Bells are ringing – and it’s not because a faster rider’s coming up behind you. Yes, Christmas is just around the corner! And while Santa’s making a list and checking it twice, we’ve been doing something similar – gathering together some of the finest gifts on the market guaranteed to make any cyclist’s season.
From stocking fillers to showstoppers, with gizmos, gadgets and garb to delight any gearhead, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to the perfect presents – and our list is an awesome way to support Irish brands, too. So swap the saddle for a sleigh, and take a spin through some of the best options around…
Resolute Bay Jeans
RRP €93, resolutebay.cc
If you’re all about cycling in style then this Belfast brand is one to note – they’re bringing jeans to the cycling scene! Made with Cordura denim – a preposterously durable fabric that’s purpose-built for rigorous activity – they’ll stand up to everything you can possibly throw at them in the saddle, despite looking every inch a standard streetwear fave. There’s a hidden party trick too; turn up the ends, and a reflective inner lining will help keep you safe!
Superwheel
RRP €425, superwheelsystem.com
Think e-bikes are the only option around when you need something more than pedal power? Then this Co. Louth lot have something that will blow your mind! The Superwheel System utilises precision engineering to turn your own weight and mass into power, delivering a boost of more than 30% to your efficiency. With no charging required it’s as environmentally friendly as it gets, it’s easily installed onto most bikes, and when compared to e-bikes it’s a wallet-friendly alternative, too..
See.Sense Lights
RRP €52-€209, seesense.cc
The brainchild of Irishman Philip McAleese, there’s a whole lot of bright ideas behind these bike lights. While they’re excellent at the fundamentals – these things really glow, and have an insane runtime too – it’s in the techy features that they truly shine; sensors will intensify and flash the light at junctions and intersections, while connecting to an app will put everything from crash and theft alerts to fully customisable controls into the palm of your hand. Big business around the globe, they’re another Irish cycling success story…
Going The Distance
RRP €23, Dubray Books and all good bookstores
A 4860km race across America? A trip from Malin to Mizen…and then back again? That’s not everyone’s idea of a good time – but for Joe Barr it was life’s calling. A Commonwealth Games medallist in 1986, his second coming as an endurance warrior saw him take on utterly unimaginable journeys – dicing with death in the process – and his journey from his childhood in Derry to the extremes of human achievement is a story to savour…
Gentlemen Of The Peloton
Because even a domestique can want to look dapper, a pair of cycling nuts from Co. Down established this boutique retailer. Alongside a carefully chosen collection of high-end labels – a Paul Smith racing cap, anyone? – there’s also regular collaborations and limited edition releases; if your fancy is somehow untickled right now, you’d be smart to keep an eye out for the next exciting addition to the range!
Sports Travel International
We all love the plentiful options for cycling here at home – but we’re not too proud to admit that foreign shores have their appeal, too. If a sojourn abroad is on the cards for 2022, then these are the folks to talk to – because whether it’s tackling L’Etape du Tour or watching the professionals do their thing from the best spots on the roadside, there’s no end to the bike-based treats on offer!
