I’ve a few pet topics and no doubt I’ve bored all my friends (and many others) with my ramblings. In particular, I like to bang on about:

* Scotland’s fantastic outdoors playground.

* The lack of female cyclists.

I’m lucky enough to have a job that sometimes allows me to write about my pet topics. For example:

* I’ve been the guide writer of VisitScotland’s walks, cycling and adventure guides for a few years.

* I recently wrote a family walking guide and a family cycling guide for the Sunday Mail.

* I have put together the Herald’s Explore Scotland guide for three years.

* Recently the Scotsman asked me to write a few features about outdoors activities in Perthshire.

I’ve had many articles published in the UK press about my cycling endeavours, and also the benefits of cycling for health and fitness. Cycling Scotland asked me the other week to put together a feature about women and cycling, the benefits, the hows and the “why aren’t more women cycling”.

Of course, I also write about both topics in this blog. Endlessly!

Then this week Leigh from the fab website Filles_a_velo, which focuses on women cyclists in Scotland, asked if I’d have time to write a wee guest blog. Something about cycling and women. I’ll be following her blog with eager interest. Cycling is a great form of exercise and tones all those areas of the body that us women complain about (endlessly!), that is bums and thighs. Cycling is a great alternative form of transport, too, and saves money and the environment. It’s also a highly sociable activity. I’d love to see more women out on their bikes.