Cyclists are a tricky bunch to shop for. For one, most of the things that the rider in your life really wants are probably pretty pricey. But beyond that barrier, bike lovers are notorious for their unpredictable taste. The rule easily applies to kit — not just any flashy jersey will do — but also to water bottles, tools and nutrition. Despite that, we’re confident that there are plenty of options here that will satisfy even the choosiest of riders (when it comes to bikes, we’re pretty particular ourselves).
Amp Human Performance PR Lotion
Cyclists know that recovery is crucial. Aiding that process can result in getting back on the bike quicker. Amp Human Performance’s PR Lotion delivers more of the bicarbonate your body naturally produces to neutralize acid, battle fatigue and reduce soreness. Which means faster recovery time for more miles.
Arundel Mandible Water Bottle Cage
Your water bottle cage shouldn’t be an afterthought. Arundel made the Mandible to be minimal with carbon that’s reinforced by a foam core for smooth bottle entry and exit. It’s about as functional — and refined — as a bottle cage can be.
Silca Italian Army Knife
Until your time trial is fast enough to get you a sponsored support van, Silca’s classic multi-tool for cyclists is your reliable sidekick when your mechanics fail halfway through a weekend century ride. It has all the drivers and wrenches that you might need for a quick adjustment, and it’ll fit easily in a jersey pocket.
UnTapped Lemon Tea Mapleaid
Pro cyclist Ted King’s take on endurance fuel is to keep it simple and natural. That’s why he relies on maple, which is fortified with minerals, amino acids and antioxidants, and is the key ingredient in UnTapped’s performance drink mix.
Rocket Espresso R60V
There’s one thing that the Italians take as seriously as their bicycles: coffee. Like bikes, coffee should be simple, pure and powerful, and that means espresso. Rocket Espresso’s R60V machine is the choice of over 90 professional cyclists, and brings the power and quality of the café to your kitchen counter so that you can pull the perfect shot for you and the rest of your cycling crew after a long Sunday ride.
Alba Optics Delta Sunglasses
Alba Optics’ Delta sunglasses are equal parts retro and contemporary. In shape, they’re reminiscent of styles that shielded the eyes of tour champions during the eighties and nineties, but their nylon and carbon fiber frames are futuristically lightweight and durable while scratch-resistant lenses cut wind and glare. Performance has never been this stylish.
Bikevibe
The bicycle is a universal machine; it transcends borders and culture. But as with anything, the way in which different groups of people interact with particular items varies from place to place, and Bikevibe has made it its mission to document how people in cities as distinct as Portland, Oregon, and Milan, Italy approach life on two wheels.
Garmin Edge 820
Serious riders rely on data. Garmin’s cycling-specific Edge 820 calculates everything from speed, distance and elevation to heart rate, cadence and VO2 max, all in a tiny package that mounts to the front of your handlebars. Maps and routes are also packed in so you and your group can navigate on the fly.
MAAP x Bellroy All Conditions Phone Pocket Plus
One of the beautiful things about cycling is leaving everything else behind — but even the most minimal of us need a few essentials when riding far from home. Some cash, a credit card, an ID and a phone can come in handy in a pinch, and MAAP’s collaboration with Bellroy produced an elegant way to keep these things safe from rain and sweat when in your jersey pocket.
Vittoria Corsa G+
Tires forge the connection between man, machine and road. The most basic will suffice, but something more thoughtful, like Vittoria’s quadruple compound Clincher, will propel. The tires contain a thin layer of graphene, a material made from a single sheet of carbon molecules arranged in a hexagonal pattern. It adds durability without weight, creating a tire that’s smooth on corners and fast on straightaways.
De Marchi Replica 1970 Cinelli Jersey
Jersey collecting isn’t just for football and basketball fans. This replica of the first jersey that Cinelli sold in the United States back in 1970 is tastefully-retro, but with merino wool and acrylic fabric and five pockets, it also performs.
Silca Seat Roll Premio
Silca’s Seat Roll uses Boa, the wheel-fastening system commonly found on cycling shoes, to keep your on-road tool collection compact and secure beneath the saddle. It’s durable, waterproof and has enough volume for whatever you might need (including spare tubes).
Camelbak Podium 24oz Bottle
You’d think that any old water bottle would do in cycling. You would think. CamelBak’s Podium, through its shape, squeezability and comfortable valve, outperforms any other in the bottle cage and it’s wildly cheap, too.
Muc Off Ultimate Bicycle Cleaning Kit
Clean your bike! It’s a pricey machine, and it requires maintenance. You can bring it to the shop for a $75 tune-up, or you can arm yourself with some basic knowledge and the tools to keep your steed sparkling and well-oiled for every ride.
Zwift Membership
Indoor trainers are the cure for winter blues, but the experience lacks the views of the journey and the camaraderie of the group. Zwift is an app that recreates these aspects of the ride through a video game-like platform that includes virtual roads and races and a multiplayer interface that’ll turn your fitness regimen into a competitive battle against your other cabin-fevered friends.
Portland Design Works Tiny Object CO2 Inflator
When a flat disrupts your ride, the solution shouldn’t be cranking away at a tiny frame-mounted pump. Portland Design Works created the Tiny Object CO2 inflator as a fast and efficient alternative. It works on all Presta valves and includes a leather sleeve so that your fingers don’t get frosty while inflating. All of these things will fit neatly in a saddlebag, too.
Lezyne CNC Digital Drive Floor Pump
When you aren’t on the road, and your tires need some air, a full-sized floor pump is the best tool for the job. Lezyne’s Digital Drive swaps out the old school gauge for a digital one so that you have the most accurate readout possible.
Rapha Beginner’s Guide to Road Cycling
Road cycling can be intimidating, and not just because of the elite racing, the complicated equipment and the skin-tight clothing. Rapha’s “Getting Started In Road Cycling” addresses questions about bike culture in addition to providing useful information about gear and tips on how to ride correctly.
Giro Aether MIPS
The Aether MIPS might be the safest helmet available thanks to a new technology called MIPS Spherical. In it, an outer shell sits on top of and moves independently from an inner shell, which makes contact with the head. The design protects against multi-directional impacts, but the Aether is also incredibly lightweight and aerodynamic.
Wahoo Kickr Core Smart Trainer
It can be hard to get up early and ride when the temperatures drop. The Kickr Core creates an indoor ride that’s pretty close to the version you’d get outdoors by recreating the resistance and variable grades found on well-traveled routes. Upgrades that simulate shifting winds and the steepest roads in the Alps are also available.