February Morning Ride Surprise

rode out under a
lightly marbled sky
warm, breezy
and mostly sunny
didn’t know it yet
but would soon
cost me money

walkers and cyclists
swarmed the path
passing, passing
get out of the way
onslaughts ahead
and behind
and no warning sign

pop! broken chain
and no way to fix it there
not surprising, really
the original chain
with more than 5K miles
since it became my
my bikepath ride

a friend towed me home
a rope linked my crank
to his bike’s rear frame
I gently rode the brake
keeping the rope taught
wasn’t as difficult as
I originally thought

so, my new project
a new chain
lubed and installed
before I can
ride the path again
fresh air and sun
more fun to come

–LE – 2/22/26