My family and friends know me as a keen cyclist and, true to form, one of my first purchases in Brisbane was a bicycle. Those of you who have bought a bike—and the surveys would suggest that this is significantly more than those of you regularly use one—know that the bicycle is only the half of it, with the accessories costing as much again. Certainly in the UK you need the lights and lock, and, unless you plan to be a fair weather peddler, you'll need some waterproofs. These can seem expensive until you compare them with the cost of a minor service for a car.

In Brisbane there are two other important things to buy before you leave the bike shop. The first is the water bottle, which you need if you intend to go more than about 100 metres. The 20 ice cubes topped up with refrigerated water in my bottle each morning melt in less than two kilometres of travel.

The second purchase is the cycle helmet. Many health advocates in …