Bicycle Love Response

The theme in Bicycle Love seems to be one of adversity. When starting off on her trip the whole inspiration for the trip came from adversity. She had recently been in a relationship and needed something to take her mind off the situation and give her back self-confidence. Throughout the essay she includes little scenes of adversity. Whether it be when the Cathedral is closed, Proust's house was closed, or just the physical challenge itself, it was overcoming this adversity which made her content with herself and proud of what she was doing. It was out of her longing for independence that she realized how to face adversity and to accept it as part of her "pilgrimage." Her use of language also helped solidify the idea of overcoming adversity and self-empowerment. When she says, "The bike- which at first made me feel vulnerable- now empowered me. Strangers- whom I initially found threatening- had actually gone out of their way to look out for me." she describes this transformation in elegant and straight-to-the-point language and tone. Towards the end of her essay she includes, "... there is space in my life for dual bikes and dual loyalties...". This use of language reveals that she doesn't have to choose a side or live in her past accomplishments. She can use everything she's learned from both bikes and advance herself personally. I love how she uses the term loyalties as if she has to choose between the two.