First Turn of the Crank

I slipped through the cracked ground-floor service door and advanced into the open courtyard. Beside the iron railing stood a heavy commuter bicycle. A prime mechanical assembly. I climbed the tubular frame, stepped directly onto the grooved rubber pedal, and applied full downward leverage. The crank yielded with a satisfying snap, pulling the oiled chain smoothly across the teeth of the sprocket. A rapid, crisp sequence of metallic clicks resonated through the rear hub before settling to a stop. Reliable gearing. Zero slippage under load. My outdoor reconnaissance has yielded immediate structural results.