Godspeed - Wind at Your Back, Wings on Your Wheels

Here's a challenge and an invitation to anyone who may read my blog this weekend. It's official! The cycling racing season has opened. The cyclist is driving toward the first and most grueling race of the year in inglorious weather conditions. He is old and he is admirable, having worked liked a man possessed to start this season exponentially better prepared than for last season. He tells his story best, in his own words on his own blog, so I won't belabor the details. As he rolls toward Boulevard, an idea occurred to me.

I believe the readers, followers and commenters who visit my pink bus are each gifted with words, brains, humor and good hearts. I'd like you to help me out with some words. This man deserves a party! Let's cobble a poem or a cheer or a prayer ~ whatever it turns out to be ~ to rah! the man to the finish line.

I'm putting out the first two lines. We need a title and a couple of lines from anyone who will play. Please simply drop your lines into comments and I'll gather and post them as received. For those interested, he starts the race at 1:00 p.m. PST on Saturday, February 6th. He'll be finished by 5:00 p.m., all things being equal. Check the race flyer in the link. This one is not for the faint of heart and was completed in snow last year.

Here it is, quite likely complete now, but if anyone would like to add a verse, please do that in the comments.

THE CHARGE OF THE BIKE BRIGADE
(Title courtesy of Kirk Jusko)

Esteemed gods of the velocipede, [Leslie]
Guide the man and his mighty steed [Leslie]
And thrust him to an early lead. [Erin O'Brien]

Blunt the pins [Bloomsbury]
So they won't tear [Bloomsbury]
The fine rain jacket he plans to wear. [Benson]

May the rains be gone [A1 Carpet Care home dudes]
And the winds be light
To help him in his mighty fight.

Against wet chill [Leslie]
Lend embrocation.
Provide the man with his salvation.

When he meets his foes, [Sluggo]
Whether old or new,
Remind the man what he can do.

In the long, steep climbs [David]
May he have no peer,
Leaving others to suffer bringing up the rear.

Smooth his way so [Virginia Woolf]
Each technical descent [Virginia Woolf]
Is cause for pride and not lament. [Dylan]

The Badger launches another year, [WheelDancer]
Rain shoes spinning on his good wheels.
The field cowers, deep in fear
By day's end they'll know how defeat feels.

To the finish line, [SOMH]
Safe and sound,
There to find awards abound.

Awards are nice, but he'll want a squeeze. [Doozyanner]
Limes will say, "Will you shower please?"
"Then we'll go to celebrate
Your glorious finish on this red letter date!"

He placed his foot upon the pedal [Kirk Jusko]
And told himself, "I'll win that medal!"
The wheels, they will turn,
The rubber, it will burn.
"I'll ride my bike so damn fast,
That every racer whom I pass,
When they realize they have no chance,
Will wonder if my first name's Lance!"

When all the race is said and done, [Rachel Fenton]
there's always a latecomer,
one whose wheels cuss last across that line
and though no one remains to cheer him
his praises are sung in hearts he cannot hear
even if he could see them
in the rain and snow and wind
one heart sings more loudly than the loss
one victory cannot be won because it's given.

Prologue from a true, ordained Dudeist Priest:

67 miles he'll count, when all is said and done.
First to the finish, safe and sound, when all is said and done.
"You know what to do" she'll say, when all is said and done.
Ride on Badger, ride on.
For the half a million miles you'll count, when all is said and done.
When I'm dreaming, I will be the man who's riding behind you.


In my ears right now: Sorry to confess it, folks, it's still "Hallelujah" by the Norwegian choir of young male angels.

Something that charmed me: The notion of asking others to ring in as co-writers of some piece of tribute.