9 Creature Comforts To Make Winter Riding Better

I hate to be the one to say it, but winter is approaching. And in the time it took me to type that, it’s probably arrived. But let’s not see this as a negative – it’s cold, so layer up and get excited for a bubble bath after your ride. It’s wet, take some spare socks and look forward to a hot chocolate by the fire. I LOVE winter riding and all the rewards that follow. Yes, dry trails and not needing to wash your bike after every ride are nice, but sloppy mud turning the trail into a slip ‘n’ slide produces more smiles than dust in your eyes does – FACT.

So to share my love of the colder, darker, wetter months I have compiled a handy list of pre and post-ride comfort items. A little something to help get you out the door in the first place… and a little something more to welcome you back through it.

1. Drysure Active Shoe Dryers

Price: £24.99
From: Drysure

Snigger.

These neat little shoe dryers are more of an aid than a cure, but let’s be honest, with a pair of wet FiveTens we need all the help we can get. Claiming to air dry shoes twelve times faster than normal air drying, using no heat or electricity, you’ve really got nothing to lose in trying them. The rigid outer shell houses a fabric worm filled with silica gel beads to absorb moisture. Not only that, they also help to reduce fungal growth (eww) and bacteria (eeewwwww) which in turn will reduce smells (yey).

This was not a good day.

I feel that a UK mountain biker putting these to the test is quite unfair, however I can honestly say I notice a difference. If my shoes are just damp, they dry out quicker for sure. These have become a reflex after riding – if my shoes don’t have feet in them, they have these in. And for the niche market of people who are stupid enough to leave their brand new camera in a soggy backpack overnight, take the silica worms out and pop them in a bag with your camera to draw the condensation out.

2. ION Universal Utility Bag

Price: £19.95
From: ION Products

Keep all the trail sludge in one place.

Upgrade your blue Ikea bags with this ION utility bag. A convenient ‘all-in’ bag with a zip to stop your slushy kit falling out in the car. The bag is made of 80% polyethylene to resist water, has two sets of handles (one short set, one longer set for over the shoulder), and a velcro pocket either side with padded material for your dry items, or scratchable ones. It’s a great size for throwing everything in to transport it home, and keeps all the muck away from your vehicle.

3. ION Universal Shoe Bag

Price: £14.95
From: ION Products

Pulls both zips at once. What a time to be alive.

This is an item that I could live without, but I don’t want to. A neat waterproof bag that holds it’s shoebox shape quite well, includes a ventilation hole and zips either side that are held together with a handle for when your hands are too cold to function properly. Never again will you get back to the car, caked in mud, only to discover you forgot to take a carrier bag for your shoes. It wipes clean/dry and seems to be spacious enough for the bulkiest of riding shoes. My only issue with this bag is the lack of air flow, which has left me with some very damp stinky shoes after wet rides if I forget to take them out when I get home. Use it for transport, not for storage.

4. SciCon Shoe Bag

Price: £39
From: SciCon

Very well ventilated.

Another shoe transportation unit, only this one is more suitable to leave your shoes in since the top is made out of mesh fabric to allow air to circulate. The bag features a carry handle and an additional zip pocket on the back for your socks. At first glance it doesn’t look to be big enough for all riding shoes (I’m thinking of a size 8 and beyond) but it’s quite deceiving, I managed to fit some size 11 bulky men’s shoes in there and zipped it up with ease.

5. Handpresso Auto Travel Pack

Price: £140
From: Handpresso

Once you’ve got it set up, it’s a neat little unit.

This hand held coffee maker comes in a handy little carry case packed full of everything you need for a coffee on the go (coffee not included). It plugs into your 12v socket in your car and claims to take just over four minutes to heat up, however it’s closer to ten minutes in my experience.

Just turn it over and press go.

The water reservoir holds 110ml, simply fill the reservoir, insert a soft coffee pad and hold it over your cup to pour.

One full brew fills a medium Costa cup to here.

The coffee comes out hot (not luke warm), but there just wasn’t enough of it for my liking. It’s a very convenient piece of kit, and the type of thing you can have in your van at all times because it packs down small and doesn’t leak.

6. Booicore Changing Towel

Price: £30.99
From: Booicore

Snack pocket.

A wearable towel with a hood, sleeves and a snack pocket. I really can’t fault this item – since it arrived I have used it 8 days a week, and I find more uses for it as time goes by. So the main use is after a bike ride, particularly a soggy one, where I can throw this on top of my riding kit and remove it without losing dignity. Some rides, if I’m going straight home, I’ll travel back in this. I also use it as a dressing gown, and it’s coming snowboarding with me in January for hanging up next to the hot tub.

Taadaa!

There’s a good selection of colours to choose from, they’re one size fits most, and they’re a generous size to allow for you to get changed underneath.

7. Dryrobe Towel Changing Robe

Price: From £35.00
From: Dryrobe

Stood in the rain getting the worst of the mud off.

Another towel robe, this time from Dryrobe. These ones come in a choice of sizes and colours, with extra arm coverage to keep you cosy whilst you get changed.

Caught with her pants down!

Made from 100% cotton, the Dryrobe is super soft and lightweight enough to dry out quickly. This is another item that I don’t know how I lived with out it, just for the convenience and how easy it makes the post-ride clean up.

8. Dryrobe Advanced

Price: From £70.00
From: Dryrobe

What splash back?

Another robe from Dryrobe, only this one is so much more than a towel. Fleece lined with a waterproof outer, two pockets, hood and a two way zip. Perfect for after a winter ride, keeping you warm and dry whilst you pack all your gear away and wash down your bike.

One of many uses for the Dryrobe Advance.

I have used this Dryrobe just to walk to my van during a particularly heavy downpour, to take photos in the rain, wash my bike, wash my van, I’ve even ridden a bike in it during a storm in Todmorden. Anywhere you need to keep warm and/or dry, this is the robe for you.

9. Singletrack Two-Way Beanie

Price: £17.99 – Discounts available for members
From: Singletrack

The bunched up option.

Our sweet new beanies are available in four colours, and can be worn two ways. They’re super soft material, with no garish branding, just a little cog to let people know you have excellent taste in magazines.

Folded over.

So to conclude, please don’t let the weather put a downer on your bike ride. It’s more rewarding getting to the end of a ride and having to peel your clothes off, pour water out of your shoes and plan your entire evening around getting back to an acceptable level of comfort. See you on the trails!

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Amanda Wishart

Art Director

Amanda is our resident pedaller, who loves the climbs as much as the descents. No genre of biking is turned down, though she is happiest when at the top of a mountain with a wild descent ahead of her. If you ever want a chat about concussion recovery, dealing with a Womb of Doom or how best to fuel an endurance XC race, she's the one to email.