I thought that maybe I was ready to cycle to work. After all, I had taken my baby steps on the new bike. Then two weeks ago, I had proper test ride in the safe environment of Hampstead Heath. It really was time to take it to the jungle that is London traffic.

Today was the designated day. When I woke up, almost hopefully I ran through every one of my excuses for not riding to work. Wet weather. Not enough morning time to sort things out. Unwieldy bag. Awkward clothing.

Today, though, all those excuses melted away. I was prepped. I psyched myself up. ‘You’re gonna do it, Joan. Today’s the day. The day is today.’

And before I knew it, I found myself on the road curb, bike unfolded, helmet adjusted, trouser leg tucked in with a reflective clip. Then I pushed off and I was back on the road again.

The whole exercise of bringing my bike downstairs, unfolding it, riding slowly (to avoid catching up to buses and having to overtake them) and locking up my bike at work, it all took as long I normally take to walk to work. I’m not saving much (if any) time. But it sure is fun.

Transport for London‘s journey planner has even mapped out a route for me that uses dedicated bike lanes. I took that on the way home this evening, stopping only three times to check my map print out.

Now that I’ve proven that I can cycle to work, I’ll probably go back to walking most days. I’m sure, though, I’ll try the cycle again next week.

I have become a folding bike spotter. I look at all bikes passing me by and this newfound attention has yielded a rich landscape of folding bikes.

Yesterday, I spotted:

• A full sized city bike (26 inch wheels) with a tell-tale knobbly bit in the middle of the frame — it was a folding bike!
• Someone wheeling into the office a completely flat folded bike. I think it was a Wobbegong.
• Two Strida-style cycles with tiny wheels at the bottom vertices of the triangular frame

And, of course, Bromptons everywhere!

Damjan and I took my bike up to Hampstead Heath on the weekend. It was frustrating that the paths mostly had ‘no bicycles’ emblazoned on them. Then we found one bike path and that led to another. I was so happy to be zooming around. Hooray for bikes!

I have been dreaming about riding a bike. In my dreams, I can feel my legs working at the peddles and my hair flying back as I tear through Regent’s Park.

I blame the dreams on the warm weather. And even though I know this springtime sunshine won’t last, I can’t get the cycling dreams out of my head.

Well, then. Maybe it’s time to buy a bike.

Because I live in a flat with no garden or storage space, this bike would need to be a folding bike.

The premier folding bike is the Brompton. Ah, the Brompton — so cute yet elegant! So compact yet functional! So desirable… yet expensive. A new Brompton would set me back at least £570.

(I also discovered that there is a good chance that a second-hand Brompton bought via Gumtree would be stolen goods. I can’t bear the idea of profiting from the heartbreak of a former Brompton owner out there.)

‘Damjan,’ I said. ‘I think I want to buy a Brompton.’

‘Great idea!’ Damjan said supportively. ‘You’ve been thinking about it for ages.’

I was taken aback. ‘No, I haven’t! I just thought of it yesterday!’

Damjan hmphed knowingly. ‘I’ve seen you perving at them. Every time one goes past, you stare.’

I conceded that, yes, I do indeed perve at Bromptons.

After days of obsessing over folding bikes, I eventually convinced myself that I didn’t need one. I walk to work. I’m away most weekends. When would I have time to ride a £600 bike?

Just as I had made my decision, I spotted this online: the Dahon Mu XL Sport. I had read about this bike and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Normally £800+, a sports shop in Devon was selling the 2008 model for £450.

Dahon folding bikes aren’t as elegant as Bromptons but they have other advantages. This bike has 20 inch wheels, bigger than the 16 inch Brompton wheels. The parts are standard components compared to Brompton’s specialised ones. This means that when I take the Dahon to Australia, I can repair and replace parts easily. The Mu XL is around a kilogram heavier than the standard Brompton but for the extra weight I get not only bigger wheels, but also eight gears instead of three.

I agonised for all of twenty minutes.

Then I clicked ‘Buy it now’.

Isn’t it beautiful? It arrived within two days. All I had to do was take it out of the box, unfold it and pump up the tyres.

I rode it for the first time today and I felt giddy. I was so excited I could feel my heart pounding. Riding this bike today felt exactly how it was like when I was riding my dreams.

(I have already bought a ‘f*** off, thieves’ lock. Everyone I know has had a bike stolen and there’s no way any Gumtree or Brick Lane merchant is going to get their hands on this one!)