In Which I Hope 13 Is Lucky

Just before 3 Saturday afternoon. I've replaced the rear tube in Clarence, my blue hybrid bike, and am getting ready to ride the Fancy Beast, my mountain bike, on a quick "CR Biker hates to use tools because they always stress him" bike ride. To be fair, I understand it's my own incompetence with tools that causes the stress, not the tools.

 

My wife heard it—I did not. Our “new” car, a late model Dodge Dart, was parked up Devonshire Drive, two blocks from our house.

We’ve hired a contractor to replace our back fence, destroyed by the derecho last summer, and he was working today, so we had moved our vehicles out of our driveway while he was hauling stuff back to our backyard.

Then, tonight, a 17-year-old girl who lives in our neighborhood embarked on a quick trip to the store to buy her dad a soft drink. Her mission failed. Somehow, her wallet fell down the floor of her car, and she reached for it, while driving.

BAM! Two cars totaled, including one I own. Not the best news, Universe, although, to be truthful, not the most impactful bad news of this pandemic year, either. No democracies were endangered nor animal viruses spread in this particular tragedy.

Still, the accident heard by a wife but not by a husband was impactful enough. I liked that Dodge, it was comfortable to drive, had manual transmission—which I prefer, although it’s an increasingly rare choice. It was a small 4-door sedan, easy to set grandchildren into the back and drive off.

It, and the car the girl was driving, are probably totaled. She smacked her left front into my car’s left front, destroying her tire (tyre is for bikes) and two of mine. Although her engine still runs (her father drove it a short way on the rim to get it out of the street), both cars would need extensive, expensive body work.

Fortunately, although she had to be going at a pretty good clip, the girl herself was apparently undamaged. And I am glad that she has insurance.

So next week looks like a biking week for me. The weather should be cooperative, and now there is more of a need. I just hope my tyres (bike this time) hold up—it’s been the spring of flats for me, and I don’t want that trend to continue.

Today, I fixed, yet again, the back flat tyre on Clarence, my hybrid bike. The old tube (which was only a fortnight “old”) had a little tear about 4 inches from the valve—a tear that was on the inside of the tube, so it could not have been a wire or nail. I checked and double checked the wheel—the spoke tape is new, and the rim feels quite smooth. As soft as a baby’s behind, if the baby were made of metal covered in tape.

Back wheel of Clarence, post fixing. Note the tyre holding up the bike as it should. Long may it be so inflated.

I’ve had way too much experience with fixing flats this spring. The Fancy Beast mountain bike has a new tyre on the rear, too. This is the second time in recent weeks that I’ve replaced the back tyre on Clarence.

I’m getting better at this whole swapping inner tube things, it probably only took about 20 minutes or so, and I’m hoping that my skills in this area have more of a chance to atrophy. I am not used to three flats in one spring—my usual rate is probably one flat every few years.

After repairing the tyre, I thought I would take a stress-reducing bike ride. Maybe I was flash forwarding to the accident tonight. Anyway, I didn’t want to chance using Clarence, so I decided that bike could sit for an hour or so. Plus we had plenty of rain overnight and the streets were quite damp in spots—more of a day for the winter beater mountain bike than the commuting bike.

I wheeled out the Fancy Beast and took off. The west wind was rather brisk, but despite that, I feel that I made good time. I averaged a bit over 9 mph—slow, I know, to most bikers, but even though there were a few trail miles, half the ride was in town, so there was a fair amount of starting and stopping in that average velocity.

I rode to the Cedar River Trail and headed north to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, doing a quick loop around the Robins city park located on the side trail. It was a bit more than 13 miles in total, and despite the wind, was a ride I enjoyed.

The Fancy Beast in Robins on the side trail near the park. Some little creeks run in these woods, and overflowed from last night's rain. I stopped here to drink, make this image, and to go slowly through the wet. I had passed a mom and son headed the other way on their bikes, and I think that's their tracks.

 

Fast forward a few hours. I starting to write a quiz tonight, when there was a 10 p.m. knock on my door.

From a neighbor with bad news. Well, I enjoyed my bicycle ride today, which did take more than an hour. And maybe the ride helped me stay calm.

At least nobody was hurt. And there was still air in the rear tyre of Clarence when I got home on the Fancy Beast.

Knock on wood. But not on cars, please.

My ride today. Badly drawn picture of a parked bicycle.

In Which Six Miles Ends When Bike Repair Fails

Wire stuck in back tyre of hybrid bike.

Patch on tyre tube.

