While biking originated as a simple mode of transportation for senior Tristan Le, Le said it has since evolved into a dedicated passion, providing him with a rush of adrenaline and a valuable opportunity to explore the Bay Area with friends.
Often participating in day-long biking trips across the Bay Area, Le said one of his favorite long-distance trips was a 160-mile bike ride from San Carlos to Rocklin, California. The memorable trip took the majority of his day, spanning from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Le said.
“It was a coordinated effort between me and another friend in Redwood City, and it took me many months in preparation to plan the route,” Le said. “I felt an unprecedented sense of freedom and friendship bonding with the friend I went [with].”
However, cycling can also prove dangerous due to careless drivers on the road, Le said. In one incident on a group cycling trip, Le said his friend narrowly escaped an accident with a merging truck on El Camino Real, Le said.
“I had a sense of extreme concern and worry for my friend,” Le said. “It made me irritated [that the truck driver] did not care about his well-being and did not take the same precautions and be aware of the surroundings.”
As a member of Le’s cycling group, sophomore Sean Harfe said he was inspired by Le’s dedication to balancing cycling with his busy schedule.
“[Le] does cycling, marching band, Boy Scouts and a bunch of different things,” Harfe said. “It is really impressive how he is able to juggle all these different things. He is a hard-working guy.”
In addition, senior Franchescho Sanchez, another cyclist who Le bikes with, said Le’s talkative personality helps make rides engaging. Sharing the communal challenge of a difficult trip while riding alongside Le helps the team build a strong sense of camaraderie, Sanchez said.
“It’s really enjoyable meeting up with him [and] interacting with each other. We’re just suffering together,” Sanchez said. “We usually find routes, talk along the way and then we just have fun. He inspires me to become a better cyclist. He’s really fast himself, [and] he inspires me to become fast like him.”
