With the New Year comes that moment of self-reflection: could I step my favourite hobby up a gear? Is it time to treat myself to some new apparel? Where the hell did these love-handles come from? Whatever your motivation is, Rapha is here to get you back in the saddle!

Today I saw an excellent example of exactly how you should cycle in the winter months. Not only was it dark and gloomy it was also very foggy, and this person was cycling along, wearing a black jacket and black pair of trousers with the most pathetic red rear light. This dangerous combination meant I couldn’t see the cyclist until I was right on top of them! If they made it home safely, it would be a miracle…

This unique and versatile backpack has been specifically designed for Apple products (don’t worry, other products won’t spontaneously combust if you put them in there). It can be worn in two ways, either over the shoulders like a regular back pack (ideal for cycling) or as a tote bag (Ideal for toting).

New for the 2018/2019 season, the Reflect360 Performance Cycling Jacket from Proviz has been designed to keep you not just visible but fricking unmissable on the dark roads this time of year. It have been created to go over the top of your regular cycling gear (including waterproofs as there is little water projection from this jacket), this jacket will offer 360 reflection from vehicle, street and torch lights helping to keep you safe on your travels.

The Coros Omni Smart Cycling Helmet combines protection with connectivity, that helps to keep you safe on the road whilst allowing you to enjoy some tunes and remain connected to people via calls and SOS Emergency Alerts. Starting with the overall design, the helmet has large ventilated areas and angled edges for a sharp and streamlined look, it is available in Black, White, Red and Blue.

Winter can be an especially dangerous time for cyclists, the dark mornings and afternoons along with bad weather can make it particularly hard to remain visible to other road users. The Laserlight has come up with a unique way to let other road users become aware of your presence. According to Beryl’s research, 79% of cycle accidents occur when the cyclist is travelling straight ahead and a vehicle manoeuvres into them, probably because they haven’t checked their left rear-view mirror.

With cycling quickly becoming the go to midlife crisis distraction that is usurping the sports car and golf club membership, there is probably someone you know who would love the Coloral cycling bottle, though it’s equally great as work, gym or travel bottle. This super stylish 400ml water bottle is a faithful replica to the original design used in the golden age of cycling, made from food‑grade stainless steel that is brushed for a muted finish, it has durable design whilst remaining lightweight and compact, and will fit modern bottle cages.

It is so important to keep active during the winter no matter how tempting it is to simply curl up under the duvet and hibernate the entire season away, it is doubly important to ensure when you do go out in the dark mornings and evenings that you can be clearly seen, especially when cycling on the roads.