The Naming of Bikes

[Kitsune06]

Lise- where'd you get the name stickers? I've long been considering putting stickers over the name brand lettering on my bike (theft deterrent, to a point) and those would look good...

Ok... not *entirely* about bike naming, but I tried, I really did.

A cyclist glides down the road
in panniers a heavy load
pedaling with effortless grace
and a little smile on her face.

She stops quick at the traffic light
And -geez- she's quite the sight.
With steel frame between her thighs
in rearview mirror, she sees my eyes.

"Morning!" I grin and nod
quite the awkward, staring clod.
"Hey" she smiles and pedals off
leaving me in dust to cough.

I hammer then, to match her speed
muscles grumble for my greed-
an easy ride is work enough
why bother with this "faster" stuff?

We meet at the following signal
Impressed, she suppresses a giggle
"Not too bad on a mountain bike."
I ask if it's a race she'd like.

She smiles, sits back on her seat
says there's someone I should meet
On the top tube, it's engraved
"Valkyrae takes you to your grave"

I arch an eyebrow in askance
She slips into racing stance
Says aside to her new prey
"If you really want to race today."

"Your bike's name is valkyrae?"
A little voice, I know it's me.
She nods and suddenly Val whispers
"I'll eat your frame" through her shifters.

"What?" I peer at the 'cycle
my racer's heart is turning fickle
Again it whispers "You're dead meat."
From the steel down between her cleats.

Handlebars turn with soft sigh
the headlight's cycloptic eye
peered at me, and in distain
clicked her perfectly well-cleaned chain.

"Maybe I'll take a rain check on that."
I feel nervous as a frightened cat.
"Someday," smiles the friendly stranger
and departs upon her steed of danger

"Valkyrae." I whisper and release the brakes
Trying to goad reluctant Miz Cakes
She'd wanted to race, and told me so
and no one was going to tell her "No."

Suddenly I'm sent flying
past the steel I'd been eyeing
Valkyrae, who'd unnerved me to the core
was soon a speck and nothing more.

I feel a yell within me rise
"Woo!" I shouted to the skies
Miz Cakes takes a curb with a little hop
when we make our usual stop.

"You know, hon, that wasn't a race,"
I say with perfectly straight face,
"Your little claim to victory sparked
while your archnemesis was parked."

Miz Cakes just sat tall and proud
pretending I hadn't said that aloud.
She knows she's far more sleek and scary
without the dork she has to carry.