I'm not generally one for sporting heroes, but Lance Armstrong -- who has announced his retirement from competitive cycling at the end of the season -- is definitely up there with my personal greats.

The way he's overcome adversity has been a real inspiration -- and in a vain attempt to copy him I'm following his training programme as I prepare for my first duathlon.

This morning I took my bike in for its annual service -- meaning I had to take the tube into work.

It was a rude reminder of all the reasons I cycle instead of taking public transport.

Smelly, sour-faced tube rats muttering inanely into their mobile phones, packed train carriages knee-deep in trash and general commuter misery.

Give me two wheels every time.