11 “Wheelie” Great Cycling Gift Ideas for Under $50

If you’re buying for a cyclist this year (but aren’t one yourself), the odds are you’re at a loss for what to buy. After all, cyclists are a fickle bunch—gear nerds who go out and get what they want for themselves because they’re so picky. Still, there are lots of great options that nearly any cyclist will love.

Whether it’s consumable items like nutrition on the bike—which might seem like a lame gift, but I promise you is not—or something more sustainable like new gloves or socks, we have something for both the roadies and mountain bikers on your list.

And the best part? Nothing on the list costs more than $50. Most of it is even cheaper, so you can go big and buy multiple items. Look who just won Christmas this year.

Energy Drink/Food: Skratch Labs and Science in Sport

Let’s start with something easy. The right nutrition on the bike is often the difference between a good day and a bad one on longer rides. You can’t go wrong with a good drink mix for water bottles and some gels to throw in a jersey pocket or saddlebag.

Drink Mix: Skratch Labs Sport Hydration

We like the Skratch Labs Sport Hydration drink mix for lots of reasons. Unlike some sports drinks, it’s not over-flavored or too sweet. Skratch Labs simply has the necessary electrolytes to match what’s lost in sweat, so you rehydrate and get a little energy. It’s also organic, plant-based vegan, verified non-GMO, gluten free, dairy free, and Kosher—and it does it all while still tasting great.

Energy Gels: Science in Sport Variety Pack

Sports drinks are awesome, but sometimes you need a little more to get you through a long ride. That’s when energy gels are great. They’re very easy to get down while you’re moving and are packed with fast-acting carbohydrates.

Science in Sport Energy Gels have 22 grams of carbs, but only one gram of sugar, so you don’t suffer the energy crash you get with some products. These gels use an isotonic formulation so that you don’t have to drink extra fluid to digest them, thereby avoiding stomach problems.

Socks: Swiftwick PURSUIT Four

Yeah, yeah, you’re thinking socks for Christmas—how boring—but trust me, cyclists get excited about good socks because they help keep your feet from blistering or developing numb spots on long rides.

Swiftwick’s PURSUIT Fours feature merino wool, which absorbs moisture and keeps you cool in summer and warm when it’s cold out. Reinforced heels and toes maximize durability. Different cyclists have different opinions about sock length, so keep that in mind when you pick a cuff length and color.

Rear Light: Cygolite Hotshot 100 USB

Let’s face it, distracted driving is a problem, and you want your cyclist to be safe. One way to make them more visible on the road is with a super-bright rear blinking light. You can check out our picks for the best bike tail lights for a full range of options, but the Cygolite Hotshot 100 USB is a budget-friendly rechargeable that puts out a retina-blasting strobe.

Gloves: Giro Jag and Supacaz SupaG Long

Gloves are important to cyclists. They cut down on the wear and tear to their hands and help them grip the handlebars when they’re sweaty. Palm padding reduces hand fatigue on long rides while still leaving the finger dexterity needed for braking and shifting gears. Road gloves typically leave the fingers exposed while mountain bike gloves are full-fingered for better stickiness to rubber grips over rough terrain and extra protection from more-frequent falls. Just like socks, this is also a good opportunity for picking colors that match your cyclist’s favorite bike clothes.

Road Cycling Glove: Giro Jag

The Giro Jag is a cheap but durable road cycling glove that features enough padding for long rides. The Lycra backing allows sweat to evaporate and keeps the gloves from getting too stretchy when wet. The hook and loop closure makes them easy to get on and off.

MTB Cycling Glove: Supacaz SupaG Full Finger

Padding is less of a “thing” in mountain biking gloves because you get a fair amount from MTB grips. Plus, you tend to twist your hands so much getting over obstacles that heavily padded gloves quickly get shredded. Here, it’s all about grippiness and good sweat evaporation. That’s why we like Supacaz SupaG Full Fingers. Plus, the color choices are endless.

Bar Tape or Grips: Supacaz Super Sticky Kush or ODI Troy Lee Grips

Handlebar tape and mountain bike grips make good gifts because they tend to get chewed up leaning against buildings or in mountain bike crashes. Plus, a new color makes it look like you got a whole new bike!

Bar Tape: Supacaz Super Sticky Kush

Some cyclists are intimidated at the prospect of replacing handlebar tape themselves, but it’s really not that hard once you’ve learned how to get it even and properly tensioned as you roll it on. Park Tool has a good handlebar tape how-to video for first-timers.

