The Christmas List

We’ve done this before.  This year we’ve updated the list, dropped some items, added some, and moved some things around to reflect changes in pricing.  Have fun with it, and happy shopping/hinting.

Three Scenarios:

I ride.  Folks I know would like to give me stuff that means something to me, but they haven’t got a clue about cycling!

Someone close to me rides a bike a lot, but I don’t know a thing about cycling.  I’d like to give them something that means something to them, but I haven’t a clue what they want or need.

I’m new to the sport.  I’m having fun with it, but I don’t really know what I need now.

Below you will find some cool stuff for cyclists, in varying price ranges. Just print this post out, underline or circle the items you are most interested in, and “accidentally” leave it out where your friends and family will find it. That covers hinting.

Alternatively, you could use this to identify useful or thoughtful gifts for various cyclists on your list. Note: For some of these items, it will help if you find out a bit about your target. Get clothing sizes, riding habits, and bicycle details, first! With just a bit of thought, and some applied sneakiness, it’s possible to find out almost all of this stuff, and it’s kind of fun too!

And if you are a relatively new cyclist, you might look the list over for some ideas.

Happy hinting, and happy shopping!

THE LIST:

Fill in appropriate sizes below:

Shoe size: _______________________

Pants size: _______________________

Shirt size: _______________________

Hat size or measurement around the brow in inches: _______________________

Glove size: _______________________

Bicycle:

Color of bike: _______________________

Bike type (Make &; model): _______________________

Size (measure from the middle of the center of the bottom of the frame to the center of the top tube): _______________________

Wheel size (on side of tire): _______________________

Tire Size (on side of tire)

Note: There are a lot of different kinds of tire sizes. Be prepared to note this exactly. For instance 26 X 1.5 is not the same as 26 X 1 ½. If you are not sure, just copy down all the numbers on the sidewall of the tire, in exact order. The folks at the bike shop are used to handling this.

Cassette (on rear wheel):

Number of cogs: _______________________

Number of teeth on largest cog: _______________________

Number of teeth on smallest cog: _______________________

Crankset (where the pedals are):

Number of gears: _______________________

Number of teeth on big gear: _______________________

Number of teeth on middle or small gear: _______________________

Number of teeth on smallest gear: _______________________

$10 to $100

• Arm Warmers
• Bar tape and installation
• Bar tape or grips
• Basic Tune up
• Beanie or balaclava
• Behind the seat bottle cage
• Bell
• Bike computer
• Bike lock
• Bottle of chain lube
• Chain (check number of gears on the back wheel, it’s important!)
• CO2 inflator
• Cycling Cap
• Fenders (check bike type and wheel size)
• Food!  Gel packs, sports drinks, etc.
• Frame pump
• Full finger mountain bike gloves
• Gloves, summer
• Gloves, winter
• Head band light
• Helmet, entry level
• Hydration back pack
• Jacket, Rain
• Jacket, wind
• Jersey, summer
• Jersey, tri-sport
• Jersey, winter
• Knee warmers
• Leg Warmers
• Mirror for bike
• Mirror for eyeglasses
• Multi-tool
• Multi-tool, Small
• Package of 2 shift cables, 2 brake cables, housings for both
• Rack (to mount on the bike)
• Reflective ankle bands
• Reflective vest
• Shorts
• Shorts, baggy
• Simple Green bike cleaner
• Skull cap
• Socks, summer
• Socks, wool
• South Side Cycling Club membership  ($25.00 per year  go to http://www.southsidecycling.com/ )
• Speed Clean degreaser
• Sun Glasses
• Tail light, good and strong
• Tire levers
• Tires, Pair of touring road
• Tires, road, high performance (check wheel size)
• Tube patch kit
• Tune up maintenance class
• Under seat bag, large
• Under seat bag, small
• Water bottles
• Water bottles, insulated

$100 to $150

• Bicycle computer with cadence feature
• Bike computer (wired)
• Bike maintenance class
• Combine two or three items from above list
• Full season Bicycles Unlimited Spin Class membership
• Gift Certificate at Bicycles Unlimited
• Good warm riding jacket
• Heart rate monitor
• Helmet, nice one
• Light set, rechargeable
• Messenger bag
• Panniers
• Professional Bike Fitting
• Rain jacket
• Set of high quality tires
• Shorts
• Tune up (major)
• Winter tights 

$150 to $300

• Bicycle computer with cadence feature
• Clip on aerobars
• Clipless pedals
• Excellent helmet
• Full tear down & overhaul tune up
• Heart rate monitor
• Helmet, a really nice one
• Light set, extremely good!
• MTB shoes
• Professional bike fitting
• Roadie shoes
• Rollers, indoor training
• Set of shorts, jersey, and wind jacket
• Shorts
• Stationary trainer
• Sun glasses, high end
• Training wheelset
• Tri-shoes (for bike)
• Tri-shorts
• Tune up, tear down and over haul type
• XTR mountain bike pedals

$300 to $500

• Complete bicycle maintenance tool kit
• Entry level mountain bike
• Enter them in one of the MS 150 charity rides
• GPS based cycle computer with HR monitor and computer download
• Hard sided bicycle travel case
• New Drive Line (chain, cassette, chain rings)(check number of gears on rear wheel)
• Road shoes, high end (check pedal type)
• Shimano Dura Ace road pedals
• Training wheel set with cassette, and training tires (check wheel size and the number & size of gears on rear wheel)
• Winter cycling boots

$500 and up

• Complete SRAM driveline, shifter, crankset, and brakes upgrade
• Entry level road bike to use as a trainer & rain bike
• Fixed gear or “track” bike ($700 to $2,000)
• Full and complete home shop tool set (approx $1,000)
• Loaded Touring Bike ($3,000 to $5,000)
• Mid level road bike to use as trainer & rain bike (approx $1500)
• Mountain bike, Absolute Killer type ($3,000 and up)
• New commuter hybrid or road bike
• Nicer Mountain bike (approx $500 to $800)
• Power meter
• Road bike, very very good ($3,000 & up)
• Very good race wheel set

Sky’s the limit!

• “Bespoke Bike”  (A frame up build by The Road Dragon, to your exact size and specifications.)  $2,000 and up.
• A guided and supported tour across the US
• A guided and supported tour in Provence, France
• A wine country tour in Tuscany
• All expense paid trip to Durango, or Moab, including bike rental and guide
• Giant TCR, with full Dura Ace group
• Giant Time Trial bike
• Trip to see Tour de France
• Very High end racing bike ($8,000 & up)