I have been slowing down recently, taking it easy, and enjoying Oxford at a slow pace. I have been cruising through Broad Street instead of whizzing straight through, I have been admiring the architecture of our great city instead of keeping my eyes down on the road, and I have been chatting to fellow cyclists as we enjoy the same pace instead of frantically overtaking in my rush to be somewhere.

It’s not old age or injury that has slowed me down, oh no, it’s all because of a bicycle and its lack of gears.

The bicycle in question is not a trendy fixed gear or even a single speed bike; it’s an Omafiet as the Dutch would call it, literally translated as ‘granny bike’.

I decided to treat myself in the sales and get myself a Dutch roadster; I thought it could accompany me on an evening’s jaunt, but seems to have sneaked its way into my everyday life and the two of us now merrily make our daily trips through Jericho – cruising along enjoying the scenery together.

My Omafiet had to be a Gazelle, as that is what I sell in my shop – Bainton Bikes. And although it shares its name with one of the fastest animals on the planet, I can’t see myself outrunning a cheetah on it just yet!

What it does share with its namesake is elegance, only seen when you cycle with gentle intention.

‘Gentle intention!’ I hear all you speed junkies calling out in dismay. Yes, I no longer habitually jump on my bike with my thoughts concentrated on the destination alone. Instead, I find I am now wishing the journey was longer because the ride there is so pleasurable. I don’t want it to end.

Of course roadsters these days come with plentiful extras: multiple gears, hub brakes, and I have even seen them with drinks holders. However, I decided to go with tradition and chose a coaster brake and a single gear ratio.

The beauty of a single speed is it’s just you and that single gear. You see the hill, you set your sights and you go for it.

No thoughts of changing gear will enter your head as you know you have to go for it or else you will fail.

Single speed has been no problem, but what has taken a bit of getting used to is the coaster brake. This is ‘pedal backwards to stop’ territory; usually, but not exclusively, the brake of choice for our European neighbours.

Many of my friends have been taken aback by my choice in brake but really they are such fun.

Okay, there are downsides when getting started because you can’t rotate the cranks to a good position to push off, but if you’re in no hurry to beat the guy next to you at the lights then why worry?

I have a hand operated front brake as well, just to be safe, but the coaster seems to take precedence.

So with no gears and a coaster brake my feet do all the work now.

It’s a simple life and I really am enjoying it.