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BUYER'S GUIDE

Money-no-object gifts for cyclists 2024 — costly Christmas presents for the cyclist in your life

Spare no expense with our selection of top-quality cycling gifts, that would be ideal additions to your own wishlist if you're feeling very lucky, or perfect if you're shopping for someone very special and have a generous budget

This article contains links to retailers. Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission but all of our reviews are fully independent. Find out more about road.cc buyer's guides.

It’s that time of year, folks – the time for us to suggest some great Christmas gift ideas for cyclists, and if you really want to shell out, here are our money-no-object recommendations. Why not treat the cyclist in your life to a bit of luxury this year? 


We're the first to admit that some of these suggestions come with a hefty price tag, featuring high-end bikes and components that might be beyond the consideration of many of us.

That said, we've chosen high-end components and clothing within their respective categories, alongside some practical items known for exceptional performance - likely to earn a spot on many shortlists. Plus, we've included some of the most exclusive cycling products out there.

Are many people going to spend thousands on a high-end road bike for a loved one? Nope, hardly anyone will do that, but we're aiming to suggest a touch of luxury for people across a wide range of budgets from well under £50.

If the items featured here exceed your budget,  be sure to check out our other Christmas Gift Guides, including our round-up of gifts for cyclists under £50

We've divided this guide up into four sections: 

  • Premium stocking fillers (£40+) 
  • High-end gifts (£200+) 
  • Big buys (£500+) 
  • Significant investments (£1,000+) 

Even if some these gift ideas - especially towards the bottom of the list - are outside of your own budget or your present-buying one, we hope you'll enjoy drooling at them. Do let us know your own extravagant gift suggestions in the comments below, and they might make our December update... 

The best money-no-object gifts for cyclists this Christmas

Premium stocking fillers

Premium stocking fillers

Lezyne Zecto Drive Max 400+ LED Rear Light

8
Be safe, be seen
Buy now for £38 from Merlin Cycles
Very rugged build
Very bright
Battery lasts well
Button is hard to press
Bulky design

You can buy rear lights for just a few quid but the Lezyne Zecto Drive Max 400+ is a cut above most others out there and has an air of quality. It’s large (but not heavy) and very bright, so it gets noticed out on the road. It’s rugged too, so it won’t fall apart as a result of everyday scrapes, which is a worry with some cheaper options.

You also get very useable run-times between charges – up to 16 hours in the Day Flash mode –  and it’s rated IPX7, meaning that rain won’t get inside. Reliability isn’t a worry here.

Kapz Ultimate Laser Etched Bar End Plugs A unique gift

Kapz Ultimate Laser Etched Bar End Plugs

A unique gift
Buy now for £39.95 from Kapz
Extensive customisation options
The potential to look good
Quality build
An extravagance; you get plugs included whenever you buy bar tape

Customised bar ends make for a thoughtful and personalised gift for cyclists. With Kapz bar end plugs, you can make a one-of-a-kind present tailored to the recipient. This customisation extends to the design, colours, logos or text, and you can match it to a custom headset cap too. You can sketch out a rough design and Kapz will make it for you.

On Kapz's website, personalised bar end plugs start at £39.95 although the price depends on the colour and the type of bolt you choose, with a claimed weight of 44g for the pair. 

GripGrab Waterproof Merino Thermal Socks Socks with a cycling slant

GripGrab Waterproof Merino Thermal Socks

8
Socks with a cycling slant
Buy now for £50 from Amazon
No water gets in at all
Comfortable
Keep your feet warm
Thicker than standard socks so you'll need a bit of spare room in your shoes

Socks are a Christmas gift mainstay, but rather than nipping down the market for whatever cheap and cheerful multi-pack you can find, treat the cyclist in your life to something special. 

No one enjoys cold, wet feet when they’re out on the bike, and these GripGrab Waterproof Merino Thermal Socks are amazingly waterproof. Nothing gets in here. 

