Tire Tread Climb

The deep rubber grooves of the bicycle's rear tire looked like a steep wall ready to be tackled. I grabbed the thick knobby tread with both hands and wedged the tips of my boots into the horizontal ridges. The rubber was dusty and firm under my grip, smelling faintly of street dirt. I pulled myself up step by step, keeping my weight tight against the tall black curve until I reached the top arch just beneath the metal fender. Looking across the courtyard from the crest of the wheel felt like standing on a narrow mountain ridge.