Mark Downs is a Station Manager in the Fire Service. He lost his good friend and colleague Martyn Sadler – alongside fellow firefighter Jennie Logan and local businessman David Chester – during the Bicester Motion Fire on 15th May 2025.

For Mark, the decision to ride a Maeving came in the days after Martyn’s passing. Encouraged by Martyn’s own love of bikes and a colleague’s experience of Maeving as a way to ease the weight of daily pressures, he decided to take the leap. What began as an emotional purchase has since become a source of calm and clarity. A way to switch off from the demands of firefighting and process the grief of losing close friends. 

On his Maeving, Mark finds the peace and headspace that everyday life rarely allows.

Mark, tell us how and why you became a Maeving rider.

I’d always wanted a bike, and one day I bit the bullet and bought a Vespa. I was riding around supposed to be relaxing and clearing my head, but I couldn’t, because it was so noisy. It drove me mad. I was trying to switch my mind off from work, but all I could hear was the racket of a 125cc 2 stroke.

One day at work, a friend came in on a Maeving RM1. I asked him about it, and he said it helped him deal with mental health struggles – it gave him a break from the everyday grind. Then on 15th May, when my worst fears were confirmed by Martyn’s wife, I bought the bike shortly after. Maybe it was an emotional purchase, but life’s too short.

What can you tell us about Martyn, as a friend and colleague?

He was the most positive, happy, professional person I’ve ever worked with. I met him in 2009 when I joined Whitewatch. We ended up becoming really good friends and stayed in touch even when he moved to the London Fire Brigade recently.

He was one of the best firefighters I’ve ever worked with. He could anticipate things before you even thought about them. There was a picture of him circulating online, smiling in his fire kit. He was like that all the time. Even at 3 AM, attending a car fire, or an alarm, he’d be grinning, just loving his job and being with his mates.

I couldn’t believe the turnout at his funeral – thousands of people. It’s amazing to realise the impact someone can have on others. He had a huge impact on everyone he met. But he was unaware of that impact, I think we all are...

He was so selfless and saved countless lives through his actions.

The nature of it – all three of them were killed at that incident – I’ve certainly been in involved in some serious incidents myself, but he drove to that incident and never came home. It’s a tough pill to swallow.

Was Martyn a rider himself?

Yes. He always said how relaxing riding was, and we had many conversations about bikes. He encouraged me to get one, but at the time I had young kids and couldn’t afford to take the leap. We used to do road cycling and charity rides, so two wheels was always part of life and something we shared a passion for.

Did he partly inspire your decision to buy a Maeving?

In the days after he passed, I thought, “What would Martyn do? He’d say, “Do it! Buy the bike.” So, one morning, I did.

I’m a bit of a doer, anyway. Maybe it’s the firefighter in me. I always see things as tasks: if I’m going to do it, I’ll just do it. Even now, I’ve got my RM1 in the garage and I love it, but I’m already thinking “Do I get the RM1S?” And, oh my – the Blackout edition – it's even better.

You can have both, Mark.

Don’t tell me that. They'll be on the driveway in three weeks.

So, how does riding a Maeving compare to other modes of transport?

It brings a sense of peace in a fast-moving, crazy world. There’s a calmness that’s like nothing I’ve experienced. There’s no motor noise – just the sound of the tyres on the road.

People comment on it everywhere. I went to Windsor the other day, parked it outside the castle, and so many people were taking pictures. I couldn’t believe what was happening.

It’s good for the ego, isn’t it? What configuration have you got?

I’ve got the Green – I love the colour – with a tan seat and carbon fibre mudguards. I’ve also put Martyn’s birth year - ‘86 - on the tank. A small, subtle reminder of him. 

That’s lovely. Are you riding recreationally – for that peace Martyn spoke about – or for commuting?

Recreationally. I go to the shop or just enjoy a ride. I’ve got country roads nearby that I love riding around as it’s so quiet.

And why did you choose Maeving over other motorcycles? 

I’m impressed by the aesthetics. It’s beautifully designed and well made. I could look at it all day. I like things that are well-engineered: bikes, watches – things with thought put into them. 

I actually hadn’t ridden a Maeving before buying one. It was probably risky but I was confident after learning about the engineers online. Two minutes into my first ride, I knew it was right, I was smiling the whole time and still do. I love it.

Is there anything that has surprised you about Maeving?

The batteries – how good they are! In the fire service, there’s always been a stigma around battery-powered vehicles, but Maeving’s batteries are thoughtfully designed.

They even look good! Like the bamboo strip – who puts that level of detail into a battery? It’s the little things that mean a lot. Even the charger looks cool. The missus doesn’t moan about it being in the dining room. 

There’s confidence in a Maeving. You know it’s not some cheap knockoff. It's all been thoughtfully designed.

What’s your favourite memory on your Maeving?

Weirdly, when I got pulled over by the police. 

I was on a country road, and I saw the luminous bike behind me. He stuck on his big blue lights, and I thought, “I’m in for it here.” He pulled me over and said, “I’ve never seen one in the wild!” And proceeded to ask me a load of questions. Even Thames Valley Traffic Police are interested! 

Very good. So, for people like the policeman, who are on the fence about Maeving, what advice would you give?

Even 15-20 minutes on the bike can change your day. On your commute home, the stress and weight of the day float away. You arrive home calmer. I really believe that if people rode a Maeving once or twice a day, the world would be a better place. You can’t be angry on a bike like that.

Think of it like this: everyone carries a bucket of stress, and everyone’s bucket has a few holes to relieve some of it. Riding a Maeving empties my bucket completely. 

While I ride, the silence allows me to think. It’s so peaceful, and you can really clear your head. Especially recently, losing Martyn and another mate in Thailand, it’s been an awful lot. Maeving helps with that.

That’s so nice to hear. Thanks for sharing. So, for anyone who may not be aware of the therapeutic benefits of riding a Maeving, how did you find the process of becoming a biker?

What I like about the Maeving RM1 is that it’s rideable with a CBT [Certificate of Basic Training], which makes it really accessible. Plus, the course is great for building confidence on two wheels.

Maeving also makes riding easy. It’s lightweight and not complex, with its twist-and-go throttle. I've ridden geared bikes and I find it a faff. You can really just concentrate on the ride with a Maeving.

My colleague, who also rides a Maeving, actually helped me get started. Now we’re working on our mate Dan. We’ve even jokingly set up a mythical bike club, the Electric Eels. 

It’s an investment into a big self-care benefit.

QUICKFIRE ROUND

City riding or country roads?

Country roads for me.

If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Italy.

If you could time-travel, past or future?

Past. Probably do a bit better at school.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Things happen for a reason. Sometimes, it’s not your time. Dust yourself off, learn from it, regroup, and go again. You’ll smash it.

This was prior to going for a round of promotion. They were right, as I got it the second time round.

If Maeving made a film about your life, what song would play over the credits?

Champagne Supernova by Oasis.

Lastly, when you’re at home, away from work, what’s your ideal downtime?

Simple things: coffee, listening to nature, birds chirping, chilling in the garden, watching a box set. Work is so full on, so it’s just the simple pleasure of switching off. That’s why I ride a Maeving, too. It helps.

CHARGE ON.