Road-ready gifts for bicyclists

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If any of these 7500 riders at Levi's Gran Fondo are on your Holiday shopping guide, we have some suggestions for you below. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
If any of the 7,500 riders at Levi's Gran Fondo are on your gift list, we have some suggestions for you. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

We here at Cult of Mac love bicycles almost as much as we love our iPhone 6 Pluses and iMac Retina 5Ks.

Maybe it’s the feeling of almost flying. Or the passionate design coming out of the bicycle industry. Or maybe it is just the idea of being a part of something else that drives intense passions in people. Whatever it is, we love it.

So we scoured high and low to bring you a list of crazy gift ideas for yourself or for your two-wheeled companions.
Take a look, but remember to take a deep breath before firing up your Apple Pay.

Yeti SB5 Carbon

The Yeti sb5c with their new Switch Infinity technology. Photo: Max Whittaker/Prime Collective
Yeti’s new Switch Infinity technology is gift-worthy. Photo: Max Whittaker/Prime Collective

If you or your loved one is looking for a new two-wheeled steed to ride into the deep woods, over the rocks and ruts, up the steepest of climbs and down the most intense of downs, then look no further than the new Yeti sb5c. Yeti was already building lust-worthy bikes with their highly successful SB series of bikes. In fact we spent time aboard the SB66 and SB95 and loved them both. But they couldn’t keep their latest suspension design, the Switch Infinity, to themselves.

The sb5c has the magical mix of great climbing characteristics, wonderful control over the chatter, and the ability to turn you into Greg Minnar when it is pointed straight downhill.

Yeti — $6,599, when built with SRAM’s excellent X01 grouppo

Rapha Pro Team Jacket

Rapha Pre Team Jacket. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
For those times when it’s cold out but you still want to train, the Rapha Pro Team Jacket is perfect. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Cold-weather training can be tricky. If you are just going out for a ride or trying to pedal from one place to another in the frigid months, bundling up is the only plan you need. Pull on as many layers as you can, lower your chin and away you go.

But, lord forbid, if you actually want to “train” in the cold weather, you will have to split the difference about how you feel leaving the garage and how you are going to feel four hill repeats into your workout.

For those tough, cold-weather efforts, the Rapha Pro Team Jacket has you covered. Designed to be warm enough to inspire confidence, it’s breathable enough to keep you from cooking in your own juices. And in typical Rapha style, it is slightly understated and impeccably tailored.

If you don’t want your riding partner to grow fat over the short, dark days of winter, get him one of these. It will send the message loud and clear: Get up. Get out.

Rapha — $290

Pedro’s Apprentice Tool Kit

The Apprentice Tool Kit from Pedros. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Be prepared with an Apprentice Tool Kit in your trunk. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Bicycle tool buyers usually fall into one of two camps: They are either a blue-handle type or a yellow-handle type. Both Pedro’s and Park making amazing tools, and somehow my toolbox has become an embarrassing mismatch. (Maybe my Michigan roots caused me to go the blue-and-gold route.)

Anyway, Pedro’s is offering the perfect “throw it in the back of the truck” toolkit for holiday shoppers. Your bike-riding friend may not thank you today or tomorrow, but one day — when they are at the trailhead or the group-ride parking lot and their steed needs a slight adjustment and they remember that awesome case of tools you bought them tucked into their trunk — they will praise you immensely.

The kit comes with 22 tools, including crank pullers, hex wrenches, spoke wrenches and a cable cutter. This kit is definitely designed for someone who knows their way around a bike. If you look at this little box of goodness and wonder what some of these gadgets are, you might also want to sign up for a bike-repair class this winter.

Pedro’s — $250

Smith Overtake Helmet

Smith helmet. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Protect your brainpan in style with the Smith Overtake helmet. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The Overtake comes in all the colors of the rainbow (12 choices to be exact), so no matter what your color jam is, you can find a helmet to mix and match with your personal style. And if you are obsessive you could get one to match each and every one of your kits.

Using a material called Koroyd, Smith claims the Overtake rides the line between comfort, light weight, protection and aerodynamics. The helmet offers plenty of adjustability, so you can dial in the perfect fit. And it integrates beautifully with Smith’s excellent line of cycling glasses, with a little shelf for the glasses to sit in when you need a break or more visibility in the deep redwoods.

Smith — $250

Light&Motion Urban 2.0 bike light

Light&Motion's Urban 650 bike head lamp. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Light up the night with the new Urban 650 bike headlamp. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Zipping down Folsom Street in San Francisco’s Mission district is always a fascinating trip, but now that the days are growing shorter my commute has gone dark.

Luckily, I got my mitts on the new Urban Shock Top. Bicycle-lighting technology has improved immensely over the last few years, with the lights getting lighter and brighter even as we’ve gained longer life and easier recharging.

