Well, all the papers are talking about it, a recession's coming and it's going to affect us all.

Here then are a few simple tips from a cyclist about riding the storm when it hits.

Well, firstly, that upgrade, that dream car you ogle - think again.

Fuel prices are going up, and they're going to keep going up. Try filling up your wallet with a wad of notes from the cash machine and now chuck them all down the drain.

When friends who drive say to me "that journey only cost me £2.50 etc in fuel", I think - cycling costs me nothing, no car tax or insurance and fuel is chocolate (yes, chocolate!), much cheaper per mile.

Get a decent bike and invest in some decent panniers (bags) to carry your precious documents. If important professors and the like have managed to cycle round Oxford for the last 20, 30 or 40 years, I'm sure your important business-suited self can do it, too.

But for the journeys we can't cycle, buses in Oxford are fairly frequent on main routes.

And here's where we need your lobbying skills.

Oxford is behind other cities because you cannot transfer bus tickets between buses of different companies.

Fares are also expensive and if you have more than one child, it is cheaper to drive, making a mockery of our bus friendly city.

Back to your precious' - the bike. So you've already got a bike and it's in the shed. Invest in your bike. If it's a good bike and strong, get it fixed so it's safe and comfortable to ride.

There's nothing worse than riding a razor saddle with no padding, or hearing that click or that squeak from an un-oiled chain.

You could, of course, get a DIY fix-it book and mend your own bike.

Or get it fixed at a good bike shop where they know what they're doing. It goes without saying that the first thing you'll notice is how much cheaper it is mending and servicing a bike than a car.

So now you're quids in, how else can you cut corners on your budget? Well, you'll already be fitter, and as doing exercise means you'll feel more energetic, you can also cut your expensive gym membership and get out and do some cycle rides at the weekend.

You could also add little gadgets to your bike like a mobile phone charger - did you know leaving the charger plugged into the mains draws electricity from the grid all the time? With electricity prices going up, try charging it by pedal power.

Finally, if you cycle to local markets around the city, you will hopefully save money, but more importantly, you're investing in businesses that are Oxford-based.

Small towns that keep their local shops tend to cope better when recession hits.

Keeping jobs for people you know works better when the businesses are locally owned - they're less likely to clear off if the going gets tough. In Totnes, Devon, they've even got their own money.

Totnes Pounds can be spent in all local shops as well as earned and this helps to keep business both healthy and local.

And let's all hope the recession doesn't hit for a while.