Med City Meander: Riding In Rochester

 

The map

Memorial Day weekend Mary and I took our bicycles to Rochester, MN, to participate in the inaugural Med City Meander.  The start and finish was at Cascade Lake Park.  The ride took us on various trails and roads in and around Rochester.  Having been in that city once, I was excited to go.  New trails to explore!

GETTING THERE IS HALF THE FUN!

The flames of SUVs are lighting the road to Polk City

We live in Iowa but travel to Minnesota several times a year.  Great bicycle trails and great music concerts to attend.  We were up Minneapolis in March and will return in October twice for rock & roll.  One year instead of The Ragbrai, Mary and I took our touring bikes and rode from St Cloud to Fargo, ND, and back in 6 days.  This was on two seamlessly connected trails, Lake Woebegone Trail and the Center Lakes Trail combining to make 140 miles of SMOOTH, paved trail with towns every 5 to 8 miles.  The Root River Trail is another great bicycle destination path.  Do the Preston Harmony Trail while you are up there. We also recommend the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail that starts just off I-35.  But in my mind, the Med City Meander would show us how to get to the Shooting Star Trail.  My mind was mistaken as that trail connects LeRoy, MN, to Austin, MN.  Oh well...

Somewhere in Ankeny, IA, near the Polk City turn off on I-35 we spotted a fire in the darkness.  A Jeep Grand Cherokee was suffering an engine fire.  I asked Mary to grab her phone to take a picture but I beat her to the punch since my phone was on the center console.  After we passed the flaming SUV we saw emergency vehicles heading from the north racing to the scene.  The driver did have the ability to get the vehicle onto the shoulder of the freeway.  I thought of Roads To Moscow by Al Stewart. 

We were very confident in our ability to get to Rochester.  Yet we put our faith in Google Maps to guide us to the exact location.  Part of the issue is that we have traveled up and down I-35 some many times that we have seen the green sign telling us to turn for that city.  Hang a right on the I-90 exit and follow signs.  Google was engaged before we reached I-90.  But Rochester was not on the sign.  Google did not bark at us.  We continued north.  Maybe the next exit?  Yeah, highway 30, no Rochester sign.  Small towns and county roads until we reached highway 14.  Still did not see a Rochester sign until we reached city limits.  I do not know what programing went in the AI but it was dumb.  Highway 14 was probably the turn but it was under construction.  But we did get to Cascade Lake.  It was that point that my faithful navigator's phone took a dump but I spotted a Honda Pilot with two bikes hanging off the back and I followed them to the proper parking lot for the ride.  Use The Force, Luke!

The Ride

The Mayowood Stone Barn or as we call it, The Weddin' Barn.  Looks like an exchange of vows will soon take place. 

Lone rider climbing the hill.

A group of riders desperately trying to catch the rider in the photo above.

After unloading our bikes from the inside of the Pilot and grabbing what we needed, tire repair tools, sleeves for arms, helmets, lock, wallet, keys, water bottles, ect, we rode to the registration table.  Mary handled that while I messed around with my bike.  Inside the shelter there were donuts and coffee.  Mary handed me a paper map, a decal and a pamphlet on trails.  Then we were off!

There a lot of families and cyclists of all ages participating today.  Triathletes to a woman with a dog in a rear basket.  People were polite and noncompetitive.  The trail around the lake was bumpy.  I hoped it was not a sign for the rest of the ride.  We were on "endurance bikes."  These are allegedly more comfortable than stand road bikes.  But the kawthunk kawthunk every 10 feet was annoying.  Hopefully, the other trails will be better.

I heard a rumor about a "hill" and we found it.  Just a long climb along US Highway 14.  Then the "3 Mile Jacket Drop" as a group of riders reached operating temperature.  There was a 9 Mile Jacket Drop later.  I forget when I ditched my sleeves, at least 15 miles.  Some canopy on the Zumbro River Trail was both welcomed and beautiful, a lot of white and purple flowers in the woods.

Later we rode through the Mayowood area, a gorgeous neighborhood of nice homes and a "wedding barn" before we returned to the Zumbro River Trail which lead us to 1st Ave and downtown Rochester. 

