Gift ideas for the bicycle lover in your life.

 

The holiday season is here and people keep asking us what to get their loved ones who love being on two wheels.

We put together this video and a list of 8 gift ideas for the cyclist in your life. We hope it helps!

 

1. A gift card.

Very practical, no nonsense, no mistakes. Give the gift of a visit to the shop where your loved one can treat themselves to whatever they need or want the most, from a springtime deluxe tune-up to a bell shaped like a hamburger. Available in any denomination.

 

2. A Brooks saddle, $100+

Brooks saddles last a lifetime when properly cared for. I inherited a 40 year-old B-17 from my uncle that I still ride on and it's one of my most prized possessions.

These saddles are great investment for the frequent cyclist, but their $100+ price tag prevents people form taking the plunge. The practicality and longevity of a leather Brooks saddle makes this a luxurious gift for that extra special cyclist in your life. A comfortable toosh is the gift that keeps on giving.

 

3. Light upgrade, $39.99+

Bike lights may seem like a boring and mom-like gift, but a good set of lights is transformative for the avid cyclist. Being able to light up a street in a dark neighborhood or an unfamiliar trail in a dark forest makes riding more fun and safe on these shorter days.

If the cyclist in your life simply needs to be street-legal, you can start with them with the Planet Bike lights ($19.99). If your loved one rocks battery operated lights, consider buying them a set of USB-rechargeable lights like the NiteRider Swift 350 and Sabre 50 (picture above, $59.99). USB-rechargeable lights are usually brighter, built to last, and charging fits in better with my lifestyle than running to RiteAid to look for batteries.

If your loved one is already doing the USB-rechargeable thing, consider upgrading their headlight with one like the Lumina 750 Boost ($79.99) or consider buying them a Dynamo hub. We agree with Momentum Mag when they say that "Dynamo lighting is reliable, durable, environmentally friendly, more difficult to steal, and extremely convenient."

 

4. An Old Spokes Home tee, hat, or jersey, $14.99 - $99.99

You can't go wrong with a cool black tee. We have women's and men's cuts in small to XXL and they're marked down to $14.99 through 12/25.

We also have trucker hats, castro caps, and cycling caps.

These are the first ever bike jerseys we've made and we think they're classy as heck. Available in women's and men's cuts in S to XXXL ($99.99).

 

5. Fancy bags, $79.95 - $264.95

This is the pinnacle of things-a-cyclist-won't-buy-themselves-that-they-constantly-lust-after.

Whether its one of our Salsa Cycles frame bags ($164.95) or Arkel seat bags ($199.95) for the bikepacker in your life or a classy, U.S.-made Swift Industries bag for the tourer or commuter in your life ($79.95 - $264.95), or a set of waterproof, practical Ortliebs for the commuter or tourer in your life, ($159.95) you can transform your loved one's bike and it's utilitarianism with this one purchase.

 

6. A mechanics class, $100 - $175

"Money spent on education or travel is never money wasted." We think someone said that and we think it's true.

There is always, always, more to learn about bikes. We offer Bicycle Mechanics 101 class and custom wheel building ($100-$175), in addition to a slew of free workshops. Consider signing up your loved one and give them the gift of knowledge and experience.

Check out our current classes here.

 

7. A spoke bracelet, $12.00

Made in Burlington by yours truly. When you buy a spoke bracelet from Old Spokes Home, every cent goes to support the shop and its programs at Bike Recycle Vermont. There are three sizes (you can exchange it if you get the wrong one) and we have gift boxes available. You can't go wrong with this unique, handmade stocking stuffer.

 

8. A donation to Old Spokes Home & Bike Recycle Vermont, $1 - $1,000,000+

Our mission is to create access to bikes and the opportunities they provide for our whole community. When you donate, you're supporting everything from our Everybody Bikes, Youth Shop, Apprenticeship, and Class programs, to our work with community partners setting up bike fleets and running bike clubs for young people, to events like Girls Ride Out, Halloween Bike Ride, Spooky Hollow, and more. What better gift could you give to a bicycle lover than the gift of supporting an organization that aims to share the bliss of bicycling with more people?

 

As always, please use us as a resource! Come by the shop and we'll help you find the perfect gift for your bicycle-loving friends and family this holiday.

May your season be warm and bright,

Christine