Gifts Under $100 for Cyclists Who Live to Ride

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More people are cycling than ever, so chances are that you have someone in your life who loves to ride their bike more than anything. Maybe your partner likes to slip out of bed early on weekend mornings to don their spandex and pedal the day away with their friends? Or you have a friend or two who show up to everything on two wheels, inevitably greeting you with either; “Don’t hug me. I’m sweaty,” or “Is it okay to bring my bike in here?”

The good news is that cyclists are easy to shop for. Whatever kind of bicycle lover you have in your life, they probably spend a lot of time talking about where they’ve ridden, where they’re going to ride, how many gears they have, and what kind of bike they want to buy next. If you’re having trouble picking out a perfect gift for one, I’ve got a long list of great cycling gear here that would be perfect for any bike nerd.

Gifts for Cyclists

• For Any Biker Who Wants to Be Prepared: Park Tool IB-3 Multitool

• For Cyclists With Full Pockets: Revelate Designs Jerrycan Top Tube Bag

• For The DIY Bike Mechanic: Bike Hand Bicycle Repair Stand

• For Fixing Flats Fast: Cycplus Portable Electric Air Compressor

• For Perfectly Pumped Tires: Vibrelli Bike Floor Pump

How to Shop for Cycling Gifts

Though buying a new bike for your cyclist may seem like the obvious choice, we’d recommend steering clear and looking at accessories or other gear around the world of cycling. A good bike is expensive–as in thousands of dollars–and I’d generally urge any rider to test ride a new bike before buying it.

Given that, I usually steer friends and loved ones towards gear and cycling-related gifts. Things like bags, bells, tools, or cool gadgets are all great additions to a cyclist’s kit. It’s probably best to stay away from anything that is specific to a particular kind of bike or style of riding unless you're absolutely certain you know what your intended gift recipient prefers. And, of course, if their love runs deep, you can always give them a gift that shows off their love of cycling off the bike.

Bags

There are all sorts of bags and baskets available that attach to bicycles in a variety of ways. Look for ones that are easy to remove and are secured via velcro straps or something similar, which will likely fit on any bike.

Cool Gadgets

There is always new bike tech and gadgets that can potentially make your loved one’s biking life easier. From mounts to attach a phone and bike computers, to tech that makes sure they’re safe while out on the road.

Tools

Bike tools can be an incredibly useful and effective gift. From multitools and patch kits for quick fixes to levers, pedal wrenches, and other large tools for tuning up a bike in the garage, every cyclist needs to be able to repair a bike from time to time. Plus, bike tools are compatible with any bike, so you don’t need to worry about what your cyclist is riding.

In fact, you don’t even need to worry about what tools they own. It’s really convenient to have duplicates of certain tools, like multitools and tire levers, especially if your person regularly switches between multiple bikes. Pumps and other inflation devices are also usually a safe bet. The occasional flat tire is inevitable for anyone who rides on a regular basis, so now they’ll be ready when there’s a bump in the road.

Cycling Themed Stuff

Of course, you don’t need to buy something technical to appeal to your giftee's love of cycling. There is a seemingly endless array of cycling themed gifts, including curtains, towels, rugs, posters, mugs, and pizza cutters (to name a few). When in doubt, any gift with a picture of a bike or a bike tire on it will show that you know what they’re about.

What about clothing?

We’d recommend steering clear from buying cycling clothes as a gift unless you’ve been told what size to buy. Technical cycling clothes, including spandex jerseys and padded shorts or riding “bibs,” fit tight, and the sizing varies greatly from brand to brand. That said, casual athletic clothing for easy rides, like moisture wicking t-shirts, athletic shorts, sunglasses, and socks all make great gifts.

How We Selected These Cycling Gifts

I’ve used most of the gear on this list over the years and loved it. Some of it also comes from recommendations I’ve received from other cyclists on riding trips (who are a very opinionated bunch). Overall, I tried to choose useful items that your favorite bike lover might not already own. Some of it may be cute and cheesy, but it’s all fun.

IB-3 Multitool

This compact multitool is made just for cyclists. It comes with all the tools you need to fix or adjust something before or during a ride, and it’s small enough to fit either on your bike or in a small pocket. It's a perfect mini repair kit, so your giftee can take care of almost any surprise in the field.

