Route: I use as many back roads as possible, ie through Brook Green and Olympia, although stretches of Goldhawk Road and Kensington High Street are unavoidable.

Distance: It's about two and a half miles on flattish ground.

Weather: Autumn has arrived. The open-toed sandals have been put away and the socks, scarf and gloves have gone on. It won't be long before the layers of clothing and the embarrassing padded coat come out too.

Badly behaved drivers: The temporary traffic lights in Hammersmith Road meant none of them could move and I scowled at the man in a car who lobbed an empty coke can out of his window. I have given up on the evil mobile phone users.

Dozy pedestrians: Don't get me started. I came off my bike last week — my bag got caught up in the spokes — and managed to squash my very essential bell, which meant I had to swerve into the road to avoid the idiot with an iPod who crossed without looking. I do love the expression on their faces and the way they jump when I ring it furiously.

Distractions: None.

Time taken: Seventeen minutes. I could do it faster but arriving at work dripping in sweat and red in the face is not an especially good look.