oh boy – some highflier
set to go
the propeller falls away
gossamer wing folds-up
heart and spirit earthbound
while scoffers jeer
and oil shares soar
the French coast lies
a hundred years away
but the beauty finally flew
and the balmy boy like
some airborne Eddy pedalled
hardly a Tour de France
but the channel bounded
and the doubters grounded
tell the viewers how it felt
said the flying boy so sweet
oh man – oh man I tell you
oh man – it was real neat
in June 1979 Californian Bryan Allen pedalled
his Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel
it was the first human-powered flight to France
Eddy Merckx won the Tour de France in
1969 1970 1971 1972 and 1974
Jeff Cloves