On yer bike. Please.

At Staufenberger Towers we've been talking to some public health types about helping them get more people to cycle in London. Our trip to Munich provided an interesting perspective. It seems that everyone in the city has a bike.

There are thousands of them.

But despite the high numbers (compared to London), Munich bikes - almost without exception - are utilitarian, sensible, commuter rigs like those from Kettler. No flashy, Italian road machines, very few American off-road irons. And certainly no fixies.

Which made us wonder why Germany - a country with little heritage in cycling as a sport, despite obvious successes - is so enamoured with the bike as a means of transport. And conversely, why the Italians - synonymous with cycle racing - are so sniffy about using a bike to get from A to B (at least, if these Italians  are to be believed.)

Is it the weather? The hotter the climate, the less people will exert themselves to get around? Possibly.

Is it the provision of a good cycle lane network (see above)? Perhaps. But depsite being better than those in Blighty, the Munich cycle lanes aren't that amazing.

Back in London, our friends in public health believe it's about removing barriers, perceived or otherwise: no showers at work, too much (motor) traffic and so on. We suspect it's more about encouraging or stimulating demand in the first place. If people want to ride to work, they'll find their own ways round the barriers.

In this sense, we may be in luck, as the wind is defintiely behind us: cycling is - whisper it - becoming fashionable.