New tyre installed.

What a difference a day makes!

Despite rain in the forecast, none actually fell today, although it was cloudy, windy and much cooler than yesterday. I spent some time midday fixing the flat tyre on the hybrid bike. As it turned out, I mistakenly got the wrong tube—the hybrid bike, unlike the road bike, has the older, fatter valve, and I had gotten the right sized tube, but with the wrong valve.

So I decided to try a patch. When I looked at the tyre, there was a small wire stuck in it—so my theory that I was merely unlucky may not be so. Months after our big storm, random bits of metal are probably more common the mean streets of Cedar Rapids.

Well, I took the old tube out, and placed it in water in the kitchen sink. I found the leak fairly quickly. It was small, so I thought a patch would work. I applied said patch, reassembled the bike and aired it up. I decided to let it sit for a while as a test, and so went on a shopping errand with my wife before, about 3 p.m., pulling the hybrid bike out of the garage. The new tyre was still inflated, so I felt pretty good.

I decided to do my delayed Marion trail inspection. I had read in the local paper that the south end of a nearby trail, cut off from me by a construction project, was now paved, and I wanted to see that.

Riding towards downtown Marion on 11th Street. Rumble, rumble, rumble.

I rode through the town of Marion, stopping at the cute art alley downtown for some image making and to check the tyre, which seemed to be doing fine.

Downtown Marion. The coffee shop is closed Sunday afternoon, but I like their bike decoration out front.

Art alley in downtown Marion, this and next two images.

 

 

Then I rode down Grand Avenue to get to the trail—which was closed. So I backtracked and rode via streets to Hanna Park. The Boyson Trail was open, but very rough. While the limestone surface was dry, it was pockmarked with tyre tracks and footprints from when it was recently mushy.

I crossed Indian Creek and the trail ended where it branches to go to Menards. There was indeed new pavement, on a closed stretch of the trail. Well, the trail inspection did not end with the hoped for ride on a new surface—but it’s good to see this paving, a promise of smooth future rides. That surface will sure beat the limestone.

I made some images and then got ready to leave—but wait. The back tyre. At the end of 6 miles, it was suddenly again flat. I don’t know if it was punctured on the rough limestone surface or the rough passage proved too much for the new patch, but there you have it, a flat.

South end of trail--which is not open. They are paving it, I assume.

I hop off bike to make image of end of pavement, which I do not ride on. In this image, it appears to me that the back tyre is inflated. A few minutes later, after I shot a few more images, it was flat.

Flat back tyre at Hanna Park. I walked back there to await rescue.

I had originally planned to possibly head across town to the Grant Wood Trail, but instead called my wife again for a rescue.

So yesterday I claimed the slow pace of the ride was due to the slow bike—but today’s ride was slower. Of course, it was all in town, and in-town miles, which their frequent stops and starts, are always slower.

Then again, maybe yesterday it was the rider than the bike that was the slow one ….

Pi Day ride. Was rescued, went home and ate pie.

In Which Spring New Tyre Season Continues

Spring bike ride shadows. On a Sunday late afternoon ride, above and below.

In case you missed a brief note months ago, I spell “tyre” the British way on this blog just to honor British bike technology---they invented the rubber tyre, so, just on this blog, I use their spelling.

I’ve biked in England and I really like to do that there—maybe someday I’ll bike in London, which is one of my favorite big cities. All of my British biking has been around Norwich, the city were my oldest daughter and family reside.

Anyway, back to Iowa. Snow is possible Sunday—we may be grazed by a massive winter storm that will be much more serious off to our west. The weather is turning wetter and cooler for a while, just in time for spring break.

Spring shadows in later afternoon on March 7 ride.

March 7--as far north as I go. Need a bit more melting.

Next week is break at the university where I teach. I have a mountain of back work to get done, so it’s not really a week off for me—still, I will have time for, I hope, my first longish ride of the year. There will be some sunny days next week.

The spring rides will go better if I fix my bike. I made the switch from the Fancy Beast, my winter beater mountain bike, to my hybrid bike Clarence now that it’s warm enough for warm socks to keep my feet OK on the rides to work. As I noted in the previous post, last Saturday I took some grandsons for rides using the Tag-A-Long seat hooked to Clarence.

March 8, parked by library Monday morning. I figured hybrid bike rides are the new norm. Until the next day, when I had a flat tyre.

