Velo Holiday Gift Guide for Road Cycling

Swiss+Tech Micro Tool

If you ever have to put a tube into a tubeless tire, it requires removing the valve stem. Sometimes the valve stem retention nut is impossible to budge. This tool is basically a tiny set of pliers (technically there’s also screw drivers but it’s mostly pliers) that is easy to carry with you on a ride. Folded up they are just under two inches and will save you from an emergency call but also last for years sitting in a pack unused. Most cyclicists have a multi-tool but most multi-tools don’t have pliers.

Park Tool VC-1 Valve Core Tool

Sometimes you’ll find that your valve core is leaking a bit. I always carry an extra valve core with me but swapping it out requires a tool. This is another one of those things that isn’t common on mult-tools but can absolutely be necessary to get home. It’s a tiny little thing to carry that is essentially a one time purchase and you can also use it at home.

Banana Boat Sport Spray Sunscreen Refill

Long days in the sun are bad news for health. We all know this but when out on a bike, often wearing gloves, it can be a hassle to stop and apply sun protection. The solution I’ve found is spray sunscreen and that’s what I’ve shared but there’s more. You’ll notice I didn’t list the version of this spray sunscreen in a spray bottle. That is available from Amazon also (actually make sure you check the price, sometimes it’s cheaper) but the trick is to pour the refill into small bottles that are easy to bring on a ride. The ones I’ve used are 5ml and come in a 10-pack for $6. Grab some sunscreen and some bottles and you’ll have a perfect gift for long summer days spent on a bike.

Hydrapak Breakaway Surge 25oz Water Bottle (2 pack)

A lot of cyclists don’t think about water bottles all that much. They hold water and they are all kind of the same… except they aren’t. The Hydrapak Breakaway Surge is slightly bigger than most bottles and it has a valve that doesn’t leak but also doesn’t need to be pulled open during a ride. As a gift this is a perfect one because water bottles wear out over time so there’s always a need for an update.

Fierce Hazel Weatherproof Cycling Wallet

Most people choose to carry their flat repair in a saddle bag under a bike seat. I prefer a clean bike with nothing extra hanging off of it. I also like the ability to always grab the same pack no matter what bike I am riding. With those needs in mind, this is the piece I’ve fallen in love with over the years. It’s also a good choice if you just want to keep a phone safe. Either way, it fits everything I need, it’s waterproof, and it comes from a small woman owned company.

BonkBreaker Gummy Energy Chews

An important part of any nutrition plan while riding is variety. Sometimes you’ll want to drink calories, sometimes chew something that has some crunch, and other times you want something like this that is easy to eat but does provide some mouth feel. BonkBreakers are from a small company and a woman who rides hard. There’s passion in these and they work. This is a great gift for anyone who loves long rides.

Tailwind Endurance Fuel

Endurance athletes need fuel. It’s a great gift because it’s an ongoing, never ending, need. The only question is what fuel makes sense. For some people drinking calories is an excellent way to get them in and in that category, Tailwind is my favorite choice. It’s a reasonable price, it tastes good, it’s high calorie (or low depending on what you put in) and it won’t upset your stomach. My favorite flavor is Mandarin.

Bolt Leg Razor

Dedicated road cyclists often shave their legs using whatever cheap razor they buy at the grocery store. Those razors get the job done just fine but they feel even cheaper than they are. It’s nice to upgrade but it can also be very expensive and upgraded razors tend to be designed with men’s faces in mind. The Bolt razor offers a just right upgrade that feels great in your hand, works well, and doesn’t cost a fortune. In case you are wondering how much I like these, I was reminded to grab a pack of refills for myself when I checked the pricing and link for this guide.

Bivo Duo Stainless Steel Bottle

There’s also the Hydrapak bottle on this list and while that one is the best of what you can get for plastic bottles, the Bivo Duo is a better bottle all around. As I said under the Hydrapak, all plastic bottles wear out with use. The Bivo Duo never wears out, doesn’t contribute plastic to the environment, and guarantees you aren’t drinking microplastics. It’s also easier, and faster, to drink out of. Given that it’s such a big upgrade from a standard bottle it’s a great thing to buy for someone who might not buy it for themselves.

Stinner Titanium Bottle Cage

No matter the bike, a titanium bottle cage is the perfect accessory. It’s beautiful and timeless. It’s a great gift because you don’t have to stress about what bike someone has, this matches.

Specialized Body Geometry SL Footbeds

This one is a little bit different from everything on this list because it requires a bit of knowledge. There’s high, medium, and low arch options but the medium, or blue, is a good guess for most people. The reason I’m bothering to put these on the guide, despite that challenge, is that they’ve made such a huge difference in my life. Anyone who struggles with pain or numbness in a cycling shoe, doesn’t matter if it’s from Specialized, should try these arches as this was a fix for me after years of other attempts.

