Saturday, November 15, 2008

Unwrapping Crepe Paper

Unwrapping crepe paper from the new frame
Brilliant red paint appearing beneath corrugated beige
Decorating the workstand for colorblind prom

First test ride on a cold morning
New tape, new shoes, new tires
First jump, first sprint to the School Crossing sign

Long March training rides
The bright silvery smell of impending snow
Stopping for hot coffee and oatmeal cookies

First race of the season
Sleepess night spent pedalling in bed
Still yawning on the starting line

Checking VeloNews for upcoming races
Big-money event, but too far away
Calling around for a shared ride

Summer school of real racing
Long days spent on hot asphalt
Sleeping in the car on the drive home

Prime sprint for a sixpack of Pepsi
Easily won with a long acceleration
Guys in the pack are laughing

Taking stock late in a crit
Yelling, pushing, fighting for position
As the final lap approaches

Hilly roadrace on special wheels
Special gearing, special tires, special jersey
Someone falls over on the first steep climb

Calling home to say who won
Who crashed, who flatted
How many racers were there

Drinking beer on a motel balcony
Unfamiliar labels bought at an unfamiliar grocery
Licking wounds and placing blame

Minor injuries accumulated day-by-day
Knees and elbows wrapped in white
Crash test practice mummys dressing by their cars

Final race of the season
Sunlight turning autumn into gold
Starters pistol, sprinting away from the line,
entering the
first corner...



1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Nice poem, very evocative of the racing experience and the odd moments we come across.