Shhh... don't let everyone into our secret!

I used to think people who cycled to work were a little nuts. I wanted a bike to ride at weekends in the park and got one through the cycle2work scheme. When I read up on the details, the idea is that you do at least 50% of your bike miles to/from work so I figured that I should at least try cycling to work to say that I'd bought it in the spirit it was intended.

I rode it home from the office one Saturday afternoon and decided that cycling really wasn't for me. It was so scary. Someone told me that the council ran free cycling training so I signed up... and cycled to and from work all through the summer. The cycle training is one to one and they'll help you find a route, show you how to cycle assertively and explain how to deal with tricky junctions and situations. It's well worth doing.

Now I cycle year round and I hate days where I have to get a bus or train even when it's raining or cold. Only ice/snow or very high winds (or a big night out) will stop me. My commute is one of my favourite bits of the day; there is always something that makes me smile. Today it was the blossom on the trees in Stradella Road and then the smell of cut grass at Vauxhall on the way home.

The ride wakes me up on the way in and destresses me on the way home. It's 6.5 miles each way and sometimes in the summer, I'll take a longer route home just for the fun of it. Seriously everyone, if you've got access to a bike and somewhere to park it at each end, take some cycle training this summer and give it a go.

Poppy - there are some bad drivers (and some bad cyclists although let's not rehash that debate again) but the vast majority of both are considerate and safe.