More: The Best Hardtail Mountain Bikes For Off-Road Adventures

Jerrycan Top Tube Bag

If you’ve observed your cyclist shoving all kinds of things into the back pockets on their jersey, this top tube bag from Revelate will give them a more convenient place to carry their snacks and cell phone. They’ll be a lot more comfortable without overstuffed pockets.

Bicycle Repair Stand

If you're buying for someone who likes to do their own maintenance, a bike stand is a truly helpful gift. Instead of flipping their bike over on its handlebars or trying to balance it up against a wall, they can simply lift it up and clamp it to this stand. We love giving this to our cycling friends–it's the gift that keeps on giving.

Portable Electric Air Compressor

Every cyclist gets a flat tire now and then. In those moments, we all wish we had a portable mini air compressor like this one. Unlike other electric pumps that have to be plugged into your car, this one features a rechargeable battery and a USB charging port, so you can use it anywhere. It’s also powerful enough to inflate a car tire, and even doubles as a flashlight and a power bank to charge your phone or other small devices.

Pair this pump with a simple patch kit for emergency flats when far away from electricity, and your person will be ready to fix their tires anywhere.

Bike Floor Pump

If your cyclist is making repairs at home, they should have a floor pump. It makes tire swaps and tube changes easy to handle in the garage. This pump from Vibrelli inflates tires up to 160 PSI, with a gauge for accurate filling. It easily switches between Presta and Schrader valves, and comes with a puncture-repair kit.

FR160 Auxiliary Light

My very surly but wonderful bike mechanic at Bicycle Roots in Brooklyn, NY gave me one of these lights last winter. (He wanted me to test it to see if he should start carrying them in his store.) After using it for a couple months, my answer was yes.

It’s perfect for the cyclist who already has a bunch of things attached to their handlebars, as it serves as both a powerful light and a mount for a bike computer.

Basket Co. Lightship Classic

Are you tired of your cycling partner always asking you to stuff their keys, phone, and wallet in your backpack? Give them a new bike basket to drop a not-so-subtle hint. This classically stylish woven bicycle basket mounts to most handlebars with the two adjustable leather straps, and makes the perfect addition to any beach cruiser.

Bike Basket

If the cyclist in your life also has a four-legged best friend (of the small canine, feline, or bunny variety), they’ll love this small bike basket and pet carrier. It has a quick release to easily install and remove, and it doubles as a convenient tote bag if you make a stop. The bag supports up to 11 pounds, so this is for pint-sized pets only.

Waterproof Zen Cycling Wallet

If your cycling pal or loved one is still storing their money, credit cards, and cell phone in plastic bags to avoid ruining their wallet, they’ll love this zippered, waterproof phone wallet from JRC. It has space for a phone, keys, and a separate coin compartment. There’s also room for some cycling tools, such as a CO2 canister and tire levers. And the whole thing fits easily into a back jersey pocket.

Bike Phone Mount

Texting and biking is just as dangerous as texting and driving. I personally keep my phone on silent all the time and ignore it, but many of my cycling cohorts use a phone mount so they can see when people call or text them and pull over to answer if it’s an emergency. It’s also the safest and easiest way to use your phone’s GPS–Google Maps, Apple Maps, etc.–if you aren’t using a dedicated bike computer. This universal mount from Roam latches onto your phone with silicone netting, so it supports most models.

My cycling friend, Tom, insists on using both phone and cycle computer while on rides because he “doesn’t fully trust either.” If your biking loved one is similarly distrustful (or actually, unlike me, tends to answer their phone, they’ll appreciate a convenient spot to keep their phone.

Hero 11 Black

If you have a biking buddy who loves to make riding videos with their phone, you should get them a GoPro action camera, which they can mount to their bike. This way, they can keep both hands on the handlebars, and film without worrying about breaking their phone.

The newest model, the GoPro 11 Black, can shoot in up to 5.3K resolution at 60 frames per second, or you can bump it down to a lower resolution (like 1080p or 4K) to enable up to 8x slow-motion. It can also shoot crisp 24.7 megapixel still photos.

Since it's built for shooting on the run (or the ride), it features automatically adjusting image stabilization to make sure that a bumpy road doesn’t ruin your shoot.

They’ll need a mount to install it on their bike. Luckily, there are plenty of good, cheap options, like this one from Surewo, that you can throw in with it. Just be prepared: You will be asked to watch endless hours of their “cool bike footage.”

