• Jim Cochran
  • Jim Cochran

Summer 2020

We had planned to ride from Rome to Barcelona, but the coronavirus took over the world. I will occasionally post our adventures here, some will be back dated. Read more
  • Kalona 45 (Part 1)

    June 25, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    I planned a 45 mile ride through Amish and Mennonite area to the Kalona brewery. Great sunshine, gravel roads, and a bakery I’d never been to before. We grabbed a blackberry 1:2 moon pie for later in the day. Yeh Kalona Brewery was not disappointing! We had a Belgian style pinnacle beer and a few others + a margarita pizza. After a relaxing lunch and fresh iced waterbottles we were ready for the journey back to Iowa City (see part 2)Read more

  • Exploring and Michigan

    June 26, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Lisa drove to Michigan today to see her family. Our first day apart since before February, in fact so long ago I can’t remember. I explored some roads I usually don’t ride. Sebastian and I did some ripsticking after a late breakfast. I’m still learnings.Read more

  • Amana Ride / Michigan

    June 27, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Lisa is still in Michigan enjoying time with her family at the Lake. I rode 60 miles to the Amana with friends. We had a lot of good laughs, some good snacks, and a couple of brews. We tried to avoid the rain in North Liberty and for the most part did. However, we got soaked by all the standing water riding into Iowa City and Pat had a little slide out into the grass.Read more

  • Tour de Parks

    June 28, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    I put together a casual 20 mile bike ride around town to go by 17+ city parks. Lisa drove back from Michigan and we had a nice dinner of smoked salmon and quinoa salad. With two days left in the month I broke the 1000 mile mark. 😀🚴🏻‍♂️👍🏼Read more

  • Beating the Heat

    June 29, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    I got out on the road for my favorite Res. Loop earnings the morning to beat the heat. Later in the day I worked on my new touring bike in the basement A/C . Lisa did some yoga and was relaxing after her long drive home yesterday. We ate dinner and had a nice quiet night at home with Sebastian.Read more

  • Wrapping up June

    June 30, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    June flew by! We had a lot of rides and a lot of good memories together. Today Lisa used her new toy (her grandma DeShano’s tiller) in the garden, I finished getting my new touring bike together, and Sebastian worked at his Garlic Mustard job trying to clear the garbage bags full of the invasive plant. Lisa rode a res. Loop and I opted for a virtual group ride to finish my third straight month of not missing a day of riding. Made a loaf of bread using Nick’s recipe which is always a gentle reminder of what a great guy he was. What adventures will July bring?Read more

  • Frytown Loop and Roadside Plants

    July 1, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Lisa and I did a 43 mile ride this afternoon. We went to Frytown and shared an orange soda at the service station. A soda machine has graced the front of this building for the entire 20 years I have ridden past it and it makes a nice pit stop somedays. We took some pictures of plants we like to see while riding. Orange Day Lillies, Clover, Milkweed, Cattails, and Asparagus (one of our favorites.) We love spotting all the interesting plants along the Iowa roadsides, and need to learn their names. More plants to come later. 🌱🌼🌸🌻🚲😀🚴🏻‍♂️Read more

  • Helping Ken Move

    July 2, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    I went for a nice res loop in the morning and then mowed the yard. There are a few photos from the ride including a new neighborhood dinosaur. At 10:45, I headed to Ken’s to move his pooltable to his new house (mansion). The day was spent moving items drink beer and helping Ken settle in a bit. Lisa helped organize the bar and did some of the busy work no one else wanted to do! Thanks Lisa! 🥰Read more

  • 4th of July Ride

    July 4, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    🚲🌞🇺🇸Lisa and I took a ride North to explore the new trail out of Solon. We then helped Ken on his new house. In the evening Sebastian had friends over for walking tacos, games, a fire, and a few fireworks 💥. Lisa and I relaxed watching a movie after helping with the fireworks 🎇Read more

  • Lisa High by the 5th of July

    July 5, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    The seas of corn are getting tall, and filling the Iowa horizon. We had a fast 25 mile ride to the SE, and averaged over 20 mph. From 3:00 to 7:00 we worked on Ken’s new house. During the evening we started watching Hamilton with Sebastian.Read more

  • Melting into the Road

    July 6, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Another hot day! Not the hottest I’ve ridden in, but close. The online course I teach started today. I worked on our house a bit getting prepared for some new windows . At the hottest part of the day Lisa and I rode toward Sharon Center. On the way into town we stopped for a cold drink on a bench in Oak Grove Park. In 20 years of being in Iowa City, I have ridden by the park around 1000 times, but this was my first time stopping. 🙂Read more

  • Getting Hotter! 100

    July 7, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Lisa and I got out early again. It was a nice 20 mile ride. I worked for 4 hours on Ken’s trees and soaked through 2 sets of clothes. Tomorrow is even going to be hotter!

