The 12 Best Gifts for Anyone Who Is Suddenly Really Into Bikes
We rounded up the best gifts for cyclists, because it could happen quickly to anyone in your life. One day they're Normal. The next, they're a Cyclist. It might be the spandex purchase. A carbon fiber bike worth more than the 2012 Subaru Outback they carry it around on. Some reach their final form when they intentionally commute in their first downpour (no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes). For others, it’s buying a floor pump.
Whatever it was, it's made your dad or sister or boyfriend that much harder to shop for. Cyclists are legendarily picky about gear, and the cycling industry has a lot of bottomless rabbit holes to throw cash into. There is gear for every problem, weather, and hilariously specific situation you could imagine. Should you be buying them a jacket that turns into a sleeping bag? Tires you have to glue to the rims? Toe covers?
But it doesn’t have to be so confusing and complex. Cyclists can be persnickety, but I’m here to tell you they’re not all terrible. It’s an enjoyable sport and, more importantly, transportation when so many people are skeptical of taking mass transit during COVID. The cycling boom is real and wonderful. So here are 12 of the best gifts for cyclists in your life—or to pick up for yourself.
Get even more GQ-vetted-and-approved gift ideas by signing up for the GQ Recommends newsletter. A Cozy JacketRapha "Down Explore" jacket$295
Rapha
Rapha is the gold standard for cycling gear. They made cool cycling clothes before cool cycling clothes existed. This Down Explore Jacket will keep commutes to the store and socially-distanced outdoor firepit hangs cozy. It’s water repellant and has all the warmth of a puffer in a super lightweight jacket. The best part is that it packs up into a little pouch for those days that it’s 20 degrees warmer for your ride home than your morning commute.
But the reason this is worth dropping $295 on is because you can wear it on and off the bike—which would be a cliche if it weren't so rare for good bike gear. I wore it running errands and also on a very cold 30-mile ride through the woods. I wore it when I rode to the hardware store, but also to hang up a bird feeder. It’s engineered and performs like serious cycling gear without looking like a hi-vis acid trip.
A (Really Nice) Pair of SocksFarm to Feet "Damascus" socks$24
Farm to Feet
Cotton kills. Merino wool pulls the sweat away and keeps toes warm, whether your cyclist is out for a long ride with pals or just popping over to the beer store. And if you’re looking to support local manufacturers, Farm to Feet are made right here in the United States.
An Iconic PumpSilca floor pump$99
Silca
Every cyclist needs a pump: if you take 60 seconds to put some air in your tires before every ride, it keeps you efficient and helps prevent flats. Most pumps are utilitarian, but 103-year-old company Silca's pumps are some of the most revered pieces of gear in the sport. This one's fire-engine red, with a wooden handle. They won’t have to hide it behind the couch.
A Smarter ComputerWahoo "Elemnt Roam" computer$379
Wahoo
The deeper anyone gets into the cycling scene the more time they'll spend on Strava (the only good social network). The logical next step for burgeoning cyclists is to migrate from the Strava app to a bike computer (“head unit” in bike-speak). A head unit will tell you how fast you’re going, how far you’ve gone, how long it’s taken you, and a bunch of other wild fitness metrics that are evident-but-somehow-quantifiable (I don’t need a “stress score,” I know I’m very tired and sore!) It’s the perfect gift for your loved one who got super into cycling over the summer.
What I love about the Elemnt Roam is the navigation features. Other bike computers offer a similar choose-your-own-adventure feature that allows you to build—or copy from other cyclists—turn-by-turn routes right into the bike computer, but nothing compares to Wahoo. Think: Google Maps, but for cycling. It makes exploring new roads for new cyclists easy. You don’t have to pull out your phone every three miles, the computer just tells you when to turn.
