30 Best Gifts for Cyclists of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter

By Christine Ryan

Christine Ryan is an editor overseeing coverage of travel and outdoors gear, which has entailed testing down-filled vests in Iceland in June.

We’ve updated this guide with a seminal cycling book, a stainless steel water bottle, and a perfect bell.

Pity the poor loved ones of devoted cyclists.

When the weather is good, they abandon you for the open road. When the weather is lousy, they’re down in their bike cave, elbow-deep in chain lube and tire sealant.

Then comes the challenge of finding an acceptable gift. Anything too practical, such as a helmet or a lock, they probably already own. (Plus, they have Definite Opinions on what they prefer.)

And there’s the whole subculture question: Does your cyclist identify as a mountain biker or a bikepacker? Do they watch every hour of the full-length, early morning Tour de France telecast? Or do they scorn spandex and all who wear it?

We hear your pleas for help, and we’ve pulled together an assortment of presents to keep every pedaler—mountain bikers, road riders, commuters, or anyone else on two wheels—happily rolling along.

In this coffee-table-book-meets-manifesto, a longtime cycling journalist aims to bring everyone on two wheels (hey, let’s not leave out trike riders or unicyclists!) under one big tent.

If you’re not sure which bike tribe your giftee identifies with, sidestep the question by getting them Live to Ride, the new book by Peter Flax (disclosure: he has, in the past, contributed to Wirecutter). The onetime editor in chief of Bicycling magazine, Flax hope to dismantle the shibboleths of cycling’s atomized (and frequently judgy) subcultures: roadies, shredders, messengers, commuters, track racers, triathletes, bikepackers, Bike Lifers, and more. Amid lovely, predictable shots of moody mountain passes and shiny bikes, he sprinkles profiles of such groundbreakers as LE9ION of LA’s Justin Williams, trans activist and pro cyclist Molly Cameron, and Anne Hidalgo, who, as the mayor of Paris, has helped make bike commuting an actual thing in that car-choked city. In Flax’s words, if you’re riding a bike, you’re doing it right. We’d agree.

This mostly metal pump is a smart buy, thanks to the extra-large pressure gauge and easy-to-secure screw-on pump head.

Tire pressure is an essential component of a good ride, and a good pump is a must. The Lezyne Classic Floor Drive 3.5 is our top pick of the lot for either Presta or Schrader valves. The Lezyne Classic’s pump head screws in securely, rather than pushing in like most others, and it fits easily between spokes. The extra-large gauge is easy to read, the hose is long, and the whole thing is rendered from sturdy aluminum, with a varnished wood handle. Dare I say it’s actually a pleasure to use?

With its bright, wide-angle beam and long run time, this headlight should meet the needs of most commuters.

Our top pick for urban bike commuters, the Planet Bike Beamer 700 is bright enough to cut through urban light pollution, and its beam pattern is wide enough to illuminate jaywalkers, potholes, and low-hanging branches. The Beamer 700 has a generous run time—4½ hours at its 350-lumen “medium” setting, the mode our testers used most often. The cam-adjuster-style mount expands or shrinks to fit most handlebars via a thumbscrew. The body of the light attaches to the mount via a quick-release latch, which makes it easy for your cyclist to remove for charging—or to keep it away from sticky fingers.

Sturdy and stable, this smart trainer accommodates most modern road bikes. It isn’t as portable as the more-expensive Kickr, which folds for easier transport, but it comes with a year’s membership in the online game Zwift.

Give your beloved cyclist a way to train indoors in rotten weather like the pros do, using a smart trainer—a machine that they attach to their regular bike, in place of its rear wheel, that lets them pedal in place as hard as they like. And if your cyclist connects it via Bluetooth to a cycling-gaming app on their laptop or mobile device, they can “climb” virtual mountains and race virtual foes.

The trainer that I set up each winter, the Wahoo Kickr Core, now comes bundled with a year’s subscription to Zwift, the multiplayer cycling game that I use. In it, cyclists’ avatars can race one another, pursue conditioning programs, or merely roam a collection of landscapes based on real-life locations such as Innsbruck, London, and Paris, plus Watopia, a made-up mishmash of volcanoes, deserts, redwoods, and the Alps. Your cyclist can even meet up for group “rides” with far-flung friends.

