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5 Tips for Creating a Winter Pocket of Adventure

Vicky Balfour

British winter weather is as fickle as its summer weather - some glorious crisp and sunny days but an equal measure of grey, damp, bitter days when the cloud cover barely rises above the tree line.

It’s easy on those days to pine for the return of summer or even a glorious Alpine winter, but with a few tweaks you can create a pocket of adventure that is fun, rewarding and returns you to the moral high ground of showing winter that you’re not giving up!

Last weekend CeCe and I coupled up our bikes and headed off into the fog to ride to the beach. Here’s our top tips for making it easier and appealing to go on a winter pocket of adventure.

Well begun is half done

Mary Poppins was right; the thought of getting the bike loaded and getting out is harder than completing the ride.

When it’s grey and damp outside, with a persistent suggestion of rain, it’s easy to sack-off the ride and hop in the car. Cars are warm and dry, it’s a tempting alternative! However, cars aren’t great for the environment, parking can be a pain and cycling is more fun. The key is to stack the cards in your favour - essentially to make it harder to cancel the ride than to get started.

I find linking the ride to an existing commitment or arranging to meet up with friends makes it easier to stick with the plans: we’ve got to go anyway, so we might as well go by bike.

Next I work out how long it will take me to get there, add in some extra time to relieve pressure and then factor in time to load up the bike. Once I’ve done this I have a departure time to work towards and I’m good to go.

Dressing for winter riding

The key to this is to balance warmth and over-heating. CeCe feels the cold more than me so she has a few extra layers but the basics are the same.

We swap our summer gloves for winter ones - anything with a windproof outer is great (if you are anticipating riding in the rain, then prioritise waterproofing over windproofing).

Neck, head and wrist warmers - keeping these points toasty does a lot for my sense of well-being on a winter ride. Depending on how cold it is I will either use a simple cotton neck warmer or a woolen one. Recently I discovered a dedicated headband by Galibier which is soft and warm, unlike a neck warmer it doesn’t cover the whole head so gives a bit of ventilation under the helmet.

Wrist warmers are a secret weapon in the battle against cold hands. The ones I use are made of fleecy material and cover the junction between your jacket and your gloves. They fit snugly under your gloves and give an extra warmth that keeps circulation flowing on even the coldest rides.

Visibility

On these grey days the light plays tricks and it’s more important than ever to make yourselves visible to others. CeCe’s favourite colour is orange so she’s never complained about wearing a hi-vis jacket (phew) but a brightly coloured helmet is another option. Just like with cars, it’s worth using lights in daytime as well.

Delicious hot chocolate from Land & Sea, Tankerton, Kent

Winter picnics, coffee shops and pitstops - replenishing the warmth

I love a picnic. It’s a well-known fact that food eaten outdoors tastes better and makes you feel like you’re on an adventure. When it comes to a winter picnic the best food is soup. Warming, nourishing and easy to transport, it’s a no-brainer.

A few months ago I treated myself to a dedicated flask for carrying soup. It’s beautiful and the thought of using that is often sufficient to get me out the door and pedaling! I also have a larger flask that I fill with tea and leave in the van to drink after a few hours out on the trails with my mountain bike, but that’s another story.

My favourite is sweet potato with ginger (recipe below), with sourdough to mop up every drop. Now may also be the time to swap your usual coffee for a long hot chocolate with all the toppings. Guaranteed to warm the hard to reach parts.

Extra layers for when you stop

You may be warm while you’re pedaling but a soon as you stop it’s easy to get cold. Pop a padded jacket and wooly hats into your pack or basket means you have extra layers ready when you stop. If you have space, a lightweight picnic mat such as these great ones by Pacmat will keep your bottom dry (and therefore warm) when you sit on a damp bench or the ground.

So, as you can see, with a few modifications, the grey depths of winter are no reason to abandon your favourite rides and adventures.





Sweet potato & ginger soup recipe

This recipe, based on an original by Skye Gyngell, is my go-to winter warmer. Its easy to make, tastes good and is so filling.

This makes a vat of soup - probably enough for 6-8 servings (depending on how thick you like it to be).

Ingredients:

  • 5/6 sweet potatoes (peeled and roughly chopped)

  • 2 red onions (roughly chopped)

  • 3cm chunk of fresh ginger (peeled and chopped fairly small)

  • Stock or stock powder (chicken or vegetable depending on your preference)

  • Maple syrup - 1-2 tbsp

  • Dark soy sauce -1-2 tbsp

  • Chunky peanut butter (optional but unless you’re nut allergic, I strongly recommend you include it) - 1-2 tbsp

Method:

  • Cook the chopped onion in a large casserole pot or pan until soft

  • Add chopped sweet potatoes and ginger and mix well with the onions

  • Add stock powder and fill pan with boiling water until it covers the ingredients; cover with a lid and simmer until soft (approximately 20 minutes)

  • When the sweet potatoes are soft, remove the pan from the heat and add maple syrup; soy sauce and peanut butter (if using)

  • Blitz the soup - I use a hand-mixer for this - and check taste

  • Add more maple syrup, soy sauce and peanut butter if desired and blitz again.

  • I like it fairly thick but you can add more water to make it a lighter soup

This soup lasts in the fridge or I freeze it in servings so that I can defrost and enjoy another time.

My winter pocket of adventure favourites.

Some of these are an investment but I try to buy well and buy less, so I prefer to invest in an item that will do the job well and last me for years to come. Alternatives are available (I am not sponsored or supported by any of these brands).