December 12/11 13:38 pm - Canadian Cyclist Christmas Gift Guide - Day 5

Posted by Editoress on 12/12/11
 

It is Day 5 of the Canadian Cyclist Gift Guide, and today our pick is a stocking stuffer - Energy Supplements.

Whether your rider goes for old school energy bars, gels or energy drink powders, they can never have too many. Pick up a case of their favourite flavour, or a variety of individual flavours; these will definitely be appreciated. Among the top brands are Clif Bar, PowerBar, Vector, Honey Stinger, Hammer and Gu. Each offers many variations, and flavours are being updated constantly, so give them something new to try.

On Cycling 4 Women, we published an interview with Cross-country World Champion Catharine Pendrel about nutrition, in which she said: "I look for a bar that is made with quality ingredients - and equally important tastes great. I want it to be free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup; artificial sweeteners, flavours or preservatives. It should contain good carbs, some fibre, some fat and some protein. Most quality energy bar companies like Luna and Clif Bar put a lot of time and research into choosing good ingredients and balancing sugar sources with protein, fibre and fat for optimal performance and recovery." (Read the full interview at October 24/11 15:24 pm - Catharine Pendrel Talks About Race Nutrition)  

Day 4

Today is Day 4 of the Canadian Cyclist Gift Guide, and for this day we are suggesting a gift that is always appropriate for every rider:  a new helmet.

Assuming that your intended recipient already wears a head protector (if they don't, I have a new name for them - Organ Donor), then there are multiple reasons for a new one:

• Helmets get damaged over the course of time as they get dropped, thrown into the back of the car, whacked by tree branches, etc., leading to micro fractures

• Helmet foam breaks down as it receives exposure to sunlight, meaning that a helmet over three years old is definitely in need of replacement (more frequently, depending how much they ride)

• Constant innovation leads to better protection, lighter weight, more comfortable and secure retention systems, and better ventilation

• This innovation means higher quality at lower prices than older models

• New colours and styles mean that there is always a reason to update

Stop by your local bike shop, and they will be able to help you find a helmet to suit any rider.

Day 3

It is Day 3 of the Canadian Cyclist Christmas Gift Guide, and today's suggestion is suitable for both road and mountain bike riders - the Specialized Wiretap gloves.

Anyone who uses an iPhone (or other touch phones) has likely had this happen while riding in full finger gloves: a call or text comes in, and you are making a spectacle of yourself trying to swipe the unlock button with your nose, because the touchscreen requires physical contact (in the winter, this can get really gross...).

Wiretap puts a thin contact on the tip of the thumb and forefinger of the glove, which allows you to access the phone features while wearing your gloves. I can state with absolute authority that it works! While you won't want to type out long e-mails when wearing the gloves, for answering the phone and other quick uses, these gloves remove a lot of frustration. Available in both a lightweight summer glove and a cold weather model from your local Specialized retailer.

Day 2

It's the second day of Canadian Cyclist's Christmas Gift Guide, and SpiderTech/National Team mechanic Chad Grochowina has come up with three great ideas, all under $100.

Ritchey Preset Torque Key 
Carbon frames, forks, bars, seatposts, and stems have become the norm on today's performance road bikes. Proper torque is critical in keeping these expensive bits in place. This simple tool from Ritchey has literally taken the guessing game out of how tight we need to fasten down these expensive bits. The Ritchey mini torque key is preset to 5nm and fits 4mm allen bolts ... the most common size on a road bike. It’s available from your LBS and retails for $25.

Finish Line Pro Care Bucket Kit 8.0
A clean bike is a happy bike and Finish Line has taken the guess work out of what is needed to keep your bike in top shape. The kit includes 4oz WET Lube, 8oz DRY Lube, 32oz Bike Wash, 17oz Speed Degreaser, Grunge Brush, Scrub Brush, 20oz Multi-Degreaser, a bicycle maintenance guide, and an easy to carry bucket which houses all the supplies when not in use. Available from your LBS and retails for $95.

Beljum Budder
Who couldn’t benefit from a new tube of chamois lube for Christmas? For those in the know, a key element to pain-free cycling comes from a lack of friction. A liberal scoop of Beljum Budder in those high friction areas is guaranteed to eliminate abrasions and chaffing. And, speaking from experience, this cream provides a lasting, all-day comfort. What Beljum Budder offers over the competition is an all natural list of ingredients as well as being free of parabens. Beljum Budder is available from select specialty bike shops and retails for $34.

Day 1
We begin the Canadian Cyclist Christmas Gift Guide with some gifts that truly fit with this season of giving: the present of a bicycle to someone who doesn't have one. UNICEF Canada is always an important charity to support, and for this Christmas they have two cycling options. For $86 you can donate a bicycle to a child who doesn't have one - with your donation you can help with transportation and expand their world. For $120 you can help a whole community by paying for a Mobile Health Unit - a bicycle equipped with a vaccine carrier and vaccines for measles and polio (50 of each).

UNICEF Child's Bicycle

UNICEF Mobile Health Unit

We urge everyone to consider making these gifts part of their Christmas.