Cyclocross season is winding down in much of the U.S. and that means the holiday season, or Crossmas, is upon us. With Thanksgiving relatively late this year, we got on top of things and put together the first of our 2019 Holiday Gift Guides a bit early this year.
We take a look at some items we have personally used and reviewed during the past year we think could make good gifts for the favorite cyclocross and/or gravel enthusiast in your life. Our first guide has a mix of tech items, bikes, stocking stuffers and clothes.
Use the Next button to scroll through each.
An Upgrade for the Up-and-Coming Cyclist
Let’s be honest. Who really looks forward to the holidays the most? It’s the younger ones. Maybe that’s because they’re thankful for missing school, or are lucky to anticipate opening gifts.
What better gift can a young cyclist receive than a high-performance upgrade to a race-worthy off-road machine? Thankfully for you, the gift giver, there are so many good off-road options for kids these days, with drop or flat bars.
European-based readers are lucky to have access to the excellent Islabikes and its Luath cyclocross bikes in 24″, 26″ and 700c wheel options. They’re proportionately-sized drop-bar bikes for racers ready for gears and drop bars.
Islabikes may not offer its Luath Pro cyclocross machine anymore, but the Luath features the same geometry and is available in Europe. 2017 Sea Otter Classic. © Cyclocross Magazine
While U.S. readers no longer enjoy Islabikes as an option, thankfully, companies like Frog and Woom offer lightweight cyclocross-worthy options.
We recently reviewed the Woom Off 5, and were impressed by the do-it-all nature and its sub-19-pound weight, all for $679.
The lightweight Woom Off 5 24″ bike review is ready for any off-road riding and tips the scales at just 18.9 pounds. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
For young rippers inclined to tackle both technical terrain and some cyclocross racing, flat bar, front-suspended options like the Prevelo Zulu Heir series ($799-1599) and Cleary Bikes Scout 24 ($850) are compelling options. Both have impressed our younger testers and offer features us adults come to expect, like 1x drivetrains, clutch derailleurs, hydraulic disc brakes and suspension forks with lockouts.
Prevelo delivers a lot of off-road bike for a little one with its Zulu Three Heir 20″ wheel mountain bike. There’s also a 24″ wheel option. © Cyclocross Magazine
Bikes might be hard to wrap or put under a tree, but they offer joy, memories, confidence, exercise, independence and far more utility than the average toy.
If you can afford it, it’s a gift that’s hard to beat.
More info:
islabikes.co.uk
us.woombikes.com
prevelobikes.com
clearybikes.com or buy at competitivecyclist.com
