My ride to work: Lisson Grove to Old Street

Distance: Four miles, approximately.

Time taken: 20-30 minutes.

Obstacles: Building works for much of the way, one no-cycling stretch and one climb.

Route: I start off down Kent Terrace to Kent Passage. In theory this is a no-cycling bit, so I don't if someone is looking. From there I go round the southern part of the Outer Circle in Regents Park down Brunswick Place.

I turn right into Park Crescent, then down Portland Place to Devonshire Street, then south into Great Portland Street and left into Carburton Street.

Right into Cleveland Street and south to Maple Street.

Then the cycle route proper starts, though more than half of the time it is interrupted by building works.

It goes south down Huntley Street to

Torrington Place, then through Tavistock Place and Sidmouth Street.

Down Ampton Street, right at Cubitt Street and Pakenham Street to Calthorpe Street. Then there's the only noticeable climb — up Margery Street in low gear to Wilmington Square.

Then it's along Tysoe Street across Rosebury Avenue and into Skinner Street, past the end of Exmouth Market, then along Percival Street and Lever Street to the east, to Bath Street, where the bike gets chained up..

Overview: It's a great, quick route, especially when the cycle lanes aren't blocked by construction. When I'm feeling fit I can do it in minutes, though spending minutes and not needing a shower afterwards is a better investment of time.

Douglas McWilliams is chief executive of the Centre for Economics and Business Research