Great thread, it's forced me to write... I've cycled from somewhere near East Dulwich to the City or Canary Wharf pretty much every day for 15 years. Even though I've been knocked down twice (once outside Kings, and this year outside ED KwikFit), I wouldn't give it up for anything (well, almost anything). I also ride three lunchtimes a week, Wednesday nights with the local Dulwich Paragon club http://www.dulwichparagon.com, and Sunday mornings out to the North Downs. I race in the summer at the Tuesday night Crystal Palace Criteriums, and this year in the winter too at Hillingdon. I've also trained this year at the HH velodrome, some nights they allow 'normal' road racing bikes with gears and brakes on the track. In total, I manage just about 200miles a week, which is almost enough training for an old boy like to me to be a good beginner Cat4 racer. I commute on a no-comprises titanium racing bike, with two-pairs of Amaradillo tyres (no punctures ever). Did I mention I'm happiest when I riding? R. - ps. the unfolding story of my desperate attempts to race are documented here -> http://www.lbrc.org