20 Gift Ideas for Cyclists

12.10.2015 | 4:03 pm

I’ve been given to understand the following:

• Christmas is coming.
• The goose is getting fat.

As I have been politely instructed, I have therefore put a penny in an old man’s hat (i.e., my own). And also, I have made a list for you. A list of Christmas present ideas. Specifically, these are ideas of presents I think most cyclists would like to get.

Which means, as you might expect, that you should probably share this post around to people who are otherwise probably going to get you a novelty bicycle bell.

You’re welcome.

Idea 1: Make the World a Better Place: There’s a good chance the cyclists you’re buying presents for already have everything they need, both bicycle-wise and otherwise. But you know who doesn’t have everything they need? Kids in Zambia and Kenya. They don’t have anything close to what they need, but the gift of a sturdy bike from World Bicycle Relief will help them have a vastly better life. So how about this? Make a donation in honor of your favorite cyclist. Anonymous wonderful people will match that donation, and WBR will send an e-card (or if you donate $147+, WBR will send an actual printed card) on your behalf.

Idea 2: Send Them Fat Cyclist Gear: Did you know that FatCyclist gear is totally in stock and ready to ship? It is, right now. And it is awesome — the  best-made gear I have ever had. The technical gear (jerseys, shorts, bibs) is made in Italy, and it is wonderful. And priced to sell. Order here.

Idea 3: Stan’s Tire Sealant: If there’s a mountain biker on your list, that mountain biker almost certainly rides with tubeless tires. Which means that rider needs sealant on a regular basis. And that sealant is quite likely Stan’s. Get that rider a twelve-pack box of tire sealant, each of which is good for repairing one tire on the go. Or get that rider a pint of sealant, for setting up up to eight tires (because you’ve got to replace the sealant a couple times per season). 

Idea 4: A Bike Fitting: A bike fitting is one of the very best things a cyclist can spend time and money on; a well-fit bike makes a huge difference to every ride you go on from that point forward. But it is really rare for people to get themselves a fitting. So, go to your favorite high-end shop and buy a gift certificate good for a fitting for that rider in your life. For what it’s worth, I’m a big fan of the Specialized Body Geometry Fit methodology. Find a Specialized shop nearby that does these. Your friend will thank you.

Idea 5: CO2 Cartridges: Most riders use CO2 inflators to take care of field repairs, and having a big ol’ box of CO2 cartridges on-hand is really convenient. And it’s a lot cheaper to buy them in semi-bulk than one at a time. About every three years, I buy myself a box of thirty 16g threaded CO2 cartridges. And while this isn’t exactly a sexy present, it’s something they’ll be glad you gave them when they need it.

Idea 6: A Torque Wrench: The carbonization of the bike universe means that just cranking down hard on a bolt ’til it won’t turn anymore isn’t the right way to go. A lot of riders, though, are guesstimating on how tight to go…and often, we’re totally wrong. A couple of years ago, James Huang at CyclingNews/BikeRadar recommended the CDI TorqControl adjustable torque wrench, and it’s been my go-to wrench ever since. It comes with the bits you’re most likely to use most often, too.

Idea 7: Grips: If your friend mountain bikes, they probably need new grips on their bike. See, grips wear out, just like chains and cleats and tires and everything else. But while most riders know to change these other things, they just let their grips get older and more compacted and torn up. Which is a shame, because a set of grips is a pretty economical buy, and can make a real difference in how your bike fits. About half my friends ride with Ergon grips, while the rest of us (me included) ride with the ultra-plain ESI silicone grips. Both are great at what they’re for; you just need to check with your friend to see what they are using right now. 

Idea 8: Another Floor Pump / Shock Pump: It’s unlikely your riding friend doesn’t have at least one pump. But if they put that bike in a car fairly often, maybe another pump would be really welcome. I personally have two Specialized Air Tool floor pumps: one I keep in my garage, one I keep in my truck. This way, no matter where I start my ride from, I’m guaranteed to have a pump on-hand to make sure my tires are good.

Also, if your friend is a mountain biker, they need a couple shock pumps, for the same reason. I have two Bontrager Shock Pumps (again, one in the garage, one in the truck), and they’ve served me flawlessly.

Idea 9: Road ID: These are such a good idea, and The Hammer got me one a couple years ago. I haven’t gotten in the habit of wearing it, which just goes to show: I’m an idiot.

Idea 10: Gloves: Everyone’s got their preference, but for the past several years, I wear Specialized Ridge gloves on pretty much every single ride I go on, both road and mountain. For one thing, they’re comfortable. For another, they sorta-kinda work with smartphones. They don’t last forever (I generally go through a pair or two each season) but they’re good protection in case of a fall, and they keep your hands from slipping on the bar.

Idea 11: A Helmet: Helmets don’t last forever. If your rider has been using the same helmet for more than three or four years, maybe it’s time to swap out to a new one, even if they haven’t wrecked. I recommend buying this gift in the form of a gift certificate to your local bike shop, because getting the fit right is absolutely essential and can be done only in person. For what it’s worth, the two helmets I switch between are the Specialized S-Works Prevail and the Giro Synthe. 

Idea 12: Seat bag: There seems to be a disdain for seat bags lately. I don’t understand it. It’s so nice to know I have what I need to take care of a flat or basic mechanical attached to my bike…without having to remember to bring anything. For my money, Banjo Brothers seat bags look great, are affordable, and are incredibly durable. I have a mini seat bag on all my road bikes, and a small seat bag on all my mountain bikes. 

Ideas 13-19: Movies and Books About Bikes: Lately, I’ve read/watched and enjoyed each of the following:

• Inspired to Ride - Mike Dion’s documentary about the self-supported inaugural TransAm race
• Ten Points - Bill Strickland’s intense, inspiring and beautifully-written story of childhood, fatherhood, and trying to score ten points in a local crit series.
• Pro Cycling on $10 a Day - Phil Gaimon’s telling of his journey into cycling pro-hood
• Rusch to Glory - Reba Rusch’s extraordinary story of her life (so far), from childhood to adventure racer to rock climber to pro cyclist.
• Fat Tire Flyer - A gloriously beautiful history of the early days of mountain biking.
• Becoming Frozen - Jill Homer’s latest book, a telling of her first year in Alaska.
• Road to Valor - An amazing true story of racing, the Tour de France, heroism, amazing strength, and incredible nobility. 

I can’t imagine any cyclist not enjoying any or all of these.

Idea 20: A Race or Event: Got a significant other who’s a cyclist? Here’s an incredible gift to give: a race or other big event. No, not just the entry into the event. Give them the promise of time to train, and support during the event. That is a massive gift.

PS: Is this a comprehensive list? No. This is not a comprehensive list. Add your own ideas to it. Thank you.

PPS: Because I didn’t get this post finished ’til late in the day (on Thursday), I want to leave it up for a few days. Hence, the traditional Friday 100 Miles of Nowhere Race Report will go up this Monday. Thank you for your attention to this matter and stuff.