Oxford is a bit depressing by bike at the moment.

One minute, the sun is shining like we’re all in California, the next day it does a back flip to remind us the British summer will not consist of heatwaves and ice creams but as you should expect, there will be an abundance of rain and major dips in the mercury.

Waterproofs to the ready then, but if you cycle regardless of the weather like me and have experienced the city by bike in the last few months, come rain or shine you would have noticed the constant series of road works popping up.

Roadworks are not pleasant for anybody regardless of your mode of transport – except the tar companies that is – and although I feel slightly sorry for the motorised traffic out there, I’ve got to say it’s been pretty dire for the cyclists that have to traverse the city every day.

It’s meant to be the start of the season for the fair weather rider, as the sun dons his hat and smiles down on our little city, more and more inexperienced cycle commuters will be switching to two wheels for the summer. What a lovely surprise they must be getting: traffic jams city-wide, temporary junctions at the sites of major road works and unexpected downpours from Mother Nature.

Jump off the train and you will meet the massive Frideswide square redevelopment, visit Headington or the hospitals and you will doubtless get a taster of the London road resurfacing and widening, come in from Botley and hears the horns of frustrated drivers sat in queues thanks to the closure of the A420 and that’s not to mention The Plain work and the closure of roads after the Randolph fire. The only safe haven are our waterways and off-road cycle routes. If you don’t know them, get yourself a Cyclox cycle map now: it’s invaluable.

So what can a cyclist do to cheer themselves up in this time of need? Well, it’s obvious the one thing that always brings a smile to a cyclist’s face is a nice new shiny bike. So that’s what I have gone and done, I’ve ordered myself something brightly coloured, fun to ride, not too expensive but probably an offensive price tag to someone who doesn’t cycle or understand the need for multiple bikes. But quite importantly, it will handle a pothole or two and will be as happy on road as off, so that’s the road works taken care of.

The bright colour will keep me visible in the mass of traffic jams and because of the excitement a new bike brings it will keep me motivated to soldier on in this dark hour of Oxford cycling history.

The only consolation we have is that when the road works have ceased and it’s back to business as usual there may be some improvement to the cycle routes and perhaps some better weather. But both are in another’s hands for now, so we must make the best of it, as I will out on my lovely new bike.