned that as the turnaround point because temperatures in the 40s would have made the unpaved trail east of there mushy—and because it was sunset by the time I made it through the maze of street and trail projects in Marion to the park.

Although I saw some other bikers, one perk of winter riding in Iowa is that roads and trails are generally quiet, which I like. Anyway, although weather and holiday celebration may keep me off the bike for a few days, I enjoyed these dark winter rides, even if I’ll be happier as the daylight grows. Still, as I hope my images convey, there is some beauty in the early sunsets of an Iowa winter.

Computer data on Sunday and Tuesday rides.

Sunday near Cedar Lake, part of trail closed. I was surprised by detours on both Sunday and Tuesday--winter is not usually road and trail work season.

Sunday, looking east at unpaved Grant Wood Trail. I did not try to ride on that mushy surface.