Big Wheels keep on Rolling...

The ice can fool you, it starts to soften as the temperature rises, letting the tires bite in. I lose focus and gain speed and trust. Then suddenly the surface changes and you hit a section that is still frozen hard, slick, and bone breaking hard. I hold my breath, rolling 12 mph, not flinching, hoping to roll to that section of thawed trail with gravel I can see 50 feet ahead of me. The front tire starts to slide very slightly to the right. You know it’s over, and there is nothing you can do to change the fact you are going to be slamming down hard on the ice in just a part of a second.



It does seem that time slows down in moments like this. I was thinking on the way down, I hope nothing breaks, and takes me off the bike. Hip, shoulder and wrist all took a hard hit. I laid there and moaned and yelled at myself, and hobbled back up and walked around trying to loosen up.


Back on the bike, shoulder hurting like somebody took a ball-peen hammer to it. I'm thinking to myself glad I didn’t go down on my recently surgically repaired shoulder. I decided next time I see ice like this approaching I am walking the bike.


The day continued to warm up, and FatTires roll like your brakes are dragging when gravel, and muck thaw out. I drop gears and speed, and figured it was better than breaking bones on frozen ice.

I ride past  mushrooms as big around as kitchen plates. I first noticed them last summer growing on the side of the cliff that sun never touches, now wondering will they continue to grow again this year, do they live from year to year and through Iowa winters?

Continuing to plow forward I feel like a mule, but I’m on my bike, out in the country, the smell of spring in the air, thinking it just doesn’t get any better than this.

I don't know who left these pipes here a long long time ago, or why.

I circle back home, arriving tired, 50 miles felt like 100. This weekend promises more of the same.

Cheers and thanks for stopping,
Dave