I have recently got into walking; this is quite a thing for me as I used to see walking as a sign of weakness.

When you can get somewhere so much quicker and see so much more by bicycle, why spend your precious time walking at half the pace?

But now I am a happy dog owner, the bicycle has been known to be left in the garage in favour of a good bit of muddy rambling avec chien.

Last week we spent a lovely afternoon climbing the Wittenham Clumps around Dorchester – but in my hastiness to leave I made the fatal choice of non-walking socks.

Footwear is rarely an issue when you’re cycling unless you prefer clip-ins or need protection on the mountains, so all this fuss over shoes is quite new to me.

But it’s true what they say – “its what’s on the inside that counts” – as I am now in a lot of pain and slightly peeved off, as I considered this gentle form of exercise relatively low risk compared to off road biking.

Pain is not something I actively encourage. I certainly don’t throw myself down hillsides into the nearest tree every week like my partner.

I prefer to stay on my bike these days, especially as I have ongoing knee issues from years of sports injuries and a flare-up is not something I welcome.

So when I came to jump on my bike and just swinging a leg over hurt, I was bitterly annoyed – how could just travelling on shank’s pony create such pain?

Well, I had twisted an ankle and sprained a calf, I had then ignored it and worn high heels for a night out, preferring to put pressure on the rest of my body, which has resulted in all-over malady.

Cycling with pain is not just sluggish but your concentration is shot. I feel like an elderly arthritic, eyes to floor and the miles going slowly.

The cold certainly doesn’t help – is it just me or does it take slightly longer to get going in the winter?

Personally I blame our central heating breakdown for the longevity of the pain.

Three days partying perhaps also doesn’t help (it was my birthday, in defence).

I’m about to take a painkiller as the sedentary life doesn’t really suit me, all in all it’s pretty miserable.

However, you’ll be glad to hear I am still pedalling; in fact, as your weight is largely supported on a bicycle, it’s actually more comfortable than walking once you get going.

The old sit up and beg is now being favoured over the mountain bike. I'll forsake the suspension over Port Meadow for the comfort of the granny bike until the pain eases.

It makes me wonder what those with only one bike do in such circumstances – resort to the car?

Well, I wouldn’t do that just yet but if my only choice of bike was a sporty racing number, I’d be behind the wheel before you could say tendonitis. So for the meantime the walking boots are being hung up and the bike is back in action, even if my pace by bike is roughly the same.