Downtown is a great place.  I wish we had more time to spend there.  The riverfront is nice and fun, murals and artwork, many underpasses and the Rochester Art Center which sponsors Art4trails that has many sculptures along the trails.  Not directly on the route but we made an excursion to photograph the Taper Arch sculpture which reminded me of Chicago's Cloud Gate sculpture (the Bean).  After photos we found the rest stop and drank some water.  There are a lot of coffee shops, bars and restaurants here.

Downtown riverfront

Selfie

The "Tapered Arch" in front of the art center.

This was the turning point for the short and long ride.  Since we were here to ride we took the long route. This route included the Bear Creek Trail, Marion RD Trail, John Wellner Trail and the Civic Center Trail.  Most importantly, it brought us in view of The Ear of Corn Water Tower!  We did not get close enough but saw it.  

Why do people suck?  Dockless Lime scooter tossed into Bear Creek.  Personally, I prefer dockless rentals because I can park them and shut off the meter at my short term destination unlike docked rentals, B-Cycles for example, which charge you until they are returned to a docking station inconveniently located nowhere near the place you want to visit.

The Corn Tower

Back to downtown for a Spinal Tap moment.  Although the ride was very well marked, there was some confusion for participants of the long ride.  We rode back to the rest stop but had to back track to the turn for the long ride to realize that we needed to turn left for the short route to return to the start of the ride.  No big deal but funny in retrospect.

A federal house of incarceration.

This is how sidepaths through business districts should be.  Clearly segregated between bike and walking lanes.  No huge planters obstructing views.

Need to stop here and eat and purchase a shirt!

Huge green pedestrian bridge at Cascade Lake

Ride up into the clouds!

Option to exit the bridge before crossing highway 14.  We turned around here.

Nothing really to note about the finish.  We repeated the beginning of the ride to photograph a pedestrian bridge that crossed highway 14.  Huge bridge!  Donuts and coffee were gone.  Food trucks were set up for nourishment and an obstacle/skills course was there for young riders.  A man came up to us as we were loading our bikes in the car.  He said he had a strange question. "Did you see a r/c car in the form of Grave Digger?"  He left his son's car on top of his truck and it fell off on his exit.  Nope.  Nice assumption that we knew what Grave Digger was.  Poor kid will get a new one very soon.

I was very impressed with the ride and Rochester itself.  We plan to return and spend more time there.  Definitely will bring bicycles that can run on lower air pressure to cushion the trails.  A ride to photograph all the trail artwork.  Restaurants and brewpubs, coffee and more.  And the Douglas State Trail from Rochester to Pine Island for a 25 mile out and back.

We headed straight to I-90 to leave town.  Before we reached Austin the Honda needed gas and I needed caffeine as both the car and me were running on empty.  Took an exit for Austin but the bridge was out.  No joy.  The next exit was Haywood, but despite the sign we did not see the gas station.  Strike 2!  Albert Lea was next and we scored.  I slammed a red Bull, tropical, as I was refueling the Pilot and had a screw top white Monster for the road.  I stopped yawning was alert and awake for the rest of the drive.

No burning Jeeps on the trip back but a huge line of cars just south of Ames to see the country music concert at Jack Trice Stadium.  I hoped everyone enjoyed themselves.

Reunion of Fools: 22nd Annual Fools Ride

 

At the beginning...

April 6, 2024, was the 22nd Fools Bike Ride hosted by Ben Wheeler.  I have participated in this ride 5 times.  In my humble opinion, the Fools Ride is the best social ride in Iowa.  The ride rolls on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail along the bank of the Cedar River from La Porte City to Brandon, Iowa.  A 23 mile trek bookend by establishments that provide food and free music.   Somewhere in the middle, 6 miles from LaPorte City there is an abandoned gravel pit with tables for a pit stop for socializing and libations carried in by participants.  I cannot recommend this ride enough.

Because the trail has a crushed limestone surface and because recent rain may have soften the trail, Mary and I chose to ride our 1991 Gary Fisher Gemini tandem.  Designed and sold as a mountain bike we eventually replaced the flat bars with drops and added front and rear racks to transform it into a touring bicycle.  We met Gary Fisher and had him autograph a photo of the bike in its touring glory and his eyes lit up and said he put drops on his before going into a esoteric discussion on cranks with cotter pins.  A few years back we put offroad tires back on the Gemini for gravel rides.  Those tires were perfect for the Fools Ride.  In previous years I have taken hybrids, fatbikes, a single speed gravel bike and a geared gravel bike.  This would be the tandem's debut.  Only rear panniers were used.  Two coolers, they were small, two chairs tools, flat repair and the ability to stuff in cold weather gear once it warmed up.

