Sunny Sunday, Powsin, bikes

Sunny Sundays will become fewer and fewer as we head into autumn and then winter, so one must make the most out of them. get out into the Las Kabacki forest and go mad on your bicycle (where conditions allow of course. It's annoying to see cyclists hurtling at full throttle just inches from mums pushing prams). But the 900-hectare forest is large enough to provide stretches where you can open up (below). Suffice to say, like George W. Bush, when on my mountainbike I do not pootle around whistling show-tunes.

Especially good fun is the so-called 'Technical Trail' which runs inside the forest along its southern edge. Twisting and turning between trees, charging along here is exhilerating (helmets essential given the risk of getting whacked in the head by low-hanging branches).

Then right across the forest from south to north, to the railway line linking Warsaw's Metro to the outside world and the Metro Depot. To get up to the beautifully evocative trail running alongside the depot's sidings (below), one must first rush a five-metre high earth ramp along which the trail runs. There's only a 25m long run-up - not enough to accelerate to full speed - and the final part of the ascent is at least one-in-three. I used to be able to get to the top first time, today I managed on my third attempt (above left).

And finally on to Powsin (below), where the ride starts and finishes. At least a hundred other cyclists have had the same idea. Get out on a Sunday, cover 30-35km then relax with a beer and grilled pork shoulder (karkówka). It is a remarkable contrast with Britain, where Sunday sporting activity is usually team-based such as Sunday League soccer or rugby. In Warsaw, thousands of people take to the forest for jogging, Nordic walking or cycling. Would you witness such scenes in say, Richmond Park?