Cyclists are an interesting breed, and choosing cycling gifts can often seem tricky. Luckily the Veloforte team is full of avid riders, and we’ve pulled together their top picks for 2023.
So whether you need a gift for a lycra-clad road cyclist or a mud-and-sweat mountain biker, we’ve got you covered. We’ve gathered 21 of the best gifts for cycling enthusiasts.
There’s a range of prices, from big gifts to stocking stuffers, with cycling gifts for him and her.
What does every cyclist need?
It’s no secret that most cyclists love gear! We’ve focused on gear which is well made and built to last.
Hardware
Hardware doesn’t have to mean a brand new bike. Think little upgrades that make big improvements, like new handlebar tape or a beautifully designed bell. Of course, if it was a new bike I’m sure they’ll have some suggestions...
Clothing
There’s a great range of well made cycling apparel here, from a staple cycling jersey to cold weather tights and gloves. Plus cycling socks and caps always make a great stocking filler.
Fuelling and performance
It’s no secret that we’re passionate about cycling fuel. Great riding starts with great nutrition, so stuff a stocking with top gels and chews, or treat them to a mixed box of goodies for under the tree.
Inspiration
Even when they’re not in the saddle, they’re probably thinking about cycling. So hook them up with some cycling inspiration: books, documentaries, art, or even some super cool mini figures of cycling heroes.
The best cycling gifts
- Fiandre Pro 2 Long Sleeve Jacket
- Veloforte Hydro Pro Bidon
- Le Col Hors Categorie Deep Winter Gloves
- Custom made bar bag from Jango Rolls
- Rapha Cargo Winter Tights with Pad
- Fizik Tempo Microtex Bar Tape
- Coffee Cup from The Handmade Cyclist
- Full Gas Coffee by The Grand Tour Coffee Co
- Rapha Black + Blum Insulated Cup
- Paria Women's Mid-Weight Jersey
- Queens of Pain: Legends and Rebels of Cycling
- SunGod Vulcans TF Sunglasses
- Shimano MW7 Gore-tex SPD Shoes
- Ottolock Steel and Kevlar Bike Lock
- Le Col Cycling Socks
- Veloforte Mixed Bars Pack
- Quoc Escape Road Cycling Shoes
- Veloforte Recovery Shakes and Limited Edition Steel Shaker
- Ride: The Greatest Cycling Routes in the World
1. Fiandre Pro 2 Jacket Long Sleeves
£230
The Fiandre Pro 2 Jacket represents the best in class when speaking about protection from rain and wind. Thanks to the Polartec® membrane this jacket is able to provide you the best performances in any winter condition.
The Fiandre Pro 2 Jacket is designed as a tight racing fit with the least amount of exposed stitching possible in order to avoid weak points and to protect you as much as possible.
Finally, the three pockets on the back are studied and constructed with gussets and draining holes to maintain all your stuff dry and safe.
2. Veloforte Hydro-Pro Water Bottle
£4.99
Drink up! This classy bidon, designed in collaboration with Zefal, is just the thing to keep the cyclist in your life happy and hydrated.
Beneath its restrained black-and-white appearance there are tons of clever features like its super soft fast-flow silicone nozzle, cage fit and grip ring.
3. Le Col Hors Categorie Deep Winter Gloves
£80
When the weather really starts to bite, those handmade gloves from gran aren’t going to cut it. These deep winter gloves from Le Col are some seriously warm and heavy duty gloves for cold rides, but they’re quite happy pulling double duty on weekend walks, or even the school run.
Water resistant outer material, grippy silicone — even a microfibre nose-wipe on the thumb! You won’t find many better made pairs than these ones.
4. Custom made Jango Rolls Bar Bag
£40
Perfect for carrying extra bars, gels and layers.
YKK® Aquaguard zipper. Velcro® One-Strap and bungee attachments ensure a firm fit.
Available in 8 different colourways to suit every style.
5. Rapha Cargo Winter Tights with Pad
£270
This is a properly serious set of cold-weather tights. Cyclewear legends Rapha rarely miss, and these are a great example of their commitment to exceptionally well designed and made gear.
They’re cosy and fleecy on the inside, and robust and water-repellent on the outside. Cleverly placed pockets give you loads of options for fuel and accessories, and reflective material on the calves gives added low-light visibility.
Our co-founder Marc is hoping to find them under the tree this year:
“Comfy, warm and somewhere to put everything without looking like a tortoise!”
6. Fizik Tempo MicroTex Classic Bar Tape
£19.99
This is a properly serious Winter’s a great time for a little cycle TLC. Give them a helping hand with this microtex bar tape from Fizik. It has a great level of grippiness and comes at a decent price too.
There are loads of colours in the range, from bold statements to classic black and grey. We’re fond of the vintage vibes of this teal, and love the classic perforated design.
Our co-founder Marc is hoping to find them under the tree this year:
“Comfy, warm and somewhere to put everything without looking like a tortoise!”
7. Coffee Cup by The Hand Made Cyclist
From £26.00
Choose from a collection of cycling themed coffee cups and mugs each with a hand-crafted and unique design.
Fired in Fine Bone China in the world famous Stoke-on-Trent Potteries. Dishwasher safe, durable, never fade.
