Play Hard

16 wheely good presents FOR THE CYCLISTS IN YOUR LIFE

With an estimated 1.3 million Brits buying a bicycle during lock down and cycling increasing by 200% we have been offered up a range of ideas for the perfect Christmas present.

Written by High Life North
Published 11.12.2020

By Catherine Ellis, Hill & Ellis

With an estimated 1.3 million Brits buying a bicycle during lock down and cycling increasing by 200% we have been offered up a range of ideas for the perfect Christmas present, and something they will actually want.

As an everyday cyclist and through my business, I have seen many brilliant products launched at trade shows and cycling events in the last two years. So, this is a unique gift guide with absolutely no bicycle shaped tat, just brilliant gifts that will be treasured and used. From luxury to stocking fillers, from the adventure nut to the commuter, this is the ultimate guide for unique, treasurable cycling presents this Christmas.

FOR THE ADVENTURER

The Climber

Is your loved one a Lycra-sporting cyclist? Chances are they have their sights on some of the best cycle climbs in the UK. With this artwork-style map from Maps International they can scratch off the hill climbs as they complete them. Allowing for total bragging rights next Christmas Day. 

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The Tourer

The practical yet beautiful Lost Lanes collection of books by Jack Thurston are an absolute must when it comes to touring. They list the highlights (including pub stops and cafes) of the best rides in the British Isles. Jack has explored most of the country from Cornwall to the Highlands so there’s bound to be a trip in his books exploring your local countryside. And if you buy direct, he will write a handwritten note in the book for your loved one. Perfect.

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The Route Finder

If your loved ones don’t have a great sense of direction, you can always help them cheat. Beeline has designed a GPS system that tells you the direction you need to head, so you take the back streets without losing your way. This system isn’t a prescription route planner like a Garmin, but instead tells you the general direction you need to take to get to our destination, enabling a sense of adventure without getting painfully lost. It’s a great gift for a cyclist with a love of exploration (and terrible navigation skills.)

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FOR THE URBAN COMMUTER 

Helmets

I have always loved the chic design and modern colours of British helmet brand Dashel. They all have a retro style that is worthy of wearing inside the office as well as on the bike. All their helmets are made in the UK, they have a stunning carbon fibre helmet and their latest range of Re-cycle helmets can be recycled into another helmet. Their latest limited edition colour – Sky Blue has just launched for Christmas.

Buy Now

Shoes

I firmly believe anyone can go anywhere with good hair, a good bag, and good shoes. And cycling is no exception. These beautifully crafted shoes by Tracey Neuls are made in reflective fabric – in daylight they are a smoky grey but they glow as soon as they are picked up by the headlights of traffic. Perfect for cycling, and clubbing!

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Jeans

Sure, you can cycle in regular jeans but cycling jeans from Vulpine are just that extra bit forgiving.  More flexible around the waist to avoid the bike version of builders’ bum, with knee darts to help with movement, they also have reflective features on the upturn hem to help you be seen. Plus, importantly they have a diamond stitched gusset for both men and women – if you know, you know!

Buy Mens Buy Womens

Bag

I might be slightly biased, but all the Hill & Ellis Pannier Bags look great and work brilliantly on the bike making them perfect for the cycle commute. There is a range of canvas bags, and British made leather bike satchels which can be embossed with your loved one’s initials. I have personally cycled with these panniers for over seven years and they are perfect for everyday life on the bike.

Hill & Ellis also uses recycled and recyclable packaging and for every bag sold online, a tree is planted. 

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STOCKING FILLERS 

Top Trumps

I love top Trumps and cycling so this game is a no brainer. Cycling Top Trumps is the perfect stocking filler. All the pros you know and love, and some you will need to pretend you have heard of to save face. These top trumps are updated every year and now have the female pros too.

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Get Writing

I absolutely love these prints by the Handmade Cyclists, they have a way of capturing the tour perfectly. Now they have made their beautiful prints into notebooks. Three UK printed notebooks are £32, enough to last at least until the next Tour.

Buy Now

Cycle Maps

Genuinely useful – you can purchase printed maps with all the best cycle routes on them for the local area, helping your loved one get out on the bike, and explore on two wheels.  You’ll also be supporting Sustrans which is an amazing charity helping everyone fall in love with cycling and keep the National Cycle Network open and maintained.

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Edible Treats

I know I said no bicycle shaped tat, but these are chocolate, so they don’t count.

These cute chocs are delicious (yes, I have tried them) and have a bike on them, so perfect for any cyclist. There are also enough to share so you will get your hands on one too.

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FOR THE KIDS

Give ‘em a Smile

These gloves are a joy! Launched in 2017 Loffi, designed these gloves to encourage cyclists and drivers alike to smile, they have a reflective smile on the outside so whenever the cyclists signal left or right or just wave, the driver behind will be greeted with a smile. As well as gloves for kids, they also have a range for the grown ups too!

Buy Now

Bespoke Baskets

Just launched these, unique wicker bike baskets will win you the top prize for originality and your kids will love them. Handmade by artisans in Portugal with natural, non-chemically treated, wicker these baskets can be personalized with your initials, nickname or inside joke slogan. As well as the lettering, you can also choose the colour of the go-faster stripes and the leather buckle straps. So there won’t be another bike basket like it. Adult baskets also available.

Buy Now

Ring the Christmas bell

Kids need a bell on their bike, especially as most of the time they will be riding on the pavement, but bike bells don’t need to be boring.  These cat shaped bells from Not On The High Street, are adorable and perfect for a kids stocking filler.

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There’s just so much to choose from! Perhaps you could solve all your Christmas gifts in one theme!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catherine Ellis is founder of Hill & Ellis, which produces a range of high quality, stylish cycle bags. Each bag, designed in the UK, is created to transition perfectly from home to bike to boardroom to bar. They are functional, fashionable and hard wearing.  There’s plenty of space inside for a laptop and other essentials, and each bag comes with patented pannier clips that fit almost any bike, allowing you to clip the bag on and off quickly and easily. They have a climate positive workforce and plant a tree for every single bag sold online.

Web: hillandellis.com
Twitter: @hillandellis
Facebook: HillEllis 
Instagram: @hillandellis

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