patrick112

I am still frantically looking for a christmas gift for my father. His main passion in life is cycling and does a lot of touring (last big tour was from Amsterdam to Krakow). Do you have any gift suggestions for a such a cyclist?

I was thinking of getting him a book demonstrating some of the best touring routes in Europe (or maybe even the whole world if something like that exists). If anyone knows of any such books, I'd love to hear of them.

Thanks for the help!

RPK79

Your best bet is probably going to be a gift certificate to a bike shop. I know it is less personal, but you're much more likely to have your gift end up being something that they both need and will use.

antokelly

for god sake dont buy him a book or voucher he will probably hit you with both of them.
heres what i would fancy from one of my sons or daughter i'm bike crazy.
ok.good radio i could take on tour.
small but excellent camera.
gps in case he does get lost.
has he got a quality barbag.
nice fleece and hat
trangia cook set.
there you go there just for starters
and fair play to you for even thinking of buying your dear auld dad a pressie at christmas.

jhawk

Alcohol for those frustrating moments!

nun

Inner tubes......not the most exciting gift...sort of like socks, but we all need them and every time he has a puncture he'll think of you

Other things could be chains, a new set of tires, new handlebar wrap

fietsbob

pay the fee for the passport renewal .. and all the inoculations for tropical diseases..

and tell them you will ship things to them where ever they are.

andrewclaus

I usually cringe when someone gives me something "for the trip." It's usually not quite what I need, and I feel lousy if I don't take it or never use it. Like when my loving sister gave me a folding grill--I'm a vegetarian and I don't even cook on bike trips. I agree with the gift card idea.

turkey9186

Do you have any pictures he has taken on the tours? How about a making a video or a book with them.
A few years ago, my wife convinced me to get rid of a bunch of cycling and sailing event T-shirts I had picked up over the years. At my birthday a month later, they reappeared in the form of a king sized quilt.

BLYTZPK

LED mil spec flashlight from Opticsplanet

Goretex hat from Outdoor Research

Long sleeve polyester crew in bright yellow or orange

5 yellow blinkies for clipping on his rear

BLYTZPK

LED mil spec flashlight from Opticsplanet

Goretex hat from Outdoor Research

Long sleeve polyester crew in bright yellow or orange

5 yellow blinkies for clipping on his rear

BALCLAV!! from Campmor or REI

Machka 

+1

Only, I'd choose a gift certificate from a sporting goods store like Decathlon, Go Sport, MEC, or Anaconda. There's more variety.


I'm with andrewclaus ... family has, with all good intentions, purchased very nice things for me ... but I haven't been able to use them for cycling in general or on a tour.

But fietsbob's suggestion of ... "pay the fee for the passport renewal .. and all the inoculations for tropical diseases" ... is interesting.

fietsbob

The 'you Can send an E mail and I will ship what you need where you need it'.. would really clinch it . IMO.

chrisch

Try a Google Images search for "bicycle wall decal". These are large wall stickers that look great in a wreck room or garage of someone who enjoys cycling. A client of mine has one in their office and it's really nice.

Erick L

A box of Cliff bars.

Tourist in MSN

Agree with the others, do not buy him something that he will not use. I have received a lot of gifts from family for my camping and biking adventures. Of all those things, the only items that I have actually used were bike socks and a pair of biking gloves. (The gloves I had to trade in for a different size.)

I also hate gift certificates or gift cards that cannot be redeemed for cash. I have received cards for stores that are several hundred miles away. The gift in such cases went to the store since they got to pocket the money. Even cards for a bike shop might not work that well if the bike shop caters to the local racing crowd.

Perhaps showing him you care. Does he have a good tail light to be seen in bad weather or at night?

patrick112

Thanks to all who replied to my question. The overall tone of answers suggests buying something touring related would be a bad idea. And, as I am not a fan of giving gift certificates at Christmas, if it can be avoided, I have decided simply to drop this idea and buy him something else.

Thanks for your advice; at least now I will not get him something he doesn't want or need!

Machka 

It's OK to buy something touring-related ... if you know exactly what he needs. For example, if you know he needs a new mattress or sleeping bag, and if you know he wants a specific one ... a particular brand, size, material, etc. then that would be a good gift.

We cycletourists tend to like to travel light, with limited, specific items.

antokelly

yeah i'm sure he would really appreciate a pair of slippers new jersey and a pipe.(not)

fietsbob

Quote:

.. a wreck room ..

So my housekeeping is not as fussy as the house's last OCD, owner .. ...

LaetaPuella

Perhaps you could get something touring related, but make sure it's from an accessible store and include the receipt so that he can exchange it for something else if it's not something he'd use?