A neverending cycle?

Continuing with the cycling theme (well it is summer after all), I took the bike into work today. It was one of those muggy overcast mornings, which is preferabele to having a scorching sun beating down on you while in the saddle and the volume of traffic was relatively low. So conditions for cycling were better than average. However this is quite a rare occurrence for me, as cycling into central London is just so bloody dangerous and at times unpleasant. Running the gauntlet with double decker buses and articulated lorries is not something you want to do on a daily basis. Transport for London and the Greater London Assembly have launched a campaign to get more people on their bikes, yet the provison of cycle lanes in the city is abysmal. Being sandwiched between a bus on your left and a van on your right because there just is no lane for cyclists to use is unacceptable.

As a commuter I face the choice of taking the train into work and getting crushed in the melee of passengers, often having to remain standing for the entire journey clinging on to the overhead bars for dear life, spend prolonged periods stuck in tunnels and pay through the nose for a ticket or taking the risk by biking it. Neither option is particularly appealing, but cycling gets the adrenaline going and is considerably quicker. The element of danger combines with the thrill of the chase and a cold shower afterwards is highly therapeutic. Unlike certain other cyclists (allegedly I hastily add just in case any sports lawyers happen to be reading this) I didn’t take any performance enhancing drugs. Unless you count caffeine.