Christmas 2023 gifts for cyclists: thoughtful ideas for road, gravel, commuters and more

There are many, many bike bells out there, but I particularly like this one for its low-profile design which is easy to find space for on even the narrowest of bars. The ring is bright and clear, and I’ve found the spring strong enough to prevent rattling and inadvertent ‘dings’ on double track gravel. 

At the time of writing, we’ve had an absolute deluge of rain over the past few weeks, but despite the weather’s best efforts, this lube has done an excellent job clinging to my chain. It’s not a surprise, but I’ve found it does require a more concerted clean between reapplication than a summer dry lube. Still, well worth it for the wet weather performance. 

Available in a range of flavors (including peanut butter banana) my favorite has been the white chocolate macadamia nut. Whilst some white chocolate bars can be overpoweringly sweet, I’ve found Clif’s to be rather more delicate - as well as being easy to chew and swallow whilst riding. Plus, the nine gram protein content is helpful for keeping your macros in balance on all-day epics. 

I’ve worn a great many merino socks, but these ones really stand out from amongst the crowd. They are a notably warm set, although not the very warmest I’ve used - but that is actually a good thing. GripGrab’s Merino Winter socks aren’t too bulky and they’re quicker wicking than thicker alternatives. This helps keep your feet feeling fresh, as well as fitting better in cycling shoes. 

Of course, you can be purely functional about things: a bag is a bag and if it holds your tire levers, multitool and a spare tube, then it’s doing its job. Still, when you’ve put so much care into the components and the upkeep of your bike, it’s nice to finish that with a saddle bag which is suitably stylish. For me, at least, I think Castelli’s under saddle bag ticks that box. 

I’ve yet to find an overshoe which keeps my feet completely dry on wet rides. I don’t know if the water is dripping down from the top, rising up from above, or if it’s just the general dampness of the air. Still, Fizik's overshoes are amongst the best. They feel super durable and come with a robust zip. They are low profile, so a great '2.5-season' staple, but not super insulated for the very coldest rides.  

This is such a beautiful tool. It’s super compact whilst still being easy to actually use. Some multitools focus too much on the former and compromise on the latter. Silca’s managed to fit in hex keys from 2mm up to 8mm, Torx 10, 20 and 25, as well as a cross-head and flat screw driver, disc brake spacer and spoke tool. 

I like riding with daytime running lights, but the handlebar clutter is always a bit of a downside. Ravemen’s FR160 light is a super neat way of getting around that, connecting to a standard Garmin quarter turn mount - and then having a fitting for your Garmin to connect to the light. Alternative parts for Wahoo computers are available too. 

As someone predisposed to frozen fingers, ‘lobster’ style gloves are a lifeline for me. You get part of the benefit from mittens, with your fingers able to share their warmth, whilst still being able to handle the bike and shift gear (an obvious downside of mittens!) Heated gloves are an option, but I prefer not having *yet another* thing to charge.

I could go on for hours about how much I like this rucksack! I’ve found the generous 30L size to be perfect for carrying all my essentials, laptop and a change of clothes. The fabric is both waterproof and PFC free - practical and environmentally friendly. The stretchy bottle pockets, handy side zip and the ability to detach and reattach the waist strap are all really neat points - as is the reflective Fjällräven logo in the middle! 

I’m a huge fan of stainless steel bottles for being easier to clean and longer lasting than plastic bidons. The sticking point is generally the design of the cap, as you can’t just squeeze a steel bottle to make the water come out! Bivo’s pull-top design is very neat, allowing you to drink as if it were a plastic bottle! I like the raw finish aesthetic, but the model with the rubberized finish eliminates that metal-on-metal sound when popping it in an alloy bottle cage. 

Some ‘essentials cases’ bear a striking similarity to a school pencil case, so Bellroy’s signature touch of class is a nice addition. The construction feels super robust and oozes quality - from the water-resistant leather to the AquaGuard zipper. I’ve used it in consistent rain and had no issues, but I would be careful not to submerge it. 

