First ride on Sept. 4--Clarence, my hybrid bike, at new trail that will extend Lindale Trail to the west.
Second ride--The Fancy Beast, my mountain bike, at Waldos Rock Park (that's Waldo's Rock, a boulder dumped by a glacier, in the background).
Third ride--Argent, my road bike, on Cedar Valley Nature Trail north of Hiawatha. I'm almost back in town again, I think this is when I stopped to make images of a snake.
OK, I implied on an earlier post that I was unsure about riding my birthday this year, and I was.
But this Saturday I purchased new tyres and installed them on two of my bikes. So Sunday they wanted to go somewhere, and I obliged.
Worn back tyre on Argent. Time for a new one, which I got Saturday.
Clarence has the worn tyre blues. Front tyre needs a change.
Saturday after visit to bike shop--new tyres (and a little pump to take with me on rides).
Besides tyres, I got this little pump Saturday. I tested it when changing the tyres, and it's much nicer than most frame pumps. I put it in a bag on Argent, have the bracket to hold it on The Fancy Beast, and use this bungee when taking it on Clarence.
I got the hybrid bike out early, went to church, and then added about 15 miles by swinging down to Cedar Lake and stopping at campus before going home.
This first ride featured some nice sights—in particular, pelicans, which visit us twice a year headed north (spring) or south (fall) were visiting Cedar Lake this Sunday. Very nice.
Here and next images, pelicans on Cedar Lake.
Hybrid bike at Cedar Lake.
Before the lake, I checked out the new trail that is being built to take the Lindale Tral farther west into Cedar Rapids. It’s a short trail going nowhere right now, but should be tied into the Lindale Trail yet this fall.
Paved part of new trail heading west of Lindale Trail.
Same trail, but looking east at incomplete part.
Noelridge Park--people walking dogs are not the most dangerous thing on two legs you might encounter.
After the lake, I paused at the Plaster Athletic Complex to watch a bit of baseball and softball. Then I rode to the main campus of Mount Mercy University, where I work, and on campus, I was pleased to spot several monarch butterflies on Swamp Milkweed by the library. And I made some images of the Grotto, just because it was there.
This, and next image, caterpillars on campus.
Bike at Plaster Complex.
Softball.
Baseball.
After I got home, I was hatching the plan. If I rode all three bikes today, could I do it? It’s just that 17 was a chunk of miles, and 64 didn’t seem that far way. I was checking out some new routes, and I have intended for a while to ride my mountain bike to Waldo’s Rock Park to check out some grassy trails. I suppose they are for hiking, but I figured the mountain bike could navigate them.
Grassy trail through a natural flower meadow at Waldos Rock.
I was taking a very RAGBRAI approach to riding my birthday—dividing the ride into segments where I got a treat in between each segment. Only the “town” I kept visiting was my own home. All of the riding I did on the mountain bike added another 17 or so, so I was up to 34 miles—I exceeded Bon Jovi, I was more than halfway there.
The lunch break was a while—I fixed myself a feast (home-style thick cut potato chips and tuna salad wraps), figuring I was burning some calories. And I paused to swap some things around on my bikes—put on a new bell and some new lights my wife got me for my birthday. It felt like the bikes should have their birthday swag for birthday rides. The lunch break, by the way, was between the hybrid bike—Clarence—and the mountain bike—The Fancy Beast.
New bell on The Fancy Beast.
New lights on Argent.
After the ride to Waldo’s Rock, I had another break. What with one thing and another, it was getting a bit late, but I only had 30 miles to go. And the final bike, Argent, is my road bike, the bike on which I can move the fastest.
Of course, I had already moved myself 34 miles, and I’m never a racer, so “fast” is a relative term. I rode north on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, figuring if I went to Center Point and back, I would be close to my goal. I didn’t make it. It was cloudy and dim, and by the time I got close to Schultz Road (10 miles north of Hiawatha) I was worried about riding the trail in full dark, so I turned back.
Turn-around point on ride north, 10-mile mark just short of Schultz Road.
Where you wondering if you would see the snake? Yes you would. It crawled off into the grass, scared, apparently, of a photographer although my bike seemed to have made no impression at all.
But a 20-miles round trip on the trail, plus the few miles I rode to get to the trail, meant my goal was in reach. I had to do some deliberate indirectness, some inefficient moving around in the neighborhood north of Boyson Road between Council Street C Avenue, but I thought getting a few extra miles in the full dark of night was smarter on lit city streets than on a dark rural trail.
When I turned on to Devonshire Drive for the final half mile, I didn’t quite have enough distance. In the area of Devonshire north of Boyson, there are some planters in the middle of the street, and anybody looking out their window then might have wondered at the crazy old man who, at about 8:15 p.m., kept circling those planters. I was getting the couple of tenths of a mile I was missing.
Sunday ride.
Is it a bird? A plane? No, it's my Labor Day ride.
And when I got home, I had 0.19 miles more than I needed—but then again, I was a few days after my 64th birthday, so maybe I needed to exceed 64 miles just a bit. With a 10-mile journey today, I’m at 99.54 for September and 2,017.11 for the year so far. But mostly, let's recall that I made it 64!
On the road between Ely on Solon. CR Biker does not normally go at this pace, but if you're going to average 11 mph, you have to be moving faster than that between stops.
I don’t suppose there is any requirement that an old biker “ride his birthday,” but I’ve seen posts from others who have done it.
