Bike riders, this is not a post for you.

It’s for your partner, spouse, family or friends – basically anyone who might give you a gift this holiday season.

Share this link, pop it on your socials, hell, print it out and stick it to the fridge.

We’re going to save your loved ones money, and you’re going to get something you can actually use in 2026.

Everybody wins!

How to buy a gift for a bike rider (if you're not one yourself)

Looking for the best gifts for cyclists in Australia? Whether you're shopping for a road rider, mountain biker or commuter, this guide has you covered. We've rounded up practical cycling gifts that bike riders actually want—from luxury towels to chamois cream—plus the gifts to avoid (looking at you, Park Tools). Here are our mechanic-approved gift ideas for 2025.

So you’re not a bike person, but your loved one is. You want to get them something that echoes their two-wheeled obsession. Hurray!

However, if you don’t know the difference between chain lube and vegetable oil, things can go south very quickly and you can end up buying something your gift recipient either doesn’t want or can’t use.

Bike riders have Opinions on things.

And, like all sports, passions and pursuits, those opinions are—understandably—often very fixed.

This blog post is here to help you find something that they’ll love. And to make sure you don’t waste your time or money, ‘cause no-one wants that.

TL:DR Version:

✅ SAFE BETS: Chamois cream, sunscreen, cafe vouchers, merino socks, towels

❌ RISKY: Bike computers or tech, tools, lights, bike art

BEST GIFTS FOR CYCLISTS: 8 Mechanic-Approved Ideas

Bike-specific sunscreen

As anyone who’s ridden in the Adelaide summer knows, sunscreen is crucial.

However, not all sunscreen is created equal. Remember the chaos Choice Magazine recently caused by revealing that 16 out of 20 sunscreens failed their independent SPF testing?

For cycling, you want a quality sports sunscreen that doesn’t sting eyes when you sweat, doesn’t slide off after 20 minutes, and actually provides the SPF it claims.

For the record, the four sunscreens that did pass Choice’s test were: Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF 50+; La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin Sunscreen 50+; Mecca Cosmetica To Save Body SPF 50+ Hydrating Sunscreen; and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Lotion SPF 50. (The BMCR team has been using the Neutrogena one, and it’s great.)

So pick a sunscreen, get a bulk pack, and protect your gift recipient’s delicate skin from sunburn and long-term damage this summer.

Audible subscription

What's the fastest way to liven up an indoor trainer session or a series of hills repeats? By filling your ears with sound, so you can't hear your lungs squeaking.

An Audible subscription is a godsend, and will give your rider hours of podcasts to work through while they’re training. Forget staring at the wall and sweating into their handlebar tape in silence; they’ll be able to be entertained, learn something, or develop radical political views (lol just kidding).

It’s also a great way to finally get through that book they’ve been meaning to read for years. (Yes, audiobooks count as reading. Don’t fight us on this one.)

Even better, they can also use it off the bike. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Chamois cream

Soother of heat rashes, eliminator of saddle sores, chamois cream is the item that people don’t realise they need until they use it. (Note: if you have no idea what a saddle sore is, count yourself lucky.)

It protects your skin and prevents chafing or rubbing on long rides. Although not generally in the marketing material, it's also extremely good at dealing with bra strap or underwire rub. (Again, if you’ve never experienced either of these, lucky you.)

Even better, for gift-givers, chamois cream is impossible to get wrong. Mountain biker, tourer, triathlete, gravelista – it works for everybody.

There are multiple good-quality creams out there*, so pick one with a name that makes you laugh, and enjoy the fact that you’re looking after your loved one.

Well, their butt, if nothing else.

*Looking for something you can quickly grab? We love Morgan Blue Soft Chamois Cream, and stock it in-store. Even though it doesn't have a funny name.

A fancy towel

After a hard ride, a refreshing shower feels like luxury.

But let’s say you want to kick it up a notch for someone.

Forget weird soaps full of twigs or body wash that smells like Satan’s aftershave (a.k.a. patchouli).

A cloud-like, extra-soft, extra-large towel is the answer.

Get them one. Get them two. If you want to dial it up even further, get their initials added to it. This way no-one else can make off with it. (Er, unless they happen to have same initials.)

Like chamois cream, once you use a heavenly towel, you’ll wonder how you ever survived without it. Even if it’s not monogrammed.

Merino socks

Wool: nature’s miracle fabric. Far finer and softer than regular wool, merino breathes like a champion and wicks moisture away from your skin to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.

Merino socks are perfect for bike riders because not only do they keep your feet dry—no-one likes pedalling in swamp-sweat—but they also repel bacteria so they don’t stink like synthetic fabrics do after a workout.

A couple of pairs of high-quality merino socks will keep your gift recipient’s feet dry and comfortable, and they’ll no longer repel you with post-ride foot stank.

Think of it as a gift for both of you.

Just make sure to take a peek inside their shoes so you buy the right size.

Massage ball

Small yet mighty, the massage ball—also known as a trigger release ball—is a perfect stocking stuffer for the bike rider in your life.

Some are smooth. Others are spiky. Regardless of surface design, the massage ball is designed to relieve tight muscle spots. It's perfect for finding and releasing tension in your feet, calves, glutes, TFL and (a personal favourite of the BMCR team) the rhomboid major.

You can use one while watching bike builds on YouTube, trawling forums for conflicting mechanical advice, or quietly sobbing on the floor after smashing yourself on a massive ride.

Cheap, colourful and designed to test your pain threshold, the massage ball is a bike rider’s best friend and worst enemy. Plus they're cheap, so you can buy them in multiples.

