[Closed] 9 Creature Comforts To Make Winter Riding Better

Josie Dew (famous cycle explorer) once suggested that a bike poncho makes a great portaloo for women travellers. No doubt these changing robes could serve the same function . . .

I've had a Dryrobe (the waterproof one) for 3 or 4 years now. Great bit if kit. Dont leave home (when the weather is pants) without it.
I use it a lot for before and after open water swimming too. I'm pretty tall and its still ok for getting changed in - the arm holes / sleeves are well sized to allow you to get arms inside / outside without problem and without dislocating a shoulder.

I've not tried it as a portaloo however.

Been meaning to get a changing robe for ages. Finally ordered one now as the last couple of rides ended with me being pretty wet so needing to get changed in a busy carpark!
Another thing I'd add to the list is a piece of karrimat or similar to stand on whilst getting changed.
An Ikea bag or supermarket bag for life is great for chucking wet kit in and costs not a lot.
Jetboil and an aeorpress / supply of teabags / hot chocolate is worth packing if a cafe visit isn't on the cards too.

Anyone else got any essentials not on the list?

TBH I can't see how you beat a totally standard doormat for standing on and changing.

Campervan for hot lunch
Eberspacher heater in campervan for drying yourself and shoes

for me it has to be a 40Litre tub in winter, fits muddy cloths shoes, helmet and bag,,
https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-trug-duck-egg-40l/p/0414871
and a rubber matt

Love my Booicore. Bought mine of that wonderful Ed Oxley chap in a car park many years ago. I received much ridicule from others including Mrs Wachowchow. None of which had found themselves B... naked in a car park before I guess. Anyway, many years on I still use it regularly, when I can wrestle it of Mrs W that is.

Oh my, how can I get hold of Dry Sure shoe dryers before I leave work??? NEED!

Even cheaper there is a £16 towel poncho thing from Decathlon.

is that shoe bag a joke.. £39,

and the shoe dryer, i've always used newspaper balls scrunched into the toe since my days in the gelpac snappies sunday junior football league with my footy boots, an overnight under the radiator, next day take out the wet paper, (reapply is neccesary) but usually leave them for another day and they are dry.

I need one of those changing robes in my life. It got to be better than hiding behind the car door

"Jetboil and an aeorpress / supply of teabags / hot chocolate is worth packing if a cafe visit isn’t on the cards too."

Or a thermos.

+1 for stuffing your shoes with newspaper.

20 quid for a polythene bag???
Do people actually buy this kind of stuff, cos if they do I’m packing my job in and going into business!

@augustuswindsock - I think it's actually Polyethylene. 😉

Although clothing and probably outside the spirit of this article, over knee sealskin socks were my big discovery last winter - having perviously tried the short version and not seen what the fuss was about, the knee length are in a whole different league - a pair of merino socks underneath for added warmth and no bother about whether your 5 10s have dried from the wet day before. Get back to the car, whip them off to reveal clean dry legs. Just remember to dry them inside out

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