New Beginnings

It was with real excitement that I got home on Friday. Having received the obligatory text from her-who-must-be-obeyed (along the lines of "What's that big parcel on the doorstep?!!") - which spoilt my day somewhat, because I knew what that big parcel was - I took no time at all catching the all-too-slow train home.

I walked through the front door and true enough, there she was to greet me - my brand spanking new Bickerton Portable folding bike.

There's a tale to be told about this bike.

Back in the day (well the 1970s, to be exact) Harry Bickerton - no relation - designed and produced the Bickerton Portable folding bicycle (you can see one on this 1980s TV commercial) which became one of the first folding bike for commuters (we're quite visionary, us Bickertons). well to cut a long story short (which you can read here, if you want), Harry retired, they stopped producing Bickerton Portables, and his son (Mark) started importing other folding bikes from around the globe (including Dahon).

However, in 2011, Mark relaunched the brand with production in Taiwan and the Bickerton Portable was back in business.

Meanwhile back on the ranch...

I resisted opening the box straightaway (boy - that was a long, long hour and a half), and carried out the domestic duties first. Then a very good friend popped round, which was fine - I even offered them the chance to help me set up the bike (they very politely declined).

Once friends were gone, it was time to get her out. The Bickerton arrives in a very nice box (which I will keep, by the way) with the Bickerton brand and logo subtly splashed all over. Then all that is required is to assemble the bike. Once assembled, here is what she looks like...



I'm busy with Dad taxi tomorrow, so the trial run will have to wait until the commute to work on Monday. Still, I can at last have a play at folding and unfolding the bike...