Thought I'd start a thread for easy, generic cycling or tri gifts that you can give someone. This isn't the uber-tricked-out-ghisallo gift, but the i've-don't-know-what-to-get-them-but-i-have-to-get-them-something-and-i-don't-have-tons-of-time gift. With that in mind, I present to you:
Hokey Spokes -- http://www.hokeyspokes.com/index.html -- Lights that attach to your spokes. Pretty cool because they do all sorts of neat patterns and apparently there's Palm software where you can program text.
Timbuk2 Bag in a Box -- http://www.performancebike.com/...541&srccode=2047# -- For $80 you can give someone $100 to spend at Timbuk2 to personalize their own messenger bag. Choose colors, sizes, options, to get a bag unlike anyone else's in the neighborhood.
Cateye Head and Tail Lights -- http://store.nycewheels.com/hl-el-400.html and http://www.cateye.com/...tId=7&subCatId=4 -- There are more powerful headlights out there, but I don't think anything beats this one for the $50 ($30 for the front and $20 for the rear) that you'll spend. They're bright, light, and have decent battery life. The first link lists it for $40 I think but if you shop around you can find it cheaper. Really love that person and care about their well being? Try...
Niterider Evolution Headlight -- http://niterider.com/products.php?sku=6356 -- I paid $130 for mine and love it. You will be seen, and you'll only pay 18 ounces to do so. 2:20 hour run time, but the downside is a 9:00 hour charge time. Suck. But you can spend more and get the Evolution Smart with a longer burn and shorter charge.
TurboSpoke -- http://www.turbospoke.com/default.asp -- Chip sold all of us on this one. I've told my wife and a couple of friends about this. If they get this for me, I will be commuting with this until it falls off my bike.
Heat Packs -- http://www.staywarm-staycool.com/...t.aspx?pid=1-11-6013 -- $10 for 10. Open up the pack, little iron filings start to rust and generate heat. Keeps your fingers and toes from falling off. Or your nuts. Or boobs. Or whatever. They make a reusable one that you can recharge by dropping it in boiling water for a few minutes -- http://www.9thtee.com/reheater.htm -- but I'm not sure if they're as compact.
Training Plan/Online Coaching -- http://www.trainingpeaks.com/trainingplans/joefriel/ If you don't like Training Peaks, choose a different one. "You look like you're really making some improvements this year. I thought you might want to get someone's expert opinion, so I bought you a couple of months worth of training. I love you."
Donation to Livestrong.org -- http://www.livestrong.org/ -- Sure, charity is great and they have a wonderful mission statement, but do it for the bracelet. They used to be cliche but now that it's died off you can wear one again and not feel like a poser, because that's important to you.
Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintainence -- http://tinyurl.com/92ytk -- About $15 at Amazon right now.
Tools -- www.toomanyfreakingtoolsetstolist.com -- Spend $2 to $500 on the one you cherish most. Nothing says "You had me at hello" like a headset press. Ditto chain whip.
Wipperman Connex Link -- http://www.connexchain.com/ -- Around $10 I think. Take that chain off, stick it in an empty Gatorade bottle with some Simple Green, shake, rinse, repeat. Good as new. Don't forget to use the blowdrier ASAP to dry it out. If this isn't your preferred method of cleaning your chain, you're doing it wrong and may die from your chain snapping under tension. Your life insurance policy probably won't cover it due to gross negligence. You've been warned.
If you have good cycling gift ideas, feel free to share them.
Your favorite mafia sucks.
Hokey Spokes -- http://www.hokeyspokes.com/index.html -- Lights that attach to your spokes. Pretty cool because they do all sorts of neat patterns and apparently there's Palm software where you can program text.
Timbuk2 Bag in a Box -- http://www.performancebike.com/...541&srccode=2047# -- For $80 you can give someone $100 to spend at Timbuk2 to personalize their own messenger bag. Choose colors, sizes, options, to get a bag unlike anyone else's in the neighborhood.
Cateye Head and Tail Lights -- http://store.nycewheels.com/hl-el-400.html and http://www.cateye.com/...tId=7&subCatId=4 -- There are more powerful headlights out there, but I don't think anything beats this one for the $50 ($30 for the front and $20 for the rear) that you'll spend. They're bright, light, and have decent battery life. The first link lists it for $40 I think but if you shop around you can find it cheaper. Really love that person and care about their well being? Try...
Niterider Evolution Headlight -- http://niterider.com/products.php?sku=6356 -- I paid $130 for mine and love it. You will be seen, and you'll only pay 18 ounces to do so. 2:20 hour run time, but the downside is a 9:00 hour charge time. Suck. But you can spend more and get the Evolution Smart with a longer burn and shorter charge.
TurboSpoke -- http://www.turbospoke.com/default.asp -- Chip sold all of us on this one. I've told my wife and a couple of friends about this. If they get this for me, I will be commuting with this until it falls off my bike.
Heat Packs -- http://www.staywarm-staycool.com/...t.aspx?pid=1-11-6013 -- $10 for 10. Open up the pack, little iron filings start to rust and generate heat. Keeps your fingers and toes from falling off. Or your nuts. Or boobs. Or whatever. They make a reusable one that you can recharge by dropping it in boiling water for a few minutes -- http://www.9thtee.com/reheater.htm -- but I'm not sure if they're as compact.
Training Plan/Online Coaching -- http://www.trainingpeaks.com/trainingplans/joefriel/ If you don't like Training Peaks, choose a different one. "You look like you're really making some improvements this year. I thought you might want to get someone's expert opinion, so I bought you a couple of months worth of training. I love you."
Donation to Livestrong.org -- http://www.livestrong.org/ -- Sure, charity is great and they have a wonderful mission statement, but do it for the bracelet. They used to be cliche but now that it's died off you can wear one again and not feel like a poser, because that's important to you.
Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintainence -- http://tinyurl.com/92ytk -- About $15 at Amazon right now.
Tools -- www.toomanyfreakingtoolsetstolist.com -- Spend $2 to $500 on the one you cherish most. Nothing says "You had me at hello" like a headset press. Ditto chain whip.
Wipperman Connex Link -- http://www.connexchain.com/ -- Around $10 I think. Take that chain off, stick it in an empty Gatorade bottle with some Simple Green, shake, rinse, repeat. Good as new. Don't forget to use the blowdrier ASAP to dry it out. If this isn't your preferred method of cleaning your chain, you're doing it wrong and may die from your chain snapping under tension. Your life insurance policy probably won't cover it due to gross negligence. You've been warned.
If you have good cycling gift ideas, feel free to share them.
Your favorite mafia sucks.