This combination-lock carabiner securely attaches an Apple AirTag to bigger items, such as bikes, luggage, or dog collars.

A clip-on out-of-sight and under-seat AirTag holder made of leftover ballistic fabric scraps.

The heavy-duty polycarbonate Raptic Link + Lock combination-lock carabiner securely attaches an Apple AirTag, our favorite Bluetooth tracker, to anything big that your recipient might want to keep track of, from a bike to a suitcase to a car. Simply slide an AirTag into the protective case and close the carabiner lock around whatever needs tracking. It’s bigger and heavier than it looks—about 4 inches long and 4 ounces—but it can’t stand up to bolt cutters if someone is determined to remove it. Of course, in this case tracking is the objective, not locking.

If your cyclist counts the grams on their bike, consider giving them instead the Portland Design Works Tracker Keeper—this tiny, waterproof fabric pouch holds an AirTag tucked discreetly under the bike’s saddle, out of sight unless you know it’s there.

Lightweight aluminum alloy otter paws cling to secure a water bottle. The set comes with a lifetime guarantee and hardware to attach it firmly to a bike frame.

The interior of this squeezy, BPA-free bottle has a glass-like silicone protective lining, and the cap is easy to bite open.

A no-squeeze alternative to the now-ubiquitous plastic cycling bottle, this stainless-steel-and-silicone version works just as well, and it uses a lot less petroleum products.

Sure, staying hydrated on a long ride is important. But that isn’t the real reason you ought to give your favorite cyclist Portland Design Works’ Otter Cage and matching Wotter Bottle. It isn’t even the glass-like silicone lining that coats the inside of the Wotter Bottle and keeps flavors from clinging to it. (This is the same substance used in one of our water-bottle picks, the Purist Mover.) No, the real reason is this: Who could possibly resist those adorable webbed paws and whiskers?

However, should your beloved cyclist prefer—or, for health reasons, need—to avoid drinking from plastic, I can report that the stainless steel Bivo One should serve their on-the-roll hydration needs admirably. The water flows freely (even without the customary squeeze), the silicone coating keeps it from rattling in my bottle cages, and it comes in insulated and regular variations.

This seven-pocketed, heavy-duty waxed-canvas work apron keeps bicycle grease and schmutz off clothes.

If your beloved cyclist is spending more and more time hip-deep in tools and spare parts, congratulations, you’ve got a budding gearhead. This means they also probably need a shop apron to keep chain grease off their clothes. The Inside Line Equipment Work Apron is sturdy and stylish, and it has more than half a dozen pockets to corral hex wrenches, chain whips, and extra spokes. (It also comes in Cordura nylon, though we prefer the broken-in look and feel of the waxed canvas.) Credit should go where credit is due: The ILE apron came to us through my boyfriend, who wears it to tend bikes and while supervising the outdoor pizza oven. Double the duty, double the value.

These ultra-warm waterproof gloves are cozy on their own—but for truly frigid temperatures, they have a battery-powered heating element that charges via USB.

When the going gets cold, fair-weather cyclists retreat to their Peloton-equipped pain caves, where they spin till spring. Other cyclists, though, prefer to continue riding outside through the rain, slush, snow, and wind. If your beloved falls into the latter camp, they might appreciate a pair of waterproof, windproof, heated Sealskinz Upwell gloves. Regular winter gloves don’t stand a chance against the frigid rushing wind of steady riding; these Sealskinz gloves have liners embedded with clever heating elements powered by tiny USB-rechargeable batteries. They kept my hands warm while I was pedaling on a low-30s New England morning, and kicking the heat up a notch allowed safe steering and braking on a single-digit day. Be warned: Sizes run a little small.

Spacious yet trim enough not to take up too much handlebar real estate, this Cordura-nylon bag is simple, easy to use, and capable of holding all the essentials.

