Looking for a gift for the cyclist or triathlete in your life who seems to have everything? Or maybe looking for a gift idea for someone who loves bicycles, but you aren’t sure what to get they don’t already have? We’ve gathered gift ideas for fun, unique products your cyclist probably doesn’t own yet — but will want to. Prices range from under $10 to approximately $150.
1. Fun or Funny Bicycle Bell ($8-$20): Few cyclists own bicycle bells. And perhaps not all cyclists will actually attach one to a bicycle (depending on the seriousness of the rides). However, some will use it as a bell, and all cyclists can appreciate the whimsy of owning one. It makes a fun paperweight or office toy for the cyclist dreaming of getting out on the road at lunch or after work. Possible fun bell images include a bright yellow smiley face, or a “cow bell” with a picture of a cow saying “Mooove” on it (which can be found on Amazon).
2. Humorous Bicycle Jerseys ($60): Every cyclist can use more jerseys, but many cyclists are picky about which serious jerseys they will wear. However, any cyclist or triathlete with a sense of humor will appreciate a funny bicycle jersey to work into the wearing rotation. Not only will it put a smile on their face for hammering out some miles, but it will make them the hit of any cycling group gathering. Possible jersey ideas include ones with cheeky slogans like “My Other Ride Had A Headache” or “Caution: Powered By Natural Gas” from the offbeat jersey company Miles In Style (which makes its jerseys from 100% recycled fabric for the green cyclists out there), and some humorous slogans like “Don’t Run Me Over” and “[Infinite] MPG” from safety-oriented jersey company Share The Damn Road.
3. Pedal-Powered USB Charger for Phone, GPS, MP3 Player, Etc. ($60): The techie cyclist with lots of gadgets will love this idea. Even the everyday cyclist can appreciate a green way to charge the omnipresent smart phone while riding on the bike or on a trainer. There has been a recent increase in devices on the market which use pedal power to create USB power to charge phones, GPS/mileage tracking devices, MP3 players, and anything else which runs on USB power and will fit on a bike. One model which is getting good reviews for being easy to install and use is this pedal-powered USB charger from Human Creations, but there are several on the market to choose from and they seem to be improving all the time.
4. 6-Bottle Bike Bag ($60): While drinking and riding is never encouraged, consider a unique saddlebag with 6 individual bottle compartments for any cyclist who wants to transport non-alcoholic bottled drinks, or perhaps a 6-pack of alcoholic bottled drinks for post-ride refreshment or park gathering. This particular design from Firebox can be attached to serious and non-serious bikes alike, supposedly without interfering with cycling motion or bulging cycling muscles. It’s certainly going to make your cyclist at least 5 close friends on any given ride…
5. Folding Bicycle Helmet ($105): This idea will probably appeal the most to a cyclist who commutes or uses their bicycle for transportation. However, any cyclist or triathlete likely has way too much gear taking up way too much space in the closet, trunk, office, garage, etc., and will appreciate the space-saving nature of this idea: a folding bicycle helmet! This idea is growing in popularity, so there are several options out on the market. These helmets are supposed to be just as safe as a fixed helmet, but have the unique, fun ability to fold up to 1/2 to 1/3 of their actual size (depending on the model chosen). One popular model which folds to 1/3 of its size for storage or transport is this folding helmet by Overade. To buy this as a gift, you will need to know the general head size of your cyclist, or else get a quick head measurement so you can use the handy sizing guide on the website (which uses the diameter of the head, in cm).
6. Wireless Portable Bike Speaker ($40-$140): It’s bad bike etiquette and unsafe for a cyclist to ride with headphones (headphones can block out car noise and the sound of other cyclists or pedestrians, which a cyclist needs to hear to avoid collisions). This doesn’t mean cyclists and triathletes wouldn’t enjoy some tunes while cranking out those miles though. The solution is a portable external speaker which can be attached to the bicycle. Most models run off a bluetooth connection to a smartphone or MP3 player (and the phone or MP3 player will stay charged even over long, musical rides if you pair this with the pedal-powered USB charger above). There is a compact model which attaches to the bike handlebars from Ivation for around $40, or there is a more powerful model which fits into bicycle water bottle holders from Scosche for around $140. All “serious” cyclists will have water bottle holders on their bikes. If you are concerned your cyclist isn’t that serious, or just doesn’t have a bottle holder/bottle cage yet, pair the very nice speaker from Scosche with a cheap bottle cage, like this one from Zefal for around $9.
Finally, once you’ve selected your thoughtful bicycle-oriented gift for that cyclist or triathlete, consider going the extra mile (hey, that’s what they do on that bike, right?) by wrapping it in bicycle-themed gift wrap, like this one from Zazzle. You can also show your bike savvy by including the traditional bicycle goodwill message of “Happy Riding!” on the card.
Happy Gifting!
