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For Gifts That Will Get Used, Know How Your Cyclist Rolls

A last-minute gift guide for that special cyclist

The difference between a bicycling gift that gets used and one that grows cobwebs (or gets returned) is whether you really know the individual and their gear. A few minutes spent snooping through the closet, reviewing the bike or just thinking about how your giftee rolls will result in a better, more usable gift.

For instance, if you want to add a rear light to your loved one's bike, you need to know where the existing ones are mounted. Or, is there room on the handlebar for a wider headlight, or to mount another gadget, like a camera? What type of cycling shoes a person wears will determine which brand of winter booties will fit over them.

I've been strolling the virtual and actual aisles to consider what is new and what I'd want for my bike, and have a few suggestions of cycling gifts, with tips on what to look for.

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Green Riding

Many cyclists are also avid environmentalists who would groove on greening their ride. The new sport caps on Kleen Kanteen stainless steel water bottles allow cyclists to get away from the soft plastic water bottles that degrade over time. The new caps make it easier to drink deeply without a lot of effort.

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There are many recycled bike accessories, from socks to saddlebags, and green oil to keep your gears moving smoothly. Simple Green has released a bike cleaner and degreaser that is non-toxic and biodegradable.

Train Indoors

Bike trainers are popular gifts this time of year, especially for people who don't have gym memberships or prefer their own bike to a stationary Spinning model. With a bike trainer, you connect the back wheel of your bike to it and simply cycle in the comfort of home when the weather outside is just too frightful. Cycle Ops and Kinetic are a couple of popular brands.

When shopping for these, you have two types from which to choose: magnetic or fluid resistance models. These are the two mechanisms that provide resistance as you pedal and change gears to give you a better workout. Magnetic ones use opposing magnets on the trainer's drivetrain mechanism, while fluid trainers use a sealed chamber of viscous fluid that changes consistency as it heats up, which provides varying resistance levels. Magnetic ones are usually cheaper and you may have to manually change resistance.

Consider also the stability and durability of the trainer housing. Most people rock from side to side when biking, especially if they stand up, and you want a trainer that will be very stable and keep you balanced. Compare the widths of the trainer platforms and heaviness of the units. Trainers can also generate a lot of noise, another feature to consider, especially if it will be used in an apartment.

Light Your Ride

Bicycle lights are also a great gift, especially if the cyclist in your life hasn't upgraded to the LED versions. LED lights are brighter and the battery life is considerably longer. Many of the new front lights are coming with helmet mounts. Rear lights are being offered with a dizzying array of flash-pattern settings.

When shopping, look for ones with a prominent on-off switch that can be easily toggled when wearing a full-coverage glove. If possible, try out the lights in a real-world setting to make sure the front light will cast a wide beam onto the road or path ahead of you, and that the rear light will be brightly visible from a good distance. Also, rechargeable batteries are great, but often come only in the higher-end models.

In my opinion, it's hard to overdo safety, so consider using two or three rear lights: helmet, backpack, seat post, rack and pannier are all good places for lights.

Regarding the flash patterns, it is good to have a light that can either be on steadily or have intermittent flashing settings, but some manufacturers have gotten carried away. Typically, to find the setting you want or to turn the light off, you need to toggle through all of them. I don't want to spend a minute standing in the cold repeatedly clicking, so I prefer a light with just two or three settings.

Film Your Ride

A sport camcorder is a popular tech gift, and there are some that could be used on the bike (look at GoPro, Contour and Oregon Scientific). They strap onto the side of your helmet, and some also strap onto ski goggles or other headwear.

Important features: again, look for a big, prominent on/off button, which is a must when wearing gloves and engaging in an outdoor sport. Weather-resistant casing, a rechargeable battery and a removable memory card are other good features. Some of the smaller, less expensive cameras are not high-definition, a feature to consider if you want really crisp quality when replaying your movies on that new TV that's under the tree.

One other consideration: I've tried cameras with different mounts, and I prefer one that mounts to the bike, for the simple reason that I turn my head a lot when biking, to scan the traffic, primarily, but also to chat with cyclists around me. With a head-mounted camera, your image is all over the place, rather than just shooting the scene ahead. Some new cameras come with a Velcro strap mount that could be used on a bike frame, but if you want a steady, smooth video, get a handlebar or seat-post accessory for clamping onto the bike.

Winterize

Finally, a few suggestions for comfortable winter riding. Warm, water-resistant bicycling clothing is a must, and regular cyclists go through clothes pretty regularly, so look in the closet and pick out the rattiest one to update.

Keep your extremities warm and you will be happier. That means a beanie or headband under your helmet that covers your ears, full-coverage gloves and shoe covers.

Headwear is a question of personal fit, but it does need to be thin so the helmet will still fit. Polar fleece and smart wool are both warm choices.

Winter gloves may have more finger padding, but too much can restrict movement. To really be seen when you signal, try the gloves with reflective strips in that very visible neon green. For extreme comfort, try the handlebar mitts, which cover your hands up to the wrist.

Shoe cover fit varies by manufacturer and type of shoe. Road bike shoes can be quite slender, while mountain bike shoes can be very bulky. Some covers are waterproof, which could create too much warmth for some riders. Some have Velcro closures, other have zippers -- again, a personal preference.

Whether it's warm clothes, new lights, an indoor trainer or a snazzy new camcorder, there are plenty of choices for a great cycling gift this holiday season. Feel free to print and prominently pin this article to provide some subtle hints.

Bill Thorness is the author of Biking Puget Sound: 50 Rides from Olympia to the San Juans. Contact him at bill@bikingpugetsound.com. Β ο»Ώ

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