The holiday season is here, and for some, it's time to start thinking about gifts for the cyclocross fan in your life. In the next two weeks, we will be bringing you some gift ideas to help make sure it is a Merry Crossmas for one and all.
Books are a classic holiday gift idea, and they offer hours of enjoyment and a lifetime of knowledge. This year, several have come across our desks that are worth considering. Our Winter reading list includes:
- Gravel Cycling by Nick Legan
- Cyclocross Photo Albums by Balint Hamvas
- Rainbows in the Mud by Paul Maunder
- The Haywire Heart by Chris Case, Dr. John Mandrola and Lennard Zinn
- Behind the Stare by Geoff Proctor
Learn more about them and why they might be great fits for the cyclist in your life via the slider below. Have a hankering for something on this list? We are not opposed to sharing this list to drop a not-so-subtle hint to anyone watching your social media feed.
Of course, it needs to be said, Cyclocross Magazine receives no compensation from companies for inclusion in our Holiday Gift Guides. We only consider products we've had experience with. No advetorial here.
(Click the next arrow to view each gift idea.)
Behind the State: The Pulse and Character of Professional European Cyclocross
Behind the Stare by Geoff Proctor
Why is it a good gift?
Although it is a few years old and included in a past gift guide, Geoff Proctor’s 2012 Behind the Stare is still worth reading today. Proctor has been a regular in Cyclocross Magazine this year, both through our MontanaCrossCamp interviews and his recent promotion to Cyclocross Performance Consultant. Behind the Stare combines interviews with Elite European athletes with his background in teaching and sport to provide an inside look at what it takes to be an elite-level cyclocross athlete. Given Proctor’s mission to prepare young U.S. cyclocrossers to race successfully in Europe, attendees at MontanaCrossCamp are likely familiar with some of the insight from this book.
Who is it a good gift for?
Behind the Stare is joy to read for any Sven Nys fan, and any fan of American racers from that era (including Jonathan Page, Ryan Trebon).
It’s also a great gift for young, aspiring cyclocross stars. Being successful in Europe is not easy, and Proctor’s book provides an understanding of what it takes to ride at the front in the sands of Zonhoven and hills of Namur, and insight into all the preparation involved in becoming a cyclocross star.
Your recipient’s possible reaction?
“I can’t get enough of these stories. I wonder if I’m too old to attend Proctor’s Montana Cross Camp? I’ll start running now.”
Price:
$18.60 (amazon.com) or $9.99 Kindle
[amazon_link asins=’1937565335′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’cyclocross0d-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c39490a0-da58-11e7-961e-c1f10fdecb87′]
