A little gift for the cyclist in your life

In case you didn't know, Christmas is right around the corner. And if you're anything like yours truly, you'll probably put it off until the last minute. However, if you're not like me, and want to get your shopping done early, but don't know what the cyclist in your life wants, then here's just a few ideas. You'll find a little something for every type of cyclist, with a variety of price ranges.

Now, there's just one thing I want to mention here, before we dive in. First off, if I can find the original retailer of an item, and they sell said item on their website, that's the link I'll provide, rather than a link to a big box retailer like Amazon. This is done in accordance with rule 58 (more on the rules below). With that said, let's do this.


1) A bike beer growler holder, courtesy of PedalHappyDesign. Retails for $80. It's essentially what it sounds like. A holder for a beer growler that fastens underneath the riders saddle. Handmade out of leather, they offer a sturdy way of carrying beer home after a trip to a local craft brewery!

2) If your cyclist commutes to work or school, then odds are they already have a messenger bag. But what they don't have is a Keen messenger bag. I actually own the white bag, and fell in love with it from day one. First off, the bags are handmade in the US. Second, the bags are incredibly spacious. I mean, really, really spacious. And third, they're water resistant, which helps if it gets even a little wet when they ride. You can pick one of these bad boys up for $80.

3) There's something chaotic and beautiful about seeing all the pieces of a bike out on display, and this print by Todd McLellan doesn't disappoint. Printed with archival pigment inks onto museum grade paper, it'll last quite a long time, and look sharp for years to come. The prints start at $25 for a 7"x9" print.

4) All cyclists, whether they'll admit it or not, have bikes on the brain all the time. Why not feed the obsession with either Fifty Bicycles That Changed The World ($12.65), or this book by Bike Snob NYC ($20). Seriously. Feed the obsession. Whichever you get, you also want to get them to follow the rules of cycling, right? Get them this book by the Velominati for $17.96, which covers all of the rules of cycling. Like rule #10, which states that "it never gets easier, you just get faster." Or rule #28, which backs me up with I say that "socks can be any damn color you like." With this book, they'll always know the rules!

5) Any of the lubes from the awesome guys over at Gnar Lube. The lubes come in two sizes. The first, 2oz, is either $12 or $14. Or you can just jump up to the 16oz sizes for either $40 or $44. The best part? They sell 4 different flavors. Yeah, you read that right. Each of the 4 lubes has a different scent! Trust me, it's awesome!

6) For $18, one can't do much better than a leather wallet with a bike stenciled on it. Note, that these guys offer free customization on the wallets, which make this an even better deal! This is another item that's handmade in the US.

7) These lights by Knog might not be the brightest out there, but even still, for the price, size, weight, and convenience of charging via USB, I still think they're a pretty good deal.

8) Cyclists spend an embarrassing about of time obsessing over upgrades and maintenance, even to the point that we completely forget about one set of parts that connect us to our bikes: pedals and cleats. Bear in mind, there are a number of different types of pedals and cleats, so you'll need to find out what kind they use and prefer. Unfortunately, this means that I can't help you out with this one too much. Prices can range from $50, on up to $200 and even more. So I'd suggest finding out what type of pedals and cleats they use, and then paying a visit to their preferred bike shop to see how much they run. Bear in mind that for the most part, you can choose to buy either pedals or cleats, if you want. Find someone that works at the store, and don't be afraid to ask questions. If the cyclist in your life races for a team, then it may also help to visit the shop that they're sponsored by (the shop name is usually on the team jersey). When you go in, mention that you're buying for someone who's a member of that team, and you may even nab a discount!

9) An indoor trainer. Cyclists have a love/hate relationship with indoor trainers. In most of the country when the winter comes along, training grinds to a halt. Having an indoor trainer, however, helps out immeasurably, since it allows them to fasten their bike to the trainer and keep the wheels spinning, all in the comfort of home! Prices on these vary, as well, but again, ask bike shop employees. They can point out a decent model for your price point. One tip? When you buy a trainer, also pick up a riser block just like this little guy. Trust me, it helps.

10) A new set of tires. Tires on the bike wear out, just like anything else. These may not be something that they use immediately, but it's something that they will use. Ask your cyclist what kind they use, and what they like. There are as many different types of tires as there are stars in the sky, and getting an idea of what kind they prefer will help out when the big day comes.

11) A Fizik seatpost ring. They retail for $8.99, and have a two part job. First off, they protect the seat tube from water and dirt, and secondly they also act as a handy little seatpost height marker. They're basic, but also pretty genius!

13) Some sports nutrition mix. Everyone has their personal favorite, but I'm most partial to Skratch Labs. The company is all about ingredients that you can pronounce, and they have a fantastic flavor, to boot, without all the gross sugar aftertaste! Really a simple idea that the cyclist in your life will appreciate, simply because they'll use it on just about every ride they do!

14) Finally, some sort of emergency ID. Hopefully they won't ever need it, but in the event that they do, they'll be glad they had it. There are a number of different options available. I, personally, use EID by Ecos, but another really popular option is RoadID. EID starts at $8.95, and features a QR code that can be scanned, pulling up all the relevant information you want it to. RoadID starts at $17.99 for their slim model, and $19.99 for their regular, and lets you choose information to display on the ID.

Well, that's all I've got for now, guys. Cyclists, tell me, what are you guys hoping to get for Christmas? Something on this list? Or did I miss something? If you're buying something for the cyclist in your life, I hope that this list helps out! And I'd love to know what you guys end up with!