Velocipede Verses #5: Riding in the Rain

I'm an avid cyclist who has ridden 30,000+ miles over the past seven years. I enjoy sharing the little I know with interested others.

Cinnamon Toast and a Ride

It is cold
It is windy
Sky is gray

I’m thinking of
Staying home today

It is warm
It is cozy
Fire’s aglow

I’m thinking of
Something apropos:

The Daily News
Calls my name
That marked book
Page is the same
As it was a week ago
A month ago
Maybe longer

Crossword needs doing
Dust motes need shooing
Used dishes accruing
Coffee’s done brewing

I’ll have a cup
Drink it on up
Read the news
Perhaps a short chapter
Solve 14 Down
Wipe off the window sill
Sift through the dish pile
For the cleanest knife
In the bunch

Buttered toast
Tastes so good
Reminds me of Mom
Where’s the cinnamon?
The cupboard could use
Some replenishin’

It is cold
It is raining
Sky is gray

I’m going out
For a ride today

Warm in here
Cozy, too
Fire’s nice

I’m going out
For a ride, that’s twice

I’ve said it now
Toast is good
I miss Mom
My face is wet
As I look for my bike clothes
And dress warm
For the ride ahead

It’s time to get going
That wind’s sure blowing
The will starts slowing
Move out now knowing

We won’t regret
We’ve never yet
Felt remorse
Or a sense of sorrow
After a ride
Grab my helmet and gloves
Sift through the snack box
For Fig Newtons and gels
For the road

Garage door
Rises slowly
Reminds me of Dad’s
I bought way back when
Remember he too loved
His mom’s toast with cinnamon

© 2020 greg cain

Comments

greg cain (author) from Idaho, USA on June 18, 2020:

Lorna - thanks for that. It seems that the PNW (Pacific Northwest) is trying to be like Ireland these days. If I didn't get out in the rain, I'd likely not have gotten out these past 6-7 days or so.

Thanks for stopping by, thanks again for the great comment, and have a great week!

greg cain (author) from Idaho, USA on June 18, 2020:

Don - absolutely right, my friend. No question. Thanks for the wonderfully laudatory comment, too. Much appreciated.

greg cain (author) from Idaho, USA on June 18, 2020:

Flourish - Haha! Ok, I will pedal, pedal, pedal while you watch and listen. Sounds great. Thanks for stopping by...

greg cain (author) from Idaho, USA on June 18, 2020:

Ruby - exactly right! You never know what you're going to miss by not going. Go, see, explore, enjoy, move and burn some calories. Ride on!

We will always miss Mom, methinks.

Happy Thursday.

greg cain (author) from Idaho, USA on June 18, 2020:

LIz - exactly right. The tension is always there, but the point of it is also always the same: I never once have regretted going on the ride. I have on many occasions regretting not going, though, and that is for a multitude of reasons: sometimes the weather gets unexpectedly better and I think, "Rats, I should have gone." Then, too, once the rest of the family rises I am usually so busy that riding becomes out of the question. Best to do it early, enjoy it and get it over with. Great way to start the day!

greg cain (author) from Idaho, USA on June 18, 2020:

Thanks again, Eric. Labor of love is correct...and as for the cooking of something good to eat: I like to look at riding as "burn 'em to earn 'em." I never burn as many calories as I consume, sadly, but I do love to eat so I ride more and more and more so I can eat (mostly) what I want and what I like.

greg cain (author) from Idaho, USA on June 18, 2020:

Sha - thanks for the wonderful comment and compliment. Also, I did indeed go riding in the rain that day. It is never as cold as you think it is going to be...you stay warm while moving, and your mind drifts to the freedom you're enjoying on two wheels; it does not dwell on the fact that the rain is coming down, it doesn't stop, you're getting pelted. ;) In truth, it is quite relaxing in the rain, though, and there's not a lot of traffic on the trail. Same when it's snowing...

Lorna Lamon on June 16, 2020:

I think the pull of that "cinnamon toast" and the thought of mum would convince me to brave the elements. In Ireland one thing you can be assured of when cycling is the rain. Loved this poem Greg.

Don on June 16, 2020:

There’s probably not one person who reads the words, “cinnamon toast” and doesn’t think of mom. Extremely well done.

FlourishAnyway from USA on June 15, 2020:

I like the free association quality to this. It almost feels like we’re right there with you pedaling along. Okay you pedal, I will watch and listen.

Ruby Jean Richert from Southern Illinois on June 15, 2020:

I'm not sure I'd chosen a ride in the rain, but shucks there's no telling how much you'd miss if you didn't go? I miss my mom too. Ride on!

greg cain (author) from Idaho, USA on June 15, 2020:

John - absolutely right. The easier answer clearly would be to stay inside and chillax, but I dig deep and go, then realize during and after it’s not really a tough choice at all. I have regretted NOT going on more than one occasion, but never vice versa.

Liz Westwood from UK on June 15, 2020:

Your poetry captures the scenes very well and clearly illustrates the struggle between staying in (with a touch of nostalgia) and going for a bike ride in the elements.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on June 15, 2020:

Loved it, as you did writing is.

The weather there appears to be the weather here. Let me know if you find out what happened to our summer. It's M.I.A. so far here in Olympia.

Happy riding my friend. I have wood to stack! Grrrr!

Eric Dierker from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A. on June 15, 2020:

Great work here, clearly a labor of love.

But I don't like you -- Now I have to go on that bike ride. I would rather cook something fattening.

Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on June 15, 2020:

Box, you're a very gifted poet. I love the off the wall titles you give ach entry to the Velociped series.They always tie in, tho!

Your poetry has a nice rhythm and sometimes a fun, bouncy vibe to it.

Did you really go riding in the rain? On purpose???

John Hansen from Queensland Australia on June 15, 2020:

I enjoyed this poetry Greg. I could relate to a lot of the things mentioned, crossword puzzle, unfinished book with a bookmark marking the page (mine is The Martian.) coffee and buttered cinnamon toast mmm. All more tempting than braving a cold rainy ride outside. But I am sure you wouldn’t feel satisfied until you went for a ride.