Café ride voucher

Riding. Coffee. Food. This is the trifecta that enslaves the modern cyclist.

And you can facilitate two of these three loves this festive season with a café gift voucher.

When chosen well, not only are you treating your loved one to free food and drink—which riders notoriously love—but you’re also supporting a local business. (Or two, or three, if you decide to make it a voucher bundle.)

But! There's a proper way to do it.

First, make sure that the café is easy to get to on two wheels. There’s no point sending someone down the bicycle hellscape that is Main North Road, unless you actively hate that person.

Secondly, consider if the location is somewhere near their normal stomping ground. If your gift recipient tends to ride in the hills, for example, look for an eatery in the foothills. It will be perfect for a pre-ride fuel-up or a post-ride reward croissant. Bonus points if there's a scenic view for them to gaze at while dropping crumbs on their kit.

Thirdly, check to see that the venue is actually open at the hours they normally ride, especially if they head out early or only on the weekends. Don't set them up to turn up after a hard 100kms and find a 'closed' sign.

While we’re speaking of vouchers...

Bike shop voucher

Determined to get your person a bike thing? The safest option is a gift voucher to their favourite local bike shop, so they can pick out something they really want or need.

With a shop voucher, you don’t need to stress about what to buy, or having to return something if you get the wrong item.

You’ll also be supporting the local economy, which is always appreciated as it helps keep bike shops around in the age of BicyclesByTemu.com.

However, make sure it’s a shop they do actually like, or that voucher will live under a fridge magnet until it expires.

Now let’s go to the dark side: what not to buy.

CYCLING GIFTS TO AVOID: Electronic gadgets or bike computers

Cyclists are very particular about their tech.

Some are wedded to Wahoo. Some will take Garmin to the grave. Some just use their phone, and others don’t use anything at all.

If you do take a punt and manage to pick something from the correct ecosystem, that particular computer/GPS gadget also has to be able to synch with your gift recipient’s existing apps and sensors.

It’s not just bike computers this applies to; it’s the same for smart trainers, power meters – basically any other tech that goes on a bike or has to be paired to other devices.

An $800 wearable isn’t much good if it can’t talk to their phone.

Save your money, and give anything that needs to be recharged a miss.

CYCLING GIFTS TO AVOID: Bike tools

Any bike rider who does any kind of home maintenance will most likely already have all the tools they require. They don’t need another chain cleaner. They don’t want a multitool which has torx keys that won’t fit their bike and a bottle opener which they will never use. Even bike repair stands can be tricky. (Try putting an e-MTB on something you picked up from Aldi.)

There are also a lot of rubbish tool brands out there, and cheap tools can damage components, which is probably not the effect you were going for.

So skip the tools, rather than taking a chance and giving them something that turns out to be useless.

CYCLING GIFTS TO AVOID: Lights

“It’s just bike lights. How complicated can it be?”

You know how we said bike riders have Opinions? Their choice of light is almost as important as their choice of tech. How many lumens, how they look, how they fit on the bike – these are all things that your gift recipient has already tried, tested, and decided upon. They will have a favourite brand and model. If you try to guess, you'll probably get it wrong.

‘Expensive’ doesn’t also mean ‘better’ in this category; there are some truly awful bike lights out there with some very slick advertising.

However, the bigger reason to avoid this category is because it’s a legal obligation for riders to have lights on their bike if they’re cycling at night or in low-light conditions. So, like tools, your gift recipient most likely already has what they need.

CYCLING GIFTS TO AVOID: Bike-shaped knick-knacks

We’re not saying all bike crafts are crap.

Unless it’s this thing, which, as we said last year, is The Worst, and continues to still be The Worst.

But generally, bike riders do not like bike art. We already know we ride bikes. We don’t need a chandelier made from bicycle chains to remind us of this fact.

So who’s actually buying all those bicycle-themed clocks, desk ornaments, stubby holders, tea towels, posters, and Etsy coasters made out of recycled bicycle parts?

People who are not bike riders, but are stuck for a gift for one.

So, we beg of you, avoid any wheel-shaped tchotchkes. They will gather dust and resentment until your loved one can sneak them out into the hard rubbish collection behind your back.

The one exception: a bicycle cake. Because we always like cake.

IN CONCLUSION

If your bike riding person hasn’t explicitly requested a specific make, model, size, wattage, lumen count or fabric weight, don’t guess.

Go for the safe wins—comfort, recovery, food, socks, vouchers—rather than having your lovingly chosen gift quietly migrate to the bin as soon as the tinsel’s down.

FAQ: Gifts for Bike Riders

Q: What's the best gift for a cyclist who has everything?

A: Go for consumables they'll actually use: sunscreen, chamois cream, cafe vouchers, or a luxury towel. These aren't bike parts they already own, but practical items that will enhance their riding and recovery time.

Q: What should you not buy a cyclist?

A: Avoid bike computers, lights, tools and bike-themed decor. It's easy to get the wrong thing. (That goes for clothing, too!) Stick to consumables or vouchers instead.

Q: What do Australian cyclists want for Christmas?

A: Australian cyclists appreciate practical gifts like quality sunscreen (especially after Choice's testing revealed many brands fail), merino socks for year-round comfort, and cafe vouchers to fuel their rides. 'Cause we're a hungry bunch.

Q: How much should I spend on a gift for a bike rider?

A: Good cycling gifts range from $15 (spiky ball, merino socks) to $100+ (luxury towels, bike shop vouchers). The sweet spot is $30-50 for items like sunscreen packs, chamois cream, or cafe vouchers. But no bike rider would ever say no to more vouchers. Just puttin' it out there...