But is the bike alright?
Yes it’s that time of the year again, the days are getting shorter, the trike has gone into hibernation, the Cyclocross season has started and Brendan Hennessy aka ‘The Bard of the Bike’, ‘The Pedalling Poet’ or ‘The Tricycling Troubadour, has swapped his multitool for a pen and is back recording his cycling adventures in song and verse:-
When your tyre explodes and you’ve one true fan
And she asks did you glue the tub on tight
When you pull up hard and know your race is ran
At least she asks, but is the bike alright?
When your back brake slips under a buckled rim
And you look up to see who’s in sight
When you curse your luck and feel very dim
At least she asks, but is the bike alright?
When you approach the drop in the biggest ring
And think I might not have this right
When the crowds say ‘power in’ and in you fling
At least she asks, but is the bike alright?
When you’re eating sand through your mouth and nose
And you can’t tell day from night
When it looks like you’ve stopped, and gone for a doze
At least she asks, but is the bike alright?
When from the groan you know that looked bad
And the snappers smiles are all bright
When someone says ‘sure he’ll be grand’
At least she asks, but is the bike alright?
When the race timing guy says you hit a rock
And they think you’ve lost your fight
But in your mind, you’re Tom Pidcock
At least she asks, but is the bike alright?
When you go to Youghal and think top ten
And Anthony’s flag says rewrite
When you know you’ll have to come and try again
At least ask her, is my bike alright?
Pictures Courtesy of Rory O’Toole, Sean Rowe (Sportsphoto Ireland) and Michael Buckley Photography