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We’ve updated our list of gifts to delight the cyclist in your life, adding a sleek tire pump and an excellent headlight. 6 Inch Combination Pliers
Pity the poor loved ones of devoted cyclists. When the weather is good, they abandon you for the open road. When the weather is lousy, they’re down in their bike cave, elbow-deep in chain lube and tire sealant. Then comes the challenge of finding an acceptable gift. Anything too practical, such as a helmet or a lock, they probably already own. (Plus, they have Definite Opinions on what they prefer.)
Then there’s the whole subculture question: Does your cyclist identify as a mountain biker or a bikepacker? Do they watch every hour of the full-length, early morning Tour de France telecast? Or do they scorn spandex and all who wear it?
We hear your pleas for help, and we’ve pulled together an assortment of presents to keep every pedaler—mountain bikers, road riders, commuters, or anyone else on two wheels—happily rolling along.
This mostly metal pump—from the extra-large pressure gauge to the recently redesigned screw-on pump head—is a smart buy.
Tire pressure is an essential component of a good ride, and a good pump is a must. The Lezyne Classic Floor Drive 3.5 is our top pick of the lot for either Presta or Schrader valves. The Lezyne Classic’s pump head screws in securely, rather than pushing in like most others, and it fits easily between spokes. The extra-large gauge is easy to read, the hose is long, and the whole thing is rendered from sturdy aluminum, with a varnished wood handle. Dare we say it’s a pleasure to use?
Bright and affordable, this headlight offers good side visibility and a long-lasting battery. Its quick-release mount is sturdy and easy to use but lacks a functional swivel.
Our top pick for the best biking headlight is simple and effective, and it won’t break the bank. The battery in the Portland Design Works City Rover 700 USB Headlight lasts about four hours at 350 lumens (medium illumination but good enough for most commuting situations). It also has nice, big sidelights that help with visibility at intersections. What you don’t get is a light that’s completely waterproof, although its water resistance worked well enough for our testers, and it’s made of plastic instead of the more durable aluminum that many more expensive models use.
Sturdy and stable, this smart trainer accommodates most modern road bikes. It isn’t as portable as the more-expensive Kickr, which folds for easier transport, but it comes with a year’s membership in the online game Zwift.
Give your beloved cyclist a way to train indoors in rotten weather like the pros do, using a smart trainer—a machine that they attach to their regular bike, in place of its rear wheel, that lets them pedal in place as hard as they like. And if your cyclist connects it via Bluetooth to a cycling-gaming app on their laptop or mobile device, they can “climb” virtual mountains and race virtual foes.
The trainer that guide co-author Christine Ryan sets up each winter, the Wahoo Kickr Core, now comes bundled with a year’s subscription to Zwift, the multiplayer cycling game that she uses. In it, cyclists’ avatars can race one another, pursue conditioning programs, or merely roam a collection of landscapes based on real-life locations such as Innsbruck, London, and Paris, plus Watopia, a made-up mishmash of volcanoes, deserts, redwoods, and the Alps. Your cyclist can even meet up for group “rides” with far-flung friends.
This combination-lock carabiner securely attaches an Apple AirTag to bigger items, such as bikes, luggage, or dog collars.
The heavy-duty polycarbonate Raptic Link + Lock combination-lock carabiner securely attaches an Apple AirTag, our favorite Bluetooth tracker, to anything big that your recipient might want to keep track of, from a bike to a suitcase to a car. Simply slide an AirTag into the protective case and close the carabiner lock around whatever needs tracking. It’s bigger and heavier than it looks—about 4 inches and 4 ounces—but it can’t stand up to bolt cutters if someone is determined to remove it. Of course, in this case tracking is the objective, not locking. Underneath the seat might be the most concealed, secure spot.
Lightweight aluminum alloy otter paws cling to secure a water bottle. The set comes with a lifetime guarantee and hardware to attach it firmly to a bike frame.
The interior of this squeezy, BPA-free bottle has a glass-like silicone protective lining, and the cap is easy to bite open.
Sure, staying hydrated on a long ride is important. But that isn’t the real reason you ought to give your favorite cyclist Portland Design Works’s Otter Cage and matching Wotter Bottle. Part of the set’s proceeds go toward supporting wildlands and wildlife—but that also isn’t the real reason to choose this gift. It isn’t even the glass-like silicone protective lining that coats the inside of the Wotter Bottle and keeps flavors from clinging to the bottle. (This is the same substance used in one of our water-bottle picks, the Purist Mover. Purist makes this bottle too—and almost every other cycling bottle we’ve ever loved.) No, the real reason is this: Who could possibly resist those adorable webbed paws and Clouseau-vian whiskers? The company also has sparrow, owl, snake, and other cage designs.
This seven-pocketed, heavy-duty waxed-canvas work apron keeps bicycle grease and schmutz off clothes.
