Fixed gear bicycle
The simple elegance of
Shit! Red light! Skid stop!
cycling in surburbia
conifers, the pampas grass, the ford mondeo
the funny clay tortoise outside No 3
Velochick
Gaining momentum by friendly gradient,
Exciting the senses to smiling radiant,Think not of whether or when it will end,
Relish the moment, enjoy the bend,Committed angles which make Pisa blush,
Adrenaline engaged, experience a rush.Conscious green as hedgerows passed,
An innocent thrill, sustained to last.
this one is by Hino Hinesy July 2008. London Cyclist
The Two Wheeled Good (God?)
———————–
The Two-Wheeled Good (God?)
hardly stopped by very much
through rain snow and heat and sleet
driven home by pedalled feet
waterproof and wind resistant
long spun limbs turn on insistent
that no bus, train or car
or suited warming post-five bar
shall deviate them from their route
as dusk stalks day-glow on their shoot
With bike lights lit like Viking torches
to guide them soon-wet porches
dashing back in one good stint
all fuelled by smugness for their
carbon foot prints
Fixed gear bicycle
The simple elegance of
Shit! Red light! Skid stop!
Nowhere to be.
The crowd is closing in,
grouping like a stockyard.
Elbows are bumping,
some hand grazed my hip.
The air is getting thicker, and stale.
Breathing, labored.
I’m close to panting.
My palms are sweating, more
than my armpits.
I keep wiping them on
the front of my jeans.
The pocket seams are moistening,
almost damp, like a San Francisco awning.
I try to move forward, then back.
Neither an escape.
I just stand there,
panting, sweating, hands
still brushing my pockets.
Looking for a way out.
If Hedgehogs could ride bikes,wouldnt it be fun,
sitting up straight with their spikey hemets on.
If hedgehogs could ride bikes wouldnt it be fun
they could enter bike races, along the A21.
the sign at the reservoir says ‘No Cycling’
eight angry geese stand before me
how will i get my bicycle through?
it makes even them angrier
now, there are fifteen of the pesky birds
why can’t they put ‘No Geese’ signs
now i’d pay more council tax for that
Velochick
I have no choice
but to cycle on the A21
tis the quickest way
In nature hedgehogs do the same
and look what happens
to them
Velochick 2008
how can I cycle
if it rains all the time
how can I cycle
it’s supposed to be summertime?
every day
it rains
or hails
or snows
the wind blows the trees down
with a thud
What is it about cyclists
that brings out the wrath of God?
Velochick 2008
(was published in the London Cycling Campaign’s Mag)
This one is by Phil Ilton
Not a hill to highlight the landscape
Not a tree to treat the eyes
Nature nullified on this northern nullabor
Only one thing to aim for
the next ten-kilometer sign
goalpost of the outback cyclist