Terrapin System 14L Seat Pack

Do you know a cyclist who loves to go on bikepacking adventures? Send them off with this 14-liter waterproof seat pack from Revelate. It attaches easily to most bikes via the seat post and seat rails and has a rolled, expandable closure, which means the size is adjustable depending on how much stuff is inside. Fully expanded and packed there’s room enough for a change of clothes, toothbrush and toothpaste, a camp towel, a first aid kit, and a rain jacket.

A couple years ago, I decided to ride by myself from New York City to Boston over Independence Day weekend. I carried everything I needed for the two-day trip in this Revelate bag. I also showed up at my brother’s wedding on Long Island via bike with my formal attire, heels, toiletries, and a pair of PJs in the same bag.

On normal commuting days, I use it to stash my bike tools, but there’s always ample room to pick up something from the store on the way home.

AMPP800 USB Rechargeable Headlamp

If you’re worried about your friend, family member, or partner riding at night, this bright USB rechargeable headlamp will make sure that they can see, and help others see them. It has five modes, high, medium, low, daytime hyper constant, and pulsing.

At 800 lumens, the wide beam can illuminate an unlit dark country road on high. Even during the day, the constant mode works well as a running light to attract the eye of nearby drivers.

Clip 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

It’s surprisingly tricky to find a good way to listen to music on a ride. You should never ride with headphones on–it’s a safety hazard–but I also find riders that blare music while biking around the city to be generally disruptive and distracting.

For outdoorsy riders planning tackling epic climbs on roads with little traffic or long rides away from civilization, this wireless mini speaker features a carabiner-style clip that can latch onto their handlebars. It offers an estimated 10 hours of battery life, offering them a full day of tunes on and off the trail.

Varia RTL515 Radar Taillight

If you worry about your loved one out on their bike and want to make sure they can track approaching cars, Garmin’s Varia radar taillight might give you a little more peace of mind. Using a smartphone app, the red smart light provides noise and vibration alerts when vehicles approach from up to 153 yards away.

It also provides daylight visibility of up to 1 mile, making them more visible to drivers coming towards them from behind.

Copper Spur HV UL Backpacking Tent

This bikepacking specific tent from Big Agnes will change your cyclist's life if they love to ride all day and camp out at night. Most standard backpacking tents have poles that are too long to fit easily onto a bike, but the Copper Spur has tent poles that collapse down to a mere 12-inches, making it easy to store.

It also weighs less than 3 pounds and fits on even the narrowest of handlebars when packed down. Plus, it has built-in fabric loops that make it easy to pack and remove from the bike.

Flynn 5050 Sunglasses

"Looking good, feeling good" is not a motto that should be reserved for beach chill sessions. With these sport shades from Spy, your cyclist can protect their eyes and see better than ever before on long-distance rides, and look sharp doing it.

The rimless frame not only looks good, it also maximizes your field of view, so you can spot any potholes or tree trunks that stand in your path before it's too late. Gift a pair to a friend, and you'll probably want a different color for yourself.

Podium Chill Insulated Water Bottle

I would assume that most cyclists already own a water bottle. The question is; do they have a great one? If your cycling buddy complains about a leaky water bottle or their water heating up, then hook them up with this insulated bottle from Camelbak.

It’s insulated to help keep water ice cold, no matter how hot it gets. It’s the perfect size for a bike cage, and features Camelbak’s “Jet Valve” sport cap, which makes it especially easy to take a quick sip mid-ride.

Rapid X2 Kinetic Rechargeable Taillight

If you have a loved one who insists on biking in all sorts of weather, or rides in car traffic, give them a taillight to make sure drivers can see them clearly. These lights have a steady on mode plus two different flashing patterns to ensure visibility. I use two on the back of my bikes when commuting, one on each side of the wheel. They easily attach to any bike using a rubber mount and plastic band, so it’s a perfect gift if you don't know much about their gear.

Bar-ista Coffee Holder

This simple yet useful coffee holder from Portland Designs makes a perfect gift for your caffeine and bike loving family member or friend. The Bar-ista comes with two clamp sizes to fit most any kind of handlebar and the simple, alloy, round holder provides a place for your java lover to securely stash their coffee cup or travel mug/bottle.