Then, last Sunday, I used an hour I didn’t have and rode my bike to the Cedar River Trail, where I then headed north towards Robins on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. I didn’t plan to go far, but went a bit less far than I had planned, as I ran into snow still covering the trail. So it was not hybrid-bike friendly. I bet it has all melted by now, so I may try a northern ride next week.

I enjoyed my commuting ride Monday, but on Tuesday afternoon the back tyre of Clarence was flat. I don’t often get flats, and this was the second in recent weeks. I don’t know if the combination of derecho last summer and the abundant snow this winter has left more puncture crud on the streets, although honestly I just think it was poor luck (and worn tyres).

I called my wife, but her phone was off, so Tuesday afternoon I started walking the bike home. It’s 3.5 miles. I made it about a mile when I called her again, and this time she saw her phone light up. She told me to stop strolling since I was by a park she could easily find, so I waited. It had been a cool walk, and it was proof of concept that, in a worst case scenario, I could probably manage this commute route as a walk should there be no rescue available, but it would be a long walk.

So I felt lucky for the rescue. And I’m back on the mountain bike for now, although I’ve already purchased the new tyre for the hybrid bike.

Still, I only drove once this week, due to rain. The crocus and snowdrops are in bloom, the dark is still longer than the light but the nearest star is shining longer and from a more direct angle. Spring! Spring bike rides! Worthy of an exclamation point or two.

Three views of mountain bike from March 11 ride. Parked on a grey morning (above) and afternoon views (below).

In Which Spring Rides Officially Arrive

The youngest of the three grandsons who went on a ride with me, coming out of the house to get on the Tag-A-Long seat on March 6 (above). Early in the ride (below) a pause to watch water in Dry Creek.

March—I was out on a ride this morning with a grandson, who observed that March is between winter and spring. Snow still littered the ground, hanging out in less sunny areas and where it was piled off of driveways and walkways. More ground is showing as more snow melts, and winter cold mornings are giving way to afternoons in the 40s.

In September, a day in the 40s feels like winter is coming. In March, a sunny day of the same temperature is a promise of future greenery, indeed, today, in one of my gardens snowdrops are in bloom, the first flowers of the new season even as the old season hasn’t quite given up.

And this week of biking was full of spring firsts. My first rides in “regular” shows as I don’t need the insulated winter boots.

March 4--Sunny morning--Fancy Beast in morning sunshine during the commute (above) and at the Mount Mercy University campus (below).

After riding the mountain bikes all week long to work, on Saturday there was another first—I got out the hybrid bike and Tag-A-Long seat, oiled their chains and aired their tyres. Late in the morning I took three grandsons on three short rides.

I wore regular shoes for those rides, which probably totaled 4 or 5 miles.

March 6--Lindale Trail on a sunny Saturday morning as I ride with a grandson suing Clarence, my hybrid bike.

Bike (above and below) in Lowe Park on afternoon ride, March 6.

After lunch, I again took the hybrid bike out for the first real spring ride wearing the bike shoes. My bike shoes aren’t at all insulated and I don’t wear them when it’s cold—today I rode on the faster bike with the fancy bike shoes wearing a bright sweatshirt rather than my winter jacket and a reflective vest.

It was, in a way, the first Saturday of spring. There may be some winter rides ahead, and the grass that has just escaped its winter snow cover is still winter brown. But snowdrops are in bloom, the hybrid bike is out and the next season of bicycle riding is beginning.

Hybrid bike with Tag-A-Long seat, how I rode with grandsons in the morning, rode the bike without the seat attached in the afternoon.

In Which Here Comes the Sun and It’s All Right

Feb. 23--Sunny morning at C Avenue Collins Aerospace pond.

Pause on the Feb. 23 morning ride--street is a bit icy, and I have to ride slowly, but I don't really have any problems. Pause at street in front of Kenwood School, mostly just to shoot street and bike image.

It does seem like years since it’s been here. In the last week of February, we got well above the melting point of water—on a sunny day one week ago, the ice was slowly melting.

I didn’t ride a week ago on Monday—it was the first day of this melt, and there was way too much snow on too many streets, we did get some new snow Sunday.

But Monday Feb. 22 was a change—after a grey morning, the sun came out and the melting began.

So by Tuesday Feb. 23 I was again on the bike. After an icy morning, the sunny afternoon represented a change that brought many people out of winter hiding:

Taking some care on sidewalk on C Avenue early in ride.

Streets are a bit iffy in the morning--this is residential street late in the morning commute.

Bike on Rohde Family Plaza, MMU. I have arrived. Still cold, but the sun is pretty and will warm up during the day.

