I’m going to mention the C word but don’t get offended, Oxford – it’s just I have fallen in love with another city. Cambridge. There, I said it.

I know deep down we are rivals, with competitive behaviour between the two universities and such similarities that tourists would be forgiven for asking where their coach has landed, but as a cyclist I have to say we have been beaten hands down in terms of facilities for bikes.

The facilities are so good that it seems Oxford City Council went into a deep sleep while Cambridge steamed ahead and laid the foundations for a world-class cycling city.

I rocked up in Cambridge on a Sunday without a bike but easily hired one from an impressive goliath of a bike shop, Cambridge Station Cycles. Located at the train station they had commuters’ needs wrapped up. Interestingly they have another shop located under the new John Lewis development, where they operate an inside secure bike park for 500 bicycles under a city council agreement. I have seen these all over Europe but when will Oxford get one?

Getting from the station to the city centre was a complete doddle. There is a brilliantly signed route via quiet roads and once there I popped into the tourist information centre for a free cycle map. Now don’t get me wrong, Oxford City Council does produce a free cycle map but it’s just a doodle on a piece of paper compared to the Cambridge one. With this in hand, I manoeuvred around most of the city on dedicated bike paths without having to battle with the cars. It also covers the surrounding villages, unlike our map, and includes shared paths that are virtually unheard of in Oxford.

Because of campaigning in Cambridge, the city now has shared routes for pedestrians and cyclists that work. Nowhere did I see a cyclist flying down one of these paths with no regard to the pedestrian users.

Conversely, pedestrians were being given priority and bikes and walkers were operating in harmony.

It is truly a transportation utopia and the sun was even shining upon me as I happily cycled around in my perfect little cycle dream.

One of my favourite things to do in Oxford is to cycle across port meadow and follow the river to the Wolvercote. Without breaking a sweat, you can feel as though you are in the country and far away from the city for the afternoon.

Cambridge doesn’t disappoint on this either – you can cycle along Grantchester meadows and stop at the famous Orchard Tea Garden in Grantchester.

Just two miles from the city students have been frequenting the Orchard for hundreds of years, spending idyllic afternoons drinking tea this is where some of Cambridge’s most intellectual and famous thinkers have whiled away the day.

Well I feel terrible, I feel as though I have cheated on a spouse.

Oh Oxford, I love you but my needs are being better met elsewhere! The great thing about visiting other cities, however, is you return with an enlivened capacity to change things for the better.

If you want to help turn Oxford into a world-class cycling city then join Cyclox the cycling campaign for Oxford. You can get details on their website at www.cyclox.org