Transitions - Cycling Fall 2009 in Boston & Vancouver

Early September Morning

.

water dull

soft under the haze

breathing easier

.

Dark earlier

.

dusk haloed

still some moths and

hesitating on the path

.

The street gets narrow

.

awareness shared

ears pitched back and eyes peripheral

the cars close

.

For Rich Slezak

.

tires pumped hard

on dry pavement for that

twitch of speed

.

Along the Charles

.

turning clean

turning turning turning

along the river

.

For Andrew Wilson

.

soft clicking of

a clean chain lubed

running smooth

.

Off path

.

a fucking flat

walking across the bridge

one step at a time

.

Crisp weather

.

lactic burn

thigh ache retching

harder uphill

.

---

.

turning into the sun

warmth slowly easing

the wind chill

.

Riding loose

.

light opening spaces

focused on the angles

as cars converge

.

After a cold

.

coughing phlegm

after fifteen clicks

lungs fill easy

.

Along the Charles

.

rounding down

to the eights’ rhythm

easing back up

.

In Vancouver

.

dead cold soaked

getting colder & rain blinded

trying to brake

.

Barometer

.

distance into height

one circle at a time, blood

thickening thinning

.

Over Lion’s Gate

.

wind stopped

almost still, swallowing

air to the top

.

Somerville MA

.

new in town

finding all the streets

with pot holes

.

In Clips

.

pulling uphill

working deep muscles

back of the thighs

.

Still scared after all these years

.

cringe but don’t

flinch from the door

rain traffic night

.

Medford Street

.

walking to work

noting breaks in the pavement

to avoid on the bike

.

Town to town

.

around Boston

feeling each town’s health

as jolts in my back

.

Across the line

.

in Medford

keeping thumbs hooked

in the jam

.

Going home

.

exhaling alcohol

thinking the road’s straight

finding the curve

.

Mountain climb

.

going uphill

oxygen burn extinguishing

gravity’s torpor

.

End of season

.

crystal cold

knuckle ache &

knee twinge

.

---

.

first ice

crinkling the gutters

December First

.

---

Moved back to Vancouver in October (though I am back and forth a lot). Interesting to feel in one's body the differences between the two cities. Vancouver's steeper and much longer hills, the depth of the rain in Vancouver in November, the greater urban variety in and around Boston ... both cities are great places to ride.

I will likely not order these short links into cycling sequences for a while. I have a full cycle of winter, spring, summer and now fall, and it is becoming too much of a habit. I'll see if and how the writing evovlves.

Comments

[Nancy]

Steven,

Very much enjoyed. Felt like I was along for the ride(s).