Plus, the soft merino wool keeps toes nice and toasty and, unlike some waterproof socks, these aren’t massively bulky. The overall quality is great.

Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex Thermo Gloves Everyone loves warm hands

Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex Thermo Gloves

8
Everyone loves warm hands
Buy now for £56.24 from Gorewear
Touch screen-compatible
Warm and comfortable
Great weather resistance
Hard to get on and off when wet
Like most lined gloves, dexterity is limited

Gloves make a great Christmas gift because just about every cyclist uses them, and even if they have a good pair on the go right now, the new ones can go into a drawer for next year.

Gorewear’s C5 Gore-Tex Thermo Gloves are the warmest waterproof option in the company's range, and the membrane that’s buried in between the layers is highly breathable, so there’ll be no sweaty hands here.

Okay, they’re not cheap at full RRP, but they were 25% off when we last checked with Gorewear

Silca 3D-printed titanium derailleur hanger

Silca 3D-printed titanium mech hanger The most subtle of upgrades

Silca 3D-printed titanium mech hanger

The most subtle of upgrades
Buy now for £59 from Silca
Lightweight
Stiff for accurate shifting
You need to make sure you get the right model for the relevant bike

A rear derailleur hanger as a Christmas present? Have we gone mad? You’re absolutely right, a rear derailleur hanger is one of those essentials we don’t think much about until it goes wrong. Then we usually go online, look up the right one for the bike in question, and order a new one.

Silca introduced 3D-printed titanium derailleur hangers last year. The idea is that they’re lighter and up to 12 times as stiff as a regular aluminium hanger for more accurate shifting.

As far as bike bling goes, this is subtle. Very subtle. But if you’re looking for a gift for the cyclist who has everything… Plus, they were all 30% off from Silca last time we checked. Practical and frugal, then!

Chrome Industries Hawes 26L Pack Stylish urban backpack

Chrome Industries Hawes 26L Pack

9
Stylish urban backpack
Buy now for £100 from Chrome Industries
Stylish
Highly adjustable
Lots of compartments
Excellent quality
Expensive

The Chrome Industries Hawes 26L Pack is an excellent option for urban rides. The quality is outstanding, the fabric is highly water resistant, and there are compartments for squirrelling all manner of things away, including a padded sleeve that fits most 15in laptops.

It’s large enough for commuting or trips to the gym, and even for use as an overnight bag filled with both cycling kit and regular clothes. Both practical and stylish, this pack has huge Christmas gift potential.

Plus, although the RRP is high, Chrome Industries was selling the Hawes 26L Pack for £100 last time we checked.

7mesh S2S Jersey LS Mens Fantastic jersey for spring, autumn and even winter

7mesh S2S Jersey LS Mens

8
Fantastic jersey for spring, autumn and even winter
Buy now for £138 from 7Mesh
Generous pockets
Two-way zipper
Very breathable
Bright colour options
Decent water resistance
Good reflectivity
Very expensive
Tail could offer more coverage

When we reviewed this combination jersey and jacket at the start of the year, our only real criticism was the £280 price, and 7mesh has now dropped it to £134-£184 (at the time of writing), depending on the colour you choose. Anyway, this is a guide to Money-No-Object Christmas gifts, so let’s not worry too much about it.

A three-layer fabric at the front of the body and the tops of the arms offers weather protection, while a lighter two-layer fabric provides more breathability at the back and on the underside of the arms.

The windproofing is very good, but it’s the superb breathability that takes this garment to the next level, meaning there's no need to take layers on and off throughout the day. 

Giro Aries Spherical Helmet A truly exceptional bike helmet

Giro Aries Spherical Helmet

9
A truly exceptional bike helmet
Buy now for £189 from Balfe's Bikes
Very light
Great for warm weather and heavy sweaters
Shape might not suit everyone
Price

The Giro Aries Spherical helmet comes at a top-end price, but that’s fair enough because it also features top-end tech and puts in a top-end performance.

