Thinking about Christmas presents? With only three full weeks left to shop for them, I’m starting to think about what to get everybody, although I’ll probably leave it to the last minute as usual.

One friend has already posted her status on Facebook with an annoying picture of all her presents’ beautifully gift-wrapped and under the tree.

Needless to say, as I am not a born Christmas lover and am fundamentally lazy about this time of year, I have no presents as of writing. Conversely, my partner absolutely loves Christmas and everything about it, and already has certain gifts organised.

I, on the other hand, am more like the Grinch that belatedly gives wine bottles that I find under the sink and avoids high streets like the plague in an attempt to pretend it isn’t happening AGAIN!

And even when woken up on that magical day with Champagne for breakfast and a stocking full of presents, I would rather turn over and get an extra 10 minutes in bed.

Although I can’t seem to share in my partner’s over-enthusiastic approach, I can share his sentiments when it comes to kids’ gifts. Already a parent, he strongly believes kids should still receive bicycles for Christmas presents. He warmly remembers receiving his treasured mountain bike on Christmas Day, and in fact he still had it when I met him, some 15 years later, fondly telling me the story of that fantastic day Santa brought him two new wheels.

“I don’t understand why kids don’t get bikes for Christmas anymore,” he ponders every year.

Maybe the bicycle is seen as too much of a necessity these days? Perhaps in Oxford this could be true, but all over the UK? I guess not.

I wonder how many children don’t even cycle in the UK? It’s probably quite an alarming number, with parents considering a bicycle ride on UK roads as tantamount to sending your kids to the slaughter.

Or maybe they are just too expensive for some. But seriously, if you have the wonga and your kid is in need of a new bike, give it some serious thought.

My bicycle was my lifeline as a kid – as soon as I was allowed out on my own it enabled me to reach friends quickly, saving valuable playing time. Indeed, it was my best friend and saw me through some good years.

I have fond memories of all my bikes as a child and where they took me. On the other hand, I don’t have many memories of playing my Sega console; just a faint worry of all the hours I spent on Sonic the Hedgehog.

Yeah, I’d say if I was nine again and Santa asked me what I wanted, a shiny new bike would be top of the list. The only problem then would be how to wrap the damn thing...