The perfect gifts for a cyclist
Santa’s saddle bag is chock-full of festive treats this year, and we’ve had inside info from a rogue elf as to what should be in your stockings
1 molteni hoodie
Lounge your way through The Polar Express, The Snowman and the Snowdog
and the 1981 Terry and June Chrimbo special back-to-back with a box of Quality Street on your lap and at least you’ll look the part with this super-snug Molteni hoodie. It’s Fair Wear Foundation certified too, so frees up extra guilt to expend on those sweeties. cyclingsouvenirs.com £45.99
2 tissot t-race tour de france watch
You can’t rightly call yourself a cyclist unless you’ve got a well developed and financially precarious luxury watch habit. As the official timekeeper of the Tour de France, Tissot’s Swiss-made T-race collection seems a good place to start to us. It comes in Vuelta red too, and is classy while still being affordable enough to keep the bank manager at bay. tissotwatches.com £380
3 rapha weekend Bag
Almost as a salve to the horror that you might look like just another cog in the proletariat now that Rapha is freely available in (deep breath) mainstream outlets comes this reassuringly expensive leather Weekend Bag. It’s billed as an ‘uber-kitbag’, but whether you’d actually want to fill this lovely thing with sweaty riding keks and chuck it in a fuggy estate car boot we’re not sure. rapha.cc £495
4 athlete Performance moisturiser and athlete Performance Chamois Cream
Combine these for the perfect cycling alternative to that Christmas mainstay, the Adidas toiletries set. The moisturiser is rated SPF15 to protect against nasty rays, while the chamois cream keeps your undercarriage in tip-top condition with shea butter and aloe vera. silverfish-uk.com £19.99 (Moisturiser); £13.99 (Chamois Cream)
5 Velolove tees
Been there? Then get the T-shirt. And if you haven’t, why not get one anyway to remind you of good times in sunny climes ahead in 2019? As well as this stylish offering, Velolove does a bunch of other designs to suit any taste. velolove.cc £25