Canadian Cycling’s gift guide

You may have one cyclist to buy for this holiday season or you may have many. One may be an experienced old roadie and one may just be getting into the sport. To help you with your gift-giving duties, we’ve found items for 10 types of cyclist, from the mountain biker and roadie to your kids and even your “frenemy” in your cycling club. We haven’t forgotten you either.

Here’s the breakdown of the products listed in the right-hand column

For your “frenemy” in the club

• DZ Nuts
• Timex Cycle Trainer 2.0
• Tri Bento Box

For the newbie

• Giordana Fusion Bib Shorts
• Louis Garneau Gran Fondo Jacket
• Pearl Izumi Gel-Vent Glove

For the sartorial cyclist

• Solo Classique Jersey
• Specialized Starter Kit
• Assos Sponsor Yourself

For the budding racer

• DT Swiss RC 32
• Keywin Carbon Pedals
• Specialized S-Works Road Shoes

For your kids

• 49N Bell
• Go Glider 16″
• Lazer Crazy Nutshell

For the wrench

• Blackburn Toolmanator 2
• Super B 29-Piece Tool Set
• Ritchey Torque Key

For your fat-tire friend

• SRAM XX1
• The North Face Chain Ring Shorts
• Maxxis Ikon

For the Gran Fondo rider

• Zipp Sl SS Bar/Octto Gel Bar Tape
• Oakley Race Jacket Sunglasses

For your partner

• Scott Spark 29 RC
• Shimano Ultegra Di2
• Kask Vertigo Helmet

For you

• Giant TCR Advanced SL 3
• Chris King Espresso Tamper/Campagnolo Corkscrew

::GEARBOX
DZ Nuts
$28
36077

There’s that guy who will ask to borrow chamois cream. Kinda weird, but you’re too polite to say no. Now, you can get him his own batch. DZ Nuts – the DZ is for Dave Zabriski of Garmin-Sharp – is a chamois cream that comes in a tube, so no double-dipping.

::GEARBOX
Timex Cycle Trainer 2.0
$275
36084

You’re frenemy will no doubt be overwhelmed by a gift like the Timex Cycle Trainer 2.0. This bike computer keeps track of speed, distance and heart rate. It works with ANT+ sensors to gather cadence and power data. This frenemy will probably be rendered speechless when you say that your reason for giving the bike computer is that it comes with a map and compass function, which should come in handy for all those times your frenemy gets dropped.

::GEARBOX
Tri Bento Box
$24
36074

When giving this gift, say simply: “I noticed you seem to have trouble grabbing energy bars and gels out of your jersey, swerving and freaking out everyone in the bunch. So, here’s a Bento Box, which attaches to your top tube, just behind the stem. I hear the tri-dorks love it. OK. Well, happy holidays.”

::GEARBOX
Giordana Fusion Bib Shorts
$120
36089

When the newbie sees the bib short, summer rides will come to mind. The 200-g nylon/Lycra wicks sweat away. The straps are mesh to keep things cool and dry, while the silicone grips at the cuffs keep everything in place. The newbie will feel a slight twinge of sadness getting these shorts and knowing that summer is so far away.

::GEARBOX
Louis Garneau Gran Fondo Jacket
$70
36087

The odds are the newbie has a rain jacket already. Only, it doesn’t fit right and balloons up like dragster’s parachute past a finishing line. The Louis Garneau Gran Fondo jacket will make the newbie look better in bad weather. It’s highly compressible and fits in a jersey pocket. Now, if only there was something that could be done with the newbie’s shoes…

::GEARBOX
Pearl Izumi Gel-Vent Glove
$50
36027

The newbie needs proper hand protection. The Pearl Izumi Gel-Vent glove has padding to ease pressure on nerves in the hands. Mesh on the palms keeps things cool, while a strategically placed tab makes the gloves easy to take off. We’re sure the newbie will be so stoked by these gloves, you’ll be offered a high-five. Try to transition that into more dignified fist bump.

::GEARBOX
Solo Classique Jersey
$125
36086

The Solo Classique jersey is for the friend who has sepia-toned posters of hardmen of yore with spare tires crossing their chests. The Moretti jersey draws its inspiration from Italian cyclists and their teams from the 50s to the 70s. While the style is retro, the material is modern: polyester that wicks away moisture and dries quickly. Some things, such as the itchiness of old wool jerseys, are best left in the past.

::GEARBOX
Specialized Starter Kit
$80
36083

For a little bit of pizzazz for a bike, give the pink and black Specialized starter kit. The seat bag holds essentials, such as a tube and patch kit. The cage takes bottles from the side, perfect for bikes with smaller frames that offer less clearance. The pump for presta valves puts a tube back in business after a flat. That lever is not only good for tire-related emergencies, but it’s also designed to work as a bottle opener, which may avert bigger emergencies.

