Bring the Cheer with These Holiday Bike Gift Solutions
Friday, December 16, 2016
Here we are in mid-November (well, almost), and the holidays are just -- about -- here. Have you thought about what you're giving your BBBs (Best Bicycling Buddies)? Well, we have some ideas for you.
For this year's gift suggestions, we go warm and cozy. We also look at items to help keep bicyclists safe and seen while night riding and lean and limber through the cold winter nights. And, because we aren't only about gifts specifically for bike riding, we took a look at sparkling gifts from an accomplished glass artist.
Disclaimer: We were given a few of these products to experiment with and try out -- however, neither Found by Bike nor Cycle California! Magazine is affiliated to any of the companies that created them. We didn't receive payment to write about any of these products.
Pretty Sparkly Things
What do you give friend who has everything biking? What's left to give? Glassisum Designs has several styles of handblown glasses perfect for quaffing your favorite beverage aprés ride. The artist, Katie Sisum, also creates stained glass panels and jewelry boxes as well as these bike-themed glasses. Each is totally unique, but all show a love of bikes. $120.
Fingers & Toes
A cold-weather necessity, Sugoi's Zap SubZero Glove offers full-fingered warmth, and uses the company's proprietary Zap Technology, adding to your ability to be seen by night drivers. This technology offers a measure of brightness across the backs of the hands and along the knuckles and illuminates your hands when light from car headlines hit them.
These gloves are featured-packed with thermal insulation for added warmth, water- and wind-resistance, and are made with a waterproof bladder that keeps your digits warm and dry. Adjustable cuffs keep the weather from getting in at the wrists. Vibration-dampening foam at the palms adds to your riding comfort. Finally, they are equipped with a touch screen-compatible forefinger for those times you need to answer a quick text without having to take the glove off. $65.
For your feet, DZR H20 sneakers will knock your socks off (although, not literally -- it's winter, after all). These kicks are long on style and, importantly for winter riding, waterproof and SPD-compatible. Constructed of sturdy sheepskin leather, these shoes mold to your feet the more you wear them. The outsole is of gum rubber -- great for traction when walking in wet conditions. Finally, the reflective tabs on the heels add eye-catching visibility without compromising on style. Euro-style sizing, in unisex sizes 37 to 47. $169.
Being Safe & Seen
In the category of safety and being seen, PowerWrapz safety bands help you be seen as you commute or train during winter's dark dawns and twilights. Essentially a nine inch tube light that runs on two CR2032 batteries, these PowerWrapz can be strapped onto down tubes, seat posts, crossbars, around the ends of a helmet or a rear rack and they have flashing and steady modes. While they don't replace a headlamp, they can be situated so that drivers can see you as you cross their path. $24.95.
The Gift that Keeps on Giving
We recently got the opportunity to try the YogaGlo app for a month or so and found that having an app made it easier to remember to get our stretch on after a long ride. We also think it would make an ideal gift that keeps on giving: Unlimited access to hundreds of hours of yoga classes. Besides, studies are finding that yoga stretching releases endorphins, further adding to the cheer of the season.
YogaGlo has 3,500 different classes that range from five minutes long to an hour-and-a-half; and are categorized by interests, for example, yoga for a strong, stable core or yoga for cyclists. Each interest category has several classes that vary in experience level from beginners to advanced practitioners. The classes are run by very knowledgeable instructors who convey the information clearly.
YogaGlo also has sessions for cyclists that address some of the potential problem areas that typically plague cyclists. Even better, some of the yoga for cyclists courses are taught by people who actually are cyclists.
The beauty of having a yoga app is that you don't have to get out to a studio; the courses are available whenever you are done with your bike ride, or any time really.
$18/month for unlimited access. The app is available for iOS and Android.
Show your BBBs you love them. Spread the cheer as you get the jump on your holiday shopping!
Happy holidays!
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