If your favorite cyclist doesn’t already own a handlebar bag, that might be intentional—some people can’t stand the extra bulk. But if they’re a convert, we have a guide to handlebar bags, and one of our picks is the Road Runner Bags California Burrito. This nylon cylinder attaches with straps that your giftee can move to accommodate whatever else (such as a bell) they might have on their handlebars. Plus, it has side pockets for small items they might want to grab quickly. And think of all the things it can carry: Clif Bars! A windbreaker! A hand pump! A tube of sunblock! Half of the enormous sandwich that they didn’t finish at lunch! It all fits.

These wool and recycled-polyester cycling socks are ideal for colder weather and high elevations.

Speaking on behalf of every cyclist I know, we can never have too many pairs of socks. The Winter Bolt Socks in particular, from the San Francisco–based company Ornot, are cozy since they’re made with merino wool; they also incorporate polyester from recycled plastic bottles, and they’re not nearly as garish as many other cycling socks out there. Sizes run from small to extra large. Thicker and cushier than most other cycling socks, the Winter Bolt Socks keep toes warm even at freezing temperatures and high elevations.

These nine snazzy hex wrenches from Germany are sturdy to use and easy to spot in the depths of a toolbox.

If your cyclist works on their bike at all—even simply to adjust the saddle height or to replace a worn-out brake pad—they should own a set of metric hex (aka Allen) wrenches. In fact, they most likely already do (one of our picks, we hope). But your favorite cyclist probably doesn’t have a set of Wera Hex-Plus wrenches. Made in Germany, these high-quality wrenches won’t round out a bike’s lightweight bolts, for example, and their bright colors bring a pop of joy to otherwise mundane bike-maintenance chores.

Made with 72% pure olive oil, this soap has a light, fresh smell and does a wonderful job of removing bike grease from hands.

Years ago, on a bike trip in Provence, I bought a slice of Savon de Marseille olive oil soap at a village market. The twine loop was charming, and the soap smelled good. But what I didn’t realize until I got back to our rental house was how effective it would be at getting chain lube off hands and out from beneath fingernails. No regular soap has come close since. If your cyclist leaves telltale grease streaks on towels and clothing, wrap up a slab of this soap and drop it in their stocking. They, and your linens, will thank you.

Made with thick, waterproof waxed canvas, this bag is designed to carry cycling shoes, water bottles, a helmet, and whatever else a cyclist needs to tote with them for a ride.

You might think, “Who needs a cycling-specific tote bag?” But then you might remember the (multiple) times your cyclist has put the bike rack on the back of their car, loaded up their bike, and driven three exits down the freeway before realizing they’d forgotten their cycling shoes. Or helmet. Or water bottles. Or all of the above. That’s the person who needs one. If your favorite cyclist is prone to bouts of absent-mindedness, get them the WaterField Cycling Tote. This bucket bag has pouches for two shoes and two bottles, a central space big enough for a helmet and a pile of clothing, and a zippered pocket for any valuables. (If you’re feeling very generous, you can now upgrade to a deluxe version with leather sides and extra pockets for $60 more.) No more forgetting one essential piece of gear—as long as your cyclist remembers to bring the bag itself.

Don’t let the size fool you—this massager packs a powerful punch. But it comes with fewer attachments than most models.

Pummeling tight quads and even tighter shoulders with the Therabody Theragun Mini massage gun makes a day’s riding melt away. A smaller sibling to the Theragun Prime, one of our massage-gun picks, the Theragun Mini has only three speeds, versus the Prime’s five, and an amplitude of 12 mm, in contrast to the Prime’s 16 mm. (The greater the amplitude, the deeper the massage, so goes the theory.) But the Mini is half a pound lighter and more compact than the Prime—small enough for your traveling cyclist to take with them.

This bike bell, especially designed for low-visibility trails, rings continuously to warn hikers and others. You can silence the ringing with a simple flip of a switch.

Sleek enough that even the most style-conscious cyclist won’t object to it on aesthetic grounds, this bell should help commuters negotiate crowds of bikes, flocks of pedestrians, and lanes of cars.

