A Cleared Sprocket

Following the flagstone path away from the flowerbed, I reached the paved patio where a bicycle stood propped on its kickstand. The rear sprocket assembly sat right at my eye level. Crouching beside the metal chain, I noticed a small dried twig wedged tightly between two gear teeth. Bracing my boots on the stone, I used both gloved hands to slowly rotate the pedal arm backward. The freewheel mechanism responded with a crisp series of metallic clicks as the chain advanced. Once the blocked link cleared the derailleur, the twig snapped free and dropped to the ground, leaving the teeth turning smoothly again.