Every time these holidays roll around, someone always goes online to ask, “I want to get a gift for my cycling friend, boyfriend, or husband. Any recommendations?” And then the comments start suggesting helmets, bike computers, power meters, and all sorts of other gear.
Honestly… if you don’t understand their cycling needs, buying these things on impulse isn’t necessarily a good idea. Cycling is highly personalized. When it comes to helmets, everyone has a different head shape, and without trying one on in person, it’s easy to end up with something that feels too tight or simply doesn’t fit. Bike computers and power meters are expensive, and if you don’t know much about them, you could easily make the wrong choice. Things like saddles and bicycle components are even more likely to leave you in a situation where you’ve spent the money but failed to get the result you wanted.
As the saying goes, “It’s the thought that counts.” Cyclists are actually pretty easy to please. Sometimes, just a few dozen yuan is enough.
So, what are some good options?
First Choice: A Water Bottle!!
No cyclist would turn down a new water bottle. If one isn’t enough, get them a pair.
Water bottles are both consumables and everyday essentials, and there are tons of different styles available. Some bottles feature really creative designs. You can mix and match them based on your friend’s preferences and the color of their bike. There’s always one that will suit them.
Some of the graphics are incredibly creative.
If you’re still unsure, go for a Grand Tour-themed design: the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, or Vuelta a España. This is basically an all-purpose option. Whether or not the cyclist is into competitive racing, Grand Tour merchandise is always popular.
I recommend ELITE. The water flows quickly, the bottle is soft and squeezable, and it’s easy to clean. The price is around 40 yuan per bottle.
Small Accessories
Sometimes, these things can cost next to nothing. Take this chain keychain of mine, for example. When I assembled my LYKOS, I had a leftover piece of chain after shortening it. I found a Pantani keychain charm and put them together to make a keychain. You can look around at local bike shops and might come across something like this.
Of course, you can also spend money to buy one. These little items are sometimes given away as freebies at bicycle exhibitions, while online they sell for around 30 yuan. The main point is that these things are most meaningful when they come from components taken off your own bike, cleaned thoroughly, and personally turned into a DIY creation.
If you know their helmet model, you could also get a mini helmet printed for them. A unique little gift like this isn’t expensive, but it really shows you care～～Gifts for cyclists don’t necessarily have to be bike components. They also love little items like these, which look great on a desk or hanging from a backpack.
Multi-Tool
If you’re the practical type, you can get them a multi-tool like this. A small wrench set without a torque function usually costs around 100 yuan. It’s a safe bet—there’s no cyclist who would turn down a tool like this, even if they already own one.
The advantage of this iBrand hex wrench is that it can be flexibly configured and extended, allowing you to attach three commonly used bit sizes at once. You won’t need to carry extra bits when heading out.
The only downside is the price. However, many e-commerce platforms now offer alternatives at a fraction of the cost. You can search for them yourselves… The design really is practical.
Oh, and it also has magnetic attachments to prevent parts from getting lost.
Small Saddle Bag
With just a few dozen yuan, you can also get a small saddle bag like this. This RK5200 model from Rhinowalk costs around 60 yuan.
Don’t let its small size fool you. It can actually hold quite a lot.
The saying “A bag can cure all problems” applies to cyclists, too.
After all, when you’re out on the road, who can guarantee that nothing unexpected will happen? CO₂ cartridges, pumps, inner tubes, and tools all need a bag to carry them.
Headset Top Cap
This little headset top cap… some cost several hundred yuan, but the cheaper ones are actually only a few dozen yuan.
There are plenty of designs available, making it a versatile little item for expressing your mood.
You can even customize the design. The key advantage is its position: you can see it whenever you look down, so it’s highly noticeable. Even if it isn’t being used, it also makes a pretty good decorative accessory.
Cycling Cap
While buying a helmet without knowing their preferences can easily go wrong, giving them a cycling cap is a much safer choice. It has also always been an essential style element in cycling culture, with plenty of designs available.
There are just so many styles of cycling caps… A quick search will bring up tons of options, and each one costs around 40–80 yuan.
If they prefer something more understated, there are options like this, too. Anyway, there are plenty of designs to choose from.
Of course, if your friend is a seasoned cycling enthusiast, giving them one of these would be absolutely legendary…
OK! Now you know what to get, right?? Instead of spending a huge amount of money, why not put some thought into choosing a small gift? Sometimes, that works even better!
