Damn you Decathlon....you are very crafty!
Your marketing department would expect people coming into the store towards the end of November to be thinking that a thin summer jersey and arm warmers just wasn't cutting it anymore so a new base layer is in order. By placing some very nice looking polyester tops at the entrance you ensured I couldn't pass up the opportunity especially for a mere £6. Said top does have a slight plasticky feel but importantly passes the anything-but-cotton test with flying colours. It does massively benefit from a neckwarmer though as the best fabric in the world won't insulate with hurricane force freezing wind pouring down the neck when you get up to higher speeds.
The £10 Btwin overshoes have dramatically improved the toes turning into ice blocks issue as well.