Gear News

RCUK’s Christmas Gift Guide 2016: nine cycling stocking fillers under £30

Top cycling-inspired gifts that won't break the bank

Christmas is coming! Warning: there are less than two weeks until Christmas. Panic stations, everyone!

Of course, there’s no need to panic. Not least because we’re on hand with our cycling-inspired Christmas gift guides. Whether you’re buying for a friend or family member who’s a two-wheeled fanatic or are putting together your own wish list, we’ve got you covered.

Having highlighted the best cycling books available this Christmas and ran through some of the top gadgets around this season, now we’ve picked out ten stocking fillers – all of which can be had for less than £30. No need to send us any presents this Christmas, these ones are all for you…

Condor Winter Bobble Hat – £14.99

Anything with the word ‘Condor’ on gets the thumbs up from us but this bobble hat from the gurus on Gray’s Inn Road is particularly snazzy – the perfect way to keep your head warm off the bike this winter. The red bobble and snowflake pattern give the hat a festive theme, while the fine-gauge fabric will provide plenty of warmth.

Condor have plenty of other gift ideas on their website, including this fluorescent cycling cap and a ten-function multi-tool for less than a tenner. The last date for standard UK delivery is December 19 or you can order via next day and special delivery until December 22.

FWE Coldharbour Merino Socks – £12.99

Needless to say, you’ll want to keep your feet warm this winter, as well as your head – and these socks from FWE, the in-house clothing brand of Evans Cycles, will do just the trick. They’re made from a 50 per cent merino and 48 per cent polyamide mix, so you get the warmth, soft feel and odour resistant qualities of the former, and the additional breathability of the latter. Oh, and there’s two per cent elastane thrown into the mix to ensure a comfy fit.

We’ve been wearing these socks both around the office and on the bike and they’ve been perfect for when someone’s forgotten to turn the heating on… or it’s freezing out in the lanes. And they’re only £12.99 for two pairs. Bargain.

Hiplok FLX Café Lock – £29.99

Bike locks may not be the sexiest products around but they’re important if you plan on taking your eyes off your machine. The trouble is, most road cyclists don’t want to lugging a heavy lock up climbs on the club run – but they will probably want to pop into the café for a slice of cake and cup of coffee.

That’s where the new FLX from Hiplok comes in. It’s a compact combination lock with a retractable steel cable, ideal for slipping into a jersey pocket without adding much bulk or weight to your get-up. Hiplok have included a flashing red light into the design, too, so it can double-up as a back-up light if you get caught out.

Sure, it won’t offer as much protection as a heavy-duty D-lock, but if you want something for peace of mind when you make a quick stop, then the FLX is spot on for roadies.

St Raphael Cycling Stacking Cup Set – £30.00

Cyclists love coffee, we all know that, so you’ll love these cups from Altitude CS. The retro design is inspired by the St Raphael jersey worn by five-time Tour de France winner Jacques Anquetil in the 1960s, while the cups and saucers are made in Stoke-on-Trent from bone china.

You get two cups and two saucers in each set, and if you are more of a Faema fan than St Raphael supporter, there’s also a designed inspired by team of the great Eddy Merckx. Otherwise, Altitude CS also have a range of espresso cups for your post-ride tipple.

SiS Team Sky 4 Hour Fuel Pack – £15.00

If you plan on racking up the miles through winter, you’ll need to stay fuelled. Team Sky sponsors Science in Sport are on hand with this convenient fuel pack, which contains an array of gels, bars, drinks sachets and recovery products, as well as a Team Sky bottle.

Science in Sport say the pack includes everything you need for a four-hour ride – whether that’s true or not, there’s plenty to get your teeth stuck in to.

Rapha Lightweight Essentials Case – £25.00

The Lightweight Essentials Case is new from Rapha and – no prizes for guessing – is a lightweight version of the original Essentials Case. It’s lighter on the wallet, too, at £25 (as opposed to £45) and is made from a durable and quick-drying Cordura nylon, rather than leather.

Otherwise, the idea remains the same – this is a jersey pocket-sized case to hold the essentials for a ride, with capacity for a spare inner tube, tyre levers, gas cylinder and multi-tool or mobile phone. It’s available in four colours: black, purple, chartreuse and high-vis pink.

Park Tool Pizza Tool – £16.99

For the cyclist who has everything – or who just loves pizza. And who doesn’t? While Park Tool may be better known for producing their iconic blue-handled workshop tools, this pizza cutter is perfect for a post-ride snack.

The large handle and sharp, stainless steel blade make cutting pizza a cinch. And it’s shaped like a bike. What more could you want?

Muc-Off Bike Care Essentials Kit – £26.00

By the time Christmas rolls around, we’ll well and truly be into the depths of winter and your bike will be beginning to feel the pressure after pounding the mucky lanes. The Muc-Off Bike Care Essentials Kit contains the basics to give your pride and joy some TLC over the Christmas break.

You’ll find Muc-Off’s excellent cleaning solution, along with a water dispersing protective spray, micro-cell sponge, and wheel and component brush to get to tricky spots. Muc-Off chuck in a tote bag, too, so you can store everything together.

Lezyne Femto Light Set – £21.99

Whether you commute by bike or not, it’s worth having lights fitted on your machine in case you get caught out in fading light or the sky closes in during a storm. Even in the middle of the day it can be downright murky during winter.

The Femto light set from Lezyne includes a 15-lumen front light and seven-lumen rear lamp – bright enough to use as a back-up set to your main lights or just to get you out of a tricky situation. They’re both compact units, so will sit inconspicuously on your handlebars and seatpost, and are a doddle to put on/take off thanks to the silicone strap mounts.