Christmas Gift Ideas for Cyclists: Practical Presents Our Workshop Rates

Buying for someone who cycles can be harder than it looks. Most of the kit they want is either very personal (shoes, saddles, clothing sizes) or has to match the bike exactly (valves, bar diameters, pedal threads). Here are the practical presents we’d happily recommend from our own shelves, grouped by the kind of rider you’re buying for.

Three quick checks before you buy anything

• Valve type. Look at the tyre valve. A thin valve with a small locking nut on top is Presta; a car-style valve is Schrader. The mini pump we suggest below works with both, but it’s worth knowing for anything else you buy.
• What kind of bike it is. A road, hybrid, mountain or electric bike changes what’s useful. A quick photo on your phone is enough for us to tell you.
• Avoid guessing sizes. Helmets, gloves and clothing are easy to get wrong. If you aren’t sure, a Les’s Cycles gift voucher lets them choose, or try it on, themselves.

For the commuter who rides in all weathers

A flat tyre on a dark, wet evening is what every commuter dreads, so a pump that actually works at the roadside makes a genuinely useful present. The Oxford Airflow Strike Alloy Mini Pump with Gauge (£22.99) has a twin head for Presta and Schrader valves, a built-in pressure gauge, a 20cm extendable hose and a frame bracket, and it pumps up to 120psi.

For anyone whose bike lives outside or in a shed, the Oxford Aquatex Single Bicycle Cover (£22.99) keeps off rain and dust and, as Oxford point out, stops a passing thief seeing what’s underneath. And if they complain about a sore backside on longer rides, the Oxford Contour Gel Saddle Cover (£14.99) adds thick gel padding with a pressure-relief channel over their existing saddle, with a drawstring fit.

If they’re riding home in the dark, our earlier guides to how bright bike lights need to be and choosing a bike lock cover those two bigger buys in detail.

For the mountain biker

Grips and pedals are the contact points that change how a mountain bike feels, and they’re easy upgrades for us or them to fit. The Oxford Loam 20 Nylon Flat Pedals (£29.99, several colours) have a wide 114 x 110mm platform with 20 replaceable pins per pedal, sealed bearings and a chromoly axle, at 412g a pair. For a rider who wants something tougher, the DMR V8 Pedals (£43) are the updated version of a classic, with an aluminium body, tuneable pins and a serviceable bushing system.

The DMR DeathGrip Flangeless grips (from £23) were designed with Brendan Fairclough, using a tapered single lock-on core and a soft Kraton compound. And if their bike has an air fork or air shock, the Oxford Airflow Shock Pump with Gauge (£32.99) lets them set suspension pressure properly at home, up to 300psi. It’s an easy way to check suspension sag after setup, too. Browse more in our pedals and grips collections.

For the e-bike rider

E-bikes are heavier and get ridden further, so practical kit wins. The Oxford E-Mirror (£19.99, left or right) mounts inboard of the grip and controls, so it stays out of the way when you lean the bike against a wall, and fits 22.2mm handlebars. Check the bar diameter at the grip before you buy; we’re happy to check it from a photo.

An e-bike stored outside is also a lot of money sitting under the rain. The Cube Bike Cover (£29.95) is made for 27.5 to 29-inch wheeled bikes, which covers most e-MTBs and many hybrid e-bikes, and packs into its own storage bag.

For the rider whose bike is never clean

Everyone knows one. A cleaning kit is the present we’d most like to give some of the bikes that come into our workshop, and a clean drivetrain lasts noticeably longer. Muc-Off Nano Tech Bike Cleaner 1L (£12) is the classic pink spray, and Muc-Off High Performance Waterless Wash (£17) is ideal for flats and anyone without an outside tap, as it cleans and polishes light dirt between proper washes without water. More in our cleaning and maintenance range.

Stocking fillers under £10

• Torque Metal Core Resin Tyre Levers, set of 3 (£7.99): steel cores with a nylon outer, so they don’t snap or scratch rims.
• Oxford Cycle Puncture Repair Kit (£3): pairs well with the levers and the mini pump above.
• Syncros Tailor 3.0 Bottle Cage (£9.99): side-entry, fits left or right, handy on smaller frames where a bottle is hard to reach.

Worth stretching for: a new adult helmet

Helmets don’t last forever, and plenty of riders are still wearing one that’s years old. If you can get their head size (or bring them in), the Scott Supra (£54.99) is a versatile 270g helmet with a removable visor and an integrated bug net, sized 54 to 61cm, for road, gravel or easy trails. For mountain bikers, the Cube Stray MIPS (£59.95) adds MIPS, extra coverage at the back of the head, a break-away visor and 13 vents. See the full range in all helmets.

Still not sure? Come in, or ask us

Bring in a photo of their bike, or the bike itself if you can sneak it out, and we’ll tell you what fits and what’s worth buying. If you’d rather not guess, a gift voucher always fits. Buying for a child instead? See our guide to buying a kids bike for Christmas.

Find us at Les’s Cycles, 365 Long Road, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 0JQ, call 01268 695877 or email sales@lescycles.co.uk.