On your bike

9:33am Saturday 7th April 2007

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Blur bassist turned organic farmer Alex James has urged people visiting the countryside to ditch their cars and get on their bikes.

Mr James, who runs a farm at Kingham, near Chipping Norton, encouraged countryside lovers to make the most of their surroundings by seeing it at a slower pace - and helping save the environment at the same time.

The rock star spoke to the Oxford Mail at the launch of a new cycle route through the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.

Riding his bike down the hill from the start of the route in Kingham to nearby Bledington, he told villagers and fellow cyclists gathered by the village green, that more needed to be done to persuade people to get into the saddle.

He said: "It's hard to encourage people to do anything. But if you make it easy for them, they will do it more.

"My main concern with cycling is that it's dangerous. But these routes provide safe loops of entertainment, and I hope people will use them. So get on your bikes."

The 10-mile circular route, which links Kingham with Bledington, Oddington and Adlestrop, is one of five new routes launched through the Cotswolds.

He said: "As a rock and roll dignitary, I lend my whole support to this project.

"Cycling down here today was an epiphany. It was absolutely wonderful, but I don't think I'd do it in the rain."

Mr James said he had been a keen cyclist since childhood.

"It's an incredibly efficient machine and gets you around really well," he said.

"There is something pleasing about cycling. It's pretty sexy. However, I did have horrendous accidents as a child. And even putting a child seat on my bike made me nervous.

"Things have got harder for cyclists. But, on the other hand, bikes have got cheaper and better."

Since moving to west Oxfordshire three years ago, Mr James has become an enthusiastic supporter of the countryside. He is also a presenter on BBC Radio 4's On Your Farm.

He farms 150 acres and is developing his skills as a cheesemaker.

But he gave away few clues as to what potential cheese customers could expect.

"It's still at a prototype stage," he said. "I haven't even come up with a name yet."

He said he was enjoying Oxfordshire life: "I love it here. The charms are subtle and there is peace."

The cycle routes have been developed with the help of Gloucestershire Rural Community Council and Cotswold District Council.