Cycling Christmas gifts we actually want: here's what Dave and Jamie would spend their own money on

Some brands have paid to be included in this article, but we have curated our own independent list of products that we think you'll like.

It's that time of year again, and Dave and I have broken the habit of a lifetime! There's no Christmas Eve panic-buying or filling station specials in sight, so... what do we get our cycling-obsessed friends, family and colleagues when we actually put some thought into it? Here goes...

Dave and I are rather fussy so-and sos, and between us, we've reviewed hundreds of cycling products. Even so, it's still easier said than done to find Christmas gifts for our loved ones that haven't been done to death before.

As we're actually rather early with our Christmas gift buying this year, we thought we'd lift the lid on what we've selected for our friends, family and colleagues just in case it gives you any ideas, either for a loved one or even your own Christmas list. 

PS: watch the video if you want to see just how bad I am at wrapping presents... 

OGT wrapperless ride food (£19.80)

Got a mate who has seemingly tried it all? Well, chances are they haven't tried these! OGT (One Good Thing) make oat-based energy bars and protein bars that are completely wrapperless.

You can get them in boxes of either six or twelve and choose from nine different flavours such as Cherry Bakewell and Honeycomb. Speaking of honey, the 100% natural bars are coated in bee wax to stop them from going mushy in your pocket. You can read our full review of the bars here.

During the Christmas period, you can get 25% off of all new 12-box subscriptions, with code XMAS25.

BUY HERE

Cube Acid Towing System (£29.95)

Go further and explore more places without a weaker rider having a sense of humour failure! Cube's Acid Towing System is a handy and safe way of towing another rider.

The system easily attaches to the underneath of your saddle, and the 1.9-metre cable is a self-retracting system to keep tension for stress-free towing. It's great for kids who have progressed from a tagalong but can also handle adults too.

BUY HERE

CyclingCeramic (€369)

Know someone who loves their bling but has pimped their bike in nearly every way possible? Well, how about this CyclingCeramic over-sized pulley wheel system? It's got carbon plates, aluminium pulley wheel systems and ceramic bearings for maximum speed.

Those dimples on the cage aren't just for show though - CyclingCeramic have taken their cage to Silverstone Sports Engineering wind tunnel, and claim it's faster than any standard derailleur cage on the market.

BUY HERE

Galibier Atlantic Pullover (£46.25)

We've long praised Galibier clothing for its quality and value, and now you can wear clothing from them off the bike too! The Galibier Atlantic pullover is available in three colours: Grey, Forest green or Wine red, plus it has a high collar to keep warmth in and embroidered detailing for maximum durability.

The pullover is made from a soft feel, recycled polyester mix for long-lasting comfort and anti-bobbling, and we like the fact that it's tastefully cycling-related without screaming it in your face. It's also double-stitched throughout.

BUY HERE

Wahoo HR Monitor (£79.99)

If you've got someone who wants to take their training to the next level, then a high-quality heart rate monitor is a good way to go. Wahoo's latest monitor is a sealed unit that offers 100 hours of battery life in between charges.

A heart rate monitor can help to gauge efforts, tailor your training to zones and indicate overtraining/fatigue. It's no wonder that a heart rate monitor is still a staple of the pros.

BUY HERE

Presta Prestaflator Micro CO2 / Pump Bundle (£34)

Believe it or not, this tiny tube is in fact a pump, and despite being only slightly larger than a CO2 canister it's capable of inflating tyres up to 120psi. 

The CO2 inflator head allows you to control the flow of air in to the tyre, and if you're unlucky enough to have a second puncture then the backup pump will get you home a lot quicker than walking. 

BUY HERE

Van Rysel Thermal Insulated Bottle (or socks if you're looking for a classic)

You don't know what you're missing if you haven't tried an insulated bottle. Cold drinks stay cooler in summer and warm drinks stay warmer in winter! The downside is that insulated cycling bottles usually cost a fortune... not this £7.99 one from Decathlon though. 

