During the past couple of months, my friend Mark and I have been nudging each other to buy a folding bicycle. This is so we can visit some of our clients without needing a car or relying on public transport. Two weeks ago Mark blinked first and bought a Specialized Globe Mity. I took a tiny test ride around the area where I live, and after a few wobbles – it’s been 27 years since I last road a bike – I was hooked and placed my order for the same bike along with lots of accessories, some more critical than others.

My bike arrived last Monday. Mark kindly fitted my lights and tweaked a few other things so that the bike suited my somewhat amateur riding style. That day I peddled around for another few minutes, learning to turn left and right under control, and trying out gears, which was a first for me. When I was 11, my one and only previous bike only had the one gear. The Shimano SL-R440 Rapidfire gear shifters are a joy to use, except that it took me ages to remember which direction was which. Mark suggested I ignore the indicator – and that’s advice I’ve taken on board rapidly since.

The following day I ventured further afield for about 20 minutes, just riding up and down a quiet road, practicing gear changes, looking behind and signalling left and right. Fortunately this was all quiet easy. It really is true that you never forget how to ride a bike!

Wednesday saw us going on the road. My first real road trip for decades and quite worrying since I’d only been on a road with a bike a couple of times before. We travelled up Stratherrick Road in Inverness and then, on Mark’s instruction, wandered around Lochardil so I could practice some junctions. All was fine except for the initial climb up Stratherrick Road, henceforth known as The Hill, for I wibbled and wobbled all over the place and ended up walking up the steepest part of the ascent.

Thursday was my first trip out on my own to visit my dad at Lochardil. I did The Hill wibble again and concluded that I really need to get more comfortable on my bike and tune my legs before trying it again. I also discovered that I am capable of the one-leg-off trick at stops and junctions – I guess I did this when I was younger. Therefore I’m going to gradually raise the seat post to get a better position on the bike. The journey back was both quick and enjoyable. I’ve been driven most places since I don’t drive a car and if I’m in the passenger seat I always keep a look out for hazards, upcoming turns, junctions etc. Being on a bike is therefore relatively straightforward, and the rear-facing mirror is a joy to use.

Today, I needed to pop up to the local shop to buy some milk and some new batteries for my smoke detectors. I just hopped on the bike, went up Dores Road and that was the job done. Being a Sunday, there are a few people travelling to shop by car (and why do people go there in pairs?). It made me smile to see all these trips by car, that would end up not being any quicker than my journey. Once you assert your presence on the road – remember it’s illegal to ride on the pavement! – and you’re comfortable in handling the bike and knowing what you can do with it, particularly setting off and accelerating, such trips are very pleasant. In fact they are exhilarating, despite this one lasting only five minutes each way.

On the journey back I pushed my legs a little harder in a lower gear. Mark suggested I do this to help prepare for The Hill in future. I’m also planning on going the Dores Road / Holm Road route to Lochardil in future. It’s a longer journey, which isn’t a problem and has a couple of easy roundabouts. Then I’ll do the Stratherrick Road / Drummond Crescent route on the way back. Thus avoiding The Hill.