The Safest Rear LightGarmin "Varia" light$199
Amazon
I often get a kink in my neck from constantly checking over my shoulder for lunatics in pickup trucks who hate cyclists. The Varia changed that. It’s your standard blinking red tail light to give you visibility, but it doubles as a radar. It beeps and alerts you once cars are within a little more than 400 feet. The beeping changes depending on how fast the car is approaching. It sounds annoying, but it’s not. The Varia is extremely useful on country roads where the bike infrastructure is non-existent and drivers are hostile.
Big Honking Sunglasses100% "S2" sunglasses$195
100%
You cannot become a cyclist without a pair of truly ridiculous performance sunglasses. Oakley made this a rule, not me. Upstart brand 100% carries on in the tradition of “performs extremely well, looks even more insane” sunglasses. You’ll see the S2 in the professional peloton and on local roads. They’re lightweight and comfy. And they come with a clear lens for overcast days or rainy commutes.
A Bikepacking TentBig Agnes "Copper Spur 3" tent$549
Big Agnes
I know what you’re thinking: bike packing? Yes, bike packing. One fully crosses the rubicon into insane cyclist when they take their first bike packing trip. And, well, folks: it’s a blast.
You can get access to untouched public lands that aren’t accessible by car. For city dwellers without cars, you can hop on your bike and be to a campsite before happy hour. The Copper Spur hangs comfortably from your handlebars so you can load up your panniers with wine, snacks, and dry clothes. It's not for everyone, but there is a certain person this is perfect for—you’ll know.
The Cadillac of RacksRivendell rack$250
Rivendell
Handmade in Tokyo, these things will last forever. Also: it will hold all your shit in a basket: laptop, beer, workout gear for outdoor workouts in 2022 when we’re all still wearing masks. Dad pull his trusty Raleigh out of the garage and start bike commuting during quarantine? Rivendell is the gift for him.
The reason I’ve always gravitated towards Rivendell’s gear is how handsome it is. They make classic-looking bike equipment that’s built to last. So many bike manufacturers are obsessed with weight these days. Rivendell is obsessed with making the best tool for the job. In this case that is a very sturdy metal rack.
The Best Bike Commuting PantsOutlier "Strong Darts" pants$198
Outlier
These are the best, period. They’re insanely durable. We won’t bore you with all the various names of proprietary fabrics Outlier touts and simply tell you: this shit lasts. They're cut to be comfortable on the bike and water resistant, but the durability is the main thing. I’ve owned multiple pairs of Outlier pants over the last five years and they’re all still intact. Whereas my beloved selvage jeans have had the crotch re-patched multiple times—because it blew out from regular bike commuting.
Gloves for Truly Cold DaysPearl Izumi lobster gloves$85
Amazon
Gotta keep your digits warm. Pearl Izumi has been making their legendary lobster gloves (they own the trademark—every other company calls them “split-finger gloves”) for decades. And with good reason: they last forever, keep your fingers warm, and are as functional at a tailgate as they are on a bike commute. Also: you get to make lots of incredible stupid Live Long And Prosper jokes.
A Well-Designed JacketCafe du Cycliste "Albertine" jacket$288
Cafe du Cucliste
Nice-based Cafe du Cycliste makes some of the cleanest silhouettes in cycling. They release limited capsule collections and make simple clothes that stands out. This jacket doesn't doesn’t look like cycling kit, but on the bike, it performs exceptionally well: the front, where the wind hits, is beefy and warm; the merino polar fleece back wicks and breathes easily (I could see steam was coming off my back on a 40-degree ride).
The Best PanniersBushwhacker Omaha panniers$64
Amazon
That's French for the bags that hook onto your bike, and these are the best panniers I’ve ever owned. They're open-topped, so extremely convenient—you can pack them full of everything. For a long time I was partial to much more inconvenient closed design, but despite my initial fears, nothing flies out. No need for bungie cords. Eggs make it home safely from the farmers market every Saturday.
Read MoreThe Best Gear for the Pandemic Cycling BoomSeven high-mileage guys share their favorite piece of cycling gear (that isn't a bike).
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