Swap your water bottle for a bicycle thermos this winter

When the weather feels this cold, why not swap your water bottle for a bicycle thermos? A mid-ride slug of coffee raises the spirits and does away with the risk of a water bottle freezing over.

The Stanley one-handed vacuum insulated mug is perfect as a bicycle thermos. One handed and fully leak-proof, you can drink your morning pick-me-up on the go one handed and with no spills. It keep drinks hot or cold 7 hours or iced 30 hours.

Win a bicycle thermos

We have a Stanley bicycle thermos with a quick release bottle holder that's big enough to accommodate it worth £40 to give away. Simply leave a comment at the bottom of this page and let us know what you'd fill it with. We'll pick a winner next week.

Cold weather cycling

This week's commutes might feel cold, but it's always a question of context. The pioneer adventure cyclists of the 1890s who took to the snowy wilds of northern Canada without the benefit of modern clothing (and 80 years before mountain bikes) knew a thing or two about cycling in the extreme cold. The Great Gold Rush drew 100,000 prospectors to the Klondike region of the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1896 and 1899. Those who didn't have the money to invest in dog teams used bicycles and rudimentary cold weather gear.

Max Hirschberg was 19 when he took to a bicycle to join the gold rush. His journal gives a fascinating insight into the cold weather gear of the day:

“The day I left Dawson, March 2, 1900, was clear and crisp, 30° below zero. I was dressed in a flannel shirt, heavy fleece-lined overalls, a heavy mackinaw coat, a drill parka, two pairs of heavy woolen socks and felt high-top shoes, a fur cap that I pulled down over my ears, a fur nose piece, plus fur gauntlet gloves. On the handlebars of the bicycle I strapped a large fur robe. Fastened to the springs, back of the seat, was a canvas sack containing a heavy shirt, socks, underwear, a diary in waterproof covering, pencils and several blocks of sulfur matches. In my pockets I carried a penknife and a watch.”

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The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.

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