The hack is a winter commuter, grocery shopper and gravel mover. It’s the best of everything. It can even make a good show on the road when salt has your best bike holed up at home with a cappuccino and a copy of Rouleur.

The message arrived while I was closing my laptop, just as the shadows were settling in for the night. “How do you feel about early mornings?” How did I feel about early mornings? Generally fine, as long as I’m wrapped up in a duvet, slumbering when they happen.