The Downside of Cycling in Iowa in March…Cold, Windy, Rainy and Two Flat Tires!

I have been challenging myself over the past two years to push the envelope on what weather I am able to ride in. Wet, rainy and 35 degrees Fahrenheit is my current lower limit.

This past March I rode to my cousin’s house around 5pm; nearly dusk. The weather was overcast with light rain and about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Dressed warmly with four layers over my torso the ride was not too bad. I didn’t head home until around 10pm. Pitch black and now about 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Tom, my cousin, offered to give me a ride home, but I was determined to ride back on my own. Mostly downhill to the condo I stay at on the Cedar River. The total ride is about six miles each way. The first three miles are on dirt or seal coated roads and include one steep descent of about an eighth of a mile. I negotiated the first mile and a half of the ride just fine until rolling over the Indian Creek Bridge. A wobbly rear end signaled a flat rear tire. Damn! Cold and dark, but I still tried to make it on my own. It took me about 20 minutes to change the tire tube. Thankfully, I had a strong headlamp, but my fingers began to go numb. I rode on. About a mile and a half later after passing the Nature Center my rear end got bobbly again! Another flat tire. Now I was in trouble. Halfway home. Temperature falling. No second spare. No one around to help.

After reviewing my options the only real choice was to call Tom. He was more than gracious and concerned. About 15 minutes after my call his Jeep Grand Cherokee (very new) showed up heading my way. We were able to stuff my bike into the rear storage, but a bunch of mud ad grease stained the back of his new SUV. How awful. Tom drove me into the condo.