In Which Snow Calls for The Fancy Beast

Late day look at creek along Boyson Trail Dec. 29.

It was the day after Christmas, and I was planning to work for a while. Winter term at my university starts next week, and this professor has some class materials to generate and organize.

Christmas has been warm and wet, and Tuesday was forecast to be drier and colder. Not terribly cold—more like normal for this time of year rather than oddly warm.

I updated a syllabus, downloaded a class list, and in general acted busy for a while. It was quiet in the building where my office is, but not totally deserted, and on a short afternoon break, I encountered a nice woman who works in the business office.

“Joe, you rode your bike today.” True. She probably saw it locked in the bike rack. “Did you know it’s snowing?”

Well, no. Luckily, by chance, I had picked the appropriate bike. Normally, on this kind of ride, I probably would have ridden my road bike, but because I thought there might be some damp pavement as a result of the previous day’s rain, I chose instead to ride The Fancy Beast.

A few days before Christmas, went with family to walk through light displays at McGrath Amphitheatre. Grandson agreed to make image of me with bike lights. I know it's a motorcycle, but looks a bit like a bicycle.

Aside—years ago, my youngest son had a heavy Schwinn mountain bike that he passed on to me, and I called it “The Beast.” Then, from an older son by way of a son-in-law, I acquired a slightly nicer, still old and heavy but not as heavy, Raleigh mountain bike—which I dubbed “The Fancy Beast.” The beast was donated to a bike club and later stolen, so these days when I ride a mountain bike, it’s The Fancy Beast.

Back to our story. I hadn’t arrived all that early in my office, and it was getting to late afternoon by the time I left. In the fading light, it was clear the scenery had changed—my bike and campus were dusted with a light covering of white.

Bike seat dusted by snow Dec. 26.

As I worked for a few hours in the afternoon, an unexpected snow fell Dec. 26. What the Mount Mercy University campus looked like as I prepare to ride home.

The pavement on the way home was a little scary—it was dark, growing colder, and the street looked a little wet. As any experienced Iowa biker knows, in appearance, there is sometimes no difference between “wet” and “icy” but there sure is a friction difference.

I took it easy on the way home and arrived safe and sound, none-the-worse for winter riding. Thank you, Fancy Beast.

Wednesday and Thursday featured more snow. It was too warm to accumulate much beyond maybe a half inch, but I have a rule about riding in snow, in that, I don’t.

By Friday, the grey skies were clearing. Sun was peaking through the tattered clouds. I was taking care of a grandson that day, and we went for a fun sled ride in a city park. But by late afternoon, it seemed the snow was clear of the pavement and melting off of most of the grass. My wife got home at 3 in the afternoon, and asked me if I was going to take a bike ride.

Well, there’s only one good answer to that question.

Finally enjoying a bit of sunshine on bike ride Dec. 29.

Deer seen beside bike trail Dec. 29.

My mountain bike, The Fancy Beast, on trail bridge Dec. 29.

It was late enough, and I planned to ride on nearby trails, which are partly limestone, so I opted, once again, for the trusty winter mountain bike.

I had a good ride, putting in a bit over 9 miles as the winter day’s light faded. Along the Boyson Trail, I did encounter a few soft spots and a few places where there was still snow—nothing that The Fancy Beast couldn’t handle.

What with one thing and another, I haven’t had many days of biking this Christmas break, but am glad I’ve had a few. As of Dec. 29, I have 162.41 miles for the month, not a great total, but not bad for a winter month. My goal this year was 3,300 miles, and I’m glad to say I’m at 3,339.22 miles for 2023. I’m not sure if today was the last bike ride of the year, but with things already planned for the weekend, it could well be.

Despite the snow and the wet, it wasn’t a bad finish to the year. Now to think about how far I’ll roll in 2024.

Bike ride Dec. 21, Milkweed seen in Hannah Park.

Dec. 23--Final ride before Christmas, 15-mles took me out to Lowe Park and Echo Hill School. The Fancy Beast at turnaround point.

Fancy Beast on bridge on Lidale Trail, Dec. 23.

Dec. 21--I ride the road bike now and then. Remains of a wrecked bike with my bike in the background, Dec. 21.

In Which I Seem Near My Goal

Dec. 19--Cedar Lake sunset, rode by lake on one of the nice December afternoons.

