Cycling thermos for cold weather riding

Now it's got chilly, why not swap your water bottle for a bicycle thermos and enjoy a mid-ride slug of piping-hot coffee?

The Deboyo Race is a stainless steel thermos that keeps drinks hot, or cold, for up to 12 hours at a time - perfect for a cold commute.

Win a bicycle thermos

We have a bicycle thermos 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

It's wrong to assume that bicycles are the worst possible option in snow; a light covering shouldn't pose any difficulties for the experienced rider. But how cold is cold?

The pioneer adventure cyclists of the 1890s who took to the snowy wilds of northern Canada might have carried the recently invented thermos flask, but they rode in extreme temperatures of -30 without technical clothing or specialised bikes - it was to be another 80 years before the mountain bike was to be developed.

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.”

Yes, you read that right. Minus 30. Makes this week's UK temperatures seem positively balmy.

Protection for you & your bike (whatever the weather)

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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.