People often ask what drew me to cycling. I'm not sure I've ever given the same answer twice. So I've decided to make a list: five things I love, five things I hate. Here goes ...

Things I love about cycling

1. The feeling of freedom. Every pedal stroke is sheer bliss.

2. Camaraderie. Ever been standing at the side of the road with a puncture and a fellow cyclist has whizzed on past? Me neither. I've had strangers gift me energy gels, dry socks and their last inner tube.

3. Cake and coffee. I can't stress this enough.

4. Hills and rain.

5. The mesmerising spectacle of a rainbow of jerseys packed tightly together as a peloton ascends a steep incline. It always puts me in mind of salmon battling their way upstream.

Things I hate about cycling

1. Cleaning my bike. Alas in Scottish winter this is a frequent occurrence.

2. Crosswinds. I'm a wuss.

3. Those that harp on about what we should/shouldn't wear on a bike. For the love of God, give it a rest. Be it padded Lycra shorts, jeans, a dress, suit, overalls, whatever, just throw a leg over the saddle and go. Stop the tedious sartorial critique. This isn't Vogue.

4. Hills and rain.

5. When every cyclist gets tarred with the same brush. Not all of us ignore red lights, pedal on the pavement or are responsible for general world atrocity. Similarly I'm not a fan of the "them versus us" dichotomy between some cyclists and other road users. Mutual respect, people.

What are your cycling loves and loathes? Feel free to share in the comments section below.