In Which Not-RAGBRAI Part 2 Has Great Weather

Team Joe on Aug. 31 in Solon, Iowa, mid point of our longest not-RAGBRAI ride this year. My delayed twin Brigid, sister Cate, brother-in-law Eldon and me. Used my camera's timer to make image.

Many days in August, 2024, were very, very hot in Iowa. Despite actual temperatures in the 90s, there were far too many times that humidity made the heat index top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Well, I should not complain. We’re not in Phoenix, with 100 days of 100-degree heat.

Team Joe had planned for the second half of its Not-RAGBRAI ride to take place over Labor Day Weekend. Would we be braving the hot breath of this very warm summer?

Well, the summer gods relented. The dragon of August was, apparently, ready for a rest. As our first ride on Aug. 30 neared, the weather shifted and the hot summer suddenly seemed to give way to early fall. Part of that shift from hot to cooler was morning rain on my birthday, so I drove to campus.

Which was OK, in a way, half of Team Joe was driving over from Des Moines in the afternoon, and we planned relatively quick first ride. By about 4, the sky was partly cloudy by the afternoon was cool and pretty. My sister in town rode her recumbent trike to my house where the rest of Team Joe arrived from Des Moines and got their trikes ready to ride.

In Team Joe, I’m the lone biker. Here I am, newly 66, still rolling on two wheels.

Ride one of not-RAGBRAI part two went well. We headed east on the Grant Wood Trail, circled Waldo’s Rock and headed out to the new bridge, turning around there. The Friday ride was 20.61 mile. And it was my birthday.

Aug. 30--Cloudy birthday sky on our ride--pond at Waldo's Rock Park.

The birthday snake, Waldo's Rock Park. It clearly liked the warm pavement on a cool afternoon, but was not as happy with the attention of hairless apes--it was in full threat, intimidation mode, partly muted by the fact that it was about 4 inches long.

Team Joe includes two of my sisters and a brother-in-law. My youngest sister is exactly 4 years younger than me—she was born on my fourth birthday. Following the Friday ride, as a joint birthday celebration, the team and additional family members went out to a nice dinner at a local Indian restaurant, and then had a great fruit cobbler my wife made as desert. More than 20 miles and a very fine meal—it was a good way to celebrate turning 66 (or 62, in the case of my sister).

Saturday’s ride was the longest one we planned. We rode south on the Cedar River Trail, going down to Solon and eating lunch there. The day was warmer, and we felt it. Thus on the way back to Cedar Rapids, we made the obligatory ice cream stop in Ely and then headed back to town, deciding to take an alternate route up Third Avenue rather than continuing on the bike trail. My local sister (not the delayed twin, my other biker sister) showed me a back way by Coe College that ends up at the end of the CEMAR Trail.

But as we neared the ride’s end, I faded a bit and had to rest. Getting old: I do recommend it, given the only alternative, but it has its challenges. Well, after a break, I was able to ride slowly home. A classic RAGBRAI meal, spaghetti, was the plan for the night. Saturday’s ride was 50.06 miles.

Another Team Joe image at park in Solon.

It had cooled down again Sunday. My youngest sister and brother-in-law went out to breakfast with my wife and I, and then we just relaxed for a while—the other sister was busy Sunday morning and came over in the afternoon. Our final ride was along the Boyson Trail and then out to Lowe Park. We walked around the nice garden at the Lowe Park art building, and then took a break at the playground area.

It was not our longest ride, but with the pauses in the park, it was great for a biker who carries a camera and enjoys making images:

Flowers and pretty fall sky at Lowe Park.

One bicycle, three tricycles parked at playground, Lowe Park.

Lowe Park flower.

I have not seen many Monarch butterflies this summer, so at playground in Lowe Park, it was great to see four fat cats on one Milkweed plant. They looked about ready for the transition to butterfly, and I hope they make it on the migration to Mexico and make many babies.

Four on one plant.

My wife and I had a trip to Des Moines planned for Monday, so the Sunday ride was the final one for Team Joe on our not-RAGBRAI adventure this year. We rolled 19.05 miles that day, and over the three days our rides added up to 91.72 miles. I wrote earlier about the first half of our not-RAGBRAI ride in Des Moines, and our total team distance for the two halves of the event were 143.08 miles.

I enjoyed the team rides. My individual rides since then have been very nice, too—with the beautiful weather sticking around for a while. On a recent Saturday, I had a nice morning ride out Waldo’s Rock, and then in the afternoon headed to a park on the tandem bike with an 8-year-old grandson.

Warmer weather is coming. Summer 2024 isn’t totally done with us now, although I think we could be past the most intense heat. I rode 402 miles in August. So far this year, it has been 2,265.27 miles. Images from other recent rides:

Sept. 7 solo ride to Waldo's Rock with mountain bike--riding grass trail through prairie plant area.

Sept. 7, Waldo's Rock park.

It's been weeks of pretty skies as slightly cooler weather sets in. Pretty early fall light Sept. 6 on bike ride home, corner of C Avenue and Blairs Ferry Road.

Morning of Sept. 6, C Avenue Pond seen on bike ride to work.