If your beloved cyclist is spending more and more time hip-deep in tools and spare parts, congratulations, you’ve got a budding gearhead. This means they also probably need a shop apron to keep chain grease off their clothes. The Inside Line Equipment Work Apron is sturdy and stylish, and it has more than half a dozen pockets to corral hex wrenches, chain whips, and extra spokes. (It also comes in Cordura nylon, though we prefer the broken-in look and feel of the waxed canvas.) Credit where credit is due: The ILE apron came to us through senior editor Christine Ryan’s boyfriend, who wears it to tend bikes and while supervising the outdoor pizza oven. Double the duty, double the value.
These ultra-warm waterproof gloves are cozy on their own—but for truly frigid temperatures, they have a heating element that charges via USB.
When the going gets cold, fair-weather cyclists retreat to their Peloton-equipped pain caves, where they spin till spring. Other cyclists, though, prefer to continue riding outside through the rain, slush, snow, and wind. If your beloved falls into the latter camp, they might appreciate a pair of waterproof, windproof, heated Sealskinz Upwell gloves. Regular winter gloves don’t stand a chance against the frigid rushing wind of steady riding; these Sealskinz gloves have liners embedded with clever heating elements powered by tiny USB-rechargeable batteries. They kept Christine’s hands warm while she was pedaling on a low-30s New England morning, and kicking the heat up a notch allowed safe steering and braking on a single-digit day. Be warned: Sizes run a little small.
Spacious yet trim enough not to take up too much handlebar real estate, this Cordura-nylon bag is simple, easy to use, and capable of holding all the essentials.
If your favorite cyclist doesn’t already own a handlebar bag, that might be intentional—some people can’t stand the extra bulk. But if they’re a convert, we have a guide to handlebar bags, and our top pick is the Road Runner Bags California Burrito. This nylon cylinder attaches with straps that your giftee can move to accommodate whatever else (such as a bell) they might have on their handlebars. Plus, it has side pockets for small items they might want to grab quickly. And think of all the things it can carry: Clif Bars! A windbreaker! A hand pump! A tube of sunblock! Half of the enormous sandwich that they didn’t finish at lunch! It all fits.
These wool and recycled-polyester cycling socks are ideal for colder weather and high elevations.
Cyclists can never have too many pairs of socks. The Winter Bolt Socks in particular, from the San Francisco–based company Ornot, are cozy since they’re made with merino wool; they also incorporate polyester from recycled plastic bottles, and they’re not nearly as garish as many other cycling socks out there. Sizes run from small to extra large. Thicker and cushier than most other cycling socks, the Winter Bolt Socks keep toes warm even at freezing temperatures and high elevations.
These nine snazzy hex wrenches from Germany are sturdy and easy to spot.
If your cyclist works on their bike at all—even simply to adjust the saddle height or to replace a worn-out brake pad—they should own a set of metric hex (aka Allen) wrenches. In fact, they most likely already do (one of our picks, we hope). But your favorite cyclist probably doesn’t have a set of Wera Hex-Plus wrenches. Made in Germany, these high-quality wrenches won’t round out a bike’s lightweight bolts, for example, and their bright colors bring a pop of joy to otherwise mundane bike-maintenance chores.
Made with 72% pure olive oil, this soap has a light, fresh smell and does a wonderful job of removing bike grease and gear lube from hands.
Years ago, on a bike trip in Provence, Christine bought a slice of Savon de Marseille olive-oil soap at a village market. The twine loop was charming, and the soap smelled good. But what she didn’t realize until she got back to her rental house was how effective it would be at getting chain lube off hands and out from beneath fingernails. No regular soap has come close since. If your cyclist leaves telltale grease streaks on towels and clothing, wrap up a slab of this soap and drop it in their stocking. They, and your linens, will thank you.
Made with thick, waterproof waxed canvas, this bag is designed to carry cycling shoes, water bottles, a helmet, and whatever else a cyclist needs to tote with them for a ride.
You might think, “Who needs a cycling-specific tote bag?” But then you might remember the (multiple) times your cyclist has put the bike rack on the back of their car, loaded up their bike, and driven three exits down the freeway before realizing they’d forgotten their cycling shoes. Or helmet. Or water bottles. Or all of the above. That’s the person who needs one. If your favorite cyclist is prone to bouts of absent-mindedness, get them the WaterField Cycling Tote. This bucket bag has pouches for two shoes and two bottles, a central space big enough for a helmet and a pile of clothing, and a zippered pocket for any valuables. No more forgetting one essential piece of gear—as long as your cyclist remembers to bring the bag itself.
Don’t let the size fool you—this massager packs a powerful punch. But it comes with fewer attachments than most models.
