Pick of the kit

Gore C5 Thermo jacket, £169.99, gorewear.com

Apparently drivers react up to 2.1 seconds faster to cyclists wearing fluorescent colours, which must make this insanely bright C5 jacket from Gore Wear one of the safest.

Made from Gore-tex Infinium – a mix of fabrics that pairs Windstopper with a fleecy lining – the C5 is toasty yet breathable, doing a fine job of regulating temperature and keeping me snug on some near-zero degree rides.

The pockets need work – they sit slightly too high and are a tad narrow – but that’s not a deal-breaker for this highly accomplished winter softshell.