Dynaplug Racer Pro Tubeless Tire Plug Kit

Tubeless tires are great but sometimes the sealant needs a little help. That’s where a tubeless plug comes in but they are not all equal. Over the years I have come to rely on Dynaplug because I know they work. I’ve seen countless other options fail on the side of the road and it’s only when I hand over my Dynaplug kit that we can get rolling again. This particle kit is small and carries four plugs. It’s the kind of gift that will be remembered for years to come.

Rab Cirrus Hut Slipper

Is there any holiday gift more classic than slippers? I don’t think so but instead of picking just whatever slippers, get something from a brand that makes cycling gear. Rab leans towards gravel and mountain biking but the slippers are perfect for any cyclist. Perfect for taking off your shoes if you’ve driven to the ride but also perfect around the house and for grabbing the mail without swapping into actual shoes. Rab also has the Down Hut Slipper but the Cirrus is a synthetic stuffing that holds up a bit better if it’s at all wet. Both are also good options if you do any bike packing. Personally I’m a fan of the Mulberry color option.

Prestacycle TorqRatchet GO Lite

Everybody should have a multitool of some kind with them. Unless someone is brand new to cycling, they probably have something. This one is better. The reason it’s better is because it’s smaller, has an integrated torque wrench and it’s easily expandable. Instead of some kind of hard to use contraption with tools that fold out, this is just a tiny ratchet that takes standard hex bits. There are 9 bits included but adding more requires only buying some bits and a longer bit holder.

Suunto Sonic Bone Conduction Headphones

A huge number of people use headphones, or want to use headphones while cycling. The trick is that it’s not safe to close yourself off from the outside world. The solution is bone conduction headphones and the Suunto Sonic is just as good as more expensive options but at a great price. Not only can you still hear your surroundings but if you want to stop the music it’s a simple press on a button that’s easy to reach. Once the music is stopped you can leave the headphones in place. Fun colors are a bonus.

Assos RS Long Fingered Summer Gloves

The perfect road cycling glove isn’t one you might have considered in the past. Typically summer road cycling gloves are short fingered but, having spent crazy amounts of time holding bars on a road bike, I can tell you that long fingered gloves feel better. The trick is to find one that’s actually designed for the task and that’s what the Assos RS glove is. The whole back of the hand lets air flow without stopping it but also keeps the sun off a spot that’s tough to protect. Then the palm is a lightweight synthetic suede that also has touch screen functionality and just a touch of padding under the knuckles.

Assos Spring Fall Gloves P1

As great as the Assos RS Long Fingered gloves are, they are a summer glove and won’t provide warmth. If you’d rather something a bit more usable in cooler seasons, the Assos Spring Fall Gloves take the same concept and just bulk it up a bit. The fit is exactly the same and so is the padding and palm. What’s different is that there’s a longer wrist, wind resistant back, and a bit of insulation in the form of fleece. If you are familiar with an arm warmer the material is roughly the same. Of course cycling gloves in general are a great gift idea but this one makes sense because it covers a lot of what a modern cyclist needs. It’s not a deep winter solution but more and more cyclists are moving inside for the coldest days anyway.

Trek CHRGtime Charging Station

Modern cycling involves a lot of electronics. That also means a lot of charging those electronics. I used to have lights, headunits, SRAM batteries, and my watch stashed to charge all over the house. Half the time I’d spend 30 minutes trying to remember where I last put a particular light. Then the Trek CHRGtime landed in my life.

The CHRGtime feels silly at first but it solves a problem. Surely you can just plug things in right? Obviously you can but what if there was a nice looking system that minimized clutter and provided a centralized drop point? With four sections, a single plugin to power everything and a lid, that’s exactly what the Trek CHRGtime is.

When I come in from a ride I have a place to put things so they aren’t lost. There’s no flashing lights on my bedside table, less clutter, and everything is ready to go for the next ride.

Silca Elettrico Ultimate Mini Inflator

Silca has a reputation for making the very best pumps you can buy. In terms of floor pumps the Silca offerings do not flow as much as the JoeBlow listed next but when it comes to electric pumps it is unequivocally true. There’s a bunch of electric pumps on the market. They are all loud and feel cheap. Then there’s the Silca. Built from a solid block of metal, the thing is a tank. There’s also a cheaper version you might put in a jersey pocket but my advice is to stick to a mini pump in your pocket, use the JoeBlow to set up new tubeless tires, and use the Silca for everyday inflation. It’s easier but it’s also more accurate.

JoeBlow Tubi 2Stage Floor Pump

Setting up a tubeless tire is not complicated as long as you have the right tools for the job. A floor pump is an important one of those tools. Most of the time tubeless specific pumps use a chamber you pressurize. It works fine as long as everything is perfect. When it’s not perfect you do the work to pressurize the canister then watch it do nothing before you have to pressurize it again. The Tubi 2Stage isn’t a complicated piece of equipment. The only real innovation is that it flows more than double the air of most pumps. It’s enough to set tubeless tires without issue. I’ve used this floor pump for years and there’s nothing better on the market.

