August 2025 - the first year.

About a year ago, Jo and I set out on an adventure like no other. 

This would take us across strange lands and overseas searching for treasure - some may call it black gold. 

I called her Iona! 

The treasure was a barely ridden black 2020 M6L Brompton. I never looked at this combination when window shopping for one of these petite wheeled beauties. Though a medium (the m) with six gears (the 6) was on the virtual shopping list, black wasn’t a colour I would have considered, and the L for dynamo light was not on my list either. 

Instead, I needed a rack to accommodate the equipment for potential adventures. So I had been looking for a second-hand M6R, or as they are now called, an Explorer. 

But these didn’t come cheap and I already had a bike or two, so when the opportunity to head to the IOW to view one that had barely been ridden and kept pristinely by its previous owner, I jumped at it.

And dragged Jo along for the ride. (and expertise)

I have written all this before, so will link to the original post below.  

As that was a year ago on August 27th, I felt it was worth looking back to see if I’d made the right decision. Then have a quick look where Iona has been and what we have achieved together. 

It didn’t take long to get a front block fitted (the next day). I also changed the chain ring from a 54 tooth to a 48. Which would make her slightly slower to accelerate (she initially went off like a rocket) but much easier going up hills (and who doesn’t need help with that?) 

Brilliant bikes have always been…well… just brilliant! Everything I order from them arrives so quickly. But choosing the perfect bag online was proving quite difficult. So having talked Jo into joining me once more, we headed up the motorway to Sunningdale to visit BB HQ and hopefully find the perfect accessory for Iona. 

I returned with a huge blue Borough bag with a reflective pattern. It's perfect for riding to work. I picked up the correct rack for the back, too.

With these two in place, I could carry all sorts of things and even investigate ways to take my camp gear. I then added Triggers Restrap stem bag, which happily carries a drinks bottle, or my phone and keys, depending what I am doing. So along with a mount for my Garmin and some spare flashing lights, I was ready to go, and have changed very little since.

But did I make the right choice?

Was this my Bike for Life?

Or just an expensive whim?

Well let’s take a quick look at the stats - 

Strava suggests that Iona has travelled over 1275 miles, nearly double Trigger's mileage in roughly the same period. So it is clear to see that she’s the one I am most likely to reach for when I’m looking for some wheels.

I guess you could say that she is my ‘go to’ bike. 

We go to work…

We go by train…

We go by boat…

We even go shopping...

She has carried me many miles.

I have been known to carry her too…

And when we can’t get somewhere any other way, she happily goes in the boot of the car …

She has made lots of friends…

And has attended two Brompton touring club meets so far.

She’s even met a personality or two…

But best of all, we’ve already been on a number of adventures together…

The Way of the Roses route has been the most adventurous yet. With over 170 miles of ups, downs and sheep. It did also involve quite a lot of walking. But I am pretty sure that wasn't due to the small wheels. I would have been walking those hills no matter what bike I had.

The advantage the Brompton has over the others is the height of the cross bar - it is so easy to jump off when necessary and get back on when the situation allows. At no point on the whole trip did I wish for a different bike.

“But doesn't the little wheels make it harder?” I hear you ask.

Again if I consult the stats for regular rides that Ive done on more than one bike, I can see there is little difference between those segments completed on Iona vs any of my other bikes. In fact, I'm now beating old personal bests with this small-wheeled wonder.

You may have spotted her little travel companion. LC, is a secretary bird that flew into my hands while visiting the Hawk Conservancy on my birthday. The Secretary bird was my Nans favourite raptor she loved to see it kick the daylights out of a fake snake. My nan would have been very happy to have such a cuddly companion, it’s a shame they weren’t available when she was alive. 

LC fits perfectly into the side pocket of either front bag and even donned a cape with an English rose badge while traversing the country during the way of the roses. 

When we get to camp, Iona slips neatly into the tent, so no need to lock her up outside. And we can at least start the day with a dry saddle, even if it doesn't stay dry long

All in all, I am really enjoying this bike. I am so happy with her, that I have to force myself to use the other one.

I'm looking forward to many more years and miles together.

More information

Nans are always right - picking up Iona

The Way of the Roses

August 2024 - Saying goodbye to an old friend.

Sometimes it’s hard to say goodbye to a treasured possession and sometimes it is more of a knowing that it’s time to let go. 

Today was one of those days. 

Today, my carbon road bike ‘Ava’ - A Liv Avail Advanced, went to a new home and I wasn’t at all sad. 

Ava arrived via the cycle to work scheme in 2016, she was ordered just after I won the opportunity to complete Ride London - the 100 mile, cyclists equivalent to the London marathon. 

I didn’t have the confidence to do 100 miles on my gravel bike (or cyclocross as it was known as then) so I convinced myself that the only way I could get around within the time limit, would be on a much lighter bike. So after much research and a little nudging from my Nan, the paperwork was completed and the bike ordered  

When she arrived, she was beautiful and so very light. An absolute dream to ride. 

In fact, we have gone a long way together (over 5000 miles according to Strava) - Initially they were short training rides, then Ride London, a number of laps of the Isle of Wight, raising money for Naomi house. There was London to Brighton with the humongous Beacon hill, the many big hills as we crossed the country completing the Sea to Sea, and finally my longest ride ever from Winchester to Brighton and most of the way back. 

It has been a blast! 

But apart from a short spell (2 sessions) on a turbo trainer during the 2020 lockdown, she has not been ridden at all, and that was just a real shame. 

She wasn’t ready to be an exhibit and I don’t have room to have a bike museum, so it was time to get her adopted. 

It took a long time to write and post the advert, but a very short time to receive a response (about 10 minutes I think) and within 24 hours Kirsty had been to see her, been on a quick test ride and decided that this was the bike for her. 

