Not sure what to get your cycling friends or family members for the holidays? I’ve compiled a list of 10 gift possibilities. Prices range from a buck to a bundle. Enjoy!
- Bike songs. Everybody loves music, and it’s a bonus when that catchy tune is all about our favorite sport. While the obvious bike-related choice is Bicycle Race by Queen, one of my new favorites is Bike Ride by Nora Jane Struthers. Both are available on iTunes.
- Bike tool. This Silca hex key set recently popped up on my Facebook feed. It’s quickly apparent this is not your ordinary hex wrench. Check the manufacturer’s description: “[W]e had to start with the finest S-2 Tool Steel, a shock resistant steel which has been refined by Swiss and German toolmakers for the optimal balance of strength, hardness, shock resistance and dimensional control.” Woah, you had me at Tool Steel. Did I also mention it has the coolest storage box on the planet? Each kit “is lovingly packed into a fully CNC machined box made from sustainable Beech Wood. Each box is hand sanded and finished before receiving the stainless steel SILCA Shield on the lid.” Want!
- Bike light. I’ve been using Cyclebeam’s 900 Lumen Bike Light for over a year and continue to be impressed by its brightness and durability. For the money, it’s hard to beat. I’ve used it for commuting and shorter nighttime rides. You can choose from three brightness settings, and it also has a blink function. You’ll want a wall plug near your bike parking so you can leave the battery pack in place as you recharge it.
- Bike pump. After yanking out a valve stem or two with a standard frame pump, I’ve switched to the Topeak Road Morph G Bike Pump. The flexible air hose helps prevent over leveraging on the valve. The pump has a fold-out footpad and a pressure gauge. It can be used for presta or Schrader valves.
- Bike glasses. Dress up your post-ride beverages with this sharp set of bike tumblers. The makers list bicycles and crisp modern graphics among their passions, and that shows. The bicycle silhouettes are screen printed directly onto the glasses and are dishwasher safe.
- Bike baskets. Wicker baskets are a must for that next tweed ride. Public Bikes offers Peterboro wicker baskets as well as several rear pannier styles.
- Bike vacation. If it’s time for a grand gesture, consider giving that special someone the Grand Tour. Yes, we’re talking the Tour de France, cycling’s biggest spectacle. There are many tour packages that give you a front row seat along the route, with a mix of riding and spectating as the pro peloton make its way to Paris. Closer to home, consider giving Black Bear Adventures a spin. Bike Law riders used that bike tour group for a 2011 ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Bike book. Fabulous photographs by Jean-Pierre Pradères help tell the story in Jan Heine’s coffee table book, The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles. The emphasis is on the unrivaled work of French constructeurs. Alex Singer is represented with several bikes, including a 1947 porteur model, while the legendary René Herse makes the cover and several inside pages with a camping model, a tandem, a randonneuse and a démontable model, the forerunner of today’s coupled bikes. (Thanks to Jan for permission to use the photo at the top of this post.)
- Bike socks. Baby, it’s cold outside, but there’s no reason that your toes have to be. With lots of choices out there, I’m going with the wide selection and long-lasting comfort of Smartwool’s socks for women as a stocking stuffer for the cyclist in my life.
- Bike advocacy. The League of American Bicyclists began standing up for the rights of bicyclists in 1880, and the organization is still at it today. Sign up your loved one for a one-year membership, which includes a subscription to one or more cycling magazines and discounts at cycling retailers.
Please feel free to post the cycling gifts you have on your list, and enjoy the holidays.
