For those of you who aren’t so keen on my writing-related posts, you’ll be pleased to know this is on a different topic, and instead of holding forth with my usual arrogance and self-confidence, I’m asking a couple of questions…

Regular (that is, ‘long-suffering’) readers – or those of you who’ve read my profile – may recall that I like to do a bit of running, but this year I’m looking to add to that, whilst simultaneously diminishing my waistline, by having a go at a Duathlon. I know a Triathlon’s the more famous event (and it seems the London Triathlon is pretty famous internationally), but until I’ve done something about the measurement around my equator, I don’t think that humanity should be subject to the sight of me in a wetsuit. So, it’s running plus cycling in 2009.

It’s the addition of cycling which is the unknown and uncertain area for me, though, as I haven’t been the owner of a bike for at least a decade, and I’m pretty certain that technology will have advanced quite a bit bike-wise in that period. So, if any of you can advise me on the type or model I should be looking into, I’d be really grateful. Whatever model I buy needs to be as light as possible, but also sturdy, as the duathlon involves run-cycle-run, and so the bike’ll be chucked about a fair bit (especially when I dump it and get back to the second bout of running). And if I can use it for everyday, non-sport purposes, that’d be good too (though I have some sizable reservations about cycling in London, as you might imagine).

Anyway, if you can recommend a suitable model or a firm who might be able to help me sort myself out with some wheels, I’d appreciate it – and if any of you have done a Triathlon or Duathlon and want to try to dissuade me from doing one, or to give advice on how to do so and not end up knackered or dead*, please leave a comment or e-mail me at twowheelsgood[at]johnsoanes.co.uk.

Oop, almost forgot – in terms of size and cost, I need something that’ll be all right for my moderately lengthy legs (about 35″), and which costs less than £fourdigits – and it has to be available in black.

Any pointers gratefully received – thanks!

*If I wind up dead as a result of some silly physicality such as a duathlon or climbing a mountain, I think it’s fair to say, m’wife will kill me.