10 Great Bicycle Touring Gifts For The Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us and if you’re looking for a great gift for the bicycle tourist in your life (or maybe even for yourself), you gotta check out the following list of 10 great gift ideas for bicycle travelers.

Panniers & Handlebar Bag

One of the first things any bicycle traveler needs is a good set of panniers. You’ll need one set of rear panniers and one set of front panniers. I recommend either Lone Peak or Ortlieb panniers. If you want a quality pannier at an excellent price, go with the Lone Peaks. They’re extremely water resistant, but not 100% waterproof. If you are concerned about keeping your belongings dry, choose a set of Ortlieb panniers. They’re a bit more expensive, but they’ll keep out the water and you’ll look good too! And don’t forget to purchase the matching handlebar bag for the panniers you end up selecting. The handlebar bag is the pride and glory for many bicycle tourists.

Digital Camera

If you don’t already have a digital camera, you need to get one right away! You are going to want to record all the magnificent places you visit on your bike tour… and there couldn’t be a better way to do document your trip than with a digital camera.

I am currently using a Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS and I take it everywhere I go (both on and off the bike). I highly recommend it. It’s a lightweight, high quality 8.0 megapixel camera with a 3x optical image stabilized zoom. In addition to being able to take incredible photos, the camera (like most digital cameras on the market now-days) is capable of shooting video as well. In addition to all the camera’s great features, its battery charger is well designed and really quite small (something that is extremely important for saving space and weight when traveling by bike).

If you’ve already got a great digital camera, you might opt a camera mount, which will enable you to take photos of yourself while traveling. I use the V.I.O. ANL016 Ultra Clamp, which can be used to mount your camera to items 1/8-inch up to 1 5/8-inch in diameter, such as a sign post, tree branch, or bicycle handlebar. Because I do most of my traveling alone, the mount acts as my cameraman and is the sole item responsible for most of the shots you see of me when I’m out on my adventures. Without my camera mount, I’d return home with nothing but pictures of cows, buildings, and back-country roads.

Tent

The bicycle traveler’s tent is important. Your test is your home when traveling by bike. It is your home away from home! So getting a good tent is of utmost importance. You want a tent that is lightweight and packs down to a very small size. Yet you don’t want to get a tent that is so small you are uncomfortable when inside of it.

I’ve been using the MSR Zoid 2 for a number of years and find it more than large enough to hold both myself and all of my panniers/belongings at night. If you plan to travel with a spouse or other companion, getting a slightly larger tent will be necessary. Click here for more tips on selecting a tent.

Bicycle Trainer

Most bicycle tourists travel in the spring, summer, or fall. But those wanting to get in shape and train for their upcoming adventures might benefit from the use of an indoor bicycle trainer. These standalone devices enable cyclists of all skill levels to ride indoors and get a healthy workout, all while in the comfort of their own home. They’re great for use in the winter when you can’t get outside and they’re even better for days when you simply don’t have enough time to go out for a ride. Just hop on for a couple minutes and ride your bike while watching TV, talking on the phone, or reading your favorite book.

I use a Blackburn Trakstand Ultra Indoor Bicycle Trainer, but there are a number of other great trainers to choose from. Just get the one that fits your style of riding and your budget. With bicycle trainers, it’s worth it to spend a little more and get a high quality product. You don’t want to get a cheap bicycle trainer and have it be such a bad experience that you never end up using it.

Rain Jacket & Pants

A high quality rain jacket is essential for any bicycle traveler. Pants are not 100% necessary, but they are nice to have in some situations. Over the past month alone, the Showers Pass Elite 2.0 has been flying off the shelves in the BicycleTouringPro.com store. The onset of winter has prompted an astronomical number of riders to opt for this great cycling jacket. Want to stay warm and dry on your bike? Then you need a great cycling jacket.

Apple iPod and iTunes Gift Certificate

One of my big things about traveling by bike is that you need to do what you can to feel at home while out on the road. Traveling by bike does not have to be uncomfortable. Bicycle touring is supposed to be fun… and for me, having fun means getting some time every once and a while to listen to music, watch a movie, or simply sit back and relax. Luckily, the Apple iPodhas enabled bicycle travelers to do just that. This handheld electronic device enables you to carry all your favorite music with your on your bike tours… and many of the devices even allow you to watch movies and TV shows straight from your iPod. You can listen to the music while you ride and then pull into camp at night and watch a movie. You won’t even know you’re away from home!

And if your loved one has already got an iPod, consider an iTunes giftcard. They can stock up on their favorite tunes and they’ll think of you whenever their favorite song shuffles its way into their earpiece.

GPS Tracking Stick

For high-tech travelers, a GPS tracking stick like the TrackStick 2 GPS Tracking System Data Logger might just be the ideal gift this holiday season. This small electronic device attaches to your bicycle and records your location, your speed, and your route as you pedal. You can then upload the data to just about any computer by way of Google’s free Google Earth software. With this device, your family and friends can track your location and make sure you’re safe… and you’ll be able to retrace your entire route online once you get home!

Sleeping Bag

In much the same way that you want a good tent to protect you from the elements, you also want to have a good sleeping bag to keep you warm at night. Dummy bags are best, and the smaller and lighter a bag you can find, the better! For more advice on selecting a sleeping back, just click here.

Road ID

A great gift this holiday season might just be something that saves your loved one’s life. The Road ID is an awesome piece of gear that in the event of an accident, tells emergency responders who you are, whom they should contact, and what, if any, medical conditions you might have. Available in 5 different styles, the Road ID is not just a piece of gear – it’s peace of mind.

Submit your order by December 14 and your purchase is guaranteed to arrive by Christmas.

Bicycle Books

Finally, if you are looking for a slightly smaller (cheaper) gift, you might want to get the bicycle traveler in your life one of the many great bicycle books on the market. The best part is, many of these books can be had for just a couple dollars! Some of my favorite bicycle books include:

• The Cycling Adventures Of Coconut Head – By Ted Schredd
• Spokesongs – By Willie Weir
• Riding Outside The Lines – By The Metal Cowboy (Joe Kurmaskie)
• It’s Not About The Bike – By Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins
• And of course… The Bicycle Traveler’s Blueprint – By Me!

More great bicycle touring gift ideas can be found in the Bicycle Touring Store.

What are you getting for the bicycle traveler in your life this year?