I don’t want to jinx it, but as of Dec. 19, I have ridden just about 3,293 miles this year—just 7 miles short of my 3,300-mile goal.

It’s been a weird December—in the pattern of November, it’s been mostly dry and unusually warm, although it also featured a few very cold days where full winter regalia was called for.

December is a very busy month, so squeezing miles in has been a challenge—but again, it appears I may soon reach my biking goal, so I can’t complain.

One reason was a fine ride in Des Moines. My youngest son who lives there is traveling to California with his wife and son to be with her family over the holidays, and we drove to Des Moines Dec. 14 to pick up their dog, who is staying with us for about two weeks.

He’s very big, but not, knock on wood, not a lot of work so far—we feed him and walk him and play a bit with him and he seems content. While his family is on vacation in California, he gets to be on vacation with us.

Dec. 14--Des Moines ride.

Anyway, we made a day of it. We drove to Des Moines in the morning, ate a late breakfast at a very fine diner there. In the afternoon, after the grandson’s nap, the plan was to play at a park. It was, in this warm December, one of the nice days, and my daughter-in-law and I decided to ride bikes to the park, while my son, wife and grandson drove there.

It turned out to be a ride of a bit more than 9 miles on a very fine afternoon. At first, we rode north through relatively quiet residential streets, and then met a bike trail that snakes along the south bank of one of the rivers in Des Moines. We turned east. In the distance, we could see the skyline of downtown and then the state Capitol, but the trail had a nice country feel to it, and the last few miles literally felt like a countryside ride along a pretty river valley.

Our goal was a playground at Easter Lake. We got there, we played for a while, and considered riding the 9 miles back—but it was December, days are short, and light was going to fade soon. One disadvantage of a country trail in Iowa is that when it gets dark, it’s very, very dark, and there would be no moon to help. Well, the drivers had brought a bike rack with them, just in case, and thus we put the bikes on the car, all squeezed in and rode back.

Dec. 14--My son's and daughter-in-law's bikes--my son let me borrow his--parked at Easter Lake Park. Grandson has a big smile for grandpa, too.

It was a pleasant ride. Not the longest of the month for me, as I did ride a 15.5-mile route on Dec. 9—but I really enjoyed the Des Moines trail and look forward to more visits on two wheels to Iowa’s capital city.

The final week of the semester at the university where I teach featured the taste of winter. There were mornings in the 20s where the windchill approach single digits. It was indeed cold, but the afternoons weren’t as bad, and with long underwear, warm boots and multiple layers, I found I could handle the commute, although I’m pretty sure I would not have wanted any longer rides on those days.

Today, we had an out-of-town commitment, which is a shame because it was again one of the unseasonably warm, sunny days. So no miles. Rain is coming—Christmas for us won’t be white, bur rather wet. Still, I’m hopeful to get in the few remaining miles, maybe, weather willing, on Thursday.

We’ll see. Still, it’s been a good December to be a biker in Iowa, and I’m closing in on my goal with a week and a half left in the month. That’s nice.

Miles so far this year: 3,292.97. As of Dec. 19 (I did not ride Dec. 20, as I noted), for the month: 116.16.

Map of the longest ride and more images from December rides:

Dec. 9--the longest ride.

Dec. 19--Passing Christmas lights on the way home.

Dec. 19--Another look at Cedar Lake.

Dec. 19--On colder days, mostly rode mountain bike, but today, rode the road bike. Parked at campus.

Dec. 19--Another view of the Christmas lights seen on ride home.

Dec. 19--Geese at Cedar Lake.

Dec. 12--Frosty morning at C Avenue Pond, one of the cold days.

Dec. 12--Grey and cool on bike ride home, but swing by Cedar Lake. They are a bit distant, so I'm not 100 percent, but I think three juvenile eagles were fishing.

Dec. 8--Deer by Boyson Trail on warm day.

Dec. 8--More deer by trail.

Dec. 8--Mountain bike on Boyson Trail.

In Which There are Unexpected Interruptions

Nov. 16--I had a work meeting at the Mount Mercy graduate center, a 2-mile bike ride from the main campus. When it was over, I stopped by Cedar Lake to enjoy a November sunset.

Nov. 30, above and below--on final day of the month, I ride my bike down to Cedar Lake again after work. Nice place to see late afternoon sun!

