Pedal Percussion

A propped-open lobby door gave me my cue, so I zipped past the rubber mat and bounced down three giant concrete steps into the courtyard. Fresh air at last! Leaned against the brick wall sat a green commuter bike. Way too tall to ride, but that low silver pedal was hanging just within leaping range. I grabbed the crank arm, swung my boots onto the serrated metal tread, and pumped downward in reverse. Clack-tick-tick-tick! The freewheel ratchet whirred into a crisp, metallic drumroll. I kept the tempo rolling with quick foot taps until the gear purred like a tiny engine. Best outdoor rhythm section ever.