Rebecca's on her bike

I was a bit dubious at first about cycling to work. I haven't really been on a bike since I took my cycling proficiency test when I was 10 years old.

But as soon as I got used to the pedals, I found a new freedom, which has also given me an extra 10 minutes in bed.

Normally I walk to work from my house in Cherry Orchard to the Shropshire Star's Shrewsbury office by the railway station and it takes me 20 minutes at a brisk pace.

Getting on my bike on the first day, I was thrilled to find it only took me 10 minutes –- including the time it took me to get the bike out of the shed.

And I felt much healthier when I arrived in the office. As long as I am organised and remember to put my work shoes in my ruck sack, it works very well.

I was kitted out with my equipment – a Carrera Subway bike, helmet, lights and bike lock – by Halfords on the Meole Brace Retail Park.

Mike Gillian, a cycle expert at the store, recommended the Carrera Subway as the perfect bike for town and trail riding.

Halfords has pioneered a special "cycle to work" scheme, which allows people to get a bike hired from their employer, free from tax and national insurance.

Mike says: "It's a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike.

"It is really good for commuting. It's got road tyres so you can whiz around on it.

"It's one of our most popular bikes.

"A lot more people are cycling to work now.

"We see big companies getting in on the cycle-to-work scheme and people are signing up for it so they save on tax and they can pay off through their ways so it's not such a big buy all at once."

New research commissioned by Halfords found 44 per cent of commuting workers in the Midlands would consider using a bike if they lived close enough to the office.

But 33 per cent said they were prepared to cycle anywhere between three to 10 miles to work.

Louise Iles, from Halfords, says: "With the credit crunch and rising fuel prices, it's clear that the British workers are ready to get on their bikes – and quite right too.

"While we accept that bikes aren't feasible for every journey, if people living within as little as a five mile radius from work switched to pedal power, not only would they see immediate savings on their fuel bills but they would also benefit from improved fitness too."

With the recent success of the British cycling team at the Olympics, interest in the sport has increased and employers are being called upon to support their workers.

Louise says: "It seems that the Midlands workforce that does not currently cycle to work is calling on their employers to introduce other measures into the work place to make the cycle-commute easier, with just over 45 per cent wanting better wash/shower facilities and more secure storage facilities at work."

Not using your car for the next month if you have a half hour drive could save around £100 in petrol and burn 6,000 calories – about 15 mars bars.

Being on my bike has also helped me to explore more of Shrewsbury and I've even been out on weekends a long many of the town's cycle paths.

A favourite is along the weir by Castlefields and the path towards Sundorne, ending in Upton Magna.

My fiance has bought me a large rucksack so I can get all my stuff for the day – including my handbag on my back – and I just unpack when I get to work.

My only gripe about the bike is having to stretch over the back gate to lock and unlock the door . . . but for an extra 10 minutes in bed, I think I can live with that.

• To find out more about Halfords’ cycle to work scheme, log on to www.cycle2work.info