Cold start; keeping it going through the winter

At five o'clock it's tough to get out of bed, find your clothes and get it to the kitchen to make a coffee. This morning by twenty past five I had the bike running and on the road. Took me five minutes.

The trouble is it's taken two winters of practice to get here. Variously I've tried two different bike covers, two pairs of gloves, three pairs of bike trousers, the same Knox back protector, a chest protector, three helmets, four pairs of waterproof boots and an old hoody.

Do you remember that pseudo bike zen phrase; 'whatever bike you have is the best bike for you'? Well, it is kind of true. The best kit is the most comfortable, warm, waterproof that you currently own. If it's an old friend, worn in and still works then that's the best.

Kriega R35

This rucksack lived up to the strong recommendations it was getting. Ride Magazine, MCN and Bike Magazine all gave it gleaming reviews.

JB agrees.

It's in the little touches that the R35 really excels. The grippy pads on the inside of the chest and waist straps to stop it shifting at speed make a surprising difference to comfort and wearability on the road. The two zipped pockets at the front are, frankly, a genius idea. These pockets alone have saved me a cumulative time totalling hours whilst filling up. No need to take the pack off or scrabble inside an outer jacket; cards and cash are right there. I got so slick that all I had to take off was my right glove in order to hold the pump and punch in the pin. The side pockets (vertical zips on the back) are solid and waterproof and the space inside is just right. On the downside, for there must be balance in a really good review, under heavy load the shoulders still take a strain and the mesh pocket at the top is too small for most everyday kit (wallets, phones etc) combined.

Journeymanbiker's verdict: Sorted.