The key feature is its Mips Spherical Technology system. Essentially, this is a two-layer construction – a ball and socket design that helps reduce rotational motion (which can cause brain injury) in certain impacts.

Even putting that safety system to one side, this is an excellent helmet: lightweight and comfortable with loads of well-positioned vents to keep things cool, even in hot weather.

Rudy Project Tralyx + Photochromic  Great glasses for all conditions

Rudy Project Tralyx + Photochromic

9
Great glasses for all conditions
Buy now for £149 from Merlin Cycles
Really comfortable
Highly adjustable
Versatile photochromic lens
Pricey
Small lens aesthetic won't be for everyone

You’re right, £189.99 is a lot to pay for a pair of cycling sunnies, but these are uncommonly good with infinite adjustability, loads of comfort, and a really reactive photochromic lens. Plus, that price is in-line with many other top brands.

The frame is well made, with a nice amount of flex so it never feels like the arms are going to snap when stretching them into helmet vents. The best feature, though, is the speed at which the photochromic lens reacts to light changes, so there’s no squinting while waiting for the lens to darken, nor trying to peer over the top, waiting for them to clear up in shady patches.

These come in solid case and look high-quality enough to make an impression on Christmas morning.

High-end gifts

Rapha Women’s Brevet Long Sleeve Windstopper Jersey Excellent combination of windblocking, warmth and style

Rapha Women’s Brevet Long Sleeve Windstopper Jersey

Excellent combination of windblocking, warmth and style
Buy now for £250 from Rapha
Windproof
Water-resistant fabric
Stylish
Expensive for a jersey

The Rapha Women’s Brevet Long Sleeve Jersey has reviewed incredibly well on road.cc in the past, and the latest version is made with Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper fabric that’s water-resistant and highly breathable, as well as being windproof. Reflective details on the chest, armband and lower back add visibility for safety in low-light conditions

As well as packing in a high level of performance, this jersey manages to look very cool. Also available in a men’s version

Exposure Strada Mk12 SB One of the best lights on the market

Exposure Strada Mk12 SB

8
One of the best lights on the market
Buy now for £260.1 from Sigma Sports
Impressive run times
Stunning build quality
Huge array of programs and modes
A big investment for casual users

You don’t need us to point out that £345 is a whole lot of cash to spend on a bike light, but the Exposure Strada Mk12 SB would make a fabulous gift for someone who rides a lot at night.

For a start, no one could want more light at their fingertips for road riding. Then there’s the fact that the flat beam shape is designed especially for the road, giving excellent illumination exactly where it’s needed.

There’s a larger selection of output modes than almost any other light on the market, and the battery life is impressive. On top of all that, the Strada SB has a high-quality look and feel so it’ll definitely be appreciated.

Fizik One-to-One custom 3D-printed saddle You can't put a price on comfort

Fizik One-to-One custom 3D-printed saddle

You can't put a price on comfort
Buy now for £459 from Fizik
Custom fitted
Promises the ultimate in comfort
Requires a pressure-mapping session so it can't be a secret

If the cyclist in your life struggles to stay comfortable on the bike, Fizik has introduced a One-to-One 3D-printed saddle service, with prices starting at £459.

Fizik has offered saddles with 3D-printed padding before. The difference now is that the padding can be custom-made for the individual following personalised measurement at a participating

Fizik dealership, and a pressure-mapping session focusing on hotspots, instabilities and asymmetries. 

The service has only recently gone live, but dealers in London and Manchester are already on board.

Big buys

Garmin Edge 1050 A cycling computer that does it all

Garmin Edge 1050

8
A cycling computer that does it all
Buy now for £649 from Tredz
Great screen
Fast processor
Huge customisation
Bell
Power guide
So much data
Very expensive

The Edge 1050 – in its standard and solar-powered forms – is Garmin’s flagship bike computer, coming with an excellent colour touchscreen, an intuitive user interface, and a massive range of customisation options. The battery life is also impressive, allowing up to 20 hours of use between charges.