Ornot Park Jersey

The perfect jersey has a just right fit that’s tight and fitted but not uncomfortable. It’s also got pockets that won’t rip or sag and still hold everything you need. Most importantly though, it looks good. The Ornot Park jersey knocks it out of the… uhm… Park in all categories.

Paid Advertisement by Therabody
Theragun PRO Plus

Long days in the saddle demand recovery that works as hard as you do. The Theragun PRO Plus delivers. The most advanced recovery device available, it combines five powerful, science-backed therapies in one: deep muscle percussive massage, heated percussive, near-infrared LED light, vibration, and cold therapy (sold separately). It helps relieve pain, improve mobility, and speed up recovery so you can ride stronger, longer. Smart features include biometric tracking, guided breathwork, and an easy-to-read LCD screen that walk you through step-by-step routines. The percussive therapy targets deep muscle soreness after long climbs, while heat and LED light improve circulation and flexibility for faster results.

Zwift Annual Membership

It’s winter when you are reading and most people in the US are either already moved to indoor cycling or will move there soon. A great gift option is a year membership to Zwift where indoor riding is a lot more fun. Obviously this is great for the off-season but even in the summer there’s good reason to ride indoors if you are short on time, or maybe want to race, and now Zwift gives credit for your outdoor rides in the game. This is the kind of gift that lasts longer than the day you give it.

Jumping to our best cycling smart trainers might also be worth it if you are considering something along these lines. Some of the trainers even come with a Zwift membership.

Feedback Sports Modular T-Handle Kit

There’s nothing like holding a well made tool. It’s the kind of gift that lasts a lifetime and it’s a joy to use. Every cyclist needs a quality hex wrench set but this one from Feedback Sports solves a bunch of problems. A standard L shaped wrench works great but can sometimes be a hassle to use in tight spaces. T-handle wrenches are great but are a hassle to store. The modularity of these means they are easy to store, in the include tool roll, plus they are easy to use in tight spaces with the center section that lets you spin them.

Smith Seeker Sunglasses

I always think one of the best types of suggestions for a list like this gift guide for road cycling is the kind of gift that’s cycling adjacent. The Smith Seeker glasses aren’t performance road cycling glasses but they are perfect for a cyclist who might occasionally jump on a bike, casual rides, or really anyone who wants solid and secure glasses. You can definitely wear them on a bike, you might even love them as cycling glasses, but they also work off a bike just as well. They even come with a cord to put around your neck that means you won’t lose them.

Look Keo Blade Ceramic Vision Pedals

These are a brand new idea from Look pedals that make a cyclist more visible. The idea is that certain types of organic motion clue the human brain into recognition and pedal movement mimics that. It’s a concept we’ve seen before but this is the first time there’s been the option on a true performance pedal. Add performance to someone’s bike and keep them safer, it’s a win all around.

Oakley Meta Vanguard Glasses

Yes, these are actually as cool as they seem. They are some of the best road cycling glasses, excellent headphones for use on a bike, and the ability to always record video and audio during a ride is unlike anything else. The Meta AI onboard is just an extra bonus that lets you ask questions or do simple math during a ride. These are certainly going to be a hot gift this winter but there’s a good reason for it. You can read more details in my Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses review.

Insta360 X5 360 Camera

If you know someone that wants to share their rides with others, this is the absolute best action camera for use on a bike. I’ve spent years testing different options and nothing beats this. If you want to hold it the candybar shape makes it easy. If you want to chest mount it then the ability to reframe later means you never capture footage staring at the ground, and the mic is good enough you can hear it over the wind noise. There’s also a ton of good accessories for shooting cool video that looks like a drone is following a rider. You can read a bit more in my Insta360 X5 review.

HOVERAir X1 Promax Follow Drone Camera

Any of my review videos that include scenes of me riding come from the HOVERAir X1 Promax. It’s another one of those things that’s so cool it seems impossible that it exists and actually works. It does though. It will fit in a jersey pocket then launch whenever you want and fly behind/over/ahead/beside you while it records beautiful quality footage. This is a game changing piece of equipment for creating cycling content.

Garmin Venu X1

Cyclists who aren’t runners don’t really need to wear a watch while working out. You’ve got a headunit on your bars. On the other hand, only having metrics from your headunit doesn’t give a full picture of your training and recovery. If you stick with Garmin for both a watch and a bike computer then the two will hand off data seamlessly so that it looks like a single unbroken stream in Gamin Connect. That still leaves a watch choice though and I find the X1 is the perfect option for cyclists. You can run with it but it’s not the best running watch. Instead it’s an excellent smart watch with a big screen that’s easy to read notifications on and has tons of battery life. It also has the performance metrics, like training status and body battery, that matter off the bike. Even better, it looks nice as a watch and doesn’t feel too sporty when paired with nice clothes.