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Holiday Gift Guide: The best gifts for gravel riders

By Bruce Lin

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Gravel cyclist holiday gift guideWe’ve all been there, trapped inside, unwrapping another pair of socks that we’ll never wear. It makes you want to tear off that itchy holiday sweater, jump on your bike, and disappear down a faraway gravel road. That’s why I made this super special gravel gift guide featuring products that gravel riders actually want. 

Maybe you can surreptitiously leave your browser open to this page during your next ride. Or, if you’re the one snooping around, this will help you find the perfect gift for the gravel rider in your life. Pick something here, or check out our full gravel gift collection, and you’ll be sure to find the perfect gift for miles of unpaved roads. 

SHOP GRAVEL BIKES | SHOP THE GRAVEL GIFT COLLECTION

Panaracer GravelKing tires

Panaracer GravelKing SKPanaracer GravelKing SK 700x38mm Brown - $49.99 
Panaracer GravelKing SK 700x38mm Black - $49.99 
Panaracer GravelKing SK 700x43mm Brown - $49.99 
Panaracer GravelKing SK 700x43mm Black - $49.99
Panaracer GravelKing SK 700x50mm Brown - $49.99 
Panaracer GravelKing SK 650x48mm Brown - $49.99
Panaracer GravelKing SK 650x53mm Brown - $52.99

The name says it all: GravelKing. I’ve tried out a lot of gravel tires, and I always return to Panaracer’s GravelKing SK. They’re made in Japan and have low rolling resistance thanks to a supple casing and a tightly packed center tread. Long rectangular side-knobs give you plenty of cornering grip on loose surfaces but don’t squirm when leaned over hard on pavement. Plus, you can get them with classy brown sidewalls. The 43mm-wide 700c version is the most popular, but GravelKings are available in plenty of sizes to suit different bikes and terrain. 

SHOP TIRES

ENVE AG gravel wheels

ENVE AG25 AG28 ENVE AG25 Disc 700c wheelset - $1,599.99 
ENVE AG28 Disc 650b wheelset - $1,599.99

Carbon wheels have always been my favorite upgrade because they make any bike feel faster. At under two grand, ENVE’s AG Series gravel wheels are an incredible value, especially since they are made in America, super-light, and have many of the same features as ENVE’s top-of-the-line G Series gravel wheels. My favorite feature is the “wide hookless bead,” which protects your tubeless tires from pinch flats. I tested this wide hookless bead on ENVE’s AM30 wheels, and it really works!

SHOP WHEELS

Radavist water bottles

Radavist water bottlesOD Green - $20.00 
Sign Painter Stucco - $20.00 
Sillycybin - $25.00
Shred Lighty - $25.00

Every cyclist needs more water bottles. These ultra-fresh Radavist water bottles use Purist bottle technology to shield the inside from bad flavors, mold, and stains. On the outside, they have colorful designs to match the beautiful landscapes they will help you discover. The Radavist is pretty much synonymous with gravel, so any of their products will make perfect gifts. If you’re interested in more Radavist merch, be sure to check out The Radavist shop

SHOP WATER BOTTLES | SHOP THE RADAVIST 

GPS head units

Garmin Edge 830 Edge 1030 Plus Hammerhead Karoo2Garmin Edge 830 - $399.99
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus - $599.99 
Hammerhead Karoo 2 - $399.00

When exploring remote gravel roads, it helps to have a good GPS head unit. Not only can you upload pre-planned routes and get turn-by-turn directions, but you can find new trails, navigate unfamiliar areas, pace climbs, and record all of your ride data to enhance the post-ride experience (I see you looking at Strava). You can’t go wrong with the benchmark-setting Garmin Edge 830 or 1030 Plus, but I’ve been playing around with the new Hammerhead Karoo 2 and love the vibrant touch screen, Android-based operating system, and depth of features.

SHOP BIKE COMPUTERS

Mavic Allroad Gravel shoes

Mavic Allroad Elite Pro gravel shoesMavic Allroad Elite Black/Magnet - $131.99 
Mavic Allroad Elite Teal /Majolica - $131.99 
Mavic Allroad Pro Black/Magnet - $219.99

Ultra-stiff shoes are great for racing, but most gravel adventurers are better served by a shoe that balances performance, comfort, and style. These Mavic Allroad Elite shoes check all the right boxes. The Energy Carbon Comp sole transmits every watt into the pedals while providing enough flex to keep your feet happy on long and rough rides. The classic lace closure looks good and lets you fine-tune the fit. Upgrade to the Allroad Pro shoe and you get a Matryx technology upper which uses a special blend of Kevlar and polyamide that is lighter, abrasion resistant, breathable, and quick-drying. 

SHOP FOOTWEAR

Pedals

Race Face Chester Crank Brothers Candy Garmin Rally XC100 XC200 pedalsRace Face Chester - $54.99
Crank Brothers Candy 1 - $59.99 
Garmin Rally XC100 - $699.99 
Garmin Rally XC200 - $1,199.99

Gravel doesn’t have any hard and fast rules, so ride flat pedals if that’s your thing! The Race Face Chester is our most popular flat pedal and it’s easy to see why. It’s affordable, lightweight, and comes in a plethora of colors to accent any bike. If you’d rather clip in, some prefer Shimano, but I always stick with the classic Crank Brothers Candy. If you’re a data geek or a racer, the Garmin Rally pedals are the easiest way to add a power meter to any gravel bike. Choose the single-sided XC100 for an affordable power meter or the dual-sided XC200 for the most accurate data. 

SHOP PEDALS

Lizard Skins DSP handlebar tape

Lizard Skins DSP handlebar tapeLizard Skins DSP 2.5mm - $41.99 
Lizard Skins DSP 3.2mm - $43.99 
Lizard Skins DSP Olive Green - $39.99 
Lizard Skins DSP Chocolate Brown - $39.99

I like to get sendy, but my fragile office-worker hands take a beating. Lizard Skins DSP handlebar tape is one of the best ways to take the edge off of rough gravel roads. DSP tape is made from a shock-absorbing polymer that’s grippy and durable. The 2.5mm thickness is perfect for most riders, but for tackling the super rough stuff, I like to add maximum cushion with the 3.2mm tape. You can choose from the standard colors, or add some Radavist-like style with earth tones like Olive Green and Chocolate Brown. 

SHOP HANDLEBAR TAPE AND GRIPS

Bike tools

Gravel bike toolsGenuine Innovations Tubeless Tackle repair kit - $26.99
Lezyne Pressure Drive - $49.99 
SILCA Italian Army Knife Nove - $35.00
SILCA Italian Army Knife Tredici - $40.00
SILCA Italian Army Knife Venti - $50.00

Nothing ruins the perfect gravel ride like a mechanical, so dial in your emergency kit to make roadside repairs a breeze. The Genuine Innovation Tubeless Tackle plugs punctures in an instant. Inflation is easy with the powerful Lezyne Pressure Drive, which I consider to be the best hand pump in the world. Then, fix any loose bolts, twisted bars, or broken chains with a versatile SILCA Italian Army Knife multi-tool. 

SHOP BIKE TOOLS

Hopefully, these gift ideas make your holiday season nice and gravelly. If you didn’t find what you’re looking for, be sure to check the full gravel gift collection. And stay tuned for even more gift guides.  

More Holiday Gift Guides:

MTB GEAR | WORKSHOP UPGRADES | WINTER KIT | ROADIE GIFTS | ZWIFT GIFTS

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