I really do hope Kirsty has as much fun riding this bike as I have and that she covers at least another trouble free (and hopefully pain free) 5000 miles   

Enjoy your new adventures Ava (and Kirsty) and thank you for all the fun times we have had together.

Goodbye 2022. Its been an interesting one.

Does the Christmas break encourage you to look over the previous year and motivate you to set challenges for the next one? I am not one for New Year's resolutions; instead, I plan to improve myself numerous times over the year, but I will spend time reviewing my achievements, counting blessings and thinking about all I have accomplished.

Rather than bore you with a long list of outings, I have put some photos into a video to show what I've been up to. 

Please forgive the dodgy editing; I am just learning how to use the software. 

Thank you to everyone who has joined me on my travels. I look forward to riding with you again this year. 

Happy New Year to you all. 

May the roads rise up to meet you and the wind be always at your back.  

October 2022 - End of an era or New beginnings?

So this week I led my 350th ride for Breeze, but instead of the celebration that it should have been, it was filled with sadness as it would be the last ride I would take for British Cycling. 

This week I have handed in my notice for all things British Cycling. I am no longer a Breeze Champion. No longer a BC coach. No longer a tutor of Level 1 ride leader training. 

Why? Well, it certainly wasn’t due to work pressures or losing interest. No this was sadly due to the current climate where BC needs sponsorship and sadly the only companies that offer such things these days are not the ones I wish to be associated with. 

I won’t go into detail here. Instead, I want to reflect on what an amazing journey I have had over the last 8.5 years with Breeze (who are sadly unlikely to see any of the money that they have bargained their membership for) 

Where do I begin? Firstly I want to remember the wonderful participants that have joined me on one of my 350 rides. Many I choose to call friends and many I hope I will ride with again. These ladies have so often made my day as we’ve chatted our way around whichever route we have taken to coffee. The number of times I’ve left home wishing I could have stayed in, but returned after my ride so glad that I have been. If you are one of those 1200, thank you for joining me, it’s been a blast and I’ve loved every second. 

Next, it's a nod to those amazing Champions I have had the privilege to work alongside,  previously coordinate and more recently train. Again, it's been brilliant working with you all, especially those in Southampton who have helped us build the number of women cycling around the city. Thank you. 

Then finally it is important for me to recognise and remember quite how far I have come - from thinking a ride to the common was a long training ride and a ride to town a step too far - to riding 100 miles around London (twice) and cycling from Windsor to Buck house and back overnight on numerous occasions - with lots of tube changing practice on the way. Without my Breeze training, I would never have even contemplated these rides let alone complete them. 

I've tried my hand at Moutain biking, BMX, cyclocross and track and learned that of all disciplines touring is my favourite. But I will always be grateful for the opportunities Breeze has given me to challenge my own limits. I've even got used to having my photo taken - something I would have shied away from 10 years ago.  

Though it is with huge sadness that I pass my jerseys onto others, I know this is the right decision for me at this moment. I am now looking forward to finding new areas to serve the cycling community and can't wait for new opportunities for me to grow my cycle experiences further.  

All that is left to say is Thank you all - it's been a Breeze!

30th June 2018 - Cycling UK's '100 Women in Cycling 2018' - A proud day!

I don't know how often you check all your inboxes. I do check mine regularly - probably too regularly. But, it is often a cursory glance to check Ive not been asked to do something urgent for work. So though I would probably have seen this arrive, I did not take in its contacts till quite late in the evening.

Dear Sharon, 

We are delighted to tell you that you have been nominated for our 100 women in cycling list 2018!

I had to read it a couple of times to actually take in what it meant. I had been invited to an event up in Manchester to recognise the achievement of 100 women cyclists for their work in advancing womens cycling. 

It didn't tell me who had nominated me or why exactly I had been nominated. Instead they asked permission to use a photo of me and invited me to attend the event. 

So how do I get to Manchester early on a Saturday during term time? I needed to go chat to my boss. 

They were 100% happy for me to go, and allowed me to take time owing to travel on the Firday. I contacted Breeze HQ and was invited for a tour of the offices and the velodrome and hopefully to meet the other couple of Breeze Champs who had also been nominated.

We left home early Friday morning and made it to Manchester in really good time - so we grabbed a spot of lunch in the company of a couple of GB cycle coaches before heading round for the tour. 

The velodrome was stunning - the unique indoor pump track next door was mind blowing and the guys at Breeze HQ were amazing. 

We reached our room for the night, parked up and walked up the main road into Manchester centre. Not knowing the area, we hadn't realised that we had chosen the perfect location, right next door to the most amazing dedicated cycle lane in the city. 

We found food, checked out the location of the event the next day then walked the 15 min walk back to the hotel. 

Saturday arrived, and I still didn't quite know what to expect. I rode to the venue, took my bike inside and nervously looked out for anyone else in Breeze red. 

A group of us started chatting, sharing ideas and information - which I have to say continued for much of the day (between the timetabled events of course) We sat through some really interesting talks, then one by one were called up to receive a beautiful rosette. By this point I had been chatting to Joy and Aggie for much of the day - we couldn't resist a quick selfie on the podium. Both ladies had amazing stories to tell, I was completely in awe with imposter syndrome in full swing! 

 

Lunch was served, the final talk given and we were then taken off on a cycle tour of the city, showing us the best of its rich history of the suffragette movement. 

I learned so much that day and felt proud to represent Breeze and the efforts we have all gone to to make cycling more accessible to women. 

The weekend perfectly coincided with Manchesters Lets ride City event on the Sunday where I again was able to represent Breeze and British cycling as I cycled round its city route taking to everyone who would listen about Breeze. A perfect weekend.