If uncomfortable experience has convinced you that damp, cold feet and sopping wet shoes are part and parcel of winter running in the UK then there's a good chance that you've been tempted to try one of the many new shoes designed to keep

. They're not for those of us who make occasional detours into the muddy, slippery world of off-road running, but for those who spend all of their time running up mountains, through bogs and deep into forests. For them only shoes like the Adidas Swoop

along the towpath, I'd unlock my mountain bike. Now, though, I've found one bike that lets me do both. My new commuting bike offers the perfect combination of slick-tyred speed with the rugged comfort of an off-roader. It strikes me that there's a type

It has been another great year for runners who like to shop. The past 12 months have seen, among other things, the convincing comeback of a faded shoe giant and the launch of a top-notch off-roader. It’s also seen cheap, but definitely not nasty