I has been over a year since we rode the tandem.  73 miles in 2022 and 0 miles for 2023.  I did have it out for upgrades last year but we cancelled that ride.  I did, however, replace Mary's saddle, though about replacing mine and thought about put new wrap on the bars but failed to get that done.  The day before the ride I thought about putting new wrap on during the Iowa Women's basketball game but only aired the tires.  I did get the cobwebs off and reset the computer.  

At the Getaway with a special friend

She asked for a ride.

Shakedown cruise.  A number of firsts.  Inaugural transport inside our Honda Pilot.  We were able to get our tandems in back of or CR-V by taking the wheels off.  That was not necessary with the Pilot!  Bicycles are safest when ferried inside automobiles especially when there is a sustained wind of 20+mph and a possibility of wind.  Other firsts included Mary's new Sella saddle, first time on this ride and first time the bike was ridden in over a year.  No test ride at home.  We did need to adjust the saddle once we got to the Getaway Bar form our parking spot across from the police station in La Porte City.

Our friend Dave was going to meet us at the start but he was delayed by a funeral.  We Have ridden this ride with almost every time since he lives nearby in Cedar Falls.  He always offers to let us spend the night at his place and cooks us a wonderful breakfast in the morning.  However, we started the ride without him and stopped at the gravel pit.  When he sent a text telling us he was on his way we rode back to the Getaway Bar to meet him.  Extra miles!

Dave's new bike.  This replaced his old Trek 950.  Same color but black added.

Dave's new bike again

Dave's Happy Dance!

Reunion ride.  At the gravel pit a significant contingent of Team Die Hard rolled in.  Have not seen them in a long time.  Mary was happy to see Heather and Linda.  One issue with rides is that often Mary is the only woman there.  It was great to see everyone.

Mary and Davis (Linda)

Heather, Johnny Paco and Dave

From the gravel pit looking west

The structure being used as the "ladies room

Fat's Pub and Grub was the destination in Brandon.  The Bryce Janey Band was jamming blues in the beer garden.  This year the food offering was tenderloins, fries and cole slaw for $13.  The last time they sold fried chicken.  I think Dave and had two servings of the chicken!  Beers were $3.

Looking east

Elvis was glad to see me! Phat's Pub and Grub

The Bryce Janey Band at Phat's

Elvis on stage with Bryce Janey Band

Yes!

My meal

The tailwind on the return trip was much appreciated.  Not that the headwind was bad, it was sort of, but much worse when driving to the ride.  But it's always good to get that jet stream push.  I'm glad Dave sent a text that he had his lights charged otherwise I may have forgotten to bring ours.  We needed them.

Dave took this beauty on the way back.

Heather's new bike.  This is the type of e-bike I'd love to have.  It is beautiful and does not look cheap or like the run in the mill bikes that look like they spend their life hanging on back of Winnebago.

Die Hard parking at Phat's

Wisdom

We declined to enter the Getaway Bar after returning.  In 2019 Bob Dorr's band, The Limestoners featuring several Iowa Blues Hall of Famers, played and I had to see this.   But tonight, stay sober and get home before midnight.  It had been a great day and we did not need an incident before the 3 hour drive home.

Size difference

The tandem inside the Pilot.  Yes, I am aware that the idler chain is loose.  Tried to fix it a few years back but the spanner could not get the BB adjustment to move and since the BB is perfect I did not tempt fate.  If we rode this bike more often I would take it in.  No shops want a extra long bicycle to come in...

The Pilot was silent as we rolled west to I-35.  Tailwind.  I mean quiet.  No road noise, engine barely audible.  I was happy with the car.  Seems that every time we travel there is a badass wind beating the crap out of the Honda exposing all the weak points in the door and window frames ect.  But silence now, until we turned north and later south.  We watched the lightning create a show off in the distance and hoped that it was on the other side of the interstate.  It was.  Just a few sprinkles that did not require the use of the wipers.  Home by 1120 pm. 

Hoping to make the Sloof Ride in September.  I hope Ben makes it an event this year.  Sloof is Fools spelled backwards and starts in Brandon instead of La Porte City thus reverses the ride.  Camouflage for ride attire instead of blaze orange.