So if you've spent any time with me recently, you'll know that I've started cycling to and from work every day (unless I have a good reason). I'm now annoyingly enthusiastic about the subject. Apologies for that.

I used to live in the centre of Manchester, but now I don't. I live one one side of a nice hilly valley. Up until a couple of months ago, I rode a fixed gear (Charge Plug Racer). As soon as I started commuting from my new house to the Fudge offices, it became clear that a fixed gear bike was pretty useless. Often feeling like it was forged from bricks and anvils, it was just too difficult day-in-day-out. It's a 22 mile round trip after all.

So, I did what I always said was very unlikely to happen and got myself a road bike. A nice fancy road bike with gears, and everything.

Cycling that distance every day is brilliant. Next time you see me there's a good chance I'll try to convince you to push your car into the sea and buy a bike.

You'll have more energy through the day, you'll lose weight, you'll think more clearly, and best of all, you can go dead fast down big hills, every day. I go through phases of lethargy. There's nothing worse than nodding off while you're sat on the bus in the morning. Cycling has fixed it.

Granted, it's a bit dangerous, and when it's raining it isn't that much fun. I'm a firm believer in "little victories". When it's pissing down up in the hills, getting to work without falling in the reservoir or getting crushed by a tractor makes me feel like I've won. Winning a couple of times a day is brilliant.

So here's what I use (you'll notice a theme):

• Focus Cayo Team Replica
• Rapha Country Jersey (Belgium)
• Rapha Wind Jacket
• Rapha Bib Shorts*
• Rapha Pro Team Mitts 
• Rapha Merino Socks
• Rapha Winter Embrocation
• Giro Monza Helmet

* soon. Some cheap DHB ones at the moment.

Bikes are cool. There's no "evidence", but it is scientific fact.