Nearly November, but only yesterday The taste of Autumn first flavored the breeze Leaf piles smoldering, wood smoke from chimneys The scent of winter lurking among the trees
Wool jerseys smelling cedar storage A box of mix-n-match hats and gloves Relearning the correct combinations for conditions Our final dress-rehearsal for serious winter rides
A road carpeted in yellows and reds Crinkly beige oak leaves along the trail Brilliant reds competing with the brilliant blue sky Three dimensional color in all directions
Cleaning the racing bike for winter storage Like rubbing-down a thoroughbred, all lithe limber speed "Thanks - it's been wonderful. Enjoy your rest." "I'll see you again when the road salt is gone."
Time for the winter bike, the great Belgian mare Heavy, sturdy, steady on it's feet Built for work, fighting the headwind on an unsheltered road Forging a path through the freezing rain
Colorful plastic fenders, like candy for your bike Bells and bags and survival rations Reflectors and lights for evening rides Which now end in the black of night
Riding home with fifty pounds of black walnuts Stuffed in the front panniers Moving slow, like a cargo ship Steering like a Zeppelin, heavy and slow
Remember at least once, before the end of the year To weave your bike down the road You know - push one hand forward Let your elbow and hip fall to the inside, towards the ground
Weave from side to side, falling and soaring The way we did when we were kids, happy and free Then describe to me how it feels
Aldo Ross
Middletown, Ohio