Finding the perfect gift for cyclists can be a little tricky as we tend to be very particular about our equipment, and only need so many bicycle-shaped pizza tools. With that in mind we came up with a few things we wouldn’t mind unwrapping any time of the year:

Enter the Feed Zone
An easy place to start is by restocking their favorite nutritional snacks! Not sure what they prefer? Take a peek in the pantry, or look in their car or bike bag for wrappers to discover what they enjoy, then buy a few boxes. Our personal favorites include Clif Bloks Energy Chews in salted watermelon or waffles from Untapped.

Speaking of sweet treats, according to some experts, honey is a natural option to not only fuel your workout but also to help with recovery. Boston Honey’s Holliston headquarters has delicious raw honey varietals, as well as lip balm, bar soap, and skin cream which also make great gifts for post-ride care.

For your coffee-addicted cyclist (and we know more than a few of them), a subscription from Grimpeur Bros Specialty Coffee (with the Twitter description “Ride your bike. Drink great coffee.” how could you not?) will help keep them fueled.

You may have also heard we cyclists enjoy the occasional post-ride craft beverage. Pick up a six-pack or two from brands that support your giftee’s favorite race or ride including Mayflower Brewing, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, and yes, Sam Adams.

Dress Up
Before you buy a generic t-shirt with a bicycle on it (not that there’s anything wrong with that), consider picking up a shirt from your rider’s favorite bicycle shop – you know we have more than a few options.

Or, shop online at a shop they’ve always wanted to visit. Top of our list is a long sleeve shirt from the bike coop in Albuquerque, New Mexico with the motto “A firm resolve is not easily broken” in Latin (extra points if you know the bicycle-themed movie this phrase appears in repeatedly).

Beyond t-shirts, jerseys and bicycle kits from their local shop can be a great gift, assuming you know your cyclists’ size and kit preferences (did I mention how particular we can be?).

You can also help a rider look pro with authentic team kits from Scott-SRAM MTB and others on BobShop.com. (But remember, skip the championship kits – people have strong opinions about it).

One more idea – create a own one-of-a-kind jersey with their personal motto or small business logo through sites like Voler.

While we are talking about clothing, there is one item we can confidently say a cyclist never has enough of, good quality socks.

Our racers have been giving socks from Mint a run this season and they have stood up to the abuse! We now have a few of our favorite designs of the Italian-made socks in stock, plus a percentage of each purchase is donated by Mint to the National Interscholastic Cycling Association.

Our friends at Endurance Threads have a large selection of fun options, but we are particular to the Maple LOTW 6” race socks, pictured below, which match our kits STBG perfectly.

What, you need more clothing ideas? How about something from their favorite race or ride? Whether they’ve gotten it done or have it on their bucket list for next year, a piece of clothing can be great motivation when the training gets tough. Check out options from the Pan-Mass Challenge, Leadville Race Series or Rasputitsa.

Bikes as Art
What better motivation for a rider than a moment of awesomeness framed and ready to hang in their office, home, or pain cave? Buy a print from one of their races and rides, or a digital download you can use on Shutterfly and other services to have a print created. Plus, your purchase may also support a local photographer.

And on the topic of supporting local photographers – how about booking a session with your local photog to have a portrait taken of your favorite cyclist either solo (senior pictures anyone?) or with their family, favorite team, or riding group?

Since it’s not practical to hang their bicycle in the living room or bedroom (although some of us have been known to try), consider instead commissioning a custom illustration of their favorite bike from Adnic Studio on Etsy, or StandOutBikes.com – it’s up to you to figure out which bike is their fav.

You can also have their bike turned into a hand-built miniature to sit on their shelf next to their other action figurtes – although this gift, like the illustration, will take some extra time so be sure to plan ahead!

Tools of the trade
You know what they say – knowledge is power – so why not buy them the gift of information by checking with your local bicycle shop, yes that includes us, for classes and clinics related to bicycle maintenance. If you are confident about your giftee’s schedule, go ahead and register for a class on their behalf. Otherwise, buy a gift card to cover the cost of the class.

Practice makes perfect, so make sure your rider has some of the tools they need to succeed, including a bicycle repair stand (we like those from Feedback, which are currently sold out), a basic tool kit (also sold out), and the Park Tool Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair.

Support where they ride
Here in New England, we are lucky to have many organizations helping advocate for, and build participation in, cycling. Give the gift of membership to support these efforts ensuring many happy trails and miles!

• Hale Education
• MassBike
• New England Mountain Bike Association
• Trustees for Reservation
• Your local trail association

Ride and Race Gear
If you’ve ever watched your favorite racer or rider try to change before, or after, an event you know it can be… awkward. Help them from accidentally flashing unsuspecting attendees with a pop-up changing tent that fits in with all the other gear.

Before they jump into their new tent, help them clean up with a portable shower spray washer, which holds just enough water to get all the muddy bits off themselves and their bicycle.

After a busy season of riding, a cyclists’ vehicle can be a little worse for wear. Help them clean up with mobile car detailing from local pros like Green Drop Mobile Mobile Auto Detail and others.

Still looking for something?
Celebrate a special occasion with help from their favorite cyclists or celebrities. With Cameo, you can have a special message recorded by Kate Courtney, Christian Vande Velde, George Hincapie, and others.

What gift ideas would you like to share? Leave a comment and we may create a follow-up list!