There’s a massive amount of information available here, but one of the main reasons to choose the Edge 1050 over rivals would be for the mapping and navigation. Routes are easily loaded from Garmin Connect or other platforms such as Strava or Komoot, and it’s easy to zoom in and out on the touchscreen.

If you want to create a training schedule, the Edge 1050 can do that for you, creating a series of workouts and rest days, working around time that you’re unavailable.

The Edge 1050 does pretty much everything anyone could expect of a modern bike computer.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 An excellent smart watch for cycling

Apple Watch Ultra 2

8
An excellent smart watch for cycling
Buy now for £769 from Amazon
Double tap is a great new feature for cyclists
The very bright screen is impressively clear
Improved Tracking works very well
Expensive
Quite large on the wrist

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is an outstanding smartwatch for cycling. It comes chock-full of far too many functions to list here, the activity tracking capabilities being particularly useful for cyclists. Basically, any Bluetooth-enabled external measurement device (power meter, speed sensor, cadence sensor…) can be paired with the Ultra 2, allowing it to calculate FTP (functional threshold power), show climbs, and generally work as a bike computer.  

 

The bright and crisp display allows all this information to be seen clearly in diverse conditions, and the apps open quickly and react fast. Even so, the battery life is still impressive.

 

We’re also fans of the double tap function which allows the user to perform the primary action on a notification by simply pinching their thumb and forefinger together twice. Probably a pretty minor feature for most Apple Watch users, it allows a cyclist to respond without taking a hand off the handlebar.

No.22 Titanium Fenders The world's poshest mudguards

No.22 Titanium Fenders

10
The world's poshest mudguards
Buy now for £800 from No. 22
Titanium
A choice of finishes
Well, there's the small matter of that price

The mudguards that feature in our latest buyer’s guide top out at about £50, so these ones from New York-based No. 22 Bicycle Company might be pushing it a bit at – cough! – US$1,000 (about £800). Assuming you’re reading this from the UK, you’d also have to have them shipped over and pay VAT and excise duty.

Let’s be honest, it's highly unlikely that you're going to do that, but we thought you might like to have another look after our original story back in September

What’s so special about these mudguards? Plenty, you’d hope, given the price. They are rolled from a single sheet of titanium, so they might last a lifetime. You can choose from a raw, anodised, or Cerakote (ceramic-based) finish.

Significant investments

Lore Cycle LoreTwo Custom Cycling Shoes Custom-made shoes

Lore Cycle LoreTwo Custom Cycling Shoes

Custom-made shoes
Buy now for £1078 from Lore
Custom-fitted for the individual
Built for comfort and efficiency
Quality build
Very expensive
Requires a foot scan before they're made

Not surprisingly, Lore Cycle reckons its second-generation 3D custom-printed shoes are the most advanced in the world… and so they should be at $1,349 (around £1,078). That’s for the nylon finish, by the way. It’s an extra $300 (around £240) for a carbon-fibre finish.

The process starts with a 3D scan of the user’s feet at a bike fitter or retailer, then the LoreTwo’s are made for the individual, the aim being to produce the best fitting and most biomechanically efficient shoes possible. That’s the plan, but we’ve not reviewed these so we’ll reserve judgement. They’re certainly a bold step forward in cycling footwear tech.

Zwift Ride with Kickr Core - save 20% with the code ROADRIDE20 An all-in-one indoor riding setup

Zwift Ride with Kickr Core - save 20% with the code ROADRIDE20

8
An all-in-one indoor riding setup
Buy now for £959.99 from Zwift
Great power accuracy and ride feel from the Kickr Core
Reliable and long-lasting singlespeed transmission
All the Zwift buttons to hand
Great adjustability
Shifting algorithm still needs work
A few bits of the hardware and functionality feel unfinished
You're (mostly) tied to Zwift

The advent of online platforms like Zwift has made indoor riding more popular than ever before,  particularly at this time of year when outdoor conditions can be... challenging. This system is a wheel-less bike on its own turbo trainer, so it’s always ready to go; it gives the cyclist in your life a smart bike setup with dedicated Zwift controls. 