::GEARBOX
Assos Sponsor Yourself
$75
36132

According to Assos, an Italian t-shirt specialist, who has done work for Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Hugo Boss, designed this piece of après-cycle wear. Its sassy message, “Sponsor Yourself,” is one part inspiration and one part provocation. Make sure you give this gift to someone who can pull it off.

::GEARBOX
DT Swiss RC 32
$2,425 (set)
36099

The budding racer will appreciate these carbon-fibre clinchers during long days in the saddle. The front wheel has radial lacing while the rear is two-cross. They have claimed weights of 660 g and 790 g, respectively. The freehub accommodates Shimano and SRAM 9- and 10-cog cassettes. It can also be upgraded to take an 11-cog unit. They are hand built in Switzerland. That racer will be impressed with the label, signed by the wheel builder, that comes with each wheel.

::GEARBOX
Keywin Carbon Pedals
$189
36025

Keywin’s unassuming pedals eliminate the need for extra springs as their platforms act as leaf springs to hold the cleats in place. Adjusting the float is simple: just turn a screw at the side of each pedal. The company says their pedals have the largest platform area of any pedal on the market. More area means better power transfer and more comfort, which is something the budding racer is sure to appreciate.

::GEARBOX
Specialized S-Works Road Shoes
$410
36026

The budding racer could really use a pair of Specialized S-Works road shoes to boost performance. The shoes have been redesigned for their 2013 incarnation. Carbon -fibre soles are stiff and work with the insoles to improve knee and hip alignment. In fact, the stiffness of the soles is asymmetric: stiffer on the inside of the foot and less stiff on the outside. Two Boa closures hold feet in place, the upper dial securing the ankle and heel and the lower securing the arch and foot.

::GEARBOX
49N Bell
$10
36082

This bell by 49°N combines safety and bling. It also has a flip-up review mirror, but it may see more use as a handlebar-mounted compact.

::GEARBOX
Go Glider 16″
$190
36078

Forget training wheels; get your child on a balance bike, such as the Go Glider. This bike is designed to get kids age 5 to 10 years old used to a two wheeler. For those who’ve really mastered the glide, the bike has foot pegs. A quick release allows for easy saddle adjustments. You’ll never have to pump up the EVA foam tires. If all goes well, your youngster will need a new bike with pedals in no time.

::GEARBOX
Lazer Crazy Nutshell
$28
36101

What if you child feeling more firefigher than astronaut before going on a pedal? Or more strawberry than cow? No problem. Lazer has a selection of helmet covers for their P’Nut helmet allowing your little one to customize his or her brain bucket.

::GEARBOX
Blackburn Toolmanator 2
$40
36075

Not only is this 12-function multi-tool a good complement to any wrench’s kit, the Toolmanator 2 is the perfect item to slip in a cyclist’s jersey pocket for any emergency repair. It includes Allen keys ranging from 2 mm to 8 mm, a 10-speed chain tool and 14- and 15-gauge spoke wrenches. Think of it as a security blanket for your ride.

::GEARBOX
Super B 29-Piece Tool Set
$170
36096

Cone wrenches (13 mm, 14 mm, 15 mm and 17 mm), 15-mm pedal wrench, a freewheel remover for Shimano HG cassettes and a bottom bracket wrench are just some of the tools in the Super B kit. When the wrench on your list gets this gift…well, let’s just say you’ll be able to drop off your bike for repairs for a while. It’s almost as if the wrench should thank you for dropping off your bike too for the chance to put the tools to use.

::GEARBOX
Ritchey Torque Key
$25
36097

Don’t. Crush. The carbon. Make sure the wrench avoids those oh-no moments with this 4-mm torque key. Now, that stem won’t be putting any more that 5 Nm of pressure on the handlebar or the steering tube.

::GEARBOX
SRAM XX1
$1,420
36034

SRAM’s buzz-making XX1 gruppo is sure to be on the wish list of many mountain bikers this year. It’s elegantly simple: one chainring and 11 gears ranging from 10 to 42 teeth. Your mountain-biking friend can swap out the chainring to accommodate terrain or his or her fitness. The XX1’s simplicity also means a lighter system, especially with no front derailleur and associated cable, housing and shifter. Running this gruppo, your fat-tire friend will turn heads on the singletrack. If you want to give this gift on Dec. 25, you might have to wrap up a picture with “IOU” written on it. There’s a chance it will be in stores before then, but January is the best bet.

::GEARBOX
The North Face Chain Ring Shorts
$120
36088

North Face’s Chain Ring shorts are a feature-rich affair. They have a wipe for dirty sunglasses at the right-hand pocket, zippered thigh vents and a liner short with a chamois. The shorts are made of 55 per cent recycled material. They are just the thing to keep a mountain biker comfortable during a long day on the trails.

