Having kicked off the RoadCyclingUK Christmas Gift Guide series with ten cycling books, we then opened our minds to the limitless possibilities of the cyclist for whom money is no object – now it’s time to snap back to reality.
Here are gift ideas from Revolution, Kask, Garmin, Sportful, Electron and Minoura. Retail prices are listed but, in this internet age of one-click Christmas shopping, most of the products listed are available for less.
Revolution Tune-Up workstand – £69.99
A workstand is essential if you spend any considerable time fettling with your bike – but it doesn’t have to break the bank. This one from Revolution, the in-house brand of the Edinburgh Bicycle Co-Operative, is a great example of a budget workstand which works very well.
The stand is collapsible, using a number of quick releases to make it easy to store in a cupboard or under the stairs, and it then takes only a minutes to get it upright. Otherwise, it’s fully adjustable so you can have the stand at a convenient height, and the clamp can be rotated 360 degrees so the bike can be at whatever angle needed to complete the job in hand.
The Revolution workstand was great value at its original price of £89.99 – now, at £69.99, it’s an absolutely bargain.
Kask Mojito helmet – £120
On early test rides when we reviewed the Kask Mojito helmet earlier this year, we couldn’t help but notice the weight – or lack of it at just 220g.
Kask are helmet suppliers to Team Sky and the Mojito is, along with the Vertigo, one of the lids worn by Bradley Wiggins et al this season.
For the rest of us, it’s light and comfortable, with an ‘up and down’ fitting mechanism which offers plenty of adjustment – plus it looks good too.
Garmin Edge 200 – £129.99
Garmin unveiled the Edge 200 last year and it’s the GPS specialist’s most wallet-conscious computer.
It’s easy-to-use, can be quickly switched from one bike to another, and adopts a less-is-more approach by stripping out the navigational features of Garmin’s more expensive units and offering only the essential ride data, like speed, distance, total ascent and calories burned.
You can still use Garmin’s excellent Connect ride analysis software and, of course, you can upload your rides to Strava. Check out our full review here.
Sportful No-Rain Light jacket – £135
There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing, or so the old saying goes. Fortunately, the Sportful No-Rain Light jacket is a great bit of kit which will deal with most of the British winter.
The jacket, which in fact feels more like a jersey, impressed when reviewed earlier this month thanks to its clever use of water and wind resistant fabrics. The front of the jacket uses a lightweight Windstopper fabric to keep the chilly winter air out, while the rest is made from Sportful’s proprietary No-Rain fabric, which is warm, breathable and highly water resistant.
For more tips on how to stay warm on the bike this winter, take a look at our comprehensive winter clothing guide.
Electron Terra 3 front light – £149.99
The latest Electron Terra 3 headlight pumps out a broad, clean beam that’s bright enough for unlit roads, making it ideal for winter night rides.
With a claimed 800 lumens from its three emitters and up to four hours run time, the Terra 3 shows just how far light technology has progressed in recent years.
Otherwise, it’s simple to use, with a single button to scroll through the three settings (800, 500 and 250 Lumens), the clamp is sturdy and the battery is self-contained, making for an impressive package for the money.
Minoura V130 turbo trainer – £199.99
Winter and turbo trainers go hand-in-hand and, while you’ll get out more often than not if you follow our winter riding tips, an indoor trainer gives you a bail-out option should the conditions be too grim.
The Minoura V130, reviewed in October, is base model of the ‘V’ range. It’s a magnetic resistance unit which delivers a smooth and relatively quiet ride.
It’s also compatible with Minoura’s LiveTraining application which, when paired with a heart rate monitor and speed sensor (sold separately), allows you you to display key data on your phone, plus there’s also a built-in interval session workout and even the ability to ride one of your own routes, with the app converting information from the ride into resistance settings. Very clever.