Or, if you're looking for a classic stocking filler gift, then socks are a pretty safe bet. We can't emphasise this enough though, get some that are actually useful! We'd recommend these Decathlon/Van Rysel 900 socks which we've found to stay put and will set you back just £9.99. (Less garish colours are available)

BUY HERE

Tubolito Tubes or gift card

It's a regular in our Christmas gift guides for a reason: Tubolito make TPU inner tubes which are not only much lighter than a regular butyl tube, but also take up a lot less space in a pocket. Whether your special someone is looking for a cost-effective weight upgrade or is running tubeless and wants to free up space in a saddle bag, these are an excellent option.

New for 2024 is the option of purchasing a gift card. This is sure to help if you can't quite nail down which bike they'll want to use the tubes on, or if you're unsure what size they'll need.

BUY HERE

GTechniq Bike Ceramic (£55)

We all know someone who always has a grubby bike (ahem, Dave) so why not give them a helping hand? GTechniq's ceramic treatment for bikes is like no other on the market, and thanks to chemical bonding it could last a whole two years. 

The treatment is easy to apply at home and makes mud and road grime pearl off for easier-than-ever cleaning. 

BUY HERE

Cycliq Fly 12 Sport Camera (£299)

Obviously, if you ask Dave or I how great road cycling is, then we're rather biased and would tell you that it's the best activity in the world (even we though admit that it does have some negatives). Drivers quite simply don't always play nice, and recently we've felt it more necessary than ever to be able to hold drivers accountable.

That's where the Cycliq Fly 12 Sport camera comes in. It's a light and a camera all in one, with the ability to record in 4k resolution and long rides with a maximum battery life of 12 hours. Although far from the cheapest gift on the list, we found it simple to use and that it does what it's designed to do very well. If it can offer additional peace of mind when out riding, then we reckon it's money well spent.

BUY HERE

Cube Road/XC Rain Jacket (£179.95)

Cube's latest rain jacket makes the list for its superb versatility. Whether you're a gravel rider, road rider, mountain biker, commuter or anything else, we reckon you'll be smitten if you find this under the tree.

The jacket features a 2.5-layer construction, it's windproof and waterproof thanks to taped seams and it's very lightweight, meaning you can stow it in a backpack or pannier ready for the next storm. The fit is athletic without being restrictive, or cut so aggressively that you look daft when not aboard a bike.

BUY HERE

Rouvy (£12.50/Month)

You've probably seen us using Rouvy throughout this year, and in our latest video, we convinced Tony, the co-founder of road.cc and indoor cycling sceptic, to give it a go (spoiler alert: we converted him and ever since he's been hankering after a turbo and a subscription). 

Well, the budget didn't stretch to getting him a smart trainer, but we have managed the Rouvy subscription, priced at £12.50 a month or £124 for a year. Rouvy also allows you to pause your membership, allowing you to get more value for money out of your subscription.

BUY HERE

Trek Velocis Shoes (£229.99)

We thought long and hard about which shoes to include in this line-up, and both Dave and I decided that these Trek Velocis shoes fit the bill nicely. They're performance-focused but cheaper than many flagship shoes, and we think they look great. 

The dual Li2 Boa dials help to add to the premium feel, and the OCLV carbon and fibreglass composite plate promises to be stiff enough to propel you to town sign sprint victories whilst providing comfort on endurance rides.

BUY HERE

Oakley Sphaera (£231)

In my job, I'm extremely fortunate that I don't need to spend much money on clothing or equipment, but once every few years I like to treat myself to a new set of sunnies.

This year's indulgent choice on my wishlist is the recently released Oakley Sphaeras, with Prizm 24k polarised Lenses and a matte carbon-coloured frame. The Sphaeras promise an excellent field of vision, and as we've become accustomed to the Oakley lens offers high contrast and clarity on even the brightest of roads.

BUY HERE

Zwift Play (£99.99)

Topping Dave's Christmas list this year is the Zwift Play remotes. These work with all Zwift Ready trainers, and provide virtual shifting as well as steering and braking controls.

If you want to level up your Zwift set-up, then this is an easy-to-install solution that integrates perfectly with the software.

They're currently on offer using this affiliate link!

BUY HERE

Let us know which one of these presents you think is best down in the comments below, as well as anything that you’ve got on your wish list!