Mark Springer Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

Endless Trail Bikeworx (in the town of Dobbs Ferry, NY) did have a employee who told me that my unrepeatable bike glitch was due to the "Bike Gremlin", and that the Gremlin had been spotted in the Hudson Valley.   So I wrote this poem.

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The Bicycle Gremlin

Elmer said "Dad, you used to race
"On that bicycle you were often in first place
"You glided up hills, you zoomed on the flat
Then you just stopped, please explain that!"

I said to Elmer, this is my tale
I walked into a bike shop named "Endless Trail"
Thunder and lightning lit up the bike tech's face
He looked eerie, was I in the right place?

I told the tech that my chain always slips
He put it on the rack, rotated at a clip.
He said "this bike works like a charm."
But I didn't believe him, I waved my arm.

I said "this bike failed on a Taconic climb
"I lost the race; it ruined my time.
"It slipped on me on the way here too!
"I'm sure I'm not crazy, what do I do?"

Thunder rumbled, and lightning hit nearby
A bat flew in, like a mouse learning to fly.
The tech gave a saturnine smile
He said: "The bicycle gremlin has you in his file."

"You see, he's been spotted in the Hudson valley
"He strikes in the country, he strikes in the alley
"He's a prankster, he just can't resist
"Producing glitches, that don't exist."

I left the store, I rode into the hail
I felt better about myself, though I shook in the gale.
Then my feet flew off each side
The chain had slipped, the gremlin at my side.

He knew I'd seen him, and I gave chase
He looked like a leprechaun, but a nastier face.
I said to him "I'll see you hang!"
When suddenly my tire blew with a bang.

The Gremlin smirked, said "can't catch me!"
So I had to stop biking, I'm sure you'll agree
Now I raise tomatoes and collect stamps
Not as much fun as flying off ramps.

Elmer looked at me with affection, said "Now I understand
"Only magic could stop you that nobody could withstand.
But my heart sank, when he repeated his tale
to the folks who run the bikeworx at Endless Trail.

Endless Trail's owner told Elmer of a conspiracy
It's the car companies that pay the gremlin, you see
So frustrated cyclists will switch to a car.
The bicycle gremlin can push them too far.

So my rep was saved by Endless trail
The check I wrote is in the mail.

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Alison A Smith nee Howarth September 11, 2026 at 12:50 AM A delightfully rollicking narrative ballad, with jaunty rhyme carrying the reader through thunder, hail, bats, racing mishaps, and a wonderfully malicious little culprit. The escalating absurdity is great fun, especially the mock-gothic bike-shop scene and the final “car companies” conspiracy, while the affectionate father–son framing gives the comic tale a warm heart.🚲😂