Passion For Cycling

PASSION FOR CYCLING Coast to coast across England in one day A hundred miles in one trip. Bike like a rocket each sprocket fits its socket With well oiled smoothness of clockwork Feels good as chain clunks from one socket to the next And the ticking whirring of freewheel And zipping noise of fast tires on flat ashphalt Hum a song to me as I lean over into the bend And the bike leans with me. Smooth road; never mind the few bumps; And air so fresh you could eat it in lumps. Aroma of York’s chocolate ten miles away, Bread-baking and brewing downwind of Carlisle Make me ready for dinner. And the strong Odour of fish in North Shields, Stink of cattle feed outside Goole, Sickly smell of plastics factory, oil newly-refined, Makes you see even if you’re blind. Makes me want to pedal for home.