GT - Cycling Gift Guide
Anyone who’s ever known a serious mountain biker or road cyclist has likely observed the seemingly infinite number of clothes, accessories, and doodads that go along with the sport. With so many highly specialized items, non-riders can sometimes be overwhelmed when shopping for gifts.
However, there are a few items that will almost always be safe gifting bets for the two-wheeled enthusiast in your life. And shopping UnNew with
Geartrade is a great way to stretch your holiday dollar a little bit further, while also cutting back on gear waste. Here are a handful of our favorite gift ideas for cyclists, in a range of prices to fit almost any budget.
From patch kits to multi-tools, every cyclist needs the essential items to fix a flat, tighten loose bolts, and keep their bike(s) in generally good working order. While some super-specific tools are probably best left to the home mechanic in question to obtain, you generally can’t go wrong with patch kits, chain tools, or multi-function bike tools as stocking stuffers or affordable gifts.
A new set of tires is a great way to freshen up a bike’s looks and performance, and we’re well-stocked with lightly used (or brand-new) tires that have lots of miles left in them. Take a look at the sidewalls of the tires you’re replacing to get the sizing numbers you need—and especially in the case of mountain bike tires, consider the person’s riding style. Aspiring racers may want a lower-profile tread with less rolling resistance, while riders who love bike parks and shuttle laps will appreciate a more aggressive tread.
Every rider needs a solid assortment of jerseys, and shopping UnNew lets you score some really nice cycling apparel for a fraction of its normal cost—often due to tiny cosmetic imperfections nobody will ever notice. From loose-fitting trail jerseys to race-cut road kits, our selection of bike jerseys has something for all types of riders. Gifting pro-tip: If you can, sneak a peek at some of your recipient’s current riding kits to get a sense of their on-bike style.
If the cyclist in your life is serious about their fitness and wants to put in miles even when the weather is too harsh to ride, indoor trainers make a great big-ticket gift. Bike trainers can be spendy, but shopping UnNew is an awesome way to enjoy significant savings on high-quality indoor trainers from some of the top brands.
Gloves are one of those inexpensive pieces of cycling kit that make a fantastic and thoughtful gift for any style of rider. If your favorite cyclist rides all year round, a set of insulated gloves make a nice present during the colder months. And even more fair-weather riders will still be excited about a fresh pair that hasn’t been soaked through with sweat (yet.) If you’re not sure which ones to buy, keep in mind that road riders usually wear fingerless gloves, while mountain bikers prefer the added protection of full fingers. (Cold-weather riding gloves are the exception to this guideline.)
The invention of the dropper seatpost is one of the best innovations in recent mountain bike history, as they enable riders to get their saddle out of the way during technical sections, and maintain a proper pedaling height in mellower sections. While a dropper post is a fantastic upgrade to any off-road bike, there are a lot of sizing standards to get right with these. Be sure to take measurements, do your research, and consult with the manufacturer’s website if necessary. In addition to the overall diameter of the post, the most important numbers to get right will be travel length, collar to saddle rail length, and total insertion length.
Whether the person you’re shopping for has worn out their current bike shoes or they’re still riding around in a set of skate or running shoes, cycling shoes make a thoughtful gift for any dedicated rider. We’re well stocked with bike shoes in new or excellent condition, all at seriously discounted prices. One gifting pro-tip for cycling shoes—take a look at the soles of your recipient’s current shoes, to make sure you’re matching the mounting pattern for the cleats that attach to their pedals. Or if they ride flat pedals, choose a mountain bike shoe with a full rubber sole.
Another inexpensive stocking-stuffer, grips or bar tape are a great way to freshen up a bike’s comfort, performance, and aesthetics. They’re a part of the bike that most cyclists should probably replace more often than they do, and make for a thoughtful holiday gift. And you’ll definitely get bonus points for color-matching the grips with the pedals or any accent colors that may be on the recipient’s bike.
With these gift suggestions in mind, you’ll be in good shape to choose something thoughtful for your favorite cyclist without breaking the bank. And if your gift-ee isn’t too camera-shy, we always love seeing photos on social media of our former gear-babies enjoying their new forever homes.
Happy gifting, and happy holidays!
TJ Parsons is a semi-reformed snowboard bum who now has a semi-adult career as a professional writer and creative. He's a self-proclaimed perpetual intermediate who thinks the outdoors are for everyone, and who wants to help dismantle gatekeeping and elitism in outdoor sports. When he's not squeezing brain juice into a keyboard, you'll find him riding boards or bikes throughout the Intermountain West.
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