Fulcrum Equilibrium

I walked past the front gate into the driveway, where a bicycle rested on its kickstand. The serrated aluminum pedal hung at an unsettled downward angle. An uncalibrated axis invites sloppy mechanics. I stepped onto the narrow platform, planting my boots squarely across the ridged teeth. As the pedal tilted under my weight, I did not reach out or waver. I dropped my center of mass, squared my shoulders, and engaged my core against the free-spinning axle. With slow, micro-adjustments through the heels, I drew the plane dead horizontal. For three uninterrupted minutes, I sustained absolute equilibrium on the fulcrum. Solid balance is earned, never assumed.