If your favorite mountain biker likes to ride on low-visibility singletracks or heavily wooded trails, this bell will win them friends among hikers, horseback riders, and even other cyclists. Unlike a regular bike bell, which you have to ring intentionally, the Timber Quick Release Model Yew acts like a cowbell, pealing continuously as you roll along. The clapper silences with the flick of a thumb for more-open territory, where constant dinging becomes unnecessary and even annoying. This quick-release version is easy to move from bike to bike. Fellow trail users have actually stopped me to thank me for using this Timber bell—it’s one small step toward wilderness harmony.

If your gift recipient needs a regular bell, though, the Spurcycle Original Bell works on any bike and for any terrain. It’s definitely an investment as far as bells go, but I buy one for every friend or relative who starts riding bikes. The stainless steel dome is small and unobtrusive yet produces a big sound when the brass clapper strikes it. The chime cuts cleanly through city noise, warning oblivious fellow riders or Uber drivers or street crossers of your approach with good cheer and charm.

These earrings capture what we love most about mountain biking: mountains and, well, bikes. They’re like emojis for your giftee’s ears.

Looking for a more decorative cycling-related gift? A friend bought me a pair of these Mountain Bike Earrings at a gallery in the Canadian Rockies, where the designer, Tiffany Teske, lives and works, but you can find them in the US on Etsy. Teske makes her earrings by hand out of stainless steel; they come in silver, gold, rose gold, and black finishes. The earrings aren’t dangly, so they don’t get tangled in helmet straps.

This glossy magazine for expedition cyclists and aspiring ones is a beautifully designed inspiration.

Whether your favorite mountain biker is looking for inspiration in planning their next trip or just wants fodder for armchair adventuring, Freehub will send it. Each issue of this glossy quarterly, which is printed on heavy, color-saturated paper, highlights famous and lesser-known singletrack destinations around the world. Recent issues have featured an all-women bikepacking expedition through the Ozarks; the best trails in the former timber town of Oakridge, Oregon; and Arizona’s Rezduro Invitation, the Navajo Nation’s first-ever enduro race. In an era of increasingly consolidated cycling media, the mag’s indie voice and vibe are refreshing.

This grippy, easy-on tray steadily houses lightweight items such as phones, earbuds, and remotes for anyone riding their bike on their indoor trainer.

Not everyone can hit the trails or the road year-round. Cyclists riding on indoor trainers during the winter months will appreciate the aluminum Trainer Tray from Texas-based Foothill Products. Clicked into a bike-computer mount (the tray comes in Garmin- and Wahoo-compatible versions), it has a nonslip surface and holds my phone, an earbuds case, and a TV/display remote control between the bike’s handlebars. Note that purpose-built exercise bikes, such as Peloton models, tend to have their own displays or display holders, so a tray wouldn’t be as helpful for that as it is with an indoor trainer.

This coffee-table book offers more than 205 pages of beautiful color photographs chronicling Europe’s hardest cycling climbs, from the Ardennes to the Alps.

If your beloved Tour de France fan perks up when the riders reach the mountains, they might just love Mountains: Epic Cycling Climbs, the seminal guide to the best climbs in Europe. Mixed in with the dramatic photos in this coffee-table book are accounts of what it’s really like to climb them, by such famous riders as Sean Kelly, Philippa York, and Lizzie Deignan. The appendix shows the gradients of each climb, perfect for anyone inspired to follow in their tire tracks.

Meant to be worn under a helmet on chilly days, this traditionally tailored polyester cycling cap comes in 10 very non-traditional patterns.

Should you not feel qualified to buy clothing for your cyclist, we understand. A cycling cap, though, is a safer, more one-hat-suits-all option. Caps provide a great extra layer of warmth and windbreak under a helmet on chilly days, and they’re equally useful for hiding helmet-compressed hair after a ride. Ostroy’s cap is made of polyester but feels like cotton, and it comes in about a dozen seasonally changing prints. My favorite cap right now depicts the banana, nature’s perfect mid-ride snack.