Pummeling tight quads and even tighter shoulders with the Therabody Theragun Mini massage gun makes a day’s riding melt away. A smaller sibling to the Theragun Prime, one of our massage-gun picks, the Theragun Mini has only three speeds, versus the Prime’s five, and an amplitude of 12 mm, in contrast to the Prime’s 16 mm. (The greater the amplitude, the deeper the massage, so goes the theory.) But the Mini is half a pound lighter and more compact than the Prime—small enough for your traveling cyclist to take with them.
This bike bell, especially designed for low-visibility trails, rings continuously to warn hikers and others. You can silence the ringing with a simple flip of a switch.
If your favorite mountain biker likes to ride on low-visibility singletracks or heavily wooded trails, this bell will win them friends among hikers, horseback riders, and even other cyclists. Unlike a regular bike bell, which you have to ring intentionally, the Timber Quick Release Model Yew acts like a cowbell, pealing continuously as you roll along. The clapper silences with the flick of a thumb for more-open territory, where constant dinging tips toward unnecessary and maybe annoying. This quick-release version is easy to move from bike to bike. Fellow trail users have actually stopped Christine to thank her for using this Timber bell—it’s one small step toward wilderness harmony. If your gift recipient needs a regular bell, though, the Spurcycle Original Bell works on any bike and for any terrain.
These earrings capture what we love most about mountain biking: mountains and, well, bikes. They’re like emojis for your giftee’s ears.
Looking for a more decorative cycling-related gift? A friend bought Christine a pair of these Mountain Bike Earrings at a gallery in the Canadian Rockies, where the designer, Tiffany Teske, lives and works, but you can find them in the US on Etsy. Teske makes her earrings by hand out of stainless steel; they come in silver, gold, rose gold, and black finishes. The earrings aren’t dangly, so they don’t get tangled in helmet straps.
This glossy magazine for expedition cyclists and aspiring ones is a beautifully designed inspiration.
Whether your favorite mountain biker is looking for inspiration in planning their next trip or just wants fodder for armchair adventuring, Freehub will send it. Each issue of this glossy quarterly, which is printed on heavy, color-saturated paper, highlights famous and lesser-known singletrack destinations around the world. Recent issues have featured an all-women bikepacking expedition through the Ozarks; the best trails in the former timber town of Oakridge, Oregon; and Arizona’s Rezduro Invitation, the Navajo Nation’s first-ever enduro race. In an era of increasingly consolidated cycling media, the mag’s indie voice and vibe are refreshing.
Crafted by a famed English pottery, these bone china espresso cups are painted with classic quotes from famed cyclists.
Espresso is the unsung hero of road cycling. It fuels the ride, and it also provides an excellent excuse for a café stop. If your cyclist also likes to drink espressos at home, give them one, two, or a whole set of these made-in-England bone china cups from The Handmade Cyclist (shipping from the UK runs about $10 for one cup). Each style is emblazoned with a motivational quote from a famous cyclist, including US world champion Greg LeMond (“It never gets easier; you just go faster”) and multiple grand-tour winner Fausto Coppi (“Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill”). Looking for something a little less combative? There’s always the Vive La Rest Day cup.
This grippy, easy-on tray steadily houses lightweight items such as phones, earbuds, and remotes for anyone riding their bike on their indoor trainer.
Not everyone can hit the trails or the road year-round. Cyclists riding on indoor trainers during the winter months will appreciate the aluminum Trainer Tray from Texas-based Foothill Products. Clicked into a bike-computer mount (the tray comes in Garmin- and Wahoo-compatible versions), it has a nonslip surface and holds a phone, an earbuds case, and a TV/display remote control between the bike’s handlebars. Note that purpose-built exercise bikes, such as Peloton models, tend to have their own displays or display holders, so a tray wouldn’t be as helpful for that as it is with an indoor trainer.
This coffee-table book offers more than 205 pages of beautiful color photographs chronicling Europe’s hardest cycling climbs, from the Ardennes to the Alps.
If your beloved Tour de France fan perks up when the riders reach the mountains, they might just love Mountains: Epic Cycling Climbs, the seminal handbook of the best climbs in Europe. Mixed in with the dramatic photos in this coffee-table book are accounts of what it’s really like to climb them, by such famous riders as Sean Kelly, Philippa York, and Lizzie Deignan. The appendix shows the gradients of each climb, perfect for anyone inspired to follow in their tire tracks.
This traditional polyester cycling cap is covered in charming illustrations of La Caravane, the Tour de France’s famed sponsor flotilla.
Should you not feel qualified to buy clothing for your cyclist, your instincts could well be correct. A cycling cap, though, is a safer, more one-hat-suits-all option. Caps provide a great extra layer of warmth and windbreak under a helmet on chilly days, and they’re equally useful for hiding helmet-compressed hair after a ride. Ostroy’s cap is made of polyester but feels like cotton, and it comes in 14 prints. Our favorite cap depicts La Caravane, the untelevised but beloved flotilla of sponsors’ vehicles that precedes the Tour de France racers and entertains the waiting crowds.
