10 Christmas cycling gifts for all budgets
In partnership with Freewheel.co.uk
Great gifts from Freewheel.co.uk to suit every budget and every kind of cyclist
Buying Christmas presents for a cycling-obsessed family member or friend can be a bit of a nightmare – there’s so much to choose from, and how are you supposed to know what’s any good?
Well fret no more, because we’ve compiled a list of ten great gifts from Freewheel.co.uk to suit every budget and every kind of cyclist.
What’s even better is that you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your home to get your hands on them – everything on this list can be ordered online and either delivered straight to your door, or collected from one of the many independent stores in Freewheel’s network.
Science in Sport Drinks Bottle – from £3.69
Some cyclists hang on to their manky old bottles for far too long, so why not help prevent that person getting ill from the build up of road contamination by gifting them a nice new bottle, or even a set.
The Science in Sport bottles feature handy markings to help you measure out energy powders and the like, without needing to resort to scales. They also come in a trio of colours and are available in three different sizes.
Finish Line Bike Care Value Pack – £14.99
No-one likes a dirty bike – not least because your parts will wear out quicker – so the Finish Line Bike Care Kit would make a very thoughtful present indeed.
We reviewed the degreaser and lube a few years ago and found both to be good performers, so we expect the Super Bike Wash will get the job done too.
Lazer Max+ Kids’ Helmet – £24.99
If you’ve got a budding Mark Cavendish in the family, this is just what you need.
The Lazer Max+ Kids’ helmet is available in six different colours, featuring playful designs and graphics, so hopefully there won’t be too many arguments about wearing it. Lazer says there are also 360-degree reflective materials for added visibility.
Dynaplug Air Tubeless Repair and Inflation Kit – £59.99
More and more cyclists are moving to tubeless tyres, and while tubeless tends to mean fewer punctures, occasionally you’ll get a cut that’s too big for the sealant to fix.
At that point you could use an emergency boot and an inner tube, but with all the sealant in the tyre, this can be messy. A tubeless repair kit is a more elegant solution, coming with small plugs that can help the sealant to close a large hole in the carcass.
This Dynaplug repair kit also has a neat way of attaching CO2 cartridges to the plug tool, to inflate the tyre at the same time as you repair it, if required.
The road version comes with a shorter lance than the mountain bike version, so as not to bottom-out on smaller tyres and damage the rim tape.
- Buy the Dynaplug Air Tubeless Repair and Inflation Kit (Road Version) at Freewheel
- Buy the Dynaplug Air Tubeless Repair and Inflation Kit (MTB Version) at Freewheel
Madison Isoler Insulated Reversible Gilet – £79.99
Gilets are ideal for staying warm on the bike without overheating. What the Madison Isoler Insulated Reversible Gilet sacrifices in packability it ought to make up for in warmth, thanks to its puffy design.
As the name suggests, it’s reversible so you can choose between black and a brighter colour. It also has three pockets, as well as concealed openings on the rear for easy access to jersey pockets.
There’s also a DWR coating for a little added water resistance, while a limited lifetime warranty should make it a good long-term investment.
- Buy the Madison Isoler Insulated Reversible Gilet (Men’s version) at Freewheel
- Buy the Madison Isoler Insulated Reversible Gilet (Women’s version) at Freewheel
100% Racetrap Glasses – from £139.99
Although Christmas might not seem like the perfect time of year to be buying sunglasses, there can’t be many cyclists who don’t lust after them and wouldn’t be absolutely thrilled to receive a snazzy set.
With plenty of coverage from the scratch-resistant and impact-proof lenses, the 100% Racetrap glasses appear to fit the bill in every way.
A second, clear lens is also included, making them useful during the winter too. The glasses come in a handy hard case with a microfibre cleaning bag.
Shimano RX8 SPD Gravel Shoes – £219.99
Gravel is on-trend right now, so these shoes should be near the top of any adventure-minded rider’s Christmas list.
Shimano’s RX8s bridge the gap between a heavier mountain bike shoe and a lightweight road shoe. Our tester found they offered ‘supreme comfort and a no compromise design’.
- Buy the Shimano RX8 SPD Gravel Shoes (Men’s version) at Freewheel
- Buy the Shimano RX8 SPD Gravel Shoes (Women’s version) at Freewheel
Ridgeback 2020 Dimension 24 – £329.99
With a lightweight, triple-butted alloy frame, 24in wheels and 7-speed Shimano gears, this could make an ideal bike for anyone moving up from something with smaller wheels or even as a first proper bike for a new cyclist aged around 9 to 13.
Everyone probably remembers their first bike and the joy it brought them, so if you know a kid who hasn’t yet made the jump into cycling, why not give them a little push?
Elite Suito Turbo Trainer – £649.99
The Elite Suito is one of our favourite smart trainers. It’s competitively priced and very easy to set up – it even comes with an 11-speed Shimano 105 cassette fitted as standard.
While you can get by on Zwift or TrainerRoad with a basic turbo trainer and a speed/cadence sensor, or an on-bike trainer, a smart trainer is undoubtedly a better option for the dedicated indoor cyclist.
Genesis 2020 Croix de Fer 10 – £1,099.99
What cyclist doesn’t dream of receiving a new bike for Christmas? So why not make that dream come true this year with the Genesis Croix de Fer 10?
The Croix de Fer has a chromoly frame and fork that, if well looked after, should last for ages. It’s got decent quality components, and mounts for mudguards and luggage, so it’s a versatile bike that can easily tilt to commuting, gravel, road and more.
Authors
Simon is a freelance writer and photographer, who has been riding bikes for fun since he was a kid, but took a deep dive into road racing, crits and time trialling culture whilst living in London in his twenties. As a man of very little talent, he always looks to tech to compensate and loves nothing more than finding a smart (preferably cheap) hack that others hadn’t thought of. His stable of bikes certainly isn’t the most extravagant, but they’re all customised to meet Simon’s particular tastes and kept fastidiously clean. His current No.1 bike is a 2009 Giant TCR Advanced SL, that he purchased second hand from a friend in London — he maintains that the 2019 TCR is basically the same bike, so why bother upgrading?
