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

April 2023 - Easter Cycle Shenanigans

Firstly, I can't believe that I've not posted since Christmas. It's not that I've not been riding or even that I've not done anything particularly blog-worthy. But I have been practising using a new app that documents some of my rides. 

If you want to see how that looks, step over to Polarsteps and take a look. I've tracked a number of rides this year just so I could learn the best way to use the program. The latest of which is written below. 

I have also been spending a fair amount of time at Beamz HQ, which deserves a whole post of its own. 

But for now, let's chat Easter Holidays. 

Saturday - It's the first day of the holiday, so I deserved a huge lay-in, right? Wrong. I did get an extra 30 mins before the alarm went off, but I was already awake, so that didn't count. 

With one bike already loaded, I headed to Beamz HQ to pick up more bikes, bits and a Sarah, then headed into town for the Sporterium. 

Thanks to Ruth Mg, our home for the day has already been erected. So we quickly populated it with baskets, poles and an impressive fleet of Beamz bikes. 

Even though it was tipping with rain, We were already attracting interest before we had even finished setting up. 

And even though it rained on and off all morning, it was rare that there wasn't someone looking at the bikes, interested in the concept or wanting to volunteer. It was a brilliant start to the break - just what I needed. 

Tuesday - 'How many English heritage sites can we visit before our membership runs out?' 

Well, Jo and I decided to check out the new cycle provision on the FastJet to the Isle of Wight to see. 

We met at the ferry terminal, ready for whatever the weather threw at us, and then waited 30 mins for the next sailing. We were a little bemused to find that the cycle provision was squeezed between the seats, which was almost too small for my bike altogether. But once seated, we glided across to the island in a very short space of time and with no effort whatsoever. 

Having changed our plans a little, we didn't have an organised route, so gingerly, we approached the Squirrel trail. (This involved a few wrong turns and a needless hill climb, and I still don't know my way out of Cowes!) 

But it didn't take long to find the smooth tarmac of the trail, and we were very soon on the outskirts of Newport. 

We weaved through small roads and cycle paths, eventually finding a sign 'To the Castle.' 

Why do they always build these things on top of huge hills? Very inconsiderate of the Carrisbrook residents' methinks! 

We had to follow the guidance in the cafe, it would be rude not to! - this was our first stop after locking the bikes. 

The views were stunning. Especially as we walked the wall. Though I was pleased, we were going down rather than up the steps! 

Once we had found our way around the castle, we decided to take a route up the other side of the Medina to call in on the Queen. But, unfortunately, the weather was slowly turning against us. The darkening skies were promising rain. 

We turned off the cycle path too early, leading to a couple of close calls on the busy main road. But we got there in time for coffee, deciding we needed another day to make the most of Osbourne House. 

We were among the last to leave the site; we could hear brush and mop strokes behind us as we walked towards our bikes. The rain was now falling, so after donning wet weather gear, we took the chain ferry back to the other side and heroically fought the one-way system back to the FastJet. 

We arrived just in time to watch them close the gates and wave goodbye to the previous boat. If only we hadn't stopped for that last photograph! 

But the half-hour wait went quickly, and it was worth the wait. This ferry did have the new racks, and our bikes journeyed back to Southampton as comfortably as we did. 

Our journey was being tracked by Polarsteps throughout the day, so you can see roughly how things went here - 

https://www.polarsteps.com/SharonMerredew/6960095-awayday-iow?s=F5D30C74-DF84-451E-914C-91BFA0FD6B2D

Do let me know what you think. 

Friday took me to Fleming Park, Eastleigh, to meet with Jo from Pedaltastic and check out Sunday's Bunny Hop ride route. This involved two cups of coffee, a lovely toasted sandwich and a couple of loops of the planned ride. No photos this time. 

No resting here. Saturday was another early start, and this time a train to Winchester. We were going to find some more  British cycle-quest answers. The train journey was easy as always these days. The hardest thing bumping my bike down the stairs to platform 2 as the lift was broken. 

I had the carriage to myself for the first stop, and then the train filled to standing-room only. But it wasn't long before I got to Winchester to meet up with Jo. 

Jo showed me the easy route back to her house from the station then took me up a relatively 'easy' hill to the local shops. It wasn't till she came out of the post office that I realised she and her bike were suitably decorated for the day. 

After a hill that went on for at least two years! We were soon out in the countryside and heading to Alresford. 

We encountered a couple of furry creatures en route, which caused us to stop and shoot them (with a camera, of course), but it didn't delay us for long, and we soon reached our coffee stop. 

At this point, I should be inserting a photo of our lunch, but it was so nice, and we were so hungry, that my toastie was practically inhaled with no time to take a pic. 

So you don't miss out, I will insert a photo of their iconic and very delicious watercress scones from a previous visit. 

While waiting for our food, we looked up our first cyclequest clue to plan our next move. 

Once we had finished our meal, we searched for the toilet block to find the plaque that would answer all. 

On the way back, Jo pointed out a hidden oasis perfect for some swan-watching if you don't want to frequent the town's many cafes. 

We turned a corner and were face to face with the local watercress beds. No wonder the scones are so fresh. 

We paused at the top of another hill, this time to read of a spitfire accident involving three airmen whose training manoeuvres went wrong, causing all three to crash into the surrounding fields. 

This information was repeated in St Mary's Church, Itchen Stoke. A beautiful church on a hill that we had seen in the distance earlier and would see again shortly as we headed back to Winchester. 

If you look closely, you can spy St Marys. We paused once more to enjoy a wood carpeted with Primroses. 

Then headed to another hidden gem - this time overlooking the whole of Winchester - St Giles. 

It was funny to think it would take us less than 4 minutes to drop from here to that tiny statue in the city's centre. Another benefit of taking a bike.

We gathered the information we needed to complete this, my 5th cyclequest answer. Then headed into town for a final coffee before catching the train home. 

Much of the rest of the holiday has been spent at Beamz HQ, but that deserves its own post. 

What a busy Easter!!