Editor’s note: Riding isn’t all tarmac, mud and sprockets. There are times when we want to get our girly on too, so in this series we’ll be looking at topics like which foundation best protects your skin from UV, nail varnish that can survive changing a tyre and in this instalment, the best bath products for your post-ride recovery soak.
While some may extol the virtues of a post-ride ice baths frankly, after several hours in the saddle on a long, cold ride I think we’ve probably suffered enough. So turn on the hot tap and indulge your tired body with some muscle-friendly bath oil therapy, selected for you by Adele Mitchell.
Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Bath & Shower Oil £37 for 55ml
Ultra luxe, pure, natural and packed with essential oils – lavender to ease muscle stiffness, ginger and black pepper to warm and help circulation, rosemary to purify focus and clarify thoughts and coconut oil to soften your skin. Not quite the expensive indulgence it first appears either: you only need to add a few drops to your bath so this will last for weeks.
More information from Aromatherapy Associates
Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak £34.50 for 400ml
A deep heat aroma remedy for overworked, tired and aching muscles and great for period pain too. Simply slosh three capfuls in your bathwater and lie back in this heady mix of rosemary, juniper to ease muscle spasms, thyme to stimulate and clove, which warms tired muscles.
More information from TimeToSpa
Neals Yard Remedies Seaweed & Arnica Foaming Bath 200ml £15
Traditional organic plant extracts combined with the latest advances in green chemistry have always made NYR products ones to watch and this foaming bath is no exception. Infused with mineral rich seaweed, comfrey and arnica plus essential oils of lemon, pine, juniper and lavendar – and you get bubbles too!
More information from Neals Yard Remedies
Tisserand Aromatherapy Muscle Ease Bath 100ml £8.50
From an aromatherapy brand with a highly respected heritage, this oil blend of fortifying organic ginger oil, relieving organic lemongrass oil and stimulating organic rosemary oil is a fast track to relaxation and muscle relief.
More information from Tisserand
Molton Brown Bracing Silverbirch Thermal Muscle Soak £19 300g
Perfect if you prefer to bathe in bath salts as it’s formulated with skin-conditioning thermal salts as well as silverbirch extracts. The unusual woody fragrance certainly brings the outdoors into your bathroom, if you haven’t had enough of outdoors already!
More information from Molton Brown
Life NK Daily Fix Muscle Relief Bath Soak by Space NK £18 500ml
A Dead Sea Salts based treat in a very big bottle that promises to restore tired muscles over and over again. It also contains eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, rosemary and armoise to leave you feeling revived and relaxed.
Fashion and beauty writer and mountain biker, Adele Mitchell writes about style and cycling – and sometimes both at once – at Found, Beautiful.