The Cycle Race

The Police Athletic Stadium in Mayfair was located directly behind the public swimming pool in Ninth Avenue and consisted of an oval, eight lane athletics track surrounding a grassed rugby field. On the Eastern side was a grand stand overlooking the start/finish straight and a six foot high diamond mesh perimeter fence enclosed the whole complex. While the stadium was under construction the entrance gates were not locked and this gave the local children access to the athletics track which was informally used as a bicycle race track.
On the day in question, workmen had dug a trench on the far side straight in order to gain access to some underground piping. The trench cut through lane one and then into the rugby field leaving the other seven lanes intact. I was not present when my “friends” spotted this and decided it would be an excellent opportunity to play a prank on me by challenging me to a cycle race in which they would give me the inside lane. We would start, as usual, from the start/finish straight so I would have no opportunity to see the trench on the far side in advance. During the race the group would box me in so that I was forced to stay in the inside lane and when we got to the trench I would fall in to the hole going at some speed. They imagined that the accident should be quite spectacular and all except me would have a big laugh about it.

The Cycle Race

Bring your bike and we’ll race the track at the police athletic ground

One quarter mile flat and the quickest time is now 65 seconds around

Who did the best? Who got that time? Was what I demanded to know?

Well, Leonard did by a country mile, the others were much too slow

If you think you’ll do better come with us, we’ll settle the matter there

The trap is set, they know me too well and I just can’t resist the dare

Next thing we’re ready, five abreast and I’ve drawn the inside track

Get away fast and stay out in front, that’s my simple plan of attack

 

I’m much too excited to spot the deceit, winning has addled my brain

Almost too late I look up to see a trench, three feet wide cross my lane

Instinct takes over, I’ve no time to think, fling body and bike in the air

Up over the maw that’s waiting to bite, land safe with inches to spare

 

Now it’s a joke, let’s all have a laugh but clearly I see through their plan

From quasi “friends” a lesson in life, trust only yourself my young man