Route: From Holloway to Camden, into Regent's Park, following the Outer Circle south and then due west to the northern end of Baker Street.

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.