When the weather feels this cold, why not swap your water bottle for a bicycle thermos? A mid-ride slug of coffee raises the spirits and does away with the risk of a water bottle freezing over.
The Stanley one-handed vacuum insulated mug is perfect as a bicycle thermos. One handed and fully leak-proof, you can drink your morning pick-me-up on the go one handed and with no spills. It keep drinks hot or cold 7 hours or iced 30 hours.
Win a bicycle thermos
We have a Stanley bicycle thermos with a quick release bottle holder that’s big enough to accommodate it worth £40 to give away. Simply leave a comment at the bottom of this page and let us know what you’d fill it with. We’ll pick a winner next week.
Cold weather cycling
This week’s commutes might feel cold, but it’s always a question of context. The pioneer adventure cyclists of the 1890s who took to the snowy wilds of northern Canada without the benefit of modern clothing (and 80 years before mountain bikes) knew a thing or two about cycling in the extreme cold. The Great Gold Rush drew 100,000 prospectors to the Klondike region of the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1896 and 1899. Those who didn’t have the money to invest in dog teams used bicycles and rudimentary cold weather gear.
Max Hirschberg was 19 when he took to a bicycle to join the gold rush. His journal gives a fascinating insight into the cold weather gear of the day:
“The day I left Dawson, March 2, 1900, was clear and crisp, 30° below zero. I was dressed in a flannel shirt, heavy fleece-lined overalls, a heavy mackinaw coat, a drill parka, two pairs of heavy woolen socks and felt high-top shoes, a fur cap that I pulled down over my ears, a fur nose piece, plus fur gauntlet gloves. On the handlebars of the bicycle I strapped a large fur robe. Fastened to the springs, back of the seat, was a canvas sack containing a heavy shirt, socks, underwear, a diary in waterproof covering, pencils and several blocks of sulfur matches. In my pockets I carried a penknife and a watch.”
Environmentally friendly cycle insurance
On the face of it, one cycle insurance policy is much like another, but the devil is the detail. How much excess you will be charged is just one of the things that varies wildly between providers. Another is so called ‘new-for-old’ replacement – many insurers use this term, but if your bicycle is more than a few years old, devalue it severely. This means you are left out of pocket when you come to replace it.
ETA cycle insurance has a low standard excess of 5% (minimum £25) and offers a new-for-old for life – however old the bike, if it’s stolen you get enough to buy a new model.
For 25 years we have been providing straightforward, affordable bicycle insurance. Whether you use your bike to commute, shop, race or amble in the park, ETA Cycle Insurance has you covered. We never devalues bikes no matter their age, allow you to buy your replacement bike wherever you like, replace stolen quick release components and we handle claims in-house. Can your insurance provider say the same?
We have been voted Britain’s most ethical insurer. Furthermore, every cycle insurance policy you buy helps support the work of the ETA Trust, our charity campaigning for a cleaner, safer transport future.
Alastair Seagroatt
This seems just the job for cold Scottish morning rides.
Dominick
Half a Lager Stanley of course.
siow chin
I’d fill it with seriously thick hot chocolate, spiced up with a bit of chilli flakes just to take the chill off the cold weather.
Rae Lo
Definitely something to look forward to during the cold and dark bike rides through winter!
Sue Weir
Perfect for providing warmth and fuel – what could be better
Emma Clark
I’d fill it with Hot Chocolate made with coconut milk. Mmmmm. Slurrp.
Julian Fargher
A (weak) mulled cider springs to mind!
Kirsten
I’d fill it with tea with one sugar!
Kev Mac
A nice strong black coffee would beat an ice-block bidon any day (and help core temperature stay warm).
Anna Shakoor-Green
Like the idea of a thermos that fits on my bike 🙂
Mary Baker
non alcoholic hot mulled wine
Kerena Fussell
The last couple of mornings it has been minus temperatures in London, which such a rarity – but I was thinking that I needed a handy thermos. Didn’t know these existed!