As I unlock bike Aug. 28 for bike ride home, I'm being inspected from not far away. The squirrels at Mount Mercy think they own the campus, except when the hawks are in the sky.

In Which I Enjoy Spring, Phase 1

March 27--Bike at Mount Cavalry Cemetery on a sunny spring Sunday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 1--No fooling, some bicycle parked at MMU. Mine is the far one. Spring, and a few more bicycles are starting to appear.

To me, many Midwestern seasons are broken into parts. And maybe it’s just the way my brain works, but I think of most of them in thirds. Take my recent bicycle rides, for example.

I’ve not reported them since March 19, which means this post covers almost a fortnight. And it’s definitely a fortnight of spring, phase 1. Here is how I think of spring in Iowa:

• Phase 1—Some early signs of change. A bit of greening in brown areas of grass. The first flowers, glory of the snow and crocus. Stuff that falls from the sky may be wet or white or transitioning in between. Nights are often or usually below freezing, days vary a lot, with lots of clouds, but some sunshine and some days that give the hope of better weather ahead—but the world is still largely brown, the trees, while there are early signs of change (blooming maples), are largely barren.

• Phase 2—Color suddenly bursts into the scene. Daffodils and early tulips and magnolia appear. Smaller trees and early trees start to tentatively show leave. Buds on red buds swell pink and pretty. Snow is not rare, but more rain falls from the sky. You think of planting outside, but wisely decide to wait a bit. Usually, Easter.

• Phase 3—Iowa is a verdant, green place. Trees are coming to life. The smell of lilac and crab apple (and, unfortunately, pear). Late daffodils and tulips galore. Peonies are springing up and the frilly fancy ones are budding and blooming. The later native flower plants—milkweed—can finally be seen. You know which trees and vines “made it,” and which fell to winter. The last frost, the first day in the 80s, you think of sun screen, bugs are becoming an issue.

Anyway, this stretch of rides is in Phase 1. I’ve seen it all, chilly drizzle, wet snows, beautiful sunshine, much variety.

On one Sunday in early spring, I had to ride to campus for some newspaper duties, and I took an indirect route, riding along the slowly growing Cemar Trail in Cedar Rapids, going under First Avenue, and I ended up looping around Mount Calvary Cemetery. There is something weirdly refreshing about a slow circuit of a cemetery on an early, sunny spring day—a reminder of life and eternity at the same time.

March 27--I arrive on campus after cemetery detour. Sunny Sunday.

Seen in the cemetery.

Statue of Saint Francis in cemetery.

I also chanced a rain in a wet morning snow—it was snowing very lightly, it was too warm to stick or freeze on the streets, and the afternoon was supposed to be drier. It was a gamble that worked out.

March 24--Riding on a snowy morning.

March 24--Riding to work on a snowy morning, but it's melting as soon as it falls.

March 24--Road closed? Turns out I can use sidewalk to first cross street, so the project on C Avenue didn't have as big of an impact as I thought.

March 24--I arrive at work a little damp, but not wet. At loading dock--going to park inside in the hall today. Bikers get the best parking places.

March 25--A grey, cool day, but dry. A sparrow rests on my bike as it's parked in a bike rack near the library.

March 26--Sunny Saturday afternoon ride on Boyson Trails. By creek on the trail to Mendards, sun makes old grass from fall shine.

March 26--Bike on bridge.

March 26--Deer stare at me as I photograph them from trial.

March 26--Late afternoon shadows on trail.

March 26--Cardinal sings spring song beside trail.

Most recently, on April Fools Day, I rode a bit extra, going down to Cedar Lake before heading home and taking my usually 7-mile commute and making the total for the day just over 10 miles. After arriving at home, my wife and I drove to a park. It was a cool afternoon, but somewhat milky-sunny, and we enjoyed a stroll around Lowe Park—there, we met artist Drew Evans.

Evans, a Marion bicycle mechanic and welder, also does art made of metal objects, often bicycle parts. One of his sculptures was a woman formed from bicycle chains.

April 1--Bike chain woman.

April 1--Artist Dale Evans with one of his sculptures. "It needs cleaning," he said.

It was a pleasant sight. He’s supposed to have a show later this year at the art gallery at Lowe Park, and I’ll watch for it. Maybe I’ll ride my bike there.

By then, it should be phase 3 of spring and a lot warmer. Still, even if I need gloves and a winter coat, even spring, phase 1, is a nice change of pace from winter bike riding.

Total for March: 157 miles. Year to date: 430.65 (10 of the miles in April).

April 1--Ride home via trail by Cedar Lake. Milky sunshine ends blue sky day.

April 1--C Avenue Pond on morning ride.

In Which I Regret the Choice of Shoes

On the sidewalk between Echo Hill school and the Lowe Park area, Marion, Iowa, at sunset.

Saturday, Feb. 5—At this point in January, I had zero bike miles done. February has been more rider friendly. I didn’t ride Friday—it was deeply, deeply cold in the morning with a slight chance of snow. And just after noon, for a short time, the world turned white as blowing snow pelted down.