Street near campus closed--trees damaged in storm last August are still being cut down.

Relatively warm--in the 30s--afternoon draws people out for walks. Seen on Prairie Drive during bike ride home.

C Avenue bike lane--it had been blocked by snow, but is slowly melting clear. Good enough to ride with care--still lots of winter crud on the surface.

A few places--like Collins Road--where plows left snow barriers.

C Avenue sidewalk, my route home. Still ice and snow, but passable with mountain bike.

Unfortunately, on Thursday, Feb. 25, on the morning ride to work, somewhere in that cruddy, messy surface left by melting snow, the back tyre of The Fancy Beast managed to roll over something sharp.  I rode to work that morning and, but the back was flat that afternoon and I had to have my wife come rescue me.

I don’t get all that many flats, and it had not been that long since I had fixed this back tyre. I wondered if wear and tear on the back tyre might be contributing to issues—it was well past its prime and I thought the edge that goes inside the bike rim looked a bit worn in spots when I fixed the last flat. So when I got this second flat, I decided to get a new tyre.

So on the final Friday of February, I took a side trip to the bike shop. The tyre I bought there is much fatter than the previous one and very knobby, but the woman who sold it to me assured me it would fit my wheel.

You may recall that my injured left index finger meant I needed my wife’s aid last time I changed my tyre—I’m happy to report that, although it was a sometimes uncomfortable struggle, I did manage on my own this time—although my wife was still partly due credit because she found me a tool I was having trouble locating.

Morning sun, Feb. 25. Rode to work, but had to get a ride home--flat tyre.

Bike hall by my office. Bikers get the best parking places!

Pretty image Thursday afternoon, but I am waiting for my wife to pick me up--the bike has a flat tyre. On the loading lane at Warde Hall.

Changing the tyre.

Well, once the new tyre was on the bike, I've been treated to some great biking days here in Iowa. The final two days of February and the first two days of March have seen me in the saddle, which is where I want to be. The first two mornings of March were cold enough for long underwear, but the afternoon sun has been slowly warming my part of Iowa.

Feb. 28--Sunday night ride is a bit late, working into the evening with college newspaper staff. My ride, and the moon, when I get home.

Pretty view of Dry Creek valley as I start my morning ride March 2.

March! In Iowa, it’s a transition month that can be very wintery or very springy. It’s starting cool, but we’re getting an ideal snow melt—cool nights that freeze things again followed by afternoons warm enough that bare ground is starting to appear and early flowers are starting to knife through the chilly ground as the sunshine grows more powerful.

Many more images from these rides, I hope you like them. The Feb. 27 ride to campus was via Cedar Lake, and I was OK with some image-making pauses:

Feb. 27--I have holders for my bike computer on my road and hybrid bikes--but improvise one for longer ride on mountain bike when winter streets are not ready for the other bikes.

Feb. 27-Unexpected pause at 42nd Street on Cedar River Tail. Luckily, the train was not a long one.

Feb. 27--This bridge had been pretty rough. City recently replaced many of the rougher boards and it's pretty nice now.

Feb. 27--Some project just north of the lake has the trail closed--but the city has placed in a bike detour down to H Avenue. Nice.

Feb. 27--Down by Cedar Lake, looking north at closed trail.

Feb. 27--Sunny final Saturday afternoon brings lots of traffic to trail by Cedar Lake.

Feb. 27--Above and below, birds cluster on ice of frozen Cedar Lake--they are near the one patch of open water at the lake's north end. Gees taking off.

Feb. 27--Passing by MMU athletic complex on trail on the way to campus--facilities at work clearing snow.

I assumed I would have to take bike inside library building, but no, snow has melted enough I can park at bike rack by Regina Hall.

Feb. 27--In the sunshine on some snow near bike--a lady bug slowly crawls. First bike ride bug of spring!

Feb. 27--Daffodil emerges near library on campus.

Feb 27--Melting snow cascades off of front of library.

Feb. 27--As I head home, I pass by Warde Hall, guarded (above and below) by this hawk.

Feb. 27--Corner of Boyson and Coucil Street on ride to Cedar Rive Trail. Snow blocks.

Feb. 27--Warm enough this Saturday to bike in sweatshirt rather than winter coat.

I decide crowds by lake justify the biker bandito look.

Feb. 27--Daniels Park has far fewer trees after storm-damaged ones cleared away. Riding by park on J Avenue on way to campus.

Feb. 27--Ride is slow, but hey, it's mountain bike in winter. The 2 hours of pause included 90 minutes working on campus.