This paperback contains hundreds of images chronicling the rides and adventures of the Rough-Stuff Fellowship, the world’s oldest off-road cycling club.

If the road cyclist in your life has discovered the joys of gravel—that is, riding drop-bar bikes on unpaved, blessedly car-free routes—they might be interested to learn that the trend isn’t new at all. Founded in Herefordshire, England, back in 1955, the Rough-Stuff Fellowship at first numbered about 40 members, including a mix of genders as well as ages. What they shared was a passion for “taking your bike on a nice hike”—spurred, perhaps, by growing traffic on paved roads after petrol rationing ended in 1950. The Fellowship’s annual photo contest ensured that its outings were recorded, from the highs (glorious mountaintop vistas, trailside picnics) to the lows (hauling one’s heavy steel bike over a locked gate, pushing it through knee-deep snow). The Rough-Stuff Fellowship Archive, a paperback collection of images, draws from a treasure trove of adventures sure to inspire any present-day gravel enthusiast.

This 19-piece portable toolkit contains everything a cyclist needs to make roadside repairs.

If your giftee has carbon bikes in their stable (to find out, just ask them), the Topeak Ratchet Rocket Lite NTX+ pocket hex-wrench set might save them from damaging a carbon part by, say, over-tightening a stem bolt or seatpost collar while making roadside repairs. Your favorite cyclist can use the ratcheting handle and bits alone—it comes with seven hex bits, three Torx bits, and a Phillips-screwdriver bit—or insert the torque attachment, which indicates how much force (up to 6 newton-meters) they’re producing as they tighten. The set includes a chain tool, as well.

Made with reflective 3M Scotchlite material for a safer ride, these spoke clips snap on easily.

The commuting cyclist in your life surely already wears a helmet, but reflective bike spokes can make their trips around town even safer. Made with reflective Scotchlite material for better visibility, these Salzmann Spoke Reflectors snap on easily. And they come recommended by cycling enthusiast and Wirecutter senior staff writer Tim Heffernan, who uses them on his rides in and around New York City. A tip from Tim: “They’re longer than necessary, so I bought a single pack—enough for one wheel that has up to 36 spokes—snipped each in half with kitchen shears, and got two wheels’ worth for the price of one.”

Waterproof, but with enough ventilation to avoid being stuffy, this relaxed-fit cycling jacket is 100% reflective, illuminating bright white when hit by light in the dark.

Waterproof, but with enough ventilation to avoid being stifling, this relaxed-fit cycling jacket is 100% reflective, illuminating bright white when hit by light in the dark.

May be out of stock

The Proviz Reflect360 Cycling Jacket is waterproof and well ventilated, but more important, the whole thing lights up bright white when the faintest ray of light catches it. In daylight, the color is a sedate gray. While your giftee is cruising through intersections at night, it’ll catch drivers stopped at a traffic light with a “What is that thing?” expression on their face. “Made you look” is the whole point. The jacket comes in a wide range of sizes (women’s 2 to 18 and men’s XS to 5XL), and the fit is more relaxed than that of a lot of cycling kits.

This radar-powered taillight alerts riders of rear-approaching cars via their bike computer or phone display.

If a cyclist you love often pedals alone on busy roads, the Garmin Varia RTL515 can provide both of you with peace of mind. The taillight uses radar to detect rear-approaching vehicles, displaying each car as an orange dot on the screen of the rider’s Garmin bike computer (or the Garmin app on their phone); it also sounds a warning as soon as it “sees” the car. When I first took the Varia out on a spin, I wondered what real benefit it added. Riding up a long, gradual hill, I could hear approaching cars a good five seconds before the Varia sounded. But the Varia consistently detected whether a second or third car lurked behind the first—which I couldn’t do—and it kept me from prematurely moving back into the middle of the lane. By the time I started my descent (and the wind kept me from hearing anything at all), I knew the Varia taillight would warn me of any cars getting too close.

We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend.

Samantha Schoech contributed reporting. This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.

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I’m based in San Francisco, and I oversee a team of writers and editors covering travel gear and outdoors gear, including cycling gear.

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