14 best gifts for avid cyclists in 2023
Getting a gift for bike enthusiasts can be intimidating. We curated gifts they should find useful.
No matter how coordinated they are, using a phone mid-ride is difficult and often unsafe. This mount, which has a 4.5-star averating rating from over 3,000 reviews on Amazon, lets your recipient attach nearly any phone onto any bike, according to the brand. It’s made of adjustable rubber and plastic that they can stretch on to all four corners of their phone — the end result is a secure, visible phone that they can glance at for maps or incoming calls.
Even with a low-maintenance bike, minor adjustments to the saddle, handlebars and on-bike accessories are inevitable. That’s why any cyclist can appreciate the gift of a pocketable multitool like this one. It has 19 different tools, with 11 different sized hex and screwdriver heads. It’s smaller than a cell phone, so it’s easy to bring on any ride, in my experience.
Even veteran riders can neglect to attach a bell to their handlebars, despite how useful they can be while biking in cities, parks or trails. This bike bell is compact, loud and compatible with all kinds of handlebars, in my experience. It produces a long, resonant sound that’s easy to hear over typical city noise. The brass models are especially loud — my neo black model has saved me from countless close calls with distracted pedestrians.
This lightweight squeeze bottle is simple, lightweight and colorful. It will keep their beverages cool in hot weather for a few hours, in my experience. Every piece is dishwasher safe — the cap and nozzle are removable for more-effective cleaning, according to the brand. All Polar Bottles come with a lifetime warranty, and the brand sells replacement caps and nozzles too.
Eyewear is an essential but tricky piece of gear for any long-distance cyclist. They protect your eyes from incoming dust, debris and wind, which can all make your eyes water uncomfortably. At the same time, wearing dark sunglasses while riding down a shaded mountain descent can make it hard to see rocks and roots in front of you.
These sunglasses from Oakley transition from clear to tinted depending on how much light hits them. I have worn them in bright and cloudy conditions — I can see clearly in both. For the cyclist that mostly rides in bright, sunny weather, the brand also offers regular lenses in multiple styles.
Being visible is essential to biking safely, especially at night. High-visibility clothes and bike reflectors are a good start, but few things shine brighter than a dedicated bike light. This light has day and night modes, with various intensity levels and flashing rhythms to choose from. The hard, plastic mount keeps the light secure, and it fits on nearly any type of handlebar, according to the brand. It is USB rechargeable, has an IP67 waterproof rating, and a 4.5-star average rating from over 2,000 reviews on Amazon.
These socks are both lightweight and compressive — I wear them consistently during the spring and summer. The socks are very breathable, wicking sweat off of my feet shortly after I start to feel it.
If they mostly bike in cooler weather, the Swiftwick Pursuit Four is a better choice — it’s thicker and made with merino wool.
When in doubt, a gift card to a large sporting goods store like REI is always a good choice. REI has an extensive catalog of bike equipment, including apparel, tools, helmets and new bikes. Some REI stores offer bike repair and installation services — a gift card like this one can help reduce repair costs at the very least.
I have used Theragun massage guns for years to relieve sore muscles. This model is lightweight and simple to use, with one button to turn the massager on, off and change between three-speeds. It comes with three ball-head attachments (wide, standard and narrow), and has up to 2 hours of battery life, according to the brand.
A winner in our Giftable Tech Awards, this JBL speaker can be a constant companion to any music lover, on and off the bike. It has a built-in carabiner that they can clip onto anything — NBC Select editorial project manager Rebecca Rodriguez clips it onto bags, backpacks, belt loops, mopeds and more. It’s small and lightweight (about half a pound), and has IP67 dust and water resistance, meaning a rainstorm or dusty backcountry road likely won’t cause issues.
Changing weather can be a cyclist’s worst nightmare, but a lightweight, packable jacket like this one can save them from sudden rain or surprise headwinds. The zip-off sleeves convert this jacket into a vest, and two-directional zippers allow for a personalized, adjustable fit. It also has a 4.6-star average rating from over 100 reviews on REI. It comes in black or high-visibility yellow and is available in both men’s and women’s styles.
Whipping wind and scorching sun are no match for these affordable sunglasses. Wrapping around the eyes, these protect riders from sun, wind and debris — I wear them on bright and sunny summer rides and I don’t have to squint while riding. The mirrored reflective lenses, which have two scratch-resistant layers and help reduce glares, are available in seven colors.
A bike GPS computer is a great gift if they love riding through new towns or trails. This Bolt V2 GPS has full color maps, turn-by-turn navigation, automatic rerouting if they miss a turn and up to 15 hours of battery, according to the brand. It will connect to their smartphone via Bluetooth and syncs with popular cycling apps like Strava and Ride With GPS. I have used it for over a year to take the stress out of navigating city and backcountry rides.
Snapping photos and videos can be challenging while riding. Taking a video that isn’t a shaky mess can be downright impossible. I’ve used GoPro action cameras for years to capture smooth video while biking. Using the included mounts, which you can also buy separately, I can clip the GoPro to my helmet and capture fun, hands-free videos. This latest model has improved stabilization and image quality, as well as new features like vertical shooting.
Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including stories on fitness trackers, e-bikes, bike helmets and running shoes. For this guide, he included products from previous coverage and gear he uses regularly. He also researched bestselling products from top-rated online retailers.
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