I have deliberately shied away from posting any responses to comments made to my blogs or making my own comments to letters or articles, but having spent a week off the bike with a cold - yes I do feel like a wimp and can't wait to get back in the saddle - I thought it would be a good opportunity to talk back.

Mikey2gorgeous - The point I was making about helmets in my last blog was purely that I found it odd that these two chaps weren't wearing them.

Considering the bikes they were riding and the rest of the kit it just seemed unusual that they chose not to wear helmets. As I also stated it's a personal choice and whilst I choose to wear a helmet, it's not my place to tell anyone else to - apart from my daughter!

I'm guessing that you are the Mike who submitted the letter about cycle helmets on October 20th? You make an interesting point about the way in which cycling is potrayed in the press; in fact this is one of the reasons why I write this blog in order to try and present a balanced view.

The general view of cyclists is not a positive one and this is something that I find very sad. Have a look at the comments against the article from Friday October 23rd - 100 Dorset drivers caught in two days of operation - the second comment on this story resorts to cyclist bashing when the story itself has no mention of cycling in any way! Continue to read through the comments and the article itself seems to be forgotten as we descend into the usual pro and anti cycling arguments.

I don't think that we are ever going to find a happy medium where drivers, cyclists and pedestrians can all co-exist in harmony, but if more of us try to shy away from arguing and realise that we are all people we might start to make a difference.

I think that's more than enough navel gazing for this week so I just have one small reminder for all the cyclists out there...USE YOUR LIGHTS AND MAKE SURE THEY WORK!!!