I’m on a Bike

Riding into work this morning.

It’s 55° and lightly drizzling. It’s a little on the chilly side for just shorts and a jersey, but I’m on a bike. I’m peddling hard and keeping warm.

I come to a road I normally take and there are cones blocking it off. The road is a very large hill that curves down and out of sight. From the top I can’t see what the problem is. I know the hill is too big for my fitness and my single speed road bike to climb back up.

I head down. I’m on a bike. How bad can it be?

I pass cars coming up from the opposite direction. The drivers are shouting things to me like “Turn around! It’s blocked. You can’t go that way!”

Halfway down the hill I come to what turns out to be the first of two “Police Line Do not cross” ribbons.

Eh. Some debris. I’m on a bike, so I cross under the line and continue.

I come to the second Police line. This one is certainly more significant.

I scope out the situation. I see the tree is still hanging on the wires.

but there’s also a gap just big enough for me to crawl under and pull my bike through. I can do it without touching anything but the road. If the tree decides at that moment to fall for whatever reason, I’m just as likely to suffer a similar ill timed fate walking through my front yard on a sunny day.

I crawl under, pull my bike through, and ride off.

Down to the bike path, I have it all to myself.

It’s a beautiful fall day. I’m happy, and I’m on a bike.

– b