Is That Spring I Hear Around the Corner?

I went on my second little adventure of the “spring” yesterday. The first was in February that day it was 65, when I went out to Waterworks Park and followed a trail till I came to a flooded area under Grand. Yesterday I headed in the opposite direction, looking for open road.

After Yoga at the Riverfront Y, I asked the front desk girl if she knew where the trail leading to Saylorville was. She said she rides it all the time in the summer, and she gave me perfect directions down Grand, left on Robert D. Ray Dr. and onto the path. I left home in a hurry before yoga, and left my Des Moines Regional Trails map at home… so I was on my own.

I rode for a few miles along the river in 50 degree weather, smiling at the walkers and dodging the spots in the shade where the snow hadn’t melted yet. Calling out “On your left!” and trying not to startle my fellow exercisers.

I got to about East Washington Ave. and came to a trail dead end. I could go right… seemingly curving back to where I started, or left… down a big hill. I chose the hill, knowing full well if that wasn’t the right way, I’d have to climb that sucker.

The sidewalk seemed to end at Union Park, and I wasn’t sure where I was, or if the trail picked up again, so I headed back… Up that hill. I knew the same trail led back south to Grey’s Lake at the very least.

I ran into a new friend named Jim on the path and we rode around a bit downtown and stopped for a coffee at Java Joes. He told me about the Des Moines Bicycle Collective on Grand and we headed in that direction to check it out.

The Des Moines Bicycle Collective is a volunteer run, non profit, community bike center committed to promoting healthy, sustainable transportation. They repair and recycle donated bikes for resale and reuse. The teach safety, commuting tips, and bicycle repair skills as well as housing a little bike store in the front full of affordable, rebuilt bikes. Their flyer says; donations, time, skill, parts and money are always appreciated.

Check them out at 617 Grand Ave. or at dsmbikecollective.org. They have limited hours, but they fit right into my schedule. I’m planning on going in sometime this week, or early next week to volunteer. I figure there’s nothing bad that can come out of learning bike maintenance and making some cool bike friends.

The Rule of Raleigh

I’ve been scouring the planet for a new bike… and by “scouring the planet” I mean I looked at two stores and I looked online for 10 minutes. (Hey- I’m a decisive shopper!) But I finally found the beauty. A 2010, copper colored, vintage feeling (but very modern), Raleigh Clubman.

I had been into Skunk River Cycles in Ames a few weeks ago with a friend of mine, and I spotted her in the corner calling my name. Part of the draw may have been the built-in fenders… after a long muddy trail ride out by Waterworks Park and an awkward encounter with a Dahl’s employee near the adult diapers… The fenders definitely caught my eye.

Ron at Skunk River has been a family friend ever since I can remember, and I can still recall visiting him at Michael’s Cyclery, where Old Main Brewery is now, whenever we were on main. He gave me some good Craigslist advice but that little copper cutie was still in the back of my mind.

I looked up bikes online, read some reviews, stopped by Barr Bikes on 86^th in Clive and spun a few wheels, but I just couldn’t shake that feeling that I needed the Clubman.

So with my dad in tow, and birthday just a few days past, I headed to Skunk River once more to test drive that Raleigh.

I don’t know if I got caught up in the moment, or if the Brooks Leather seat formed to my own seat as I rode around the parking lot, but I couldn’t leave without her. A chunk of change later and we were loading her into the truck and heading to The Café to celebrate.

And then it happened… a day after I got the Raleigh home, I got a call from the place I dropped my funky computer off… “It’s a total loss. We can probably get your information off there, but to be up and working again it’ll be $200-300. This is an old Dell, so I’d suggest you just get a new one.”

And that’s what I like to call, The Rule of Raleigh. See, my dad’s name is Rollie… and growing up he always blamed bad luck on The Rule of Rollie. Hit a train when you’re in a hurry? Rule of Rollie. Found your favorite shoes but they’re all out of your size? Rule of Rollie. It’s that moment where you say, “Of COURSE that just happened… I just have that kind of luck”. Drop some major cash on a bike? Of course you need a computer now. It’s the Rule of Raleigh.

So here we sit. ‘Ol copper doesn’t get wifi, but she’s sitting in my dining room with the hybrid, waiting for warm weather. And I’m tweeting/facebooking/blogging/working from my computer at work. At least until I hear a laptop in the corner of Best Buy, calling my name.