Lucky Cat Water Bottle Cage

The coolest water bottle cage out there for your most coolest of cycling friends, the Lucky Cat cage from Portland Design Works will keep water bottles where they should be and the good luck vibe flowing. Made from a single sheet of lightweight alloy in the shape of the Japanese Maneki-neko.

Duck Bike Bell

Another little trinket for the cyclist who has everything: This ridiculously cute yellow duck bell (complete with propeller helmet) is the perfect, “I have no idea what to get you but here’s something for your bike” gift. When you push the tail, the bell rings (though we kind of wish it would actually quack) and flashes.

Clug Mini Bike Rack

When space is tight, this mini bike rack clip may help your cyclist free up some storage space. Just mount the Clug clip to any surface (in a stud, of course) to store any bike vertically or horizontally. With five sizes, there is one for almost any set of wheels — from racing machines to fat bikes.

Socks National Parks Edition

Socks make a good gift for cyclists, whose footwear is always prominently displayed on their pedals. I can tell you as a regular group ride participant, that cyclists frequently check out (and comment on) their fellow riders’ socks. Given that, you shouldn’t hesitate to give your loved one a stylish pair that will make for a good conversation starter.

I love this line of Swiftwick hiking socks, which features scenes from more than 20 national parks. Plus they have exceptional moisture wicking properties to keep your feet dry, and moderate compression to support your working muscles.

Bicycle Ornament Nestled Pine Woodworks

Need a small Christmas gift or stocking stuffer? I love this wood-carved bicycle Christmas ornament. It will hang perfectly on the tree next to all your homemade holiday decorations from when your cyclist was in school. (We hope you saved them!).

‘Bicycle Diaries’ by David Byrne

If the cyclist in your life loves to travel and/or loves The Talking Heads, you should absolutely show them David Byrne’s memoir, where he recounts his adventures biking around the world. The pages are filled with his encounters and reflections as he pedals through some of the world’s major cities.

Byrne is known as a dedicated bike commuter, who has used his bike to get around New York City since the 1980s. If you’re visiting NYC, you might just spot him cycling by.

Bicycle Shower Curtain

The cyclist in your life may have tons of gear spread out across most of the rooms in their home, but where’s the bike representation in the bathroom? This colorful, vintage looking bicycle print shower curtain will feel unique in a sea of cycling gifts. It is multi-colored, and should match well with any décor. Plus, a percentage of your purchase will also help earthquake victims in Turkey.

T-shirt

The first question out of almost every cyclist’s mouth after a crash or fall is “Is my bike okay?” This t-shirt makes sure that everyone understands your loved one’s priorities. Despite their protests, you should still check on them before their bike if they call you looking for a lift.

Bicycle Pizza Cutter

If the cyclist in your life eats an inordinate amount of pizza (which is sort of the unofficial bike ride food), give them this appropriately themed bicycle pizza cutter so they’ll think of you every time they pick up a slice. Made from non-stick stainless steel and available in black, red, blue, yellow, and white.

Epic Bike Rides of the World

One of the best ways to see the world is by bike. The travel-obsessed cyclist in your life will love this travel guide filled with 200 amazing places to see on two wheels. The routes it recommends will take them across Europe, to Mongolia, to Patagonia, to cities like New York and Buenos Aires.

Q&A

Should I buy my cycling obsessed partner/friend/loved one a new bike?

I wouldn’t recommend buying a new bicycle for a serious cyclist without consulting them. Setting aside the fact that many great bikes are very expensive–the best often cost thousands of dollars–I would never recommend someone buy a new bike without taking it for a test ride first.

If you have your heart set on buying that special someone a new bike, tell them your plan and offer to go with them to their local bike shop so you can find the perfect bike.

What’s something any cyclist always needs?

Worst case scenario: If you can’t come up with a great gift, every cyclist could always use a gift certificate to their local bike shop. They can use it to get a tune-up, put it towards an expensive repair, or stock up on supplies like tubes, cables, chains, and tires.

How do I make my cycling gift feel special?

Everyone’s busy, so more often than not, one of the best gifts you can give someone is your time. No matter what gift you decide to give your cycling loved one, plan a bike ride with them at the same time. You can even wait til the middle of the ride to present your gift.

And it doesn’t have to be a long ride; Even a simple cruise to a park or just tooling around your neighborhood will make your gift feel more important because it’s connected to a moment. Ask most any cyclist what’s better than riding their bike and they’ll probably say riding with friends or a loved one.

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