I'm still finding it difficult to believe that over a year has passed since SR Senior Editor Andrew Trevitt was involved in an accident that most of us—myself especially—would rather forget. It seems like only yesterday that Trevitt and I were complaining to each other about what a grind the tire test was, and how glad we were that only two brands of tires were left to test. Yet Trevitt's long and arduous rehabilitation also seems fresh in my mind; he suffered a multitude of other injuries besides the spinal fractures that put him at a much greater disadvantage compared to the majority of the other people at the rehab facility, making his road to recovery that much more difficult.
Thus it almost seemed a bit surreal to see Trevitt back in the office, talking and joking with his co-workers as if he'd never been gone. He seemed right at home back in front of a work desk computer, even though the environment just outside his space has changed (we recently moved our editorial offices from the mid-Wilshire district in Los Angeles—where the company had resided since '94—to El Segundo near LAX airport).
After a lengthy and grueling rehab process, Trevitt has finally been given medical clearance to return to work. The Geek is back!
You're probably wondering why I'm making such a big deal about this when most of his columns in the magazine have continued to appear, from literally a few months after his accident. The difference is that Trevitt wrote those articles from home. Having him here in person at the office (and hopefully at the track during testing in the not too distant future) makes all the difference in the world; it's like the difference between interviewing someone over the phone versus face-to-face-putting the magazine together without actually having Trevitt present just wasn't the same.
The best part is that he has really been looking forward to getting back to working on the magazine. I would have fully understood (and would still understand) if he had decided that dealing with motorcycles or the magazine was no longer in his best interests, so having him raring to go upon his return is literally icing on a pretty unbelievable cake. Of course, why anyone would want to voluntarily subject himself to the stress and frustration of putting a monthly glossy magazine together (and maintaining a website) with our already skeletal-level staff is beyond me...
Another great development to see is that Trevitt will be independently mobile-as in having his own set of wheels. He recently purchased a Scion xB (um, or the "Toaster Truck", as his wife Deb has christened it) and had it outfitted with hand controls, and has already been driving it a bit to get accustomed to its feel. He still has to take a driving test in order to obtain the required driver's license, but knowing Trevitt, that shouldn't be a problem. I can already see it now: the Geek's ride will soon be rollin' on some deep-dish 20-inch dubs, blingalicious paint job, tinted windows, and a pumpin' sound system.
Being part of a two-man team responsible for Sport Rider for over a decade meant that Trevitt's absence created a major void that couldn't be filled. Not having your co-worker that had help shape the magazine's direction and shouldered half the load for over a decade to bounce ideas off of—especially in matters of technical importance—was often frustrating. His technical skills and expertise were irreplaceable, and while we've managed to get by while he was gone, the return of his knowledge and experience in the office will be a very welcome difference in the future.
Obviously Trevitt's role is going to be slightly changed from what it used to be, but his overall contribution won't be. He will still be bringing his unique perspective on our sport with that same combination of technical detail, performance savvy, street sense-and that unmistakable north-of-the-border wit-to Sport Rider. And we'll all be the better for it.