2014 holiday gift guide: For the gran fondo rider

The Liv Signature SS jersey (1, $170, giant-bicycles.com) is made from an open-knit fabric that wicks away moisture. Its three deep rear pockets will keep your things secure. The Liv Signature shorts (2, $220) have a comfortable chamois designed by the Basque company Etxeondo. Shimano’s 105 line (3, pedals, $165, bike.shimano.com) got a reboot this year. While it sits third after Dura-Ace and Ultegra, 105 parts are still top performers for races and gran fondos. The new leverage ratios and the polymer-coated cables mean smoother shifting. The cassette now goes to 11. The 47-l Ogio 4.0 Athletic bag (4, $80, ogio.com) keep gear orderly on the way to the fondo. It has smart design features, such as a ventilated shoe compartment to keep things from getting funky, and a liner that pulls out for easy cleaning. Sign up someone for a gran fondo ($45-500), early. It will give the rider time to plan for the big event. You might save a bit off the entry fee if the organizer offers an early-bird discount. With those savings in hand, you should probably sign up for the fondo too. After all, you will enjoy the ride as well.

For more ideas, see our ever expanding 2014 holiday gift guide.