With only days left until Christmas, have you suddenly realized you need some last-minute gifts for the favorite cyclists in your life? Don’t stress, BikeRoar is here to help with these suggestions:
1. Tubes and/or sealant
Flats come with the territory for every cyclist – which means every rider out there could do with a couple of extra spare tubes or tire sealant like Slime. Not sure which tubes to buy? Well, you can visit this handy link "Choosing the correct bicycle tube", or just get whichever one you like the look of - bike shops are always willing to exchange them if they’re not quite right.
2. C02 cartridges
These are the little metal cylinders that look like a mini Soda Stream cartridge – they are used to inflate tubes much quicker than you could do with a pump and they’re way easier to carry around. Every cyclist uses them and will be eternally grateful for a few extra spares. You can pick them up at any bike shop and they range in price from $2 to $5.
3. Lights
Give the gift of safety. There is almost no limit to how much you can spend on bike lights, but you’d be surprised how often even the most well-prepared riders forget to pack them. Some low-cost lights could be just the answer – check out lights from knog, or visit your local bike shop to pick from their selection. Remember, lights don’t need to be top-of-the-range, they just need to work – the main thing is to be seen and be safe.
RELATED: 5 top bike lights for road and trail
4. Sports drink mix
Rather than buying Gatorade or some other overpriced isotonic drink at a store or gas station, cyclist usually prefer to mix their own. There’s plenty of products on the market, but we at BikeRoar especially like APX Sports Drink. APX is an all-natural, low sugar sports drink that tastes great, has proven to be effective and, best of all, they donate 100% of their profits to charitable organizations.
5. Chamois cream
Every cyclist need to take care of their undercarriage – help them keep comfy this Christmas with a tub or tube of chamois cream. Pop into your local bike shop to pick some up (and don’t be embarrassed asking for it – we all use it!) Look for a popular brand like Chamois Butt'r, the pros’ favorite DZ-Nuts, or the new player in town, Junk Jam.
6. Energy bars
We all need to eat, and energy bars are the best way to carry healthy, nutrient-rich food on the bike. There are hundreds to choose from, but if you get stuck, there are good flavors and easy-to-carry options from Bonk Breaker.
7. Coffee
Coffee is what powers a cyclist, so you can’t go wrong. A gift certificate / card / voucher from a local coffee shop is a great present, or you could get them a batch from a cycle-friendly company like 10-Speed Coffee. (You can also show off your cycling know-how by saying “I know you ride an 11-speed groupset now, but I thought I’d get this for you anyway…” Yep, it sounds lame, but we guarantee chuckles).
8. Sunscreen
For those in the Southern Hemisphere, sunscreen is a must at this time of year, but summer isn't the only time you risk damage from the sun. Raw Elements make an eco-friendly, easy-to-carry stick specially designed for cyclists and triathletes - Eco Stick. Whatever type of sunscreen you buy, check the ingredients list and the SPF rating.
9. Lip Balm
Same deal as sunscreen and also needed because of the wind. Protect yourself or your riding friends with an eco-friendly, all natural lip balm such as Nivea’s Soothe & Protect range.
10. Local Bike Shop Gift Card / Certificate / Voucher
To round out the top 10, a gift card / certificate / voucher from your local bike shop will always be a winner. And by local, we mean really local – if you can, stick to the small local shops that form a part of your community. Because community is part of what makes cycling so awesome.
Merry Christmas.
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