Are you still on the lookout for the ideal gift for that special cyclist in your life? Fear not, as we've curated a selection of eleventh-hour suggestions to make your choice easier. Time's ticking, so let's take a look at these last-minute gems.
Easy-to-use deterrent lock: Axa Roll Lock
It's traditional: Albion Winter Socks
An effective storage solution: Hornit Clug Pro
The gift of gadgetry: Topeak Power Lever Pro
To keep their bike pristine: Wax Is Dead Bike Ceramic Coating
A practical cycling gift: Apidura Packable Backpack (13L)
Added security: Knog Scout Bike Alarm and Finder
A classic Christmas gift: The Road Book 2023 Cycling Almanack
Very comfortable to wear: OneOdio OpenRock S Open-Ear Air Conduction Sport Earbuds
For cold winter days: Van Rysel Men's Long-Sleeved Road Cycling Winter Jacket Racer Extreme
For avid Zwift users: Zwift Play
For the cleanest components: DK Sonic Ultrasonic Cleaner - 6 litre
Last year, Royal Mail strikes meant you couldn't leave your ordering quite so last minute and despite this not impacting Amazon or other couriers, everything was busier as a result.
Even though there aren't any strikes this year, we recommend against taking it easy for a few more days. With just a few days left, it's best to get on the case immediately. Alternatively, you can always keep it local by visiting your local bike shop and asking what they'd suggest, the good old-fashioned way.
Final posting dates
Fortunately, this weekend provides the perfect opportunity to scroll through the internet using this gift guide, ensuring your orders arrive before Christmas.
Royal Mail's final posting dates are:
- Monday 18th December - Second Class, including signed-for
- Wednesday 20th December - First Class, including signed-for
- Thursday 21st December - Special Delivery Guaranteed
- Friday 22nd December - Special Delivery Guaranteed (Saturday delivery for an extra fee)
For Amazon, you have until Tuesday 19th December for standard deliveries and Friday 22nd December for Prime members, but it's advised you double-check delivery dates before you click buy it now.
The next-day delivery final posting dates to the United Kingdom for some major retailers, such as Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles, are Wednesday 20th December. However, note that the final posting date for bikes has already passed.
Halfords offers next-day delivery until Thursday 21st December, while ProBikeKit and Evans Cycles extend their deadlines to Friday 22nd December.
E-vouchers
If you really are stuck for choice, e-gift vouchers to their preferred cycling retailer make an excellent choice. These are typically sent out automatically via email, so you could even order them on Christmas morning if necessary. With Wiggle and Chain Reaction still in administration, neither are currently offering gift vouchers, but here are some other options:
Right then, here are our top last-minute picks for cyclists this Christmas. If you're looking for more options, check out our other 2023 Christmas Gift Guides. You might still find some of the items included in those are available for next-day delivery!
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9 comments
That AXA Roll lock is a joke, I bet a fingernail clipper could slice through it!
People, don't buy expensive bike boutique bike frame wax or washes, that Ceramic stuff is $45 for a small bottle, you can use any automotive Ceramic wax product you want, and a much larger bottle will cost you about $18. Buy the automotive stuff and kill two birds with one stone, use it on your car and your bike. I buy Meguiars spray on Ceramic Hybrid wax, with 26 ounces of product for just $18, and this stuff works amazing, I made one of my bikes I had that I gave to my grandson look virtually brand new, the paint just glowed after I used that Meguiars Ceramic stuff and that bike is 40 years old! The same effect I got when I used it on my car. Meguairs product is very easy to apply. I now use that Meguairs product on all my vehicles and bikes.
I used to have classic cars and used a lot of Meguairs products over the years because they work, so I know a good shine when I see it. Ceramic is not a patented product that one company has the rights to, there are other automotive products using ceramic, if your country doesn't have Meguairs products, not a big deal, find a well-known wax company that does have it in your area.
I have one just like that Axa lock and I won't use it. One good tug and I reckon it would split apart while the wire could be cut in a couple of seconds with tin snips. It's also not much of a visual deterrent.
If you want something for the café stop or nipping into a shop I'd prefer a cheap combination chain or a coiled cable lock. You can find them on the big auction site and elsewhere for less than £10.
I think they're only really meant to be deterrents against the (very) opportunist thief who sees the chance to get on an unattended bike and ride off with zero disturbance.
Mine (from a different manufacturer) doesn't come apart when pulled, although doubtless even small bolt croppers would make short work of it.
It's smaller than my phone though, and I don't want to be lugging a chain or cable around for the (very) unusual occasion that I leave my "good" bike beyond arm's length on a ride. It's better than nothing, and serves its purpose as long as you don't treat it like a real lock.
I've often wondered whether just closing a small padlock around the chain would foil opportunist thieves. It wouldn't stop those who carry the bikes off on a moped etc, but you couldn't just pedal the bike away, neither could you remove the padlock with wire cutters etc. And bolt croppers or an angle grinder would probably be too unwieldy.
Padlock on the brake disc (if you have them)? Motorbikes use that approach sometimes. Always room for user error with very discrete locks though. I broke a spoke on my e-bike by rolling it off the kickstand with the axa wheel lock still engaged. Duh.
Its apparently not very good for stiff beads either
You can usually cut through those thin cable wires with just a pair of scissors.
If you really love them, something from Wolf tools.
If you really love the, something from Abbey.
Should read:
"For avid Zwift users who don't use a smart bike, TT bars, flat bars, sprint shifters or Campagnolo thumb shifters"