Bicycle Cable Check

I walked out from the porch and reached the neighborhood bike rack along the sidewalk. A commuter bicycle was locked to the tubular metal frame. Across the rear stay ran an coiled steel security cable with a thick, textured vinyl sheath. I stepped onto the lowest support rung, gripped the ribbed rubber coating with both hands, and tested its flex against the wheel spoke. The core is braided steel, completely rigid under tension. I notched a small dried leaf beneath the housing clasp to mark the clearance gap before stepping down.