On her bike

On the lovely Raleigh Caprice

I have finally become fed up of the Underground commute. Standing squashed up against my fellow Londoners, my face in another's armpit, stiffening in the palpable tension as the Central Line tube stalls in a muggy tunnel, delays and closures, even the odd pickpocket.

The push-bike seemed a welcome alternative, especially as the days are growing longer and warmer, and after a few weeks of Boris Biking I gave in and bought my dream bike - a Raleigh Caprice. Today I cycled the 7 miles to Covent Garden for the Werther dress rehearsal at the Royal Opera House, taking in a sun-drenched St Paul's Cathedral on the way.