Christmas Stocking Stuffers

December 8, 2009

I hate to say it but Christmas is creeping up on us fast.  For me, it seems to happen even more quickly here in Australia because none of the usual signs of Christmas are flashing in my face.  Out of nowhere it’s all of a sudden December!

Before Christmas gets too close I thought I’d write out my cycling wish-list while there’s still time to act.  If it’s my wishlist, there’s a reasonable chance it might be yours as well.  This little list of stocking stuffers can be forwarded to your partner, kids or relatives that will make for quick and easy shopping that will relieve everybody!

Here are a few gifts ideas under $50 that St. Nick can slide into a cyclist’s stocking on Christmas morning.

1. (Warning – blatant self promo) 2010 Cycling Tips Calendar.  I’ve extended the ordering deadline as I still have quite a few left.  You can order it from here.

2. Cycling enthusiast t-shirt. A’qto, twelve%, Apres Velo are some great Aussie cycling casual clothing designers who all make fantastic stuff.

aqto

Image from Aqto.com.au

3.  Good Quality Cycling Cap.  Rocket Fuel (Aussie made), Rapha, Walz all make some high quality cycling caps that we may not normally indulge in for ourselves.

raphaCap

image from Rapha.cc

4. Cycling Book

  • The Cyclists Training Bible: A comprehensive training resource written by Joe Friel
  • The Time Crunched Cyclist: Chris Charmichael presents a new path to competitive fitness without the time demands of traditional methods.
  • A Dog In A Hat: Real life tale of American bike racer in Belgium struggling through mud, drugs and betrayal.  By Joe Parkin
  • Campagnolo: 75 Years Of Cycling Passion: Celebration of Campy’s rich history
  • Lance: The Making Of The World’s Greatest Champion: Profile of Lance’s rise from a hell-raising Texas kid to a world class champion. By John Wilcockson
  • Lennard Zinn’s Bicycle Maintenance books: Lennard Zinn’s best selling book on road bike repair and maintenance updated with the newest technology.
  • Magazine subscription: RIDE and Bicycling Australia are excellent Aussie cycling magazines (may be a bit more than $50, but a great gift nonetheless)

5. Cycling DVD. Here are a few suggestions based on my favorites:

  • Overcoming
  • Hell On Wheels
  • Road To Roubaix
  • A Sunday In Hell
  • American Flyers
  • The Flying Scottsman
  • Breaking Away

6. A good pair of cycling socks. DeFeet and Capo are two of my favorite manufacturers of high quality socks.

socks

Image from DeFeet.com

Anything on your wish-list that I’ve missed?

Tagged as: christmas gift ideas

  • http://shredquest.com/ Timbo

    How about Lance's newie?
    What abouts a Zipp kit bag?

  • travis

    What about some ability?

    Thats what I am wishing for.

  • mike

    yeah im asking for a basic bike mechanics tool kit. its not cheap, but then i think my parents want to see all these old bikes cleaned up and out of their garage.

  • GFCdomestique

    Can't go past a torque wrench for all those carbon area's. BBB sells quite a good one at a very reasonable price. No more snapped bolts and crushed carbon layers with one of those.

  • Neil_Robinson

    a set square to ensure socks and bibs are lined up straight

  • JB

    Some of these things make great cycling gifts

    http://www.velogear.com/view_all_prod.asp?dept=245

  • http://msedwick.tumblr.com/ Matt

    1. Embrocation! the only website i know of that has been recommended to me is http://madalchemy.com/ I think that any cyclist in lower temperature weather would appreciate this stuff.

    2. Handlebar tape, a great idea for the cyclist who always has dirty hands, just look at whats on the bike now and buy some new stuff!

    3. A spare saddle. It's always hard to find a new saddle after the one you loved so much has given up the ghost, so why not ask for a spare of your beloved butt throne?

    thats all i can think of at the moment; kinda fun, maybe ill do a quick list on my blog too

  • Guest

    A good base layer, fibre light (for nights), merino arm warmers…

  • domestique

    Here's a quick list we have been putting out, so keep checking for more silly wonderful gifts:

    http://domestique.cc/reviews/a-gift-guide-for-c...

  • http://www.facebook.com/eddie.relin Eddie Relin

    So where is the best place to buy Capo socks?

  • Craig

    For the Mountain bike riders I highly recommend '24solo'. Trek makes a movie of 6 time 24 solo world champion going for win number 7, some bloke with a day job from Australia kicks his arse and put himself in hospital. Craig Gordan is a funny man – 'The dog! Is it in the dog?' is probably the greatest line ever.

  • http://thehotcrew.com huphtur

    Another awesome video is La Course en Tete the documentary about Eddy Merckx.
    And of course the BEST EVER book written about biking The Rider by Tim Krabbe.

  • http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips

    One book I forgot to mention:

    Cadel Evans: Close to Flying

    I've heard it's a great insight to Cadel's often criticized personality

  • http://twitter.com/delder1962 David Elder

    Hey Wade agree Christmas is very different in Oz and as a Scot I must say the Flying Scotsman (one t) book is better than the film. I've already ordered my calendar: any idea as to arrival date?

  • http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips

    Thanks for the Flying Scotsman recommendation David. I'll have to get the book and read it over the holidays.

    The calendars will be shipped out this week. My apologies for the delay. Once they're shipped they should be delivered very quickly. Thanks for your understanding.

  • Matt

    Mad Alchemy is absolutely critical in lower temperatures or for winter riding. I use all three flavors of cold weather embrocation (mellow, medium, and madness). Getting in the shower after a ride is always an adventure in pain, but the comfort during the ride is well worth it.

  • JustinB

    Mad Alchemy will not ship to non-US paypal accounts (like Australia). Only way is to order form Embrocation Magazine website

  • lauren

    What about Anna Meare's book? I think that'd make a great stocking stuffer :)

  • MtbSkillsCoachPat

    Blatant self promotion seems to encouraged today, so here we go!
    A good buddy, 'Fewy' to be exact is a marketing genius without even knowing it.

    Fewy asked us to produce some gift certificates for MTB skills coaching sessions for a few of his mates for Xmas presents who require some tuning up. He is tired of encouraging them to come along to one of our session and is now shelling out for 5 gift certificates as he knows how much they will benefit from the experience.

    If you would like to give your partner or your riding pals a gift certificate for a MTB coaching session, private or group flick us an email.
    pat@rideinternational.com

    Cycling Tips readers are rewarded with a special rate.
    Fewy will get 10% of the proceeds for his stroke of genius. [haha just kidding]
    If you are a international reader we will be in Singapore this afternoon for a week of coaching and then onto India for 5 weeks.

    Merry Xmas.

  • http://shredquest.com/ Timbo

    All I want for Christmas is my two light Zipps.

    Ha!

    What abouts…
    All I want for Christmas is a brand new bike.
    All I want for Christmas is some rad VO2max.

    Hahaha.

  • http://shredquest.com/ Timbo

    Justin
    thank you very much for this heads up – it has given me a sock contact through the Embro website!!

    God I love the Interwebz.

    t

  • http://twitter.com/gusk Angus Kingston

    Rocket Fuel Style caps are the best! I love them. Great for the post ride coffee, great for no helmet hair, great for wearing when having a beer and cleaning your bike or general maintenance.

    Also, when it comes to reading, for a really good price read '21 Nights in July' by Ianto Ware. He is an Adelaide writer and it is a small but really nice book observing some philosophies of cycling – and really got me thinking about cadence. He also does a sort of literary review of some other excellent cycling books. Direct from the indie publisher.. highly recommended. http://www.format.net.au/format-press.htm

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