Hurrah! This week I purchased a bicycle.

I am looking forward to summer cycles, country roads, sun shining, wind blowing through the hair lalalaa...

Ha the reality is I'm ashamed to say, until I get some practice in, the experience so far can only be described as 'hairy'. Whoever began the phrase, 'it's just like riding a bike' clearly had not been bikeless for as long as I have.

I bought my bike from Richard at Leith Cycles Co, not only was he close by and had the bike I wanted but more importantly he has a url which made me laugh www.greatbikesnobull.com

Sadly, the day I bought my bike I learnt from Richard, and later a friend who had witnessed it, that a cyclist had been killed on his way to work that morning on South Bridge. The cause of the accident is still unknown but what I also learned from Richard is that the number of cyclists in road accidents has multiplied with this crazy road situation in Edinburgh just now.

Without soap-boxing too much, it seems that for a council who are keen to get all the drivers out of the city, some proper bike lanes would not go amiss?

Again Richard at the bike shop tells me he and others are on it. Fighting the cyclists corner. Until then me, my cycling and sexy cycle helmet will stick to sunny cycle paths and quiet roads.

Take care.