This paperback contains hundreds of images chronicling the rides and adventures of the Rough-Stuff Fellowship, the world’s oldest off-road cycling club.
If the road cyclist in your life has discovered the joys of gravel—that is, riding drop-bar bikes on unpaved, blessedly car-free routes—they might be interested to learn that the trend isn’t new at all. Founded in Herefordshire, England, back in 1955, the Rough-Stuff Fellowship at first numbered about 40 members, including a mix of genders as well as ages. What they shared was a passion for “taking your bike on a nice hike”—spurred, perhaps, by growing traffic on paved roads after petrol rationing ended in 1950. The Fellowship’s annual photo contest ensured that its outings were recorded, from the highs (glorious mountaintop vistas, trailside picnics) to the lows (hauling one’s heavy steel bike over a locked gate, pushing it through knee-deep snow). The Rough-Stuff Fellowship Archive, a paperback collection of images, draws from a treasure trove of adventures sure to inspire any present-day gravel enthusiast.
This 19-piece portable toolkit contains everything a cyclist needs to make roadside repairs.
If your giftee has carbon bikes in their stable (to find out, just ask them), the Topeak Ratchet Rocket Lite NTX+ pocket hex-wrench set might save them from damaging a carbon part by, say, over-tightening a stem bolt or seatpost collar while making roadside repairs. Your favorite cyclist can use the ratcheting handle and bits alone—it comes with seven hex bits, three Torx bits, and a Phillips-screwdriver bit—or insert the torque attachment, which indicates how much force (up to 6 newton-meters) they’re producing as they tighten. The set includes a chain tool, as well.
Made with reflective 3M Scotchlite material for a safer ride, these spoke clips snap on easily.
The commuting cyclist in your life surely already wears a helmet, but reflective bike spokes can make their trips around town even safer. Made with reflective Scotchlite material for better visibility, these Salzmann Spoke Reflectors snap on easily. And they come recommended by cycling enthusiast and Wirecutter senior staff writer Tim Heffernan, who uses them on his rides in and around New York City. A tip from Tim: “They’re longer than necessary, so I bought a single pack—enough for one wheel that has up to 36 spokes—snipped each in half with kitchen shears, and got two wheels’ worth for the price of one.”
Waterproof and cozy, but with enough ventilation to avoid being stuffy, this fleece-lined cycling jacket is 100% reflective, illuminating bright white when hit by light in the dark.
Waterproof and cozy, but with enough ventilation to avoid being stuffy, this fleece-lined cycling jacket is 100% reflective, illuminating bright white when hit by light in the dark.
The Proviz Reflect360 Cycling Jacket is waterproof and well ventilated, but more important, the whole thing lights up bright white when the faintest ray of light catches it. In daylight, the color is a sedate gray. While your giftee is cruising through intersections at night, it’ll catch drivers stopped at a traffic light with a “What is that thing?” expression on their face. “Made you look” is the whole point. The jacket comes in a wide range of sizes (women’s 2 to 18 and men’s XS to 5XL), and the fit is more relaxed than that of a lot of cycling kits.
This radar-powered taillight alerts riders of rear-approaching cars with an orange light.
If a cyclist you love often pedals alone on busy roads, the Garmin Varia RTL515 can provide both of you with peace of mind. The taillight, which alerts riders to rear-approaching cars, uses radar to detect the vehicles, and it displays an orange dot on the screen of the rider’s Garmin bike computer (or the Garmin app on their phone), a representation of the car getting closer; it also sounds an audible warning as soon as it “sees” the car. At first, Christine wondered about the real benefit of the Varia RTL515 system, especially since she detected approaching cars a good five seconds before the device did on long, gradual hills. But the Varia RTL515 consistently detected a second or third car hidden behind the first—which she couldn’t do—and kept her from prematurely moving back into the middle of the lane. On a noisy, windy descent, this system works as a reliable peace-of-mind safeguard against too-close cars.
We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend.
Samantha Schoech contributed reporting. This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.
Christine Ryan is a senior editor at Wirecutter overseeing the teams that cover travel, outdoors gear, beds and linens, home decor, and more. (She also edits and writes about cycling equipment, which gives her an excuse to sneak away from her desk and go for a ride.) Previously, she was an editor at European Travel & Life, Gourmet, and Sunset.
Except for the time she gave a boyfriend her mother’s old toaster for Christmas, staff writer Samantha Schoech has a reputation as an excellent gift giver. She lives in San Francisco with two teens, two cats, a geriatric betta fish, and a bookseller husband. Her first book of short stories, My Mother’s Boyfriends, is coming out in 2024.
Adjustable Copper Pipe Cutter Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).