With Christmas just around the corner Iain Treloar has gift ideas for the bike lover in your life.
1. ElevenVelo ride pouch
$82.50
A collaboration between Sydney-based custom merino manufacturer ElevenVelo and San Francisco’s Waterfield Designs, this is a beautiful leather pouch designed to fit into
your jersey pocket. With generous space for a tube, folding tool and more besides—as well as card slots and a slipcase for a smartphone (we tested up to a 5” screen without problems)—it fits snugly into your central jersey pocket, contours nicely to your body, rather than digging in, and ensures that you’ve got all your valuables at hand. Also, with the soft leather forming a nice patina with use, it’s a heck of a lot prettier than a ziplock sandwich bag and makes a sleek gift for bike lovers.
2. King Cage
From $18US (+ $12US shipping)
There’s a lot to be said for a simple, hardy metal bottle cage, and there are few as revered as the US-made King Cage. With models available in stainless steel (48g,
$18US) and titanium (28g, $60US), they’re extraordinarily tough, don’t mark bottles and can be cold-set for a firmer fit. They may be a bit pricey, but King Cages are one of those purchases you’ll make once, while your riding buddies replace snapped cages one after the other.
3. Linus Shopper Bag
$105.95
We like Linus panniers for their attractive design and neat utility, and the Shopper Bag is another sterling example. It’s not a pannier in the traditional sense—it works best staying attached to the bike—but its clever little trick is that it expands out from flat to accommodate a bag of groceries, handbag or other small self-contained load—a sturdy gift for the commuter.
4. Flat Tire Flyer: Repack and the Birth of Mountain Biking
$29.95US
Mountain biking has a rich history, growing from an outsider status to a hugely popular cycling discipline. Fat Tire Flyer tells the story of the genesis of mountain biking in a first-person history from now-revered figures, including Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey and Joe Breeze. Filled with full-colour pictures and presented as a hardcover, it’s a book perfect for the mountain-biker in your life.
5. Cycloc
$129.95
There’s two ways to deal with bike storage in the home. The first— apologetically hiding them away in a rarely used corner—is fine, sure, but why do that when you can display them proudly on the wall? The Cycloc is a clever system, available in a range of colours, which holds a bike by the top-tube, with storage inside for accessories. It’s a neat design that complements your pride and joy a lot better than hooks screwed into two by- four, and is a handy way to free up space for your Christmas guests.
6. BOGear BullPup
$145
BOGear make awesome gear, with a range including backpacks, messenger bags and more. Their Spare Camel backpack (read our review) is our go-to at Ride On; the BullPup is based on the Spare Camel, just smaller. Whilst maintaining a slim profile for its 18L interior, there’s space for a 13” laptop, SLR camera and a change of clothes, as well as abundant internal pockets, making it an ideal commute and adventure pack. Tough as nails, thoughtfully designed and locally made is an impressive trifecta, and BOGear manage it every time—a great gift for the riding adventurer.
7. Fondo Kit
$320 (bibs and jersey)
Lamenting the lack of attractive female cycling kits, a trio of Melbourne riders set out to plug that gap in the market. They’ve launched with three appealing designs that are modern without being overtly feminine, and the Italian construction looks to be top notch. The cut is a female specific race-cut, with wide-set bib straps.
8. Finn Smartphone Mount
€12
Smartphone mounts are normally model-specific, semi-permanent and bulky affairs, but the simple and impressive Finn shatters that preconception. Winner of a prestigious Eurobike award this year, it’s easy to see why the judges were impressed: it installs in seconds, weighs mere grams and costs less than $20, making
it a perfect stocking-stuffer. As an added bonus, you get access to a bike-specific map of a city of your choosing.
9. BBB Impress
$59.99
Hitting stores just in time for Christmas, BBB’s newest sports glasses offer an impressive package for the price. Available in a range of frame colours, each pair comes with smoke, clear and yellow lenses to cover different light conditions, as well as a carry case and cleaning bag.
10. Allegro Brass Bell
As any kid and many grown ups will know, there’s something inherently pleasing about the noise a bike bell makes. And if it’s a big old gorgeous-looking brass one like these from Allegro, it’s not just a warning device—it’s full-bloodedly melodic as well. If you’re after a bell that announces your arrival with gusto (rather than apathetically dings), look no further.
11. Giro Empire VR90
$325
Giro’s superb Empire ACC road shoes made quite a splash on their release, and after almost a year of use they remain a personal favourite. That distinctive laced closure has now moved across to a mountain bike shoe, with Vibram grip mounted to an Easton EC90 carbon outsole. Giro’s usual attention to detail is evident, with strategically placed bumpers on the toe and studs for extra grip in the worst conditions.
12. Bern Macon Helmet
$99.95 with visor
Skate-style helmets have enduring popularity, but all too often are ill-fitting and uncomfortable. This isn’t an issue with the Bern Macon, which comes in several shell sizes and features an adjustment at the back of the head to create an even closer fit. The Macon comes with a removable visor to keep sun and rain out of your eyes, and is compatible with Bern’s liner systems for snow sports as well.
13. Henty Wingman
$199.99
It’d be easy enough to decide that carrying a suit to work by bike is a bridge too far, but Henty don’t go for ‘easy’—they just design something that makes it become that way. With a ribbed structure that keeps your finery unwrinkled, as well as a compartment for your laptop or tablet and sweaty riding wear, there’s little that hasn’t been thought of in the pursuit of a seamless transition from bike to boardroom—a perfect gift for well-dressed commuters.
14. Full Windsor Nutter
£39.99
What if someone decided that a multi-tool needn’t be as small as possible, but decided to make it functional instead? You’d end up with something like the Full Windsor Nutter—an ideal present for the repair gurus. Covering all of the common bits needed (including 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8mm Allen keys, a pair of screwdrivers, a tyre lever and a 15mm spanner), the Nutter offers impressive leverage and comes housed in a leather pouch.
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