Cyclocross Magazine's editors and pit crew put together some of their favorite gift ideas for cyclocrossers (and cyclists in general) for this holiday season. Get your shopping over with, avoid the crowds, and have more time to ride by gifting some of our favorite cyclist gift ideas. Here's Part 1 of our online Gift Guide in slideshow form.
If you’ve got several bikes, you’ve probably got several saddle bags, and between the garage, race bag, and office, who knows where you left the trusty-but-always-lost multi-tool. Well, chances are your cycling buddies can relate, and give them a practical gift of a multi-tool that will save their butt (and maybe yours) many times on a ride.
Two of our favorites are the Prestaratchet, with its built-in tire lever, and the new Crank Brothers Y12.
Prestaflator’s Prestaratchet multi-tool handles hex, torx screwdriver and gift-giving duties. © Cyclocross Magazine
The Prestaratchet (see our Prestaratchet review here) with its bit sets is no bigger than the average multi-tool, yet can handle more jobs, and do them a lot faster. It includes:
- Hex: 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm
- TORX: T6, T8, T10, T15, T20,T25, T30
- Screwdrivers: PH0, PH1, PH2m, 1/8 flat, 3/16 flat
- 1/4 Socket adapter
- Tire lever
After getting used to a ratchet for most jobs, your buddy will never want to go back to a “normal” multi-tool. Who has time for such slow adjustments? Warning: If you don’t own one yourself, you’ll be jealous after trying it. So be selfish and get yourself one as a gift as well. We liked it so much it won our Editors’ Award.
MSRP: $24.95
Give it: www.prestaratchet.com
Crank Brothers Y12 Multi-Tool makes a great tree ornament or stocking stuffer. It fixes bikes too.
The Crank Bros. Y12 Multi Tool that we first saw at Interbike provides an on-the-side-of-the-road rider with more leverage than a standard multi tool, and includes six hex sizes, two torx wrenches, a patch kit, and several screwdrivers. With the claimed weight of 165g, it’s not the kind of gift that will drag people down.
Have the gift giving spirit? You could also upgrade to the Y16, which includes a compressor head for CO2 cartridges and a chain breaker tool for $63. Both are new but should be hitting stores shortly.
