My brother started bike commuting again after probably 4 or 5 years away from it. He loves it and I really want to support him. I don’t bike commute so I don’t know what would be a great gift for him to encourage him to keep doing it.
So, bike commuters, what is one of your essential gadget, toy or gear?
not a commuter per se but I see them all the time…
headlamps, taillights, ankle wrap things (to keep pants out of chainrings), panniers and/or bags, ummmm and fenders as well? not much help I know 
bt covered it pretty well.
I would add that having a really thin rain shell to keep in his daily bag could come in handy for unexpected weather changes weather it be rain or a drop in the temp. I always keep the top with me and sometimes the pants too since they compress to such a small size.
I agree with the above, lights and rain gear are key. If you don’t have those, you will find excuses not to do it. Good fenders are important. Some 12 inch strips of double sided velcro to strap around pant legs are quick and easy and keep you from having to try to clean grease from your pants. If he doesn’t have glasses with clear lenses, those are good,since you often commute in lowlight and/or rain.
Not saying it’s the only thing you should get him, but an old-school bell for his handlebars is always a fun, somewhat-gag gift.
or a cool t-shirt
http://incycle.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=5336
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I don’t know if they are still around, but those infatable air horns would be good. Maybe those hokey spokes (LED spoke covers) would be good, as well. Never too many lights for a commuter…
As above
+
A very thin hat (think skullcap) or balaclava to go under the helmet for those cold mornings.
Windblocker gloves.
A cool horn like this:
Alternately, ways to carry stuff: pannier, messenger bag, or trunk pack. Ways to be seen: I use mountain bike headlights for commuting after dark, or a cheaper flashing headlight for dusk and cloudy conditions with traffic. Ways to be stylish: bike clothes that look a little more casual than typical kit, like mountain bike shorts, etc. Makes you feel a little less goofy if you have to run a few errands on the way home from work.
A nice Chrome roll top bag… those things are sweet. www.chromebags.com
Sounds like the basics are well covered… the rainy season in the PNW (cold winter rain sometimes till July 10th) I’ve added duplicate winter weather gear so I always have something dry. Maybe a gift certificate to REI or someplace like that.
These are all great idea, thanks everyone.
I’ll send an email to his wife and see if she can think of anything he needs. Gift certificate may be the way to go and put it in a box with a bunch of little safety reflective stuff.
Does he have a rack and use paniers? When I was commuting I prefered using paniers over wearing a backpack. There are all sorts of cool paniers out there - including waterproof ones that are essentially kayaking drybags you can mount on a rack, or you can get waterproof covers for paniers he already has. If he’ll be carrying the paniers around a fair bit there used to be ones that had a shoulder strap and were a bit less awkward to carry. REI/MEC should have a good selection.
I second what others have mentioned in regards to dry/warm gear. If he’s in the PNW or somewhere else rainy then waterproof shoe covers, a good jacket and some sort of head protection will be helpful (helmet covers can be seriously dorky looking though) so he won’t be wet when he gets to work.
And +1 (or more) on what others have said about lights/reflective gear. The brighter the lights the better, investing in a high quality front and rear light are totally worth it.
nashbar has the cheapest panniers that are waterproof and look okay.
I use ortlieb and they are nice because you can lock them onto the bike easily.
REALLY BRIGHT LIGHTS (FORE AND AFT). I regularly run, walk, drive, and bike in a very bike friendly city (Philadelphia) and I can’t tell you how important it is for bikers to BE SEEN and not run over. Tim
Jen, if he’s still local to you I would strongly recommend some waterproof panniers too. I have some Agu ones which are excellent but basically go for the roll top ones that click to the rack.
http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=9378&categoryID=98
some weed and one of those hipster bike hats
My brother started bike commuting again after probably 4 or 5 years away from it. He loves it and I really want to support him. I don’t bike commute so I don’t know what would be a great gift for him to encourage him to keep doing it.
So, bike commuters, what is one of your essential gadget, toy or gear?
Ha! At one point in his life the weed would have been perfect. His wife would toss him out if he did that now. Having 2 kids reduces your party-time.
I sent his wife an email and asked about panniers. He does live in my area.
Thanks everyone.
Not a gadget, but if you want some cool bike/commuter themed art, check out adamturman.com. He’s an avid commuter, and does really cool stuff.
100% merino wool baselayer and jersey. Dries fast, anti-microbial (doesn’t stink even after a few uses), keeps you warm when wet, perfect for commuting. I bought mine for commuting, though like them so much I use them for training too. On warm days I just wear the baselayer. I’ve bought stuff at www.swobo.com, www.ibex.com, and http://www.portlandcyclewear.com/woolcyclingjersey.html.
Brian