POETRY CRAFT TALK

Want to learn to ride a bicycle?

• I could disassemble my bike for you and name all the parts.

• I could give you a quiz on which part is which, and what each one does.

• You could listen to me describe how I ride my bike.

• You could listen to me describe how any number of other people ride their bikes.

• You could watch me ride my bike all day long.

That would keep you busy. Maybe for years.

But you learn to ride a bike by getting on, figuring out how to stay on, and getting back on when you fall off.

Once you’re on, and mostly staying on, you get a feel for what type of rider you are, where you like to go, and how you like to get there. You gain confidence. You may be inspired to try different kinds of bikes or learn to ride in new settings.

That’s when it can be helpful for you to hear about frames and forks and cranks and tubes and chainrings and derailleurs and all the rest.

But not until then.

Because I want riding to be a joy for you, not something you think you can’t do unless you’re a certified bicycle mechanic.