It’s nearly December all ready and the countdown is on. Names have been drawn and lists have been penned. This is easy. Just drive all over town, locate the items, and cross them off of your list. What’s the big deal with Christmas shopping? “Oh…wait a minute. Timmy is one of those weirdo cyclists. What the heck am I supposed to get HIM? Does he have a kickstand? If he does, it’s probably some fancy thing made out of carpet fibre. I think that’s what his bike is made of. *sigh* And I was doing SO well!”
Relax. Here are some simple gift suggestions for *The Cyclist Who Has Everything*. Forget the fluff for THIS blog entry, we don’t have the time. We won’t bother with stuff like bikes for this one. We aren’t all spoiled like the kid in the opening picture. Let’s just dive right in.
THIS is the most indispensable tool that a cyclist can have. It’s a hex wrench that contains the three most common bolt sizes on a bike…all in one place. Do they have one already? WHO CARES? They wear out with use.
Cycling is thirsty work. Everyone that rides a bicycle can use a fresh bottle. We lose them all of the time. They get pretty grimy too. See these ones? These are antimicrobial. They prevent the growth of bacteria. Doe they have one already? WHO CARES? You can never have too many.
Gloves. They provide extra grip on the handlebars and considerably more comfort. Wiping sweat from a brow is easier too. These ones are interesting. The Grail glove from Specialized features an alternative design that eliminates traditional padding and places a pad in the center of the palm to even out the pressure across the entire hand. Do they have gloves already? WHO CARES? Gloves get old, torn and smelly.
Headlights and taillights. The idea here is really simple. Keep your loved ones safe. There are styles for everyone at affordable prices. Do they have these already? WHO CARES! If one light is good, a second one is brighter!
Floor pumps. Make life easier, strain yourself less, and get fewer flat tires! Win, win,win! The theory here is that if you top up your tires BEFORE you ride, it’s less likely for anything to penetrate them while out on a ride. Do they have one already? WHO CARES? The new pumps do higher pressures while being easier to operate.
Let’s talk about lubes! EVERY bike needs it. There are chain oils for the outside of the bike, and greases for the inside of the bike. While we’re at it, let’s not forget degreasers. Do they have some already? WHO CARES? It should get used up on a regular basis.
How many of these we’ve sold over the years at Christmas, I’ll never guess. Multi tools are SUPER popular gifts that are appreciated and used over and over and over again. They’re a Godsend when you need them. If the person on your list is a mountain biker, be sure to buy the one with a chain breaker on it. Do they have one? WHO CARES? It’s a tool, used often. Theirs is probably worn out.
Getting back to the theme of keeping your loved ones safe. Did you know that a helmet is only good for about three years? Perhaps five years for a casual rider? A fresh new helmet is always a great idea. Do they have one already? WHO CARES? The new helmets are far lighter, cooler, more comfortable and much safer.
How about stocking stuffers? Let’s wind this down with three of our favourites:
Bells are ALWAYS a fun stocking stuffer. It doesn’t matter whether the recipient is young or old. So many different bells, so many different personalities. Energy foods, such as gels and gummy blocks, are growing in popularity among casual riders. Candies for cyclists! You should NEVER disregard the lowly bicycle inner tube. When they need one, they’ll think of you and kiss the ground you walk on. Do they have these already? WHO CARES? It’s the thought that counts…..and this is what they’re getting!!!
Brantford Cyclepath Blog 
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