2018 Holiday Gift Guide: Biking bling

Seven gift ideas for the biking enthusiast in your family

Triathlon Magazine December 12, 2018

When it comes to gear and toys, nothing seems to get a triathlete more excited than the thought of adding a new gadget to their biking arsenal. We have some suggestions for you:

Garneau Tri Air Lite – $400

Garneau’s X-Comfort technology is designed to expand as your feet expand, preventing the tingling, numbness, hotspots and other issues triathletes often struggle with. (Care for a ride down the Queen K on Hawaii’s Big Island anyone?) The special expandable zone can stretch up to five millimetres to ensure you’ll be comfortable on long rides no matter whether you are riding in Hawaii or Canada. You get a snug fit comfort in a high-tech shoe (Lionel Sanders helped with the design) that offers a wide opening, easily adjustable velcro straps and Icefil arch supports.

Lazer Wasp Air Tri – $400

Going fast is one thing, but getting to T2 first doesn’t exactly help if your head feels like it’s in a sauna. The 375 g Wasp Air Tri is designed to provide the best aerodynamics while also providing enough ventilation to keep you cool during even the warmest races. There’s an Aquaport at the top of the helmet that even allows you to cool down by squirting water into the helmet, along with a front ventilation grid that draws air around your head. You can even move the integrated lens forward for an extra bit of airflow, too. The airflow across your head helps keep things cool, while the Turnfit retention system keeps the helmet snug and comfortable on your head.

Pearl Izumi Men’s Elite Escape – AmFIB Jacket – $250

This super-warm, water-resistant jacket uses Pearl Izumi’s AmFib technology to provide lots of breathability, while the strategically placed thermal panels in the back help keep you warm and dry. The drop-tail hem helps protect you from road spray, while the zip back pockets securely store gear.

Pioneer Dura-Ace Dual Leg – Power Meter Crankset – $1,700

Thanks to the Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity, Pioneer’s Dual Leg Power Meter will give you all the information you need whether you’re hammering through a Zwift session or killing it out on the road. Set up is a breeze thanks to the Cyclo-Sphere Control App and you get independent data for your left and right legs. This impressive crank can even tell you how efficient you’re pedalling if you pair the crank with a Pioneer or Wahoo computer.

Related: Review: Vector 3 pedals

PowerTap P1 Pedals – $1,080

Now, you can easily get power from a number of different bikes by simply switching out your pedals. The P1 Pedals provide precise power measurement from both legs along with lots of other metrics to help you analyze your pedal stroke in fine detail. The simple one-piece design is easy to attach to any crank and, thanks to the Ant+ and Bluetooth compatibility, you can use the P1 pedal with pretty much any head unit and smart trainer.

Garmin 520 Plus – $380

Garmin leads the way when it comes to GPS training computers and it’s easy to see why with the Edge 520 Plus. For those who like to compete both in races and while training, preloaded Strava Live segments allow you to take on your previous-best times or the splits from others. You can follow a route easily thanks to the Garmin Cycle map and even communicate with others thanks to LiveTrack and GroupTrack, smart notifications and rider-to-rider messaging. Combined with a power meter and a heart rate strap this super-computer will monitor your VO2 max, Functional Threshold Power (FTP) and pedalling efficiency. The bright screen is easy to read and the computer will run for up to 15 hours on a charge.

Specialized Air Tool Road Mini – $40

As fast as filling a tube up using a CO2 cartridge might be, there are definite advantages to carrying a pump along with you when you ride – you get lots of uses out of a pump versus the one-time-and-done cartridge and you can also take the pump with you on the plane when you pack your bag for your next race or training camp. The Air Tool Road Mini is tiny enough to fit in a saddle bag but still can get a whopping 100 psi into your tire and does it in a hurry thanks to the double-chamber design. You even get an integrated tube spool and tire lever so you’ll be completely organized and ready for your next flat.