June 2023 - It’s all about Sylvi part 2

So, while walking around Tesco looking for inspiration for tea, my phone rattles in my pocket. 

I pull it out to be greeted by a message from Nick at Beamz. 

‘Hey Sharon, someone called Sylvi here is waiting to meet you’ 

Any inspiration I may have had, instantly flew out of the big sliding doors with me following as soon as I’d paid for the bits I was carrying. 

I tentatively knocked the door, not knowing if my visit would be convenient as I usually prearrange not wishing to impose. Rosie was the first to respond, her barking replacing a doorbell, and  Nick greeted me soon after.

Nick and Sarah led me into the garden to see Sylvi in her newly formed glory. I was fighting back the emotions that were overwhelming me. She was even more stunning than I had ever imagined. 

‘Can we go for a ride’ I asked, forgetting that I’d come in the van so did not have a helmet with me. 

‘Yes, sure!’ Said Nick. So we got ourselves organised for my first ever ride. Nick had already been out on her, checking that everything was working and all was safe. 

We carefully headed down to the local seafront. As I gently put her through her paces. 

We stopped by ‘Grandad Dave’s local hero seat’ to see what he would look like with a Beamz bike. I think it complemented his rusty complexion quite nicely. I had only taken one photo and a couple stopped to talk about the bikes. We all stood chatting for at least 20 minutes, answering questions and sharing information. I wondered if this is something I would need to get used to. 

The conversation drew to a close and we all moved on. 

We rode a little further down the cycle path then stopped to take more photos by the sea. I hadn’t stopped grinning since the moment I saw her. 

Catching the last of the sun, and feeling the temperature begin to drop, we headed back to Beamz HQ. 

And after a couple of handy maintenance tips, Sylvi took pride of place in the back of the van, and we headed home. (Still grinning!) 

I resisted the temptation to ride to work on Thursday. A cunning plan was composing in my head. Instead I asked Jo if she were free for a ride after school. She willingly agreed 

It was a stunning evening and our ride took us partly on roads I knew and partly new ground - for me anyway. 

The light was just perfect for a 12 mile ride and some Sylvi photographs. 

Once home, I set about organising Friday and my cunning plan. Our school loves World book day and I have to admit that I don’t usually take part in the dressing up as a book character, but on this occasion, I just couldn’t resist. 

So with the vague excuse of being one of my shero’s, Kate Rawles for the day, I was able to walk round school wearing cycle gear and pushing Sylvi where ever I went. 

Kate had very kindly signed the book of her ride when I went to hear her talk the previous week. She had ridden her bamboo bike ‘Woody’ 8000 miles across South America highlighting the plight of our decreasingly bio-diverse planet. 

Her talk was eye-opening, her book even more so. 

Woody had pride of place next to her podium, and it was good to see how robust a plant based bike can be. 

The questions the students asked me were fascinating. 

‘Why buy a wooden bike?’ that one was easy and I explained that I had saved 60kg the release of Carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (30kg is released during the processing and manufacture of a metal bike. The other 30 happens to be locked into the wood that makes her frame) 

I asked if they could picture how much 60kg of the gas is. They were amazed when I explained it would need 6000 standard party balloons to hold it. 

I was then challenged about the damage of cutting down trees when we need them to process carbon dioxide and make oxygen. I absolutely agreed, then explained about the method of coppicing. The fact that the tree from which the wood was taken is still there, just cut low to the ground, and happily regrowing is an important one to me. Within the next 7 years that tree will have big enough branches to build another bike. Truly sustainable! 

I explained how a properly managed copse is perfect for

biodiversity as only sections are chopped at a time in a 7 year rotation, allowing all the insects, plants and animals that rely on the woodland to move to the stage that suits them best. Sylvi was causing quite a stir all day and had a stream of visitors. . 

Monday came all too quickly and with Sylvi locked away in the bike shed I got on with teaching my timetable (though my thoughts were inevitably elsewhere). 

This week was punctuated with strikes and my journey on Wednesday took me to Beamz HQ rather than to school. A quick check of the brakes and a slight adjustment to the seat position was followed by long conversations with the work experience trainee who was busy designing a wooden water bottle holder. Of course I’d love one of these! 

It was soon the weekend again and I couldn’t settle to any work that I had planned. So off I went to spot some photo opportunities around Southampton.  

I have to agree with everyone who has spoken to me about Sylvi so far - she is beautiful - not only to see, but beautiful to ride too, as the 80 miles in two weeks can attest to. 

So where do we go from here? 

Stay tuned for next week's exciting episode…