Ken Urban, kenurbanphotography.com
Cyclers ride in the Tour of the Mississippi River Valley.
Time on a bicycle isn't like other time, and that's particularly true in the spring when the trails and roads are tempting more of us out of hibernation.
Real bicycle time gets you someplace. That might be to school, or to work, or to your favorite bagelry or coffee shop. It can take you to a smaller waist size, a healthier heart, a place of contentment. It might simply get you home again after a ride down a scenic trail or a loop around town.
Unless you're one of the hardy few who ride outdoors through the winter, you've been looking forward to warmer weather and dry roads and trails.
Do enough bicycling, and you're bound to have a few favorite routes or places that come back to mind and make you smile. These are the ones that you shared with friends and tell other friends about. When someone asks you where you like to ride, where they should go, these are the rides you mention.
Here are a few of mine, from the easy to the not so easy, and some in between:
Duck Creek Parkway: This has to be one of the prettiest urban trails this side of the Rockies. From Emeis Park on West Locust Street in Davenport, it will take you east about 12 miles to Devils Glen Park in Bettendorf, Iowa. Ranging from mostly flat to gentle rises along the winding creek, the parkway may be at its scenic, green finest in July and August. Anyone who can ride a bicycle can handle at least a few miles.
Great River Trail: This also is a mostly flat ride with great views of the Mississippi River. Start in Moline just off I-74 and go upriver to Cordova, Ill., and back for a round trip of about 40 miles – or turn around sooner if you're not quite ready for that. There are several good places to stop for breakfast or lunch along the way.
Southeast Minnesota: Within an easy morning's drive of much of the Radish region are several other special cycling destinations, including the 19-mile Cannon Valley Trail from Red Wing to Cannon Falls and the Lanesboro area's Root River Trail. The Root River Trail offers more variety, with winding, undulating terrain mostly to the east of Lanesboro and somewhat more demanding uphill grades and hills toward Fountain, Preston and Harmony.
County Roads: Wherever you live, ask an experienced cyclist about more open-road riding for a change of scenery, change of pace or a good workout, and you'll probably hear about county roads. Some carry a lot of motor vehicle traffic during the usual rush hour periods, but otherwise they often are relatively quiet.
One of my favorites is in Linn County, Iowa: E-48 from Highway 13 in Cedar Rapids into the hilly little college town of Mount Vernon. It is only about 8.5 miles, one way, but a great mix of climbs and downhills for a more experienced rider and great views from hilltops and ridges. The steepest climb is a couple of miles out of Mount Vernon on the way back to Cedar Rapids.
TOMRV: The Tour of the Mississippi River Valley, if you do the entire route from Bettendorf, Iowa, to Galena, Ill., and Dubuque and back again, is a strenuous, two-day organized ride hosted for more than 30 years by the Quad Cities Bicycle Club. For many avid cyclists, getting ready for TOMRV is a training goal, a fun weekend payoff for staying in shape through the winter and doing some serious road riding in the spring.
Unless you know you're up to bicycling nearly 200 miles over an early June weekend -- this year it's June 12-13 -- you might look at it another way: as a series of scenic routes you can try on your own or with a small group.
Consider the moderately hilly 13-mile stretch from Preston, Iowa, to the island community of Sabula. Three more flat miles along Highway 52 will get you across the Mississippi to Savanna, Ill. (You might want to walk your bicycle across the bridge. And don't look down through the grating.) Pedal along another three or so and you can stop and turn around at Mississippi Palisades State Park.
When you're ready to tackle some serious hills, you might warm up for a few miles then take County Road 8 northwest out of Hanover, Ill., to Blackjack Road and start climbing. Make your way to Galena for a 16-mile ride that may feel like 60.
No matter where you ride, remember: Wear a helmet, use a mirror. Pedal on.