It was humid and hot on Saturday in Iowa, not a good day for biking. As sometimes happens here late in summer, Sunday was in contrast and was gorgeous. There is just a huge difference between temperatures in the upper 90s and the upper 80s. The sun was shining, and by late morning, I had decided it was the day for a ride.
I had gone a bit past Ely on the trail south of town, but had gone no farther this year. And I know from previous rides that a pretty park awaits in Solon—so southern fever gripped me, and I got the road bike out and took off on the Cedar River Trail, headed south. I was making good time, which of course meant there was a bit of a north wind and the ride back would be a little more challenging.
It was my final day of being 62, and it was also a fine day. At Cedar Lake, several herons were in sight, strutting about on their tall legs, seeking fish.
First stop at Cedar Lake--Herons and a pretty little butterfly. The day is getting nice.
As I rode down by the river, I encountered a man under the bridge by the African-American Museum, busy painting. There is a large new mural there, and the painter said he was Marcus Irving, who had submitted the winning design in a city contest and now was putting final touches on his art. This is the summer of art in Cedar Rapids, in a way—murals seem to be popping up everywhere, in NewBo and Czech Village, even under the bridge.
From natural beauty to the work of humans. Marcus Irving (did not confirm spelling) works on his art under bridge by African-American museum.
After making some images of the artist at work on his images, I was on my way, ruminating that both nature and humans were conspiring to make my birthday eve a day of visual delights.
I ate a snack at Ely, watering up. I considered the ice cream shop, and though I maybe I would see if it was still open. I had gone about 20 miles, and Solon just was not that far, so off I went.
Bird statue in Solon nature park.
Argent by metal birds.
Birds and bike, Solon, Iowa.
Dragonfly by pond in Ely seen on my first snack break.
This group of images is in reverse sequence. Between Cedar Rapids and Ely. Many of these encouraging heart signs seen south of town.
It's not just Cedar Lake. Seen along Cedar River after I cross to the south side.
I reached Solon, circled the pretty nature park there, make some images, and decided to ride back to the rest area where the trail to Solon crosses a county highway. Snack stop number two. In Ely, I had eaten some nuts and an apple. Here, I wolfed down some animal crackers and raisins. I had not been planning a really long ride, and so was a bit informal in my snack planning, as in, I just grabbed whatever was at hand and took off.
I had topped 30 miles by this point, and I new I was over 20 miles from home. It was getting on in the afternoon, but the Sunday ride would total 50 miles if I just went home—50, and on Monday I would turn 63. If I just added a few more miles …
Eating my final snacks, heading back to Ely from Solon. The math is starting to add up. Tired as I am, I would be getting close to a birthday ride. Maybe if the ice cream shop is still open ...
I was convinced the ice cream shop would be closed in Ely by the time I got there. I am happy to report I was wrong. A double scoop bowl—Dutch chocolate for one scoop because one can never have too much chocolate, and birthday cake for the second. Super sweet, I know, but I was starting to think of this as a potential birthday ride.
When I got back into Cedar Rapids, I headed down the little stub trail that leads to the site of the future “Sleeping Giant” bridge whose construction is planned in the coming years. Just adding some distance. I got to Cedar Lake, feeling a bit faded as the afternoon light was fading. Fading—but getting to 50 miles or so. So close.
The lake put on quite a show to boost my spirits. I had been pretty excited to see blue herons earlier, but this time there was a group of pelicans, and white herons. Quite the display.
Second time at Cedar Lake, it puts on quite the show. I circle it twice to gain some distance as I start to commit to the goal. White herons, pelicans, pretty sunset--nice.
So I headed north, and rather than heading directly home, I headed up to Robins, and circled one of the parks there. In my mind, I realized I was getting close. By going north to this point, I was inevitably going to be close to 60 miles by the time I got home. All I needed was 3 extra miles.
So as I approached home, I headed over to the new Milwaukee Road bridge on the Lindale Trail, taking some post-sunset images of Argent (my bike). When I got back to C Avenue, I realized I would be about half a mile short if I went straight home, so I turned south again and inspected the C Avenue pond at Collins Aerospace. Geese flew low overhead as I approached, honking reproaches. It turns out lots of duck and geese were gathered for some kind of Sunday night party in the pond. I made a few images. By the time I got to Blairs Ferry, my miles were over 62 ½, and I knew it was almost exactly half a mile to home from there.
I pulled into my driveway, not exactly feeling euphoric, but feeling good. My legs were not happy with me, indeed sleep was a bit difficult that night due to some large leg muscles that registered their complaints in the form of cramps.
I had not planned on riding 63.4 miles, nor of averaging 11 mph (blisteringly fast for this old man). Sometimes, the most fun you can have is in the moment and not due to plans. I didn’t plan to meet Marcus, didn’t plan to see pelicans, didn’t know the day would be so gorgeous.
But it was. A nice birthday present on my birthday eve.
Last look at Cedar Lake.
Another look at trail on the way to Solon. Perfect day for a ride.
Dinosaur party at C Avenue Pond.
In fading after sundown light, my bike on Lindale Trail bridge.
Doe checks on my during Lindale Trail ride--last few miles of birthday ride.
Not from Sunday ride--Monday, my birthday. I see this butterfly in the tree over the bike rack as I mount hybrid bike for ride home. Legs a bit sore, but I was still rolling on my birthday.
