It’s December, which means if you haven’t already started, it’s time to get Christmas shopping. If you’ve got a cyclist in your life or you just want to treat yo’self, take a look at our top picks for this year’s holiday season!
Keep it clean
The winter months usually bring a lot of rain. And with rain, comes mud. No bother, we love hitting the trails and tearing through the country lanes – in fact, we seem to have an entire cycling discipline built around riding in the mud – hello Cyclocross!
So whilst the conditions are not a problem for your avid cyclist, it does involve a bit more bike maintenance!
The Muc-Off Essentials kits provides everything you need to look after your bike, in a nice little package.
Top Tube Bag
A top tube bag is something you didn’t know you needed. Forget stuffing your pockets with tools and snacks. Take the load off and stick your essentials in the top tube bag in easy reach.
These are particularly handy if you’re taking part in a sportive or embarking on an hours long adventure, where fuelling becomes very important.
We love the Restrap top tube bag for its durability and clean design!
Some cycling inspiration
Winner of the Sunday Times Sports Book of the Year 2023, ‘Beryl, In Search of Britain’s Greatest Athlete’, is a story of the remarkable life of Beryl Burton. One of the greatest athletes to have sat on a bike, she was sadly never fully recognised in her lifetime.
Her sheer athletic ability and pure northern grit will inspire anyone, and definitely offer some cycling motivation. Add this to your list of stocking fillers. What a read!
Winter Gloves
If you prefer to get outside in all weather, you need to make sure you’ve got the right kit. As the saying goes, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing’. Your hands are usually the first thing to feel the cold when winter hits, so a decent pair of Winter gloves can do wonders for your your mood when out on the bike.
These Giro ‘Proof Winter Gloves’ will help keep your fingers toasty so you can enjoy those winter miles.
A Commuting Backpack
If you do a lot of commuting by bike, you’ll know that a decent bag is a must. If you opt for a backpack, you need to make sure it’s comfortable to wear whilst you’re hunched over your handlebars. Plus, you’ll want to make sure it’s durable enough to withstand the weekly commutes and will keep all of your belongings safe and dry!
Practical and stylish, Chrome Industries bags are a Hiplok favourite.
Keep it Safe
For any keen cyclist, keeping your pride and joy safe is first and foremost. Since most bike thefts happen from the home, a solid security set up could be a great gift for the cyclist in your life.
For instance, AIRLOK is a super secure wall mounted bike hanger. The stylish design allows you to display your bike, like the piece of art that it is. All the while keeping it secure with a hardened steel frame and integrated 30mm hardened steel locking pin.
Or, if you’re looking more of a stocking filler, the Z LOK and Z LOK COMBO gives you security in a small package. Ideal for mid-ride café stops, they fit easily into a jersey pocket but give you peace of mind when you have to leave your bike unattended for a short while.
New kit Day!
A new piece of cycling kit can give any cyclist a little boost when they hop on the bike! Whether it’s a sleek new jersey, a pair of practical bib tights, some new shoes, or even a pair of socks. If you’re looking for something a little different to the standard, take a look at Paria’s collections. Big on design and high on performance, they look pretty cool too.
Snacks!
Nutrition on the bike has become a science these days. Staying fuelled with the right food and drink can make a big difference to performance and recovery, particularly if you are cycling long distances. The aim to is to maintain your energy levels throughout the ride and avoid the dreaded ‘bonk’.
It also helps if the food and drinks you’re consuming taste nice too! Veloforte have some great options, whether it’s energy bars, protein shakes or energy gels. They also do a range of bundles which would make a great gift for Christmas.
Get Organised
As the saying goes, ‘good things come in small packages’. And that’s particularly true of the Hiplok JAW, compact bike rack. If bike storage has become a problem, the JAW allows you to store your bikes vertically or horizontally, to give you more space and allow you to access your bikes more easily.
Using a ‘one-size-fits-all’ design, it will fit tyre sizes 20mm-75mm and is super easy to install. So you can organise your bike chaos and get out riding.
