2025 - that was quick!

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We are rapidly heading up to another year change, and in some ways I feel that I’ve only just got used to writing 2025. This trip round the sun seems to have gone so quickly and first thoughts lead me to believe it was all quite uneventful. But as we met together to exchange presents and share memories with one another, I realised that we have actually done quite a bit.

The mild winter and the promise of spring gave a new enthusiasm for cycling and with big plans ahead, I needed to get up to speed on my Brompton. So any excuse for a ride saw me increasing my distance. 

I also took advantage of the convenience of the fold to use public transport to take me further afield. It’s been a long time since I was last stood in front of Worthing’s beach side theatre and I was quite disappointed to find out that my first home there was now a car park.  

A dropped bike on a cycle to the Hawk conservancy meant a new Garmin as a Birthday present to myself. Apparently they couldn’t fix the old one, even though it didn’t look too difficult. But they did offer me a discount on the upgrade.

With camping season fast approaching, I needed to work out a way to transport all my gear on little wheels. 

This proved easier than I thought. And I was soon off on a couple of practice camps with Iona. I had the pleasure of joining the Brompton touring group for a camp at Ashurst - the closest campsite to home. It was quite a buzz riding in a small wheeled convoy to Lepe beach and back via Beaulieu. 

With a couple of Kidical mass rides and a trip down the Squirrel trail on the IOW, we were soon ready for our biggest adventure of the year.

After a mammoth train journey, we started to make our way from the Irish to the North Sea, across the country, following the Way of the Roses. 

Having overcome numerous challenges together, at 170 miles we spied the North Sea and our journey was just about complete (apart from a crazy train journey back home that was harder than the whole ride, but that’s another story - link below)

Iona soon got an invite to another Brompton Touring group camp. It would be rude not to go, especially as it was school holiday time. Thanks to a signalling issue, my straightforward and direct train journey took me on a wild detour to Trowbridge via Basingstoke! To end up on the same train I would have caught had I stayed in Southampton. 

It was great to have another opportunity to meet with a group of small wheeled fans. And I got the chance to visit the birthplace of photography while I was at it. 

On one of the longest days of the year, we decided to bag some mileposts, while riding from Reading to Oxford. 

After a fantastic days cycling and lots of crazy antics from my cycle friends, another 12 posts were added to my collection, bringing the total for the year to 14. 

Of course I have written about each of these rides in more detail and will post links below. But all these along with the regular shorter weekend rides to New Alsford, Whitchurch or just to the Handlebar cafe, have seasoned the year making it so much more enjoyable than if I didn’t cycle anywhere. 

As always, huge thanks go to those who accompany me on many of these rides Jo, Jenny, Jill and Babs and the odd trip with Sue too. These cycles just wouldn’t be the same without you guys

September bought a big surprise. For many years now, I have tried to encourage more people to try cycling. And as a school, we have taken part in the Love to Ride challenge that tracked our miles in a competition with other workplaces across the country. This happens three times a year and has increased the number of our regular cycle commuters substantially. 

A couple of people contacted me to congratulate me on winning the Love to Ride prize draw for encouraging others. When I contacted Love to Ride, they confirmed that I had indeed won a cash prize. I decided that the most fitting thing to get with my winnings was a replacement cycle coat (as my old one wasn’t fitting any more). The winnings, plus the trade in value of my old coat was exactly the right amount for the new one. I was very pleased and it was really nice to be recognised for my efforts 

So as the sun sets on 2025, I realise what a fun packed year it has been after all. I wonder what 2026 will bring.

Further information:-

Mileposts collected this year - 14

Total mileposts - 54

Distance ridden this year - 1494

Total distance ever recorded on Strava - 

20545 miles

Links to previous adventures  

https://www.sharonsgonecycling.co.uk/2025/03/april-2025-spring-is-in-air.html?m=1

https://www.sharonsgonecycling.co.uk/2025/04/meeting-bromptoneers.html?m=1

https://www.sharonsgonecycling.co.uk/2025/04/april-2025-packing-conundrum-and-trial.html?m=1

https://www.sharonsgonecycling.co.uk/2025/06/may-2025-way-of-roses.html?m=1

https://www.sharonsgonecycling.co.uk/2025/07/july-2025-schools-out-time-to-go-camping.html?m=1

https://www.sharonsgonecycling.co.uk/2025/08/july-2025-mega-milepost-bagging-from.html?m=1

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