Luci
He he
Ands R
Awesome! At this tome of the year it could only be a nice strong cup of coffee with a wee drop of something to reach and warm yer cockles 🙂
Bill
Sounds like a good idea. (As mentioned) I think I’d fill it with coffee…?
Jan Heatley
This is perfect for a thermos of tea addict like me.What my cycling trips always lacked!
Mark B
Wow. Hot property. That would be great!
Buffy Eldridge-Thomas
A luxury thermos flask should definitely be filled with luxury hot chocolate
Mike Croker
Hot chocolate (with soya milk) 🙂
Keith
A Stanley thermos flask is a quality flask. I relied on one for years. I’d fill it with hot soup. Sustenance on the go.
Jon Vamplew
Ah a fitting drink for the Stanley one-handed vacuum insulated mug – The Stanley Cocktail
1/6 Lemon Juice. (1/2 of 3/4 oz Lemon Juice)
1/6 Grenadine. (1/2 of 3/4 oz Small Hand Foods Grenadine)
1/3 Rum. (3/4 oz Rene Alambic Rum)
1/3 Gin. (3/4 oz Ransom Old Tom Gin)
Shake well and strain into your Stanley one-handed vacuum insulated mug.
Then serve with spokes, handlebars, a seat, some rubber, greased chain and a18+ rider(Alcohol based) you then have the perfect combination. .
Craig S-A
Sounds like just the thing for the winter commute in scotland 🙂
geoff w
Brilliant! Hot or cold. I’d fill it with hot coffee and pop in a choc ice too.
Diana
A hot chocolate! Perfect for the freezing rides in Devon this week. Who would have thought I’d be out at below zero temperatures?
George Baker
Tea, tea all the way. What better way to finish your cold morning commute. You would certainly be the envy of the cycling crew
Christopher Kubale
An excellent idea with year round potential , keeping contents hot in winter and cool in summer.
I like it.
Caroline Butchart
Good Morning Coffee (or good night hot chocolate on the way home)
Jennie Whitford
What a FAB idea…it’ll be proper job for cold Cornish mornings that require an extra caffeine boost
Tom Cracknell
I can think of nothing better than burning the top of my mouth with scalding coffee at the traffic lights to truly wake me up on a weekday commute 🙂
Fiona Hunt
Oh, definitely hot chocolate!!
Steve Watling
Perfect retro flask for a retro bike and filled with good old fashioned tea ready to pour at the top of Cragg Vale in the Yorkshire hills.
Charlotte
We can’t afford two cars so my husband cycles all year round. It’d be lovely to be able to give him this as a Christmas present 🙂
Lee Simmons
Fill it with breakfast, or in other words coffee!
Jackie
I’m a through and through teapot and this sounds like my perfect match. Cycling, tea and frost laden scenery 🙂
Andi
I’d fill it with drinking chocolate, possibly with a little bit of cream. Or maybe some Irish/alcoholic Coffee . . .
Lisa
Sounds wonderful
John Fletcher
What a great idea! Ice-cold water was the last thing I needed on this week’s ride. This is exactly what I need.
sarah fitch
Simples…….coffee 😀
John McCabe
Tea, nothing but Tea (with maybe a tot of rum for extra warmth)…
Nigel Andrews
A case for cinnamon tea methinks!
Deirdre
Has to be coffee. Just maybe for a Christmas ride mulled wine.
Peter Clark
Could have done with that today! Freezing it was!
Wesley Burrage
Green tea.
Julian
Maybe a mini-samovar would be more sociable for winter group rides: several people can be supplied with hot water. I’d fill the Stanley with a couple of Lyons No.3 Coffee bags and the (500ml?) with 95 degree tap water.
Colette Stein
Definitely warm Ribena!
Bryn Jones
Brilliant! Just brilliant!
Andrew Fenyo
What a good idea!
Cazzz
How to make winter cycling more exciting at one fell swoop!
Tamsin Pascoe
I would fill it with hot chocolate and porridge – full on Mrs Cropley style, but hopefully tasty and definitely warm!
