Meet Patsy

I cannot tell you how long I have wanted a Pashley bicycle. Probably my whole adult life but I never bought one as I didn't want to spend that much money on a bike and I wasn't confident to cycle on the roads so I didn't take advantage of the bike to work scheme.

Every summer I would pine after a bike as I love getting out and about as it makes me feel so carefree. We have some really great cycle paths in Kent and Sussex and previously I had been hiring a bike from Country Bike

Late last year I set up ebay and gumtree alerts so that when a Pashley bike came up I would be alerted but for one reason or another (usually price/location) I just couldn't fine one.

Then, this year the stars aligned and I negotiated a great deal on ebay and found the one. I knew I wanted the traditional bike with a bell and a basket. 

Yes, she may be a little heavier than other bikes but we never comment on a woman's weight!! It just means I will be working harder and burning more calories! We recently cycled the Cuckoo trail which is 28 miles so that's a two fingers up to everyone who says she's 'not a proper bike' !!

She sure is pretty but oh gosh is she hard work! This is what Mr Poachie feels about me.

I'm still not overly confident on the roads and have only been taking her on quiet country routes. Where I live is sooooooo hilly and after a very lazy couple of lockdown months my fitness isn't what it used to be!

Oh and the reason I named her Patsy? Literally five minutes of cycling down a country lane, I slowed to a stop, lost my balance and fell down, almost in slow motion, into a large bush of stinging nettles. I emerged wild eyed and crazy haired and it just reminded me of a scene from Ab Fab when Patsy would have staggered out clutching a fag and a bottle of bolly. 

Good times.