It’s Christmas Day. Your loved ones have spent a fortune on a load of tat you won’t really use. You love that they’ve tried…
Wouldn’t it be nice if under all that perfect wrapping paper was something you won’t just consign to a dusty corner of the garage as soon as your relatives have turned their backs?
Here’s our pick of the best Christmas present ideas for the mountain biker in your life that won’t cost you your first born child.
Uplift day at your local riding spot.
Cost: Up to £35
How to buy: Order online, print out the voucher, put it in a card
Time on the bike is what everyone wants. Uplifts are far more than the exclusive realm of the downhill bike nowadays with enduro bikes becoming so capable. Nothing beats a day of adrenaline and gravity-fuelled riding than an uplift day.
What’s more your folks could treat you to a full day of gravity-fuelled pleasure at any one of a number of mountain bike uplift venues. Check out our list of the best UK uplift destinations here.
A good multi-tool.
Cost: Up to £35 for a very decent one.
How to buy: Online or in your local bike shop. Super easily available.
The best present is something that isn’t extortionate but will outlast cockroaches and Nokia phones while doing the job well. Imagine the love you’ll feel for your special someone as your wheels come loose and your multi-tool saves the day.
Crankbrothers M19 won our recent group test. We’ve also got 5 great multi-tools under £35 here.
A photoshoot with a pro photographer
Cost: From £95
How to buy: Order online here
Us mountain bikers just LOVE taking photos of each other. But, how about taking that to the next level and getting a proper day out with a proper photographer? You’d come home with a folder full of the best images of you sending your bike down the trails and have a year’s worth of ammo for profile pics and the ‘gram.
Photographer Doc Ward offers a full day’s guiding and photography at Eastridge for £95. You can book here.
A tune up for your pride and joy.
Cost: Bike shops tend to charge around £40 an hour for labour. Parts are extra.
Where to buy: Call your local bike shop to book it in, or get workshop vouchers from the same place.
Riders are very good at gradually altering their riding to compensate for bike performance that isn’t spectacular. This is why you see horrendous looking fluids coming out of suspension units and bearings looking they’re full of some kind of Biryani sauce.
Bike shop vouchers are an easy way of saying, “I didn’t know what to get you, but your bike sounds like two skeletons having a fight in a biscuit tin, so give it some love”.
Back Up Lights.
Cost: Up to £60, but from as little as £20.
Where to buy: Online or in your local bike shop.
Winter rides are best rounded off with thawing out next to a fire while enjoying some pub grub.
You’ve used your big lights to slalom through the trees like a champ, but on the run back to the house, you discover you’ve rinsed them of all their juice. That’s where a set of back ups come in very handy. Not only is it illegal to ride on the road in the dark without lights, having the rear for any road sections on a ride is always a good idea.
Knog’s offerings are USB chargeable for maximum versatility.
Merino Socks.
Cost: £10 to £20 a pair.
Where to buy: Online or in your local bike shop.
Everyone knows the powers of Merino, especially when it comes to winter. If it’s dry and cold, there’s really nothing to better them. Waterproof socks will feel bulky and sweaty but do keep the water out, while Merino socks keep the blood in your feet the natural way, plus they don’t stink. A second pair for when you’re back to using those worn-out Tesco Sport socks isn’t a bad idea either.
Endura’s BaaBaa Merino socks come very highly regarded.
A Primaloft jacket.
Cost: From around £100 upwards
Where to buy: Online or in your local bike shop or outdoor pursuits shop.
Primaloft jackets beat their down options as they still function thermally when wet, so they’re the ideal emergency layer should things go south in the mountains, but equally, they’re a great way of keeping the layer count low and staying warm regardless of the conditions. Throwing one on after a ride is a great way of keeping the core temperature up on the drive home.
We really like the Endura Flipjak and we’ve also had some great results from Alpkit.
A decent mudguard.
Cost: £8.99 upwards.
Where to buy: Online or in your local bike shop.
This one doesn’t need any explanation, does it? We live in the UK, it’s muddy a lot.
You can buy the Mudhugger FR online at Tredz for £25 or the smaller Mudhugger Shorty for £18.
Shoe dryer.
Cost: Up to £50.
Where to buy: Online only for these beauties!
Another one that doesn’t really need an awful lot of explaining. For anyone that goes outside in the UK and owns shoes, they will get wet and you will want them dry, quickly.
Get two pairs of shoes dried quick for under £50. One Concept’s wall mountable dryer looks the business!
Flat pedals.
Cost: £50.00 upwards.
Where to buy: Online or in your local bike shop.
Plenty of people swap from clips to flats in the winter, the ability to just deploy a safety leg when the grip and talent run out allowing them to ride with more confidence in the slop.
There are others that will skimp on kit and not have the best pedals for the job. Either way, you can now pick yourself up a decent set of flats that won’t cost a kidney.
Check out our flat pedal grouptest here.
Dry bags.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDA8muxlmNT/?taken-by=alpkit
Cost: £3.00 upwards.
Where to buy: Online or in your local bike or outdoor pursuits shop.
Dry bags are a cost-effective and simple way of keeping the contents of your pack dry when out and about. Sizes range from the small to the ridiculous, and come in a variety of shapes and prices.
Best for keeping food and/or phones, GPSs, spare layers etc away from the rain when out in the mountains, but you will never not find a use for a dry bag!
New grips.
Cost: £10.00 upwards.
Where to buy: Online or in your local bike shop.
After a summer of hammering your favourite grip, they’ll likely be worn out at the inner collar, but you didn’t really notice because it was dry and grip was in abundance. Come the wetter, colder months, it becomes very apparent if your grips are worn out, or just a load of crap.
Arguably not the most exciting present you might ever get, but everyone needs them and some people swear by a certain grip, making it easier to buy for them.