::GEARBOX
Maxxis Ikon
$95
36080

This tire will keep any mountain biker rolling along. The Ikon is a lightweight race tire with a tread design meant for speed. Maxxis has put its proprietary protection on the tire’s sidewalls to keep cuts at bay. Enduro and cross-country riders rejoice.

Entry into a Gran Fondo $50 to $500
Motivate your friend throughout the winter with a ticket to gran fondo or another big ride. There are a bunch to choose from: the Centurion series, the Tour de King, the Gran Fondo Canada series and the recently announced cyclosportives associated with the Quebec WorldTour races: La Québécoise and La Montréalaise. So many options and maybe so much training to do.

::GEARBOX
Zipp Sl SS Bar / Octto Gel Bar Tape
$350/$30
36085

The Zipp SL bar brings the required stiffness for efforts up steep climbs, while also offering a comfortable ride over the long haul. The carbon bar has a claimed weight of 170 g for its 44-cm version. The compact bar, which Zipp calls short and shallow, makes for a more comfortable riding position when grabbing the drops.

New bar tape is a simple upgrade that goes a long way to sprucing up a bike. Octto’s tape is made from a durable foam that can handle wrapping and re-wrapping. Its low-residue adhesive won’t gum up your bars. The package includes locking end plugs to keep everything secure. Now, pink and yellow are pretty bold colours. Is your gran fondo rider up for such a splash? (A matching saddle might have to follow.)

::GEARBOX
Oakley Race Jacket Sunglasses
$270 ($335 polarized)
36081

Make sure the gran fondo rider has eye protection from bugs and debris kicked up by the tires of other riders. If that eye protection is stylish, even better. The Oakley Race Jacket’s lens can be swapped depending on the light conditions. They are curved to keep out sun and wind. They also look good perched in a rider’s helmet vents après ride.

::GEARBOX
Scott Spark 29 RC
$7,700
36010
You will totally be in the good books if you give your partner the Spark 29 RC. It’s just the carbon-fibre bike for big rides throughout one or multiple days. The Scott Nude2 shock allows the rider to switch from lockout mode for smooth terrain, to 70 mm of travel for rougher stuff and to 100 mm when more bounce is needed. A RockShox SID 29 RLT3 complements the rear shock with 100 mm of travel. The groupset is SRAM XX and the hoops are DT Swiss XR-RS29. If you’re lucky, your partner is the same size as you. If you’re blessed, your partner is also the sharing type.

::GEARBOX
Shimano Ultegra Di2
$2,800 (complete groupset, not including hubs and pedals)
36029

The Ultegra Di2 electronic groupset is an extravagant gift. Your partner will be shocked, maybe a little bit overwhelmed. The Ultegra may be second from the top-of-the-line Dura-Ace Di2 and a bit heavier, but it’s still a stellar performer. The Ultegra Di2 has also seen improvements to the shifters that haven’t made it to Dura-Ace Di2 system yet. Yes, your partner will love this gift. Just don’t let on that you’re eyeing the Dura-Ace for yourself.

::GEARBOX
Kask Vertigo Helmet
$300
36079
Make sure your partner’s melon has the proper protection. The Kask Vertigo has an internal frame that adds strength to the foam core. Its “up and down” adjustable retention system has a secondary pivot to provide a secure and comfortable fit. Twenty-four air vents keep everything cool.

::GEARBOX
Giant TCR Advanced SL 3
$5,300
36206

You’ll have to have been more than good all year to deserve TCR Advanced SL 3. You’ll have to be in top shape to carry off riding one of Giant’s top bikes. It has a Shimano Ultegra Di2 gruppo, Giant P-SLO wheelset and Fizik Arione CX Kium saddle. The bike also comes equipped with a RideSense ANT+ sensor ready to send data to your bike computer. Make sure the data complements the bike.

::GEARBOX
Chris King Espresso Tamper/Campagnolo Corkscrew
$90/$320
36076

Espresso and cycling – it’s a pair like peanut butter and jam. Chris King brings this connection a little closer together with its espresso tamper, a hefty tool for packing grounds in a portafilter’s basket. The Chris King model, of course, sports the component maker’s iconic headset. The tamper comes in four colours (pink, brown, gold and red) and three diameters (53 mm, 56 mm and 58 mm).

This substantial piece of hardware by the Italian components maker will lift the corks out of your favourite white or red wine. The levers pivot on Campagnolo chainring bolts. It is sure to impress the your fellow cyclists as you relax and raise a glass to the season. Training resumes Jan. 1, or maybe Jan. 2.