Project: Give Great Stuff
Amazing presents and stocking stuffers for every type of rider
Amazing presents and stocking stuffers for every type of rider
If you are shopping for a cyclist on your list this holiday season or want to influence the presents that might be coming your way, check out this guide of great gift ideas. You can go high – new wheels or a cycling getaway – and you can get cool stocking stuffers – a sweet bell or colourful gloves. Start here, make a list and check it twice.
Melding high-performance features with trippy graphics, the Bontrager xxx ltd Mountain bike shoes A ($ 560, trekbikes.com) will help a cross country rider or a cyclocross racer rip. The pattern is called camooflage. The bovine-themed design from the Wisconsin-based company, however, really does pop. The lacing system keeps pressure off of the top of the foot, while the sole provides maximum stiffness. The Shimano XC5 shoes B ($ 220, bike.shimano.com) have a grippy Michelin rubber outsole for when they’re put into service off bike. Each shoe has a Boa dial and hookand-loop strap to snug things up. It’s an excellent pair for cross country races and even gravel adventures.
The Kryptonite Evolution Mini-9 D ($ 110, kryptonitelock. com) is a refined u-lock with subtle but effective features. Kryptonite’s double deadbolt helps to combat twist attacks. The disc-style cylinder is drill-resistant. The Evolution Mini-9 attaches to a bike with bracket that’s included. This lock, in a way, is a gift for a bike that will make it feel secure.
The Abus 770A Smartx lock E ($ 370 for 230-mm length, $390 for 300-mm length, abus.com) can make more noise than a Christmas cracker. Would-be thieves are treated to a 100-decibel alarm. Lock up or unlock with an IOS or Android smartphone via the Smartx system. These new-school elements work with classic hardened steel, which is used for the shackle, the housing and the load-bearing parts of the locking mechanism.
These two Campagnolo espresso cups A ($ 60, campagnolo.com) make quite the pair. Think about it: legendary Italian component maker matched with an Italian way of enjoying coffee. Bene!
Ring in the new year with a Giant Cruiser bell B ($ 10, giant-bicycles.com). The purple colour looks great, but so do the black, blue, and red and blue versions. Fits on bars from 21 to 26 mm in diameter.
The Easton pit beer sling C ($ 20, easton cycling.ca) (or insulated wizard stick with strap) ensures riders have the necessary canned hydration at events. It can hold six 355-ml cans or four 500-ml.
Launched in early October, the Gopro Hero 8 Black D ($ 530, ogc.ca) is the latest iteration of the action camera. It has improved stabilization and a new night-lapse video setting. With additional mod kits, the camera can be outfitted with a directional mic, flip-up display or light.
A set of Hunt 36 UD Carbon Spoke wheels E ($ 2,064, huntbikewheels.cc) would make a massive transformation to any road bike with rim brakes. The hoops weigh a feathery 1,300 g. The Hunt Sprint hub has 48 teeth on its ratchet ring. Three pawls, each with three teeth, grab the ratchet, which then spins up the Taperlock UD carbon spokes and filament-wound rim.
Pop a tab in your bidon before heading out, or while on a ride. A Nuun Sport tube
F ($ 10 each, nuuncanada.com) has 10 tablets, each providing 15 calories, 2 g of carbs, 25 mg of magnesium and 300 mg of sodium. For the holidays, Skratch Labs G ($ 27, ryekasport.com) has its gift with purchase pack. There are four bars, including the new raspberries and lemon, and peanut butter and strawberries. The fruit punch hydration mix is way, way tastier than a Christmas fruit cake.
From Vermont, Untapped waffles H
( US$32 for a carton of 16, untapped.cc) are delicious mid- or post-ride fuel. The four tasty flavours include maple (naturally), chai, raspberry and coffee. The company will ship to Canada for free if the order tops $100.