I had the pleasure this week of attending a head injury course for two days in Wimbledon. This meant a lovely long cycle .With my bike in the bike shop, it was hire bike time and I did a real coast to coast , well in London terms.

I've long campaigned for Santander and Barclays before them to extend the scheme outwards from zone 1 and have had some success with this , when the last Mayor confirmed an extension to Stratford.

The nearest to me is Middleton Road in Hackney and the furthest I could go en route to Wimbledon was Putney Bridge.

A great route, Angel, St John St, Smithfield (I could smell the meat !) , Old Bailey,Fleet St, Strand, The Mall , Pimlico Road , Kings Road... I forgot just how long is the Kings Road which turns into the New Kings Road...punishing but rewarding.

Still a fan of those hire bikes too, less jarring on speedhumps than my own racer.

A great workout.