It Is About The Bike. Poem by Michael Walker

It Is About The Bike.

Rating: 5.0


It must be fifty years since I last rode a bicycle
but this morning I did ride a ten-speed Apollo
around the flat straight streets of my city.
I felt wobbly to begin with and overbalanced
with a minor fall, but soon regained confidence.
I looked up at a speed indicator sign early on
to see my speed was 'Slow'; some streets later
I pedalled in high gear; my speed registered '40 kph',
which was respectable enough for a novice.
I rode on safe streets with cycle lanes:
I rode on streets without cycle lanes.
I rode like a competitor in the Tour de France:
I rode slowly up a steep hill and I thought
of the arduous climbs in the Pyrenees and Hautacam.
I thought of Lance Armstrong winning in the mountains.
I thought of Greg Lemond's explosive speed on the flat.
Back home, I thought of buying my neighbour's ten-speed.

-27 October,2018.

Saturday, October 27, 2018
Topic(s) of this poem: sport
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
I found that this bicycle suited me down to the ground. Having ten gears was really good; the brakes were simple to apply; steering was easy and the white colour with splashes of red attractive. I could feel the thigh muscles getting stretched too.Until now, I have only used running for fitness, but I am very tempted to add cycling for variation.
I found these books helpful: 'It's Not About The Bike', by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins; 'Chasing Lance', by Martin Dugard.
Greg Lemond, a U.S. cyclist, won the Tour de France in 1986,1989, and 1990. He had tremendous speed, averaging 54 kph in one Tour.
Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times in a row-1999 to 2005. He had great strength and stamina for the mountains and plenty of speed on the flat roads. His team was U.S. Postal. Unfortunately, Armstrong was stripped of his 7 titles because he used performance- enhancing drugs and testosterone patches and blood storing to be used again later in the race. Most of the Tour riders were doing exactly the same, so Armstrong was perhaps unfairly singled out. Essentially, his former teammate in U. S. Postal, Floyd Landis, betrayed Lance to those who ran the Tour.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Rajnish Manga 31 October 2018

Two phases of life half a century apart joined together by a bicycle. The way you enjoyed your latest adventure, makes it worth a try. Thanks also for sharing a word on the feats and the misfortune of Lance Armstrong.

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Michael Walker 01 November 2018

It's good that you noticed and appreciated this poem, drawn directly from personal experience. Lance Armstrong is a complex, fascinating character: a sudden rise to fame and celebrity, then a total fall. I have 4 books either by Lance, or about him; and the DVD 'The Armstrong Lie'-very good and long. The title of my poem is hint of his book: 'It's Not About the Bike', which he wrote with sally Jenkins.

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Catherine Walker 28 October 2018

Buy a bicycle, from your writing it sounds like you will love cycling!

1 0 Reply
Michael walker 28 October 2018

A good comment. I am seriously thinking of buying that bike, and I'm sure I would like cycling.

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Akham Nilabirdhwaja Singh 28 October 2018

An exciting experience very nicely penned.10

1 0 Reply
Michael Walker. 28 October 2018

It was exciting too and thanks for your assessment of the poem.

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Kumarmani Mahakul 27 October 2018

Fifty years ago you have rode the last bicycle. Now-a- days lots of change have happened. Riding cycles in safe streets in the past has given unforgettable memories. Slow speed had given safety. An interesting poem is well penned is an excellent poem...10

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Michael walker. 28 October 2018

Yes I had my last bike at 17 at high school. Since then it has been cars all the way. You are right; much has changed these days and cycle lanes make it safer. I think I would like going back to cycling on that 10-speed.

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Dave Walker 27 October 2018

I agree about Armstrong, they may of stripped him of is titles but he still won them, they know that a lot of the other riders do the same, they just didn't do anything about it. Great write.

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Michael Walker. 28 October 2018

A very perceptive comment-thanks. No one else has been promoted to take Lance's 7 titles so that says something. I can't help feeling sympathetic to Lance Armstrong.

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