How was your November on two wheels? Mine was a mixed bag.

The first part of the month was warmer than usual, and I got some rides in, but then came a sudden shift to colder weather. We’ve had snow, and while I will ride in cold, I do try to avoid snowy streets.

So, maybe it’s not a surprise that my miles were down a bit this month. In October, I rolled for almost 235 miles. In November, Map My Ride shows 204.5 miles, giving me a total of 3,176.81 for 2023.

Nov. 13--Bicycles in rack at Mount Mercy University--warmer weather early in November.

Nov. 29--Student biking on campus after snow. I biked that day too, but stuck to dry pavement.

Nov. 29--Getting ready to hop on my bike for ride home at sunset.

As I get ready for sunset ride home, I'm being monitored by Squirrel Spiderman, who climbs up the 6-story building where my office is.

My goal for the year is 3,300 miles, and it does seem attainable, as long as there aren’t too many more bumps in the road in December.

Like snow. But Mother Nature wasn’t the major problem with my November miles. Instead, my health was.

Made this image Nov. 17 of new gloves my wife got me--nice reflective wear for winter riding! I wear a reflective vest, too.

I had hoped to do one or two longer rides over Thanksgiving break. We get Wednesday through Friday off of classes at the university where I teach, so I was thinking maybe a longer ride Wednesday. I have a daughter-in-law who just this year learned, as an adult, to ride a bicycle, and she has been getting into longer rides. My son, her and their son were all coming over to visit Thanksgiving week, and I was hoping to take her out and show her some of the local bike trails.

Maybe I hoped too much. It's like a war movie where the friendly character dreams of all he will do once he gets home. Somehow, you know that dude has a target on his back.

And Sunday night of Thanksgiving week, I had a lightly scratchy throat. Not that unusual for me, it can be a symptom of dry winter air, but still, I felt “off.”

I woke up Monday morning with my throat still in mild discomfort, and also a headache. Not a bad headache, and I have sleep problems, so awakening with a mild sinus pain can just be a symptom of Monday. Yet, I wondered. I just didn’t feel quite right.

And thus, I tested. A home COVID-19 test. Positive. Damn.

My son, daughter-in-law and grandchild all packed up early and left Monday—which I don’t blame them for. They didn’t want to risk getting ill miles from their home. My oldest daughter was to come down from Minnesota, but decided not to, again, understandably. There was no family gathering for turkey day. And no long bike rides that week, as my body was occupied fighting off a bat virus.

To be honest, it wasn’t much of a fight—my body won that battle handily. I’m in generally decent health, I am only 65 (COVID tends to be dangerous for people in their 80s, and I’m not there, yet) and I am fully vaccinated, with my most recent COVID shot in September. I never ran a fever, my symptoms were not terrible, and I recovered in due time.

Nov. 21--Tuesday of COVID week, the family is all gone and I'm getting crazy cooped up. It's a cool, cloudy day, and I figured nobody would be on the trails, so I masked and went for a short ride. I was socially distant, pretty certain no virus transmission happened that day.

I even, several times that week, went on short bike rides, masked and distant from others, although I was too tired to put in many miles.

On Thanksgiving Day, I staged a sort of ninja raid on my office—going there when I knew the building would be empty to get some files so I could catch up on work. Still, my biking time was nowhere near what I had been hoping for.

I was alone on Thanksgiving Day. My wife went to a daughter's house, but a turkey dinner delivery was made later, so I didn't totally miss out. On my own, I ride down to campus to get some files--much sunnier day.

My Thanksgiving Ride ends up drawing a turkey picture.

I did enjoy some nice rides the weekend BV (before virus). On the 11th, the day was cloudy and cool, but I rode to the end of the Grant Wood Trail.

And on Sunday the 12th, I rode via trails and streets out to Lowe Park, where, although we’d already had some frosty nights, the last bees were visiting fading flowers.

Nov. 12--Milkweed seen on trail ride out to Lowe Park.

Nov. 12--Milkweed in the garden at Lowe Park.

Nov. 12--One of the final bees of fall visits a fading flower at Lowe Park.

In meantime, snow has fallen and the bees are gone, now. So, happily, is the virus. I had some unexpected detours, and thus fewer miles, this month. Things don’t look good for the first weekend of December—I am busy most of the day Saturday, and snow is possible Saturday into Sunday.

