Autumn and winter days in the UK tend to fall in either of two directions – cold, dry and crisp or cold, wet and soggy.

After a few days of the former, which followed an unseasonably warm spell which prompted DA into a lunchtime spin around Regent’s Park, the latter has struck with a vengeance. Autumn inconsistency at its worst.

And while autumn tints make for scenic riding and superb photography, once rain falls, dry leaves sprayed across the tarmac become tricky to navigate on slick tyres.

As majestic as London Plane trees are, once scattered, their long, broad, sodden leaves are a menace on the opening corner or final furlong of my commute.

And it’ll be some time before the last of the leaves have fallen and decomposed or blown from the road by an icy wind.

So much for November hues…