What makes a cyclist smile at Christmas time? A strong tailwind, an empty road, post-ride coffee with friends, a perfect descent – and a thoughtful, considerate gift like one of these below, selected with love by the BikeRoar team.
Custom Bike Stickers – from $9.95
These sweet, pressure-sensitive adhesive decals will make any bike look pro. The Velo Ink website allows the buyer to play around with designs and colors to get the stickers just right before committing to an order. Add a name, pro team, national flag or whatever you like... go crazy.
Book: The Cyclist's Bucket List – $24.99
Perfect for those rainy days when not even the most hardened rider ventures outside, this book by Ian Dille is the next best thing to riding. He compiles and showcases the world's quintessential cycling experiences through extensive research and interviews with expert sources, vivid storytelling, stunning photography, and compelling design. The format includes lengthy in-depth descriptions as well as much shorter, easy to consume write-ups, ranging from locations such as Italy and Belgium to Nova Scotia and Texas.
Gentlemen's Hardware Bicycle Tool Kit – $65
Nestled inside an ornate wooden box, this tool kit is probably as much about aesthetics as it is about bike repairs. However, it makes a beautiful gift and does contain most of the essentials needed in the workshop, including hex (Allen) keys (all stainless steel), a chainbreaker, a tri-armed socket driver, and a Phillips/flathead screwdriver.
Park Tool Magnetic Parts Bowl MB-1 – $7.95
Is there anything more frustrating than losing a tiny custom-built nut or washer when doing a bit of DIY bike maintenance? No more, my friends. This cool magnetic workshop bowl keeps them right where you want them – at your fingertips.
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CLUG Minimalist Bike Rack – $19.99
This little cutie is the world’s smallest bike rack. It easily mounts to any type of wall or vertical surface, and requires no hooks, straps or bars. Available in three sizes, there are Clugs designed specifically for road bikes, hybrids and MTBs.
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Cycology Men's Grey Knitted Hoodie – $69.95
Cover up and keep comfortable with some off-bike cycling style from Cycology. This knitted, hooded, zippered sweatshirt is smartly designed and finished with flatlock seams and contrast elastic trim for the bottom hem and sleeves. The fleece inner lining is soft and comfy, and the look is premium casual.
Tailfin T1 Carbon Rear Pannier Luggage Rack – $325
The Tailfin is possibly the most elegant solution to bike luggage out there. This carbon fiber rack weighs just 275g, which is about half of what you'd expect a regular alloy rack to weigh. Each of the dedicated panniers has a decent capacity of 24 litres, with the ability to accommodate even the largest 17-inch laptop if used for commuting. The pannier fabric is a high performance, advanced sailcloth laminate, making it waterproof, durable and lightweight… and they look awesome!
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Rapha RCC Helmet – $295
From its unrivalled breathability right through to the high-end performance, there are few that can rival the Rapha helmet. It is incredibly comfortable thanks to the Roc Loc® Air fit-system, a smartly designed retention system that works around the head to offer both stability and comfort. Industry icons Rapha have teamed up with famed manufacturer Giro to produce this stylish lid, complete with a low-friction layer between the outer shell and liner of the helmet and the innovative MIPS brain protection system designed to prevent rotational-motion brain injuries. Ride safe this Christmas, and look good doing it.
Bollé SHIFTER Sunglasses with Phantom Lens – $149
Earlier this year, SHIFTER sunnies became the choice eyewear of the AG2R La Mondiale team, but they weren't immediately available to the masses. Bollé is now delivering these glasses to bike shops, just in time for the holidays.
SHIFTER is a retro-futuristic design with a large-sized Phantom lens made of NXT. The lens is packed with features: vented, hydrophobic (water repelling) and oleophobic (dirt repelling) treatments, and photochromic filter adapting to any light condition and a high contrast filter to enhance colors and boost your vision. The frame's temples and nosepiece are made of Thermogrip (hydrophilic rubber) to ensure grip during intense effort.
While Phantom lens models are priced quite competitively, Bollé also offers polycarbonate lens versions for even less.
Garmin Fenix 5 GPS Watch – from $599
This versatile multisport watch from industry leader Garmin is the ultimate cycling enthusiast’s activity tracker. With a range of built in sensors, GPS, and the ability to harness the power of a smartphone, it's capable of doing everything a cycling head unit does, but in a smaller package and with a strap. Get the Fenix, Fenix bundle (includes HRM-Tri heart rate monitor chest strap), or other Fenix versions (Plus, Sapphire, 5S, 5X).
A Fantastic Italian Journey Guided Bike Tour – from $2,140
Who hasn’t wasted a few hours here or there, dreaming of a glorious cycling holiday through picturesque Italian villages? Come on, we’ve all done it. Well, now you can make it happen. Roar Adventures hosts the world’s finest guided cycling tours, and this one will take you (or the lucky gift recipient!) through the stunning regions of Tuscany, Lazio, and Umbria. Clock up the miles as you wind your way through unique medieval hilltop towns and achingly beautiful valleys and mountains – then kick off your cleats, rest your legs and tuck into the finest Italian cuisine and delicious wines. Merry Christmas indeed!
Santa Cruz Bronson S Aluminum – $3,999
There are three versions of the Bronson; the low-spec R model, the Aluminum S and the carbon fiber version. The Aluminum S is definitely the best value for money, and absolutely delivers on its reputation as a seriously bad-ass trail bike.
It’s the geometry and suspension that make the Bronson so much fun – that and the plus-sized 2.6-inch tires. It’s efficient to pedal on the climbs and is super-plush on the descents. Throw in the short chainstays and a low bottom bracket and you have a recipe for smiles.
If you’re thinking of splashing out and giving the gift of a bike this festive season, this could be the chariot that has it all in terms of mountain biking. Picture a machine that’s happy bombing flat out down a trail, or flying flat over a tabletop – this one can do it all, and it comes in hundreds (and in some cases thousands) of hard-earned dollars cheaper than its rivals.
?? Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the BikeRoar Team ??
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