Plus, even though this is our Money-no-object Christmas gift guide, the good news for you is that it’s the same price as a top-end direct-drive trainer.

Even better news is that for a limited time, this all-in-one indoor solution is currently 20% off with our exclusive code ROADRIDE20. Just click the clink above and enter the code at checkout to get the Zwift Ride with Kickr Core for £959.99. 

Enve SES 4.5 wheelset The best hookless wheels on the market

Enve SES 4.5 wheelset

9
The best hookless wheels on the market
Buy now for £3350 from Sigma Sports
Stability
Different depths/profiles front and rear
Speed
Stiff and responsive
Quality build
Hookless will put off some riders
Price

These hookless wheels – the same make and model that Tadej Pogacar used to win the Tour de France earlier in the year – are designed for speed on various types of terrain. They’re aerodynamically efficient while also being stable and lightweight.

Our man Jamie said, “For me, they’re the perfect depth, perfectly made, optimised for the right size of tyre [27-29mm]and as fast as the best in the business without sacrificing durability or robustness.”

Of course, you can buy wheels for a fraction of the price but these put in a stunning performance.

Pinarello Dogma F Super Record EPS 2023 Among the best road race bikes money can buy

Pinarello Dogma F Super Record EPS 2023

9
Among the best road race bikes money can buy
Buy now for £12400 from J's Cycles
Superlight
Direct handling and detailed feedback
Plush, compliant ride
Well-balanced geometry
Impressive all-round credentials
Battery charger connector pops out occasionally
Pricing is steep
No power meter

Cheap? Nope, you couldn't accuse the Pinarello Dogma F of being that, but this is a first-class race bike designed for competition at the very highest level.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Dogma F is a high point of modern road bike design and performance. It’s not only incredibly fast but also remarkably comfortable, delivering pure joy on every ride. Even among elite racing bikes, it stands out as one of the best money can buy.

Unlike the Dogma Fs ridden by Ineos Grenadiers, our review model was built up with Campagnolo's Super Record Wireless groupset and Hyperon Ultra wheels. Reassuringly expensive, then. You can’t get much more high-end than this.

Add new comment

6 comments

Avatar
lesterama | 1 week ago
1 like

Hmm, a load of stuff I'm never gonna buy.

Avatar
EK Spinner | 1 week ago
2 likes

"Silca introduced 3D-printed titanium derailleur hangers last year. The idea is that they’re lighter and up to 12 times as stiff as a regular aluminium hanger for more accurate shifting"

I thought the idea of an aluminium hanger is a soft sacrificial component designed to fail first and protect the integrity of the frame

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to EK Spinner | 1 week ago
0 likes

EK Spinner wrote:

I thought the idea of an aluminium hanger is a soft sacrificial component designed to fail first and protect the integrity of the frame

It is, the Silica hanger has an "internal fracture notch" which is designed to snap if the derailleur suffers an impact hard enough to damage the frame; the rationale is that aluminium derailleur hangers often bend in an impact when it's not necessary to save the frame and that they compromise shifting accuracy through their malleability. Personally I'm quite happy with the way my bikes shift with aluminium hangers and also with the knowledge that if the mech takes a knock in a tumble I'll be in for £10 for replacement, not £70!

Avatar
levestane replied to Rendel Harris | 1 week ago
0 likes

What we need is a hanger that can be bent back.

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to EK Spinner | 1 week ago
1 like

Sorry, duplicate post for some reason.

Avatar
andystow | 2 weeks ago
2 likes

Well, my aluminium mudguards are looking a little beat up. Might as well make my wallet match them.