With the pandemic lockdowns acting as a catalyst, much fuss has been made in recent years of the advancement in indoor training technology. We even have a roundup of the myriad training platforms in this very issue (see page 54). Plenty of riders adopted it as a necessity during Covid and have subsequently come to appreciate it as a valuable training aid when outdoor riding doesn’t appeal for one reason or another.
The weather of the British winter is one of those reasons, and even we admit that it’s a pretty compelling one. However, just as indoor training technology has developed, kit for riding outdoors has got better too.
Jackets have never been so protective, yet neither have they offered such breathability. Mudguards are now sleek, and it’s easy to achieve a secure fit. Lights can be compact, but can still be dazzlingly bright and shine for ages. The best gloves balance dexterity with insulation nigh-on perfectly these days too.
We’ll admit winter rides can often be more type II fun than type I, but with the right kit you can shift a feeling of mild dread to one of anticipation as you tuck into that pre-ride porridge on a murky Sunday morning.
As the saying goes: there’s
