A sleeping bag for your bicycle

Keeping a bicycle under cover protects it from the weather and prying eyes, but with urban areas short on space, for many that's easier said than done. When a manufacturer of tents was challenged to address the problem, the result was BikeParka – a high-quality, fitted water-proof cover for bicycles.

In the same that way that today’s all-weather cyclists have forgone the traditional cagoule in favour of waterproof, yet breathable jackets, so BikeParka offers a technical alternative to a basic tarpaulin. Manufactured from rip-stop, the lightweight material used to fabricate sails, parachutes and kites, the BikeParka features sealed seams, an elasticated fit and a slot through which to pass a lock.

Most bike sizes are catered for by a range of sizes - including kids' bicycles - and prices start at around £30. See bikeparka.com

Win a BikeParka

We have a BikeParka Urban worth £40 to give away. To be in with a chance of winning, simply leave us a comment at the bottom of this page.

ETA cycle insurance - Excellent protection whatever the weather

ETA cycle insurance offers a sympathetic policy on storage. For example, as long as a shed door is locked, bicycles stored within do not require any further security. In addition, the policy covers stolen quick-release components and, for added peace of mind, claims are handled in-house. Furthermore, bikes are never devalued, no matter their age.

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Need to store your bicycle outside, but no garden shed?

Bike thieves go for easy pickings first, but are notoriously resourceful and brazen when need be. The upshot for cyclists is that thieves will remove hinges from a garden shed, pull aside fence posts to pop open side gates and even demolish a garage door to get to a good bike – even if it means doing it within earshot of a house. In answer to this threat, two enterprising cyclists from Southend have come up with Bike Vault, a robust storage box wholly manufactured in Britain using recyclable materials.