The last thing you'd expect a hardcore motoring show to promote is cycling, but that's what Top Gear did -- quite unintentionally -- in last night's episode screened on BBC2.
In a little stunt called "Race Across London" the three presenters and the show's infamous test driver "Stig" raced each other across the capital during peak hour traffic using four different forms of transport -- a speed boat (along the Thames), a bicycle, a car and the bus/tube/rail network -- to see who would get to London City Airport first. Guess who won?
Yes. The cyclist!!
Here's a preview, on You Tube, which will give you some idea of how the race worked.
Unfortunately, it doesn't really convey how aggressive Richard Hammond has to be to tackle London traffic. I've never heard so much swearing in my life!