The snow was quick, and maybe I was lucky to be walking back to my office so I could make some images of it. And the snow reinforced my lack of guilt in not riding on Friday. But despite taking that day off, I have a few miles in this month. And I rode a bit extra today, making a late afternoon journey to Lowe Park on the hybrid bike (I still won’t ride it to work due to some icy places on the route, but I gambled that the pavement would be largely clear on the ride today, a bet that proved to be well placed).

Statue of Sister Catherine, who founded the Sisters of Mercy, on the campus of Mount Mercy University Friday afternoon. Not regretting my decision to leave my bike at home.

 

Bike I usually ride in winter parked where I usually do not park it. Feb. 1--I arrive at Basile Hall just in time to deliver a guest lecture at an 8 a.m. class, so I did not go to my office first. In winter, I usually park my bike right outside my office door.

The Saturday ride was 12.19 miles, which gives me, with the earlier in the week commutes, 26.19 miles for February in its first five-day week, which I don’t feel is bad at all. So far, 141.58 miles for the year.

The ride today was a bit hurried. I was tied up earlier in the day, and tired, so my first agenda item for the afternoon was a nap. For an old man like me, naps are extremely important. It was 4 by the time I was awake and ready to ride, and it took a little time to get dressed (long underwear, thermal socks) and get water, so it as about 4:30 when I headed out.

These days, unlike a few weeks ago, 4:30 isn’t night yet, but it was cloudy, so I rode with some lights on.

And I faced the choice of shoes. I had already picked my route and my bicycle—my commutes for now will still be on the mountain bike, but today I wanted a bit of a break from The Fancy Beast, so I pulled Clarence out of the garage.

And had to pick shoes. Clarence has double-sided pedals, so I can wear biking shoes or anything else that I want to wear. On my winter commutes, I wear warm winter boots. Today was by far the warmest in February so far, with a temperature, in the 20s Fahrenheit. A grey, windy, cold 20s, but 20s are far better than the single-digits we had for much of the week.

My usual winter bike ride shoes--insulated winter boots.

What I wore today. Leather bike shows. Leather, when not insulated, conducts heat far too well, as I proved through painful personal experimentation today,

So, I decided the socks would be enough and I would wear my biking shoes for the first time in 2022.

I think I jumped the gun.

The ride out to Lowe Park was pleasant enough, and I was enjoying the crisp air, the snowy landscape, the occasional peeks of sun through the grey sky.

It's not the first time I rode this bike this year--I did use it to take two granddaughters on rides with the Tag-A-Long seat a week ago, but this was the first long ride of the year on the hybrid bike.

Passing by Bowman Woods Park next to Bowman Woods School on Boyson Road. Sledders doing a more mundane winter thing as a crazy old man cycles by. Winter sky.

Nearing Lowe Park, old bicycle with gnome. Garden decoration or warning to bikers to keep going before the gnomes attack?

But by the time I got done riding the length of the Lowe Park trail, my feet were preparing angry protest notes. “It’s colder than a big dog,” they wrote, or would, if their toes were fingers. “Where the heck are our boots, crazy old man?”

Sorry, toes, I left them at home. Lowe Park is north and east of my house, which means a good part of the ride home was into the face of a fierce south wind. The temperature didn’t drop, but with the sun fading over the horizon and the wind blowing on my face, I felt far, far colder on the way home.

Yet, to the credit of long underwear, my thin jacket that does cut wind, the biking hat one of my daughters got me for Christmas, only my face and my toes were displeased.

The toes especially. They gave up letter writing for a riotous tantrum, silent but effective.

Despite the pain top and, mostly, tippie toe bottom, I enjoyed the ride. It felt good to be on a lighter bike. It felt good to again visit Lowe Park. There was some ice here and there, and one short stretch where snow has blown across it, but it was pretty much all clear, bare pavement. Kudos, city of Marion.

And now, I’ve edited the excessive number of images I made. I’m watching the Winter Olympics as I write this, snug under an electric blanket, toes now happier in warm indoor slippers. I treated myself to a grilled cheese and ham sandwich, Fritos, an apple, and hot chocolate for supper, followed by Blue Moon for afters.

All in all, a good ride. And I promise, toes, the rest of my winter rides, on mountain or hybrid bike, will feature the warm boots. Lesson learned. Lots of images:

Sunset seen from walkway between elementary school and middle school.

Pretty sky seen on Irish Drive. But I'm also biking into a stiff south wind and it's very cold.

What most of the Lowe Park Trail was like, perfectly clear.

Near art building on Lowe Park Trail, an aggressive looking snow figure.

Clarence at east end of Lowe Park Trail.

The warmup feast after I get home. On desk with laptop, where I will edit these images.

Sunset seen on the ride.

My bike at sunset.

Small patch of prairie-like ground at sunset.

Snow on Lowe Park Trail. this was the exception, it didn't really cause me any problem, most of the trail was clear.

Some of the art near the art building at the east end of the Lowe Park Trail looking comely at sunset.

28 F is a bit warmer than it's been, but in fading light with a stiff wind, it can still feel cold. Just ask my toes.

Bike at the Lowe Park corn cyclone. This and next few images.

The statues at Lowe Park in fading winter light.

Detail of map, rotated. Sniper cat.