A controversy has broken out in our house that needs a ruling from Father Christmas.

It’s been caused by my wife, who says she isn’t going to buy me a Christmas present this year - on account of I’ve already had one, apparently.

It started when I spotted a bike for sale in Recycles, the shop in Princes Street, and persuaded her that we needed to buy it.

She agreed, but as we wheeled it out of the shop, last week, she dropped the bombshell that “it can be your Christmas present”.

I was shocked, and quickly reminded her that I cycle to get fit and to do my bit for the environment, so when I buy a bike, it surely counts as essential transport, not a gift.

Indeed, if such things were decided on that basis, she should never have had that handbag or those boots last year, because the car was her present.

Her flimsy argument is partly based on the fact that I already have a bike, even though I have explained the complex but valid reasons for needing a second one. So it has turned into a test case that only Santa can judge.

I need him to confirm that the bike definitely doesn’t count as a present. And I can assure him I am still keen to receive all the other things on my list, such as that cider I have got a liking for.

If you are looking for a bike, by the way - and even if you want to get rid of one - there are many reasons for checking out Recycles.

You’ve heard of win-win situations, but what I love about Recycles is everybody wins. Cyclists go there for servicing, maintenance, repairs, free advice and even a cycling club.

But Recycles’ main business involves taking in donations of old bikes and beautifully renovating them so they can sell them to people like me.

So yes, Recycles recycle cycles, but you could say they recycle people too.

That’s because it is a Salvation Army-led social enterprise, attached to its hostel, Booth House. And the shop helps homeless people back into society by training them up as bike mechanics - an increasingly valuable trade for someone to have.

As I am a frequent customer and a proud member of the Recycles Cycling Club, earlier this year the boss of the shop asked me if I would write some articles for their website.

I was glad to, and it was my privilege to interview one of the mechanics, called Kevin, who told me his life story, with amazing frankness and honesty, and how Recycles had turned it around.You can read his story on the brand new Recycles website (recycles-swindon.co.uk), launched to coincide with the shop’s recent tenth birthday.

Who knows what Santa is going to bring me this year, but at a time of year when the homeless should be on our minds more than ever, Recycles is a gift that keeps on giving.