How To… be a hardnut
This is much easier to achieve in winter than in summer, because you can make your tough-guy credentials clear by sticking to shorts and short sleeves irrespective of the weather.
You will immediately attract the admiring glances of other riders, deeply impressed at your ability to withstand the cold and rain in the manner of a proper 1960s professional. Especially since you’re probably doing it without the legendary quantities of amphetamine that many 1960s hardmen used to provide themselves with a degree of inner warmth.
Admirers will also be able to marvel at the way your arms and legs have gone pale blue and started to resemble a freshly plucked goose. Incidentally, goosebumps will improve your aerodynamics in much the same way as a ribbed skinsuit does, but sadly no one has yet found a way to make them permanent (though there has been speculation that keeping riders permanently frightened by telling them the sponsor has pulled out of the team might work).
There are also significant training benefits to looking hard. The time saved deciding what layers to wear means you’ll be able to get an extra half-hour’s training in. And the effort level will be enhanced as you’ll have ride flat-out for the entire winter just to keep warm.
You just need to make sure that none of the people you’re out to impress see the bit where you get a puncture and have to pee over your hands in an attempt to warm them up enough to get the tyre off the rim.