A Spin of Spokes

Coming back inside from the balcony, I spotted the front wheel of a bicycle parked against the wall and trotted over to investigate. Crouching down on the hardwood floor, I noticed a tiny rubber valve cap threaded over a brass stem. I gently wedged my gloved fingers between two thin steel spokes and gave the rim an upward nudge. The entire wheel began to glide in a whisper-quiet spin! The hub purred with a smooth mechanical whir as the spokes blurred into a silvery disk. Balancing on my toes with my twin tails flared for stability, I watched the rhythmic flicker until the tire gradually coasted to a complete, balanced standstill.