My ride to work: Holloway to Kensington

After that, past Marylebone station, across Marylebone Road, Edgware Road and then Bayswater Road into Hyde Park.

Out of the park and into Kensington High Street.

Distance: About seven miles. My new speedo said I was averaging 17kph, which didn't seem very fast given that it was very early in the morning and I should have had lots of energy.

Weather: It was cold and I regretted not having spent longer looking for my fingerless mitts. At least it wasn't windy, when you cycle twice as hard to get half as far.

Badly behaved drivers: A large white van turned left across me into the petrol station in Camden Road. Not near enough to cause me any great concern but it woke me up.

Distractions: As I was gingerly crossing a junction at red in Seymour Place (perfectly acceptable at 6am, I feel), an aggressive Antipodean on a very large motorbike shouted: "What part of red light don't you understand exactly?" Indignation spurred me on to greater speed, however, so I was the winner.

Time taken: 35-minutes — about right, although my aim is to do it in less than 30-minutes.