When it comes to cycling gear and accessories I'm always looking for something new that is functional and improves my ride. I have field tested a lot of products over the years and found items that worked great and others that didn't. This post will highlight some products that met or exceeded my expectations and would make great gifts for the cyclist (or yourself) on your holiday shopping list.
Knog Oi Bell
Revelate Designs Hoppper Frame Bag
When I saw that Revelate Designs had come out with a new frame bag that would fit most bikes and allow me to still have a bottle cage in my main triangle, I had to have one. Not only does the Hopper Frame Bag fit smaller frames but also many full-suspension frames with a vertically mounted shock. There are no zippers on this bag but rather an adjustable magnetic closure that can easily be accessed with one hand. This single compartment, 4 Liter bag is made with Dimension Polyant VX-21 with abrasion resistant finish, 420-denier diamond ripstop lining and closed-cell foam making it very durable and water resistant. It is a great bag for storing a tool/flat kit and still has plenty of room for snacks and even a windbreaker. Accessing bag contents while riding is very easy with the large opening flap and closing it securely is even easier. Visit the Revelate Designs website for a sizing chart and printable full size PDF pattern. Makes a great gift for any mountain biker or fatbiker. Available from Revelate Designs and your local bike shop for $79.
Fix It Sticks Ratcheting T-Way Wrench
with Locking Hex Drive
I've always carried a set of the Original Fix It Sticks in my on-bike tool kit and have used them regularly for small jobs working on bikes in my shop. Since Fix It Sticks came out with the newest version of their Ratcheting T-Way Wrench I've switched over and it's now my compact multi-tool of choice. The Fix It Sticks Ratcheting T-Way Wrench with Locking Hex Drive accepts any standard 1/4" bit and holds them securely with magnets on all three ends. The spring loaded magnetic locking collar makes this multi-tool configurable to get into tight places and breaks down for more compact storage on the bike. The reversible ratchet makes quick work of shop and trailside repairs or adjustments. Pair it with a Mounting Bracket, T-Way Case or Chain Breaker for a great gift that is sure to get used. Available from Fix It Sticks for $48.
EverClear Frame Protector
Anker PowerCore Essential
20000mAh Power Bank
For the cyclist on your list that is a long distance rider, bikepacker or commuter, the Anker PowerCore Essential 20000mAh Power Bank has enough energy stored in a cell phone sized package to last you for days. This ultra-high capacity battery bank has the power to charge an iPhone or Android phone up to five times. It features twin USB ports so charging a cell phone and cycling computer at the same time won't be a problem. With a combined output of 15W, this power bank charges devices quickly. While it doesn't come with a wall charger, I added a 20W USB C Fast Charger ($13.99) and a USB C to USB C Cable, 60W Type-C PD Fast Charging Cord ($7.99) to charge the power bank in half the time (10 hours) as using a 5W wall charger with the included Micro USB cable. The Anker PowerCore Essential 20000mAh Power Bank is available in black or white from Amazon for $49.99.
Lezyne Tubeless Kit
Many mountain/fat bikers are now riding tubeless tires on their bikes for quick sealing of punctures and to run lower tire pressures without the risk of pinch flats common with using tubes. But not all of them carry a plug kit for larger punctures that sealant can't seal up. This is why I recommend those running tubeless to always carry a tire plug system. I've had to use mine several times now and it saved the ride from becoming a long walk of shame back to the start. After using a couple of different models I settled on the Lezyne Tubeless Kit because of its small size, ease of use and the storage tube that holds the plugs doubles as a handle. This kit has become a staple in my on-bike tool kit for all of my bikes. The large sized plugs work best on mountain and fatbike tires so I also purchased some Genuine Innovations Sides of Bacon from my local bike shop so I could use it with my gravel/commuter bike tires. Available from Lezyne and local bike shops for $19.99.
GoPro Hero 9 Black
When GoPro released their latest Hero 9 Black Edition with a bunch of new improvements making it their best camera ever, I knew it was time to upgrade. I have had a couple of months play around with all of the features and WOW, the video and photos are amazing. New on the Hero 9 is a video front display, pro-quality 20MP photos, up to 5K video resolution, 30% more battery life and GoPro's most advance stabilization ever with HyperSmooth 3.0. Other features include 8x slo-mo, TimeWarp 3.0, Hindsight to capture footage before you start recording, Live Burst, Scheduled Capture, Duration Capture and HyperSmooth video live streaming.
If you have a commuter, mountain biker or roadie on your list, they would love to get this feature packed new camera. The Hero 9 Black Edition is available from GoPro and GoPro retailers for $449. If you act while GoPro has their Holiday Sale going on you can pick up this camera for $50 off and it includes a 32 GB MicoSD card and Camera Case. Save $200 with their Holiday Sale Bundle which comes with a Magnetic Swivel Clip, Spare Battery, Floating Hand Grip, 32GB MicoSD Card, Camera Case and a one year subscription to GoPro which includes unlimited cloud storage in full resolution, total camera replacement and up to 50% off of GoPro gear, mounts and accessories.
