The cycling world is busily gearing up for Bike Week - scuse the pun. There are thousands of events going on up and down the county you can log on to www.bikeweek.org.uk to see just how many. The events range from the sublime to the ridiculous. Firmly routed in both these brackets is the midsummer madness ride in London. Southwark cyclists meet before the crack of dawn to see day break over the longest day from Primrose Hill. There's also an overnighter from Oxford to Dorset I think I'll follow their progress this year, then maybe join in the fun' next year!

As a run-up to Bike Week, Cyclox carried out a commuter challenge from Water Eaton park-and-ride. The challengers were a group of cyclists, a bus and a car. The cyclists were split over two routes the direct route and the scenic route. I took the scenic route a lovely ride through North Oxford and arrived three minutes after the park-and ride-bus. Not bad really.

All the cyclists, including Lord Mayor Jim Campbell, who was using only one leg, and the bike towing a 20kg motorised trailer, finished earlier than the car which took a whopping half an hour. Are commuters using their cars because they're faster and more efficient? I think they need to think again.

Taking the scenic route was delightful and very satisfying to see so many other cyclists out and about commuters, schoolchildren, parents. The most memorable sight was a mother with a child on a trail bike behind her and a cello strapped to her back. Wow, that's really showing off the wonder of two (or three!) wheels.

This year, employers are really getting in on the Bike Week act. Sir Digby Jones, director general of the Confederation for British Industry, often found on the opposite side of the fence to environmentalists, has recognised that encouraging cycling is a no-brainer for employers. "Healthy and green, cycling is worthy of the support of every business in the land," he was quoted as saying earlier in the year.

Events run by employers in Oxfordshire include cyclists' breakfasts, bike doctor sessions and a raffle for people cycling in. It makes sense for employers to support cyclists research has repeatedly shown that cyclists not only make it to work more promptly, they're less stressed when they get there and healthier people all round.

All employers should be able to help their employees get access to cheaper bikes for commuting. A fantastic tax break means that commuting cyclists should be able to buy tax free bikes through a salary sacrifice with their employer www.bikeforall.net for more details.

Could Bike Week be the reason that cycling had so much coverage in the national press last week? The Independent did a cycling supplement every day and the Daily Mail gave Nigel Havers the whole of page 13 to vent his spleen against cyclists. Oh well, I never liked him either! Oxford Mail readers should be pleased to be reading such a trend-setting paper from being the only cycling columnists we knew of, James Styring and I are now joined by Matt Seaton in the Guardian and Robert Hanks in the Independent.