Another hugely successful year for road cycling in the UK has inspired thousands of new cyclists to take to the road.

If you’re one of cycling’s new and massively expanding cohort, who bought a new bike in the heady days of summer and are now wondering how to make it through a barren winter of reduced daylight and freezing temperatures, fear not – some accessories and a few items of clothing can keep you pedalling until the clock springs forward again next March.

Over the next pages, we’ll take a look at five winter essentials that can transform the debilitating experience of a cold, wet, and perhaps even dangerous ride into one to be relished as much as a spin through the summer sunshine.

Of course, we’re only scratching the surface here – these are winter essentials, after all – and it’s likely you’ll have your own recommendations. Feel free to share them below, or head to the RCUK Forum.