Super Sticky Kush handlebar tape is nice because it has a tacky feel even in wet conditions. Plus, the foam delivers superior shock absorption despite being quite thin.

MTB Grips: ODI Troy Lee Design Grip with Lock-On Clamps

I’ve been using these Troy Lee Design MTB grips from ODI for several months now, and they’re excellent. They’re sticky in the hand and the lock-on clamps keep them in place and prevent end damage when I bang into things. You can find a color to match any bike.

Seat Bag: Lezyne Road Caddy and Topeak Aero Wedge

Having what’s needed to fix a flat is often the difference between getting home or the humiliation of having to call someone to come get you if you’re a cyclist. I pack a spare inner tube, CO2 cartridges with a valve adapter, a patch kit, some boot material for large tire cuts, and a couple of hex keys into mine.

Small Seat Bag: Lezyne Road Caddy

A bit like sock length, the size of seat bag to get is a personal choice with cyclists. I prefer super-minimalist, but I recognize that limits what I can get in there. It’s probably just my physiology and position on my bikes, but I find larger bags tend to bump the insides of my thighs if they have a strap that goes around the seat post.

The Lezyne Road Caddy is an excellent example of a minimalist bag. It has the secure hook and loop strap with a buckle—key to not having the bag fall off mid-ride. At a little over three inches by four, this is a small, lightweight bag that will serve you well.

Larger Seat Bag: Topeak Aero Wedge Pack

For some cyclists, bigger is better when it comes to seat bags because you can pack them with more necessities, such as like tire levers and multi-tools. Mountain bikers often like a slightly roomier seat bag like the Topeak Aero Wedge Pack for tools and spare parts because they suffer more mechanical problems like sticks that get caught in the gears or components that are shaken loose along rough trails. It comes in four sizes ranging from a little over six to nine inches in length.

Multi-Tool: Topeak Mini 20 Pro

Much like a Swiss Army Knife for bicycles, a good multi-tool can be a lifesaver when you suffer a mechanical problem far from home or your car. These are a must-have for any cyclist, but there’s a weight penalty where road biking is concerned (if your cyclist cares about such things). The more features, the heavier they are, so it’s a tradeoff. I like ones such as the Topeak Mini 20 Pro that include a chain tool. I’ve had rear derailleurs get snapped off on the mountain bike, and being able to shorten the chain is about the only way you’re going to be able to ride back when that happens.

For Extra Safety: Road iD

 

Take it from someone who’s been knocked unconscious in a bike crash despite wearing a helmet, wearing a Road iD just makes sense for cyclists. Even if you’re riding with friends, do they have your emergency contact information? Road iDs are completely customizable. You can engrave anything you want on them like your name, an emergency phone number, or a link to a website for more information that emergency responders can use. Wearable IDs are even more important if you have a medical condition or take medications like a blood thinner. It’s an inexpensive investment in peace of mind.

You can find prices and more information about styles and options on the Road iD website.

Chain Lube: Rock N Roll Gold

As a long-time bike mechanic, every time I pass a cyclist with a squeaky chain, it’s like nails on a chalkboard because I know the damage they’re doing to their drivetrain. With chain and cassette combos going for hundreds of dollars these days, having plenty of chain lube around is important. I keep bottles in my workshop and in my car.

Rock N Roll Gold chain lubricant is intended for both road and mountain bike use. The company says their formula penetrates to the heart of a chain, collects dirt, and then pushes it to the surface where it’s easily wiped off. If left overnight, it sets up a protective membrane that keeps out water and dirt.

For Fun: Recycled Chain Picture Frame

Someone gave me a picture frame made from a recycled bicycle chain a few years ago, and I think it’s a great idea. It’s a simple and inexpensive gift that shows the person you’re giving it to that you appreciate their cycling passion. You might think it’s a little tacky, but the chain is actually understated and you have to study it for a few seconds when you first see it to realize what it is.

First Aid Kit: 299 Piece All-Purpose

Cycling seems to come with its share of bumps and bruises, especially for mountain bikers. I keep a first aid kit in my car, and it’s come in handy more times than I care to admit. Get one like this 299-piece kit that can deal with a wide range of incidents, such as road rash, cuts, and insect stings. Disposable chemical cold packs are great, too, if you happen to clip a tree.