In Which We Greet Buggy Bike to Work Week

Cedar Lake, Tuesday night. Took longer trail route home after giving exam. This is about 7:30 p.m. or so.

 Well, the universe rewarded me a bit this week for being a bike commuter.

As I rode to work Tuesday morning, I was greeted as I was about to exit the Rockwell-Collins parking light at the F Avenue light. A nice man, who I later identified as Paul Fiegen, asked my shirt size, and handed me a “Bike to Work” shirt. He also offered granola and water, but I declined, as I was in a bit of a hurry to get to the office.

Tuesday, I got a free shirt! Front and back.

 
“We’ll be back on Thursday,” he called as I cycled on.

Wednesday was a very stormy day, and I didn’t ride. While it had been very muggy and warm Tuesday, the storm signaled a shift, and it was a nice crisp morning when I started out Thursday.

And, sure enough, the Bike to Work party was in full swing at the same spot. I stopped and chatted for a bit with Paul Fiegen, who is past president of the Linn County Trails Association; and Derek Stepanek, owner of Northtowne Cycling and Fitness.

There was a traffic guy form the city there, too, although I didn’t catch his name—we had an interesting exchange about the video-controlled traffic lights the city is installing, and how they may be made more effective for bikers. Paul signed me up for a prize raffle, although I’m not sure I’ll be able to make the Friday party where I could be a winner. It all depends on when a graduation event at MMU gets over. And Derek gave me a few gifts—a lip balm and a glue-less patch kit that I now have in my bike bag.

Well, thank you, Cedar Rapids, for including me in a minor way in Bike to Work Week hoopla. And Phillip Platz, Paul says “hello.”

Chatting with Paul Fiegen of trail association Thursday morning.

It’s been a decent biking week, but man it is buggy. The 80-degree days made all insect eggs in North America suddenly hatch, and gnats and mosquitos are making their presence known and felt. (Pause to scratch one of my wrists).

The school year is almost over, and I’m taking too long of a break from a pile to grading to write this post—but there you have it. It’s time for sunscreen and Bug Soother! The first library ride—Bookworms on Bikes—is coming up soon, and serious RAGBRAI training starts next week.

Peony in bloom at Quality Inn along Cedar River Trail. Took the trail route home Thursday.

In Which a Windy Journey Adds Up to 25 Miles

Our meeting place. Bottle at far left is mine.

I had not been in the Hotel Kirkwood before, and it looked very nice. The Guinness was cold, the appetizers tasty and the conversation interesting—all that one could ask of the final department meeting of the year.

It’s been the tradition of the academic department that I am a member of to meet off campus for our final session of the year. This year’s session was at the Hotel Kirkwood, just south of the main Kirkwood Community College campus.

The meeting was to start around 3:45. I left Mount Mercy at about 2:50. I should have left a bit earlier---it was after 4 when I got there. I took the Bowling Street Trail—not my favorite route, but a bit shorter than going into the Kirkwood campus from the east.

The day was cloudy and cool. I have not worn my jacket in recent weeks, but did today. A strong west wind was biting at me, and the route to Kirkwood proved to be more uphill than I expected.

We had a storm roll through on Mother's Day. I was hoping to catch a rainbow as the sun went down, but the rain moved too quickly and I didn't see one. Oh well, sky was interesting (and before you point it out, yes I know, if there was a rainbow it would be opposite the sun, not towards it).

But, it’s bike to work week, and it would have damaged my pride to do anything but cycle to the department meeting.

Actually, it wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t that windy. The biggest problem was that there was some sort of utility truck parked right on the trail—for some reason, utility workers don’t seem to worry much about blocking bike trails. A rider headed north as I was headed south mumbled something about “assholes” as I passed him—and I don’t think the reference was to me.

Well, bike to work week started with a few miles. I rode 25 today. Since eight of those are my regular ride, I supposed that meant the ride to the Hotel Kirkwood was about 8 ½ miles (17 plus eight being 25).

Two more damp Mother's Day photos from the fruitless hunt for a rainbow. Well, not fruitless--the wet world was still a pretty place.

The ride back was easier. Of course, some appetizers and Guinness probably just made me feel more like biking, anyway. I have some new lights, and they sparkled quite impressively in the cloudy late afternoon dim light, I think.

Day one of biking week: 25 miles. We’ll see what mileage totals I manage to reach the rest of this busy finals week.

Tree on central campus at MMU lost a substantial limb in the Mother's Day thunderstorm. Luckily no students nor biking professors was in the way when it came down.