If you’re after a relatively small and inexpensive present for the cyclist in your life, we have a whole bunch of suggestions to get you started.
Yes, some of the items we’ve selected here are expensive for stocking fillers and you’d struggle to get a couple of them to into a Christmas stocking, but let’s not be too literal about it! What we have here is a miscellany of bike related bits and pieces that we think would make good presents. They range in price from £5.99 to £55.
Legends of the Tour book £14.99
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Yet another history of the Tour de France? Yes, but Legends of the Tour is different: it is in strip cartoon format. Dutch author Jan Cleijne's book speeds you though the entire history of Le Tour, focusing on the major events. This would make a really interesting present.
Tour de France jersey tea towel £10
Buy now from Cycling Souvenirs
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You’re buying for someone who already has everything bike-related you can think of? Bet they haven’t got Tour de France jersey tea towels. They're a tenner each, but you can get all three for £25 from Cycling Souvenirs.
Fabric Sixteen Tool £24.99
Available now from Sigma Sport
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This is a very neat and compact multi-tool, and even the chain tool – often a weak point – works really well. It can be screwed right off, at which point it also serves as a surprisingly competent nipple wrench, with two gauges plus a Mavic spoke key. How's that for tidy design?
Big Maggy’s coffee £5.99
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All cyclists love coffee – well, nearly all – and Big Maggy’s, a coffee shop and bike shop based in Jersey, sells a very good Java/Mocha blend that you can make at home (227g pack). We had some in the office and it was delicious. The Big Maggy in the name is, of course, a reference to Paris-Roubaix and Tour de France stage winner Magnus Backstedt, and this is apparently his personal favourite flavour.
A History of Cycling in 100 Objects £20
Buy it now for just £9.89 at Bloomsbury
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“If you are given a cycling book at Christmas 'because you have a bike', you won't be disappointed if it is this one,” said Richard Peploe in road.cc’s review.
He’s right. Suze Clemitson makes an eclectic choice of objects; in some cases the object has a very narrow scope (such as the Simplex derailleur), and in others it is a very broad topic – such as BMX, which leads to a condensed history of the sport and its bikes. The book is informative without being dry, and nearly every time you dip into it you will find something that encourages you to keep reading.
HideMyBell £30.70
Available now from Merlin Cycles
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This is a bell for people who can't stomach the look of one on the handlebar of their posh road bike. Simply put, it's a mount for Garmin, Mio, Bryton, Polar, Sigma and Wahoo computers that incorporates a bell hidden under the computer mount. You can also fit an optional GoPro or light mount underneath to make it even more useful.
Condor Winter Print Merino Socks £7.99
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These socks make it onto our list by virtue of being both Christmassy and bike-specific. They feature a winter print and they’re made from a merino wool blend that’s designed to wick moisture and regulate temperature.
Ritchey Barkeeper £15
Tredz is currently selling them for £13.50
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They’re handlebar plugs, right, and they’re also tyre levers. What will they think of next? The Barkeepers might sound gimmicky but they’re an ingenious use of otherwise dead space and do both their jobs very convincingly.
NiteRider Swift 450 front light £38
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Niterider's Swift 450 light puts in a strong performance at a Christmas Gift-friendly price. It offers a decent amount of power, various different modes and food battery life. It’s perfect for town cycling and areas with street lights, as well as commutes to and from the country.
Sigma Nugget Flash rear light £21.99
Buy Sigma Buster 100 front light & Nugget Flash rear for £30.10
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This is a versatile, easy-to-use design that ticks all the boxes for a commuter light. Stick on a competitive price tag and it's a winner all round. It's pretty small in comparison with many lights out there, but the 0.5 watt LED is bright enough to be seen from roughly 400m away.
Sportful 2nd Skin long sleeve base layer £50
Buy now at Bike Inn for just £43.95
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This base layer is incredibly comfortable and performs brilliantly in cold conditions. It’s made from Dryarn polypropylene and polyester, and rather than a uniform texture it is a body-mapped construction, using different fabrics in different areas to provide greater support, warmth and breathability.
K-Edge Garmin Race Mount £54.99
Buy now for just £49.99 from Vanilla Bikes
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It’s pricey for a bike computer mount, but if they’ve been a good boy or girl this year maybe they deserve a treat. The Race Mount allows one of the newer and smaller Garmin Edges to be positioned out front, and it works brilliantly.
Read our review
Pedros Syn Lube £8.99
Buy now at 25% off from Chain Reaction Cycles
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Can you give something like this as a Christmas present? We reckon you just about can. This stuff goes on quickly, keeps everything running smoothly, and lasts a long time. Job’s a good’un.
On The Rivet Chamois Cream £9.99
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You know what I said about the Pedros Syn Lube (above)? That.
On The Rivet Chamois Cream is a UK-produced anti-bacterial concoction that's made from 100 per cent natural ingredients, enriched with sweet almond oil and free from both smell and tingle, all of which is nice, and it works.
VC Wolves of Ventoux T-shirt £26.99
Buy here from Whitstable Printworks
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Whitstable Printworks offers a whole range of road cycling-related T-shirts, sweatshirts, hooded sweats, prints and posters, some of them more in-yer-face than others.
Rapha women’s base layer £60
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Beautifully soft, body-hugging without being restrictive, and capable of dealing with both hot and cold temperatures, Rapha's Women's Merino Mesh Base Layer is such a lovely undergarment it's almost a shame it has to be hidden away. Okay, it’s a bit expensive to be described as a stocking filler, but it does a superb job.
Lee Valley VeloPark track gift voucher £40
Buy a track taster session here
A voucher provides the giftee (no, really, I looked it up) with an hour-long track taster session at the London Olympic velodrome. Cool present, huh? Other tracks offer their own vouchers.
Hiplok Lite: Superbright £49.99
Save 28% now over at Evans Cycles
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The wearable chain lock is designed to combine safety with security, coming with a reflective water repellent sleeve. This one has a Sold Secure Bronze Award although others in the range are rated higher.
Assos Fuguspeer S7 Socks £40
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These high tech socks from Assos come with windproofing to keep the cold out. They can be worn next to the skin or as a second layer in really grim weather.
Cycle Choice gift card £various
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If none of our gift suggestions appeal to you, how about a Cycle Choice gift voucher? You buy the voucher online and it can be redeemed in one of hundreds of specialists and high street cycle shops throughout the country?
Ride Like a Belgian bundle £29.99
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Band of Climbers offers Christmas gift suggestions in various categories. This bundle comprises a Belgian cushion cover and a Ride Like a Belgian print. Other similar bundles are available.