The Urban line is easily charged with a mini-USB and pulls onto just about any bar super-easily, even with gloves on. If you fear for your own safety or the safety of your bicycling friends, get them lit up. (The Urban line of lights from Light&Motion comes in 350. 500, 650 (pictured) and 800 lumens.)

Light&Motion — $130

Cedar Cycling Women’s Standard Jersey

The Standard Women's Jersey from Cedar Cycling. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Cedar Cycling’s women’s jersey is stylish and comfortable. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Attention to detail and an understated design make this Cedar Cycling Women’s Standard Jersey a no-brainer of a gift for your lady friend. The piping is made of reflective material. The collar is cut loose, so as not to choke, and the jersey is cut long in the back — just the way my wife likes her kit.

From the minute you pull the jersey from the bag, you can feel the quality oozing from this Made in California piece. Sure you’re going to pay a premium for the boutique appeal, but this wool-blend beauty is worth every penny.

Cedar Cycling — $160

Panache White Asym socks

Panache Asym Racing Sock. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Up your sock game with the new Panache Asym. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Panache makes some awesome socks. Like these. Get a pair for any cyclist on your list, and they will thank you. They will know you know. Panache socks rock.

Panache — $16

Hincapie Pasion Rain Jersey

Hincapie Pasion Rain Jersey. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
If the rain is coming down, this Hincapie jersey should be going on. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Let’s face it — riding in the rain sucks. Singing in the rain might be a thing, but riding in the rain is not. But if you are serious about your two-wheeled commute (or your training), sooner or later you’re either going out in the rain or going to be caught in it.

The Hincapie Rain jersey is for those days when you look out the window, the rain is pouring down and you are going anyway.

Done up in the a vintage-inspired Colombia colorway, this fleece-lined piece with matchy-matchy arm warmers is designed to keep you warmish and dryish on those days when the weather is not fit for man or beast.

If you are more of a fair-weather fan, you might want to consider this for your less-fragile riding partner.

Hincapie — $160

Chrome Niko Sling

Chrome bag. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
This Chrome bag is designed for bicycling photogs. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

If you are a shutterbug and love to take pictures from the saddle of your bike, you know how annoying almost all the bag options truly are. Sure you can shoot those selfie and scene shots with your iPhone, but if you are truly a photo fiend you want more. More options for both lens selection and for exposure choices.

I’ve tried carrying my XT-1 in my jersey pocket, in my backpack and in my handlebar bag, but so far the best option has turned out to be this little gem from Chrome. It is water-sealed, slings across my back comfortably and has a separate pocket for a spare battery and CF card. The buckle is overkill for a bag this size, but that is the price you pay if you are going to carry a Chrome bag.

Chrome — $90

Specialized S-Works Trail Shoe

Specialized S-Works Trail Shoes are music for your feet. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Specialized S-Works Trail Shoes are music for your feet. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The top-of-the-line mountain bike shoe from Specialized leaves nothing to be desired. It’s got stiff carbon soles with a comfy footbed, plus plenty of rubber for when you are forced off your steed and into a scramble. Instead of laces, the S-Works Trail Shoe uses boa closures and a Velcro strap to dial in your fit. Designed with protection for your inside ankle and a nice amount of rubber in the toe box, this kick is prepared to take you safely where you need to go. The standard two-bolt cleat pattern fits your spuds and most major pedal brand cleats. Now go forth and get dirty.

Specialized — $350

Kali Shiva

Kali Helmet. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Kali’s lightweight wonder won’t slow you down when you’re flying through the air. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

If someone on your shopping list likes to hurtle downhill at speeds usually reserved for motorized travel, or likes to huck themselves off ramps, or just someone who has trouble keeping the rubber down, the Kali Shiva is an appropriate gift. Kali says it’s the lightest DOT-certified helmet in the world, and at 1,050 grams we can’t find anyone disputing this claim. Beyond being wicked light, the Shiva looks hot, has a comfortable fit and comes prepared for your POV camera.

Kali — $499

Cyclic Fly6

Cycliq Fly6 rear bike light with built-in camera. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
The Cycliq Fly6 bike light boasts a built-in camera. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

A combination light and camera, the Cyclic Fly6 might be the perfect twofer gift for anyone who finds themselves out on the scary, dark streets this winter. It lets you signal your presence — while also recording HD video of your travels.

It’s still a tossup whether the camera is for making cool videos of your riding partner sucking your wheel or for capturing proof that the driver did indeed swerve into you. Either way, at 249 clams the Fly6 is USB-rechargeable, and is claimed to supply up to six hours of safety on the road between charges (plus countless hours of entertainment off the bike).

Cyclic — $249

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