Still, I bicycled more than 200 miles in November and have far less than 200 to go to reach my 2023 goal. I have lights, winter clothes and, knock on wood, my health—so I’ll keep rolling!

Nov. 11--Saturday ride on Grant Wood Trail, a bit grey, but not a bad day for a ride.

Nov. 11--Used mountain bike so I could ride the grassy last two miles to the end of the Grant Wood Trail.

Nov. 25, deer on Lindale Trail.

Nov. 25--Walked across the C Avenue Bridge today, but rode most of the way on this ride.

Nov. 25--Snow on Lindale Trail bridge--rode across this one.

Nov. 25--Making images of Christmas lights seen during bike ride.

In Which I Enter Dark Times with a Light Heart

Enjoying the last night of late light Nov. 4--my bike parked at Mount Calvary Cemetery. I rode there because site of Sisters of Mercy graves is very peaceful and beautiful at sunset. Sisters founded university where I teach.

Nov. 4--Low sun at Cedar Lake.

Low sun behind Sisters of Mercy graves, Mount Calvary Cemetery, Nov. 4.

Winter is coming.

I’ve never seen “Game of Thrones,” but even I haven’t escaped that line. Winter really is coming. We’re into mid-November now, nights have a definite chill and the world is turning brown. Fall is late this year, but still the trees are emerging from their leaf coverings and the drab look of the sleeping landscape is taking hold.

It’s still a good time for biking—not winter cold yet, although I’ve used my riding hat and gloves a lot more recently. But last weekend was the time shift, and rides home from work are starting to require lights as darkness falls around 5.

I’ve had some pretty fun rides in the past week, encroaching winter notwithstanding. Last Saturday, I rode briefly to campus, and took the First Avenue route just to capture the low sun at Mount Calvary Cemetery. After picking up some files on campus, I headed down to Cedar Lake, one of the best places to enjoy the late afternoon light.

And it was late, maybe close to 6, because I hadn’t turned the clock back yet.

Nov. 4--Gull flies over Cedar Lake, lit by late sun.

Nov. 4--Smaller south lake by Cedar Lake--pelicans seen from bike trial.

On the first day of Standard Time, Sunday, my wife and I went over to Des Moines. There was a family baby shower that my wife and daughter were attending. Meanwhile, I visited with my son, his son, his wife and the other daughter’s son (so, two grandsons). My son in Des Moines has a  young child who needed a nap, and my son needed one, too—so while he was reading stories in the hope of inducing sleep (which, thankfully, worked out) my daughter-in-law, my older grandson and I embarked on a bike ride.

The Des Moines family lives on the south side, and it turns out there is a route along ride-able residential streets to Grey’s Lake. I attached the Tag-A-Long seat to the hybrid bike, which I had brought just in hopes of taking a ride, and we were off.

My daughter-in-law just recently learned to ride a bicycle, in her adulthood, but rides well. And she was faster than me—then again, almost all bikers are. In my defense, my hybrid bike is not my fastest bicycle, and I was towing a grandson. Sometime, I’d like to go on a longer ride with this daughter-in-law when I’m riding my road bike and not towing anybody.

There were some hill climbs on the way to Grey’s Lake, but we had a pleasant ride around the lake, and then stopped at a park to let the grandson run around. It was funny, he was complaining about his legs being tired on the ride, but when we got to the park, he was zooming around at peak speed.

Nov. 5--Warm afternoon in Des Moines Park, but trees do look like mid-fall.

Nov. 5--Grandson enjoying park in Des Moines.

Well, to be fair, you do use different muscles biking than running, and the grandson normally spends a lot more time running than biking.

It was a pretty day, and the ride totaled just a bit more than 6 miles. A short ride, but a ride nonetheless on a day when I was out of town.

Next time, Stefani, I hope we can ride together for a bit more distance.

I have passed a milestone on the way to my 3,300-mile goal. I’ve rolled more than 3,000 miles—as of today, I have 3,035 miles for the year, 62.8 miles in November.

Nov. 10--Bike traffic on a cool fall afternoon, Lindale Trail, on my bike ride home.

Darkness comes earlier, now. Nov. 6, look of the sky at Mount Mercy as I start my bike road home.