Rory Harkins
Irish coffee
Phil
There was an old man from kilsottle
Who went out with a cool bicycle bottle
It got very cold
So if he may be so bold
He much prefer a Stanley flask
Marika
I’d fill it with Mocha. Mmmmmmm
alex
I’d fill it with iced tea.
James
Nice for a cold day
Gabriel
What a cool (or hot) innovation!
Martyn Lintern
Bombay Bad Boy pot noodle!!!!
Jane C
Fennel tea with honey – warm you up, and fight off winter lurgy with honey to soothe the throat
PAUL
HOT Chocolate to keep the body warm and the pedals turning
Margaret Turner
Great to have a thermos so accessible, not buried in a pannier somewhere.
I’d fill mine with home made home grown Red Root Soup: blended beetroot, carrots, sweet potatoes and some sauteed onions and garlic, with a touch of chilli – very warming – to the stomach, eyes and heart!
Fleur
I would take lemon and ginger tea sweetened with honey.
richard scrase
warm beer
Francis Voon
I fill it with banana soup!
Rob Lewis
I don’t like tea or coffee so I’d fill it with hot soup in winter or cold water in summer.
Cathy Carr
… a dehydrated South East London cyclist, soon to be made redundant!… Your kindness would be much appreciated! 😕
Hilary Robinson
It would be a gift for my son – so I’d fill it with love!
Amanda Morris
Green tea with a hint of jasmine – warming and fragrant for my winter jaunts
Carol W
Some lovely blended lentil soup. Comfort food for the cold weather 🙂
Peter Shirley
Expresso in the hills.
Alastair Reynolds
Hot chocolate in it for me.
Anne
For the shorter rides, a coffee would be perfect, but I’d also consider putting in some soup for those cold days when something a little more substantial is required!
Love the idea of it!
Chris
Almost anything warm would have been great last weekend when I hit patch of ice, crashed and broke my hip
D Darby
Lots and lots of lovely TEA!!! Proper builders styley to fortify for a long ride…
Barbara
Hot chocolate would go down a treat!
Anna Harpham Gist
Looks great
Marie Mabed
For long cold weather ride, I’d fill my Stanley bottle with a winter non-alcoholic winter punch – made with homemade 2:3 apple & 1:3 orange juices; 1 tbs lemon juice; 2 tbs honey and 2 tbs ground cinnamon or jusy ice tea in the summer
Ian
Hot chocolate made with soya milk and a slug of brandy just to really keep the cold out!
Chin chin!
Robert Slade
For over a year I have been seeking a bicycle flask that will fit a standard bottle cage. I don’t want to win it, I want to BUY! Sadly, your product is not well described here, nor on Amazon, nor Google. There was one suitable Stanley product listed which is no longer available, and others (including this) which hint that a “special” adapter is required instead of the standard cage. I don’t want to be swapping my hot / cold cages, so please does this flask fit a standard cage? If so, please send me one or let me know how much to buy? And where to buy. Please.
Ruth
This would be brilliant for the commute to work
Ralph Morton
The only thing to fill the Thermos would be a double shot black americano – providing a hot drink and the zip to get you on your way!
David
Careful the drink isn’t too hot when you take a swig whilst riding!
neil brown
Artichoke soup – as it is the only thing I can make with these vegetables from my allotment which doesn’t make me fart!
Matthew Jones
Fresh coffee brewed with ground cardamom. It adds a little extra to the wonderful taste of fresh coffee!
T Deave
Just the job on the train having cycled over the Severn bridge.
Dick Willis
Mmmm, warm drinks for cold hands
DougMilly
A great idea – preferably with a hot double expresso to give an energy boost as well as a warm-up.
Roger Birchall
Hot “BOVRIL” would do the trick for me!.
Simon Schofield
Bullet-proof coffee in a bullet proof flask!
David Roberts
Ideal for the 42 mile cycle ride through rural Anglesey today!
Paul Hilder
Will it fit my Brompton?