  • Morning ride & an outdoor shower

    July 8, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Another hot day expected, so I got out early for a loop over the reservoir. The temperature was already in the mid. 80’s when I was done riding. Like most rides in the summer, I ended with a cool outdoor shower and a 2nd breakfast. 😀 lisa and I built the shower about 5 years ago. I stumbled across this letter from a gravel race I used to do, and the windows will be replaced this weekend with money we saved from our canceled trip this summer.Read more

  • A rainy day & birds I don’t like.

    July 9, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    It was supposed to rain all day, so I opted for a virtual ride later in the day. I spent the day working on bikes. Sebastian had cross country practice, mowed the backyard, and worked at the eye clinic for 4 hrs. I got my old CX bike ready for Joe, my college roommate, to ride this week on our annual Iowa ride together. Lisa worked and started a new certification class for teaching exercise classes at the university. I also decided to include today birds I don’t like so much, They probably aren’t that bad and serve their purpose in the world, but I’m not a fan. I have been pecked in the helmet by numerous Red winged Black Birds! The others birds are Crow, Grackle, and Turkey Vulture (buzzard). The Bluejay almost made the list, but it’s so pretty.Read more

  • Friday Gravel

    July 10, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Lisa and I headed out in the later afternoon for a gravel ride. Lisa was feeling tired from 2 hours of exercise early in the day, decided to go home after about three miles. I continued to the Northeast and looped back around to stop at Ken’s new house. It was another sunny ride through the lusciously green soybean and corn fields. Sebastian helped prep. For our new window installation earlier in the day. Lisa is standing near our front yard flowers. 🌸Read more

  • Way behind on posts!

    July 11, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Today is the 18th and I hope to catch up with some short posts and pictures. On the 11th, we worked on the window and got it installed. It was nice to have it done as we have a ride with friends the next week. I snuck in a virtual ride before Braden and Regina arrived from Texas.Read more

  • Friends, brunch, & another Res. Loop

    July 12, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    I got in a quick Res. Loop before Braden and Regina came over for brunch. Adam (Lisa’s brother) arrived later in the day and we did a bbq with Sebastian. Joe (my college roommate for a year) arrived in the evening and we played bags in the backyard. Later we went to Ken’s for pool and fun. Tomorrow we start our annual summer riding together, which is usually during RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa), but that was canceled this year. Our ride is CYST (Cult’s Yearly Summer Tour)Read more

  • CYST 2020 Day 1

    July 13, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Iowa City - Oxford - Amana - North Liberty. A fun day of about 65 miles of beautiful Iowa riding with friends. A lot of laughs and good times.

  • CYST Day 2

    July 14, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Iowa City - Sutliff - Lisbon - Martelle - Anamosa. Another fun day of goofing around with friends. We stayed the night at Doug’s. We chatted on his front porch until late after pizza for dinner.

  • CYST Day 3 (100% chance of rain)

    July 15, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 22 °C

    Anamosa - Waubeek
    We were waiting out the 100% chance of rain in the morning, but it never came. We rode 12.5 miles to Waubeek and ate a late lunch. We rode back in to Anamosa in the early evening and of course had to stop at Boot-hill Cemetery over looking the maximum security State Prison in Anamosa. Barbecue dinner at Doug’s on the front porch. Another fine day of riding in Iowa.Read more

  • CYST Day 4 (Return to Iowa City)

    July 16, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Today we rode back to Iowa City and revisited Sutliff Bridge. We adventure through a closed rode and some gravel roads I’ve never been on before. We ended with tacos and snacks at our house. Games and ping pong led to a lot of laughter.Read more

  • CYST Day 5 (Kalona Brewery)

    July 17, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    A 45 mile ride to the Kalona Brewery. I saw more Amish and Mennonite Buggies than I’ve ever seen in 1 ride. It was a super hot day which led us to seeking a lot of short breaks in the shade. The night ended with more fun at our house.Read more

  • CYST Day 6 (West Liberty Gravel)

    July 18, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Another super hot day of gravel riding. We planned a 35 mile gravel loop to the Southeast. Adam had two more flat tires and we gave him some grieve for not having them near any shade. We stopped at an old cemetery near West Liberty for a break. An 85 year old man showed up with his daughter and he was full of stories for us. In West Liberty we had Casey’s pizza in the Park and then ventured back to Iowa City through the blazing heat. Again we relaxed at our house in the evening.Read more

  • CYST Day 7 (MTB Iowa City)

    July 19, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Pat, Joe, and I rode to the Coralville trails and explored the new flow trail too. It was a nice casual day to end a week of riding. The total mileage for the week ended around 280 miles. We had a great amount of fun and did the best we could with the current pandemic state of the country. Joe head back to Pella and Adam to Michigan. Sebastian came over in the afternoon and we had a relaxing evening of chicken tacos (one of Sebastian’s favorites) and watched “The Office.” After dinner we went for a drive to watch the sunset and picked up some ice cream on the way back to the house.Read more