By Gavin Bowyer
Unfortunately, I don’t have my license (totally not my fault), meaning I need to bike. It sucks. Drivers around Westmont are not the most careful drivers and it is colder than the Arctic, sometimes down to freezing temperatures. I would not recommend it. Imagine the frigid temperatures, wet hair literally freezing on your scalp, hands and fingers going numb, ears on fire; all after having arisen at the amazing time of 6:45 to be at school by 7:30. Horrible. I suppose I should’ve focused up on my Driver’s Ed and, as I am 16 after all, should have my license by now. Regardless, my trusty bike has taken me across almost every street around Campbell. My noble steed has braved me through cold winter mornings, long summer nights, and everywhere in between. The lessons I have learned from Ol’ Faithful have been immense. Many a crash, followed by horrible road burns and profound cuts; being run over; or flat tire walks have all taught me the importance of safety and patience, difficult lessons to learn, especially at a young age. My bike, which I’ve officially deemed should be named Lancelot for its immense loyalty, will be retired soon as of (hopefully) March 18th when I take my driving test. The amazing thing about bikes is that they are always there for you, they make your life easier and better, and they never bother you (aside from the occasional flat tire). Of course, I will attempt to continue to use my bike once I have my license, but driving is far easier and generally safer. However, I do believe that we all should have a bike in our lives (even though biking in freezing weather at the crack of dawn is horrible). Bikes truly slow down time; they force you to work for the destination you set for yourself, making your arrival feel extra special. You WORKED to get yourself to where you are. Inevitably there are setbacks – like accidentally bothering a PE teacher simply trying to make it to work on time – but the pits are worth it for the peaks. As a near-final send-off to my faithful friend, I implore you to invest in a bike of your own, and I hope that it serves you well as mine has.