Like Voile straps or merino socks, these are one of those items which you always find yourself wanting more of. Super useful for cafe stops when you’re still near your bike - also handy for helmets and bikepacking bags, too. I really like using them for keeping my bike-cover tarp securely on my bike when locking up in town for a few hours. 

This is a particularly useful bike lock. Most bike insurance policies these days require a lock which is rated ‘Gold’ by the independent testing company Sold Secure. Very few folding locks are able to meet the requirements to hit that level of security - but Seatylock Foldylock Forever is one of the few exceptions. It is heavy at 1.76kg, but is has a much larger lockable area than a D-lock.

Given how heavy water actually is - and the fact that it’s delivered on tap to every home - the idea of shipping it in the form of bike cleaning agents is both wildly inefficient and quite nonsensical. This is where Schwalbe’s Bike Soap comes in: a single, relatively light block is sufficient for over 100 washes - plus it’s biodegradable, microplastic-free and made entirely from natural substances. It’s effective, too - although you’ll still need a specific disc brake cleaner.

While the Bivo bidon is great for water, Rapha’s Black+Blum collaboration is perfect for that other necessity of life: coffee. The insulated flask can hold a generous 340ml volume, which I tend to only use half of for my preferred strength of Americano. Even half filled, the insulation has been good enough to keep it hot even after several hours out in the cold. 

These days I hardly ever go out without a bar bag - I am really not a fan of overstuffed jersey pockets. Attachment with this is super quick and easy with the straps - plus the mesh pockets are useful for holding onto wrappers. The material is waterproof but the seams aren’t taped, so I don’t pack anything I wouldn’t put in a jersey pocket.  

I can’t express how useful packable bags are for bikepacking. It makes stocking up at supermarkets super easy, as well as any situation where you might be leaving your bike for a period - such as stopping off at an interesting site. This is a step up from what I’ve used before: I really like the roll top and bottle holders. It’s significantly cheaper too, but the fabric still feels robust. 

This is such a neat light with so many functions. My favorite is that it can be used as a power bank to charge your phone or other devices in a pinch. My night riding is generally just on roads, so the 2,400 lumens is well above what I actually need (closer to 1,200). But I just pop it on the middle setting and enjoy the extra battery life from the 8,000mAh Li-ion cell! 

It’s nice knowing that everything will definitely fit together in one compact setup - and that’s what you get with MSR’s Stove and Cookset. I really like how it comes with an extra plastic pot, so when you’re traveling with a friend you both get a bowl - and with hardly any extra space taken up. The stove is worth the investment in itself, very powerful, compact and well built. Fully recommend. 

These are another neat addition for bikepacking. There are often times when you know you’re going to be far from a water source for a long time, or perhaps the timings with shop opening hours just don’t work out. These plastic bottles are super compact when you’re not using them, but can carry up to 2L when you need it. There’s also a water purifying alterative, if you’re out somewhere really remote. 

Silca’s whole brand is built upon exquisitely engineered tools and accessories - and the Pista pump is a central part of all that. It feels super sturdy, with no play or wobble in the stand or barrel at all. The metal construction feels super solid and the lack of moving parts in the chuck further reduces the potential points of failure. Plus, you really can’t beat a wooden handle. 

This is such a nice tool. It feels really weighty in the hand and allows you to set the torque setting to within 0.2 Nm, with an audible click once you hit the right tightness. The ratcheting feature makes tightening bolts in hard to reach places a breeze, too. Just be aware that this doesn’t include the drive bits, which have to be bought separately. 

This is a really lovely socket-set tool-roll which folds up to only being a little larger than a multitool. It doesn’t include a spoke key, tubeless plugs or tire levers - so there’s a little more you might like to take with you. But it includes Hex bits from 2mm to 8mm, Torx T10, T15, T25 bits, a cross head screwdriver and a chain tool. (Personally, I’d swap the 2mm Hex bit for a flathead screwdriver). The best part is that it even includes a torque meter attachment - you don’t often get that!