8. Full Gas Coffee by The Grand Tour Coffee Co
From £8.50
“High Caffeine, Bold taste”….. The ultimate pre-ride coffee. To bring you this unique Single Origin Robusta we went to India where Coffee production is dominated in the hill tracts of South Indian states, with Karnataka accounting for 71%.
Indian is less acidic and has a sweetness of character and is thus widely used in Espresso Coffee. That tied with the Robusta bean having a higher caffeine content makes this single origin the perfect choice for “FULL GAS”.
9. Rapha Black & Blum Insulated Cup
£30
Finishing off our trio of coffee-related gifts, how slick is this reusable coffee cup from Frank Green? Brandished with the inimitable Rapha logo, it’ll fit in your bottle cage for commuting or long rides — but you’ll also look great carrying it around town.
10. Paria Women's mid-weight Winter Jersey | Hoban
£89.00
This jersey is one of those pieces of kit you can use as a midnight layer, or as a standalone piece of kit for when the temperatures drop.
The slimmer fit with long sleeves offers a form fit silhouette for those days which don't need full thermal gear, but there's a bit of a chill. Ideal to combine with a gilet.
With 3 elasticated pockets so you can keep your bits and pieces secure
11. Queens of Pain: Legends and Rebels of Cycling
£25.00
Spanning over 100 years, Queens of Pain tells the story of the legends and rebels of cycling — women who’ve overcome, pioneered, won and lost.
It’s a gorgeously designed book, charting overlooked stories from the history of riding.
12. SunGods Vulcans TF Sunglasses
£140.00
In the cycling sunglasses world, SunGods are fast becoming the go-to brand. These photochromic UV-filtering glasses are a great example why. They’re well made, come in loads of colourways and offer excellent protection from UV rays and glare.
Our co-founder Marc says:
“I can pretend I'm young and handsome (and they're large enough to hide my face!)”
13. Shimano MW7 Gore-Tex SPD Shoes
£199.00
Designed with rugged MTB and gravel trails in mind, these waterproof insulated shoes from Shimano are absolutely hardcore.
“Once the cold sets in icy toes can have you heading home early,” says Lucy, avid MTB rider.
“These SPDs should guarantee warm and dry feet mountain biking and gravel riding during the winter months.”
14. Ottolock Steel and Kevlar Bike Lock
£19.99
It’s bright orange and it’s made of kevlar (the same stuff as bullet-proof vests). This combination bike lock is highly reviewed online, and also very difficult to misplace.
15. Le Col Cycling Socks
From £17.00
Socks are a great gift. And these ones from Le Col are the cycling socks. The material, the height, the compression, the moisture-wicking. It’s all on point.
You could get the classic black with white trim — or why not go off-piste with this cheerful light blue pair?
16. Veloforte Mixed Bars Pack
£18.69
They’re excellent cycling fuel. They’re made of 100% natural ingredients. They taste great (the Great Taste Awards agree, with gold awards five years in a row).
Treat your cyclist to the ultimate fuel upgrade. We can’t guarantee they’ll smash their PB or finally win back that Strava segment — but we bet it’ll be the most enjoyable cycling fuel they’ve had.
17. Quoc Escape Road Cycling Shoes
£150
Escape Road is designed for the thrill-seeking rider whose adventures aren't always along a perfectly paved path. With its carbon composite outsole that optimally balances stiffness and comfort, this ultra-distance road shoe is not sensitive to the odd section of unpredictable terrain.
18. Veloforte Mixed Recovery Shakes & Shaker
Shaker £19.99 | Shakes from £9.89
Recovery is a vital and often overlooked part of cycling. Give them a great-tasting, all natural headstart on recovering well and feeling great. Choose from the chocolatey Nova’s complete vegan protein, or fruity Vita’s low-lactose whey protein. Both are 100% natural, silky smooth and delicious.
They can finally dump the foul smelling plastic shaker they’ve been carting around. This very limited edition black-on-black brushed steel shaker feels robust in the hand, it doesn’t leak and it makes a great smooth shake. It’s also double-wall insulated to keep things nice and cool.
19. Ride: The Greatest Cycling Routes in the World
£30
Finally, a little coffee table inspiration. This hefty book from Cyclist Magazine features ‘the greatest cycling routes in the world’ with info, inspiration and beautiful large format images.
Even if they can’t get out there this winter, this eye candy will be just the thing to keep motivation levels up.
What about gifts for cyclists who have everything?
We think there’s something on the list to keep any cyclist happy. But if you’re buying for someone who really does have everything, there are a few helpful principles.
Principle one: you can never have too many pairs of cycling socks. Or caps. Or energy bars.
Principle two: If in doubt, going personal is a great option. Frame a race number and medal. Find a map of their favourite route and turn it into something beautiful (or find an Etsy seller who can). Memorialise a memorable ride with photos, coffee receipt, or even their Strava map.
Choosing the perfect cycling gift
We hope these gift ideas for cyclists will help you find the perfect gift.
Remember, it’s helpful to think about what kind of rider they are: mountain biker or road racer. Do they prefer classic blacks, whites and greys, or all-out colour? And it’s always handy to find out what size they wear. (Of course, our energy bars are a great fit for all sizes…)
