2021 MTB Gift Guide

10 MTB Gifts

Under $150 to improve your ride experience!

On Black Friday I made a post to encourage you to think about the following 3 ideas before you make a purchase:

Will it bring you joy?
Who are you supporting?
Where will it be in 45 years?

We vote with our dollars as much, if not more, than our ballots. Before you make a purchase, think about if it will truly be used and enjoyed, who is behind the company (who are you giving your money to) and will that item be gathering dust or sitting in the landfill in 45+ years. In general, I promote the gift of experiences over things. For example, this year my wife and I will each take one day in December and orchestrate a day of fun for the other person. The idea is to plan an entire day of activities together that will be enjoyable for both people. But… sometimes you still need to fill that stocking or stick a box under a tree and things are nice to have. Below, please find my list of 10 items I recommend for 2021. The parameters were the items needed to be under $150 and improve your ride quality. They are in no particular order, but are all items I use on a regular basis. I hope you find it helpful:)

Merino Wool Jersey

Not much beats a quality wool jersey. They keep you warm when wet, sweat wicks away from your skin, you can wear them for days on end without smelling like an onion patch, and their next to skin comfort is hard to beat (as long as you’re not allergic)! While there are a number of excellent merino wool manufacturers available, the one I’m going to direct you to is a small local business: SeamofLife This is a one woman show, owned and operated by Morgan Kurz. She puts her heart and soul into every piece and is constantly refining her templates to improve your ride experience. If you haven’t checked her out, I highly recommend the Tech T or a custom pair of boy shorts if you’re ready to ditch the chamois! Prices start at $90.

2. Movement Practice

This could be yoga, strength training, or dance. But have some sort of a movement practice and routine to incorporate into your weekly schedule other than riding your bike! If all you do is bike, you are going to have tight hips, weak abs, muscular imbalances, and most likely experience pain in your lower back or shoulders. Incorporating a different sort of movement is also good for your brain and will help you to be more balanced on the bike and improve your reaction time. You know I’m biased towards strength training, and if you’re looking for a strength routine I’ve got two great online options for you with my *build*TEAM and *build*SOLO classes. But honestly, any movement practice will provide you with huge benefits both on and off the bike:) $38-$75 depending on your selection.

3. Stasher Bags

If you haven’t yet, check out the How I Built This podcast on Stasher bags. The reusable bags are made from silicone and are perfect for all your trail snacks from dried fruit and cookies, to chocolate covered espresso beans and gummy bears. They come in fun colors, a variety of sizes, and are great for at home use too! $20-$100+ depending on size, style, and quantity.

4. Tubolito

When was the last time you used a tube to fix a flat? If you’re running modern tires with a tubeless system, chances are it’s been so long since you’ve fixed a flat you may be concerned you’ve lost the skill. Despite the lengthy times between flats, I’m still not comfortable heading out for a ride without a backup tube stashed either on my bike or in my pack. The tubolito is the perfect solution for that JIC scenario. It’s lightweight nature makes it almost disappear in your pack and if you have a burrito pocket in your bike you can fit a tubolito, CO2, AND a snack! ~$35 available online and at local bike shops.

5. Tubeless Tire Repair Kit (aka Plugs)

Returning to the theme of flats, one of the reasons I haven’t actually used a tube in years is the efficacy and convenience of plugs! If you are running a modern tubeless setup and get a flat, most of the time it’s fixable with a plug. These blew my mind and also terrified me when I first encountered them. Today, I will routinely ride a tire with 1-3 plugs they work so well! There are a number of different brands depending on what you’re looking for, but they more or less all do the same thing. They plunge a sticky bit of rope or thread into the hole of your tire and plug any escaping air. Barring a large sidewall slash, you can fix most flats with one or two plugs! I have zero brand loyalty and have used the following: Blackburn, Dynaplug, Genuine Innovations. ($20-$30)

6. Lightweight Jacket. AKA: The Patagonia Houdini

A good lightweight jacket is a must for my gear arsenal. When weather is unpredictable, days are short, or you’re riding into the alpine, temperatures can change quickly. Patagonia offers two different weights of their Houdini jacket: the air and regular, and they are both well worth the money. They pack up into the size of a honey crisp apple and add solid wind protection in the event of weather moving in or a fast descent after a sweaty climb. Add the jacket over a T-shirt or long sleeve and the warmth gained feels much greater than what you’d expect from both the weight and size of the jacket. Hence the name, Houdini! $99-$169.

7. Suspension Service

When was the last time you had your suspension serviced? Routine service recommendations will vary depending on the suspension manufacturer, but for most people I know, you should have your suspension serviced at least once a year. If you ride a lot, twice a year. Fox recommends every 125 hrs or yearly, whichever comes first. Rockshox recommends servicing your fork every 50 hrs of ride time. While a suspension service may sound intimidating and expensive. It mostly comes down to replacing seals, foam or dust rings, and changing out the oil. The cost should run you between $65-$150 and will make your fork feel like new! Winter is a great time to perform suspension work because you’re most likely not riding as much, and bike shops are aren’t as slammed.

8. Grips!

For the person who has it all, a new set of grips is a great gift. We are living in the golden age of grips where they come in all sorts of fun colors. I am of course partial to Ergon, and the GE1 Evo Slim’s are my absolute fav, but there are lots of great options (and colors) to choose from. $30-$50

9. Leatherman Squirt

This is my go-to tool that I carry in addition to my OneUp that lives in my stem. The squirt has a knife, scissors, AND pliers which you can use in a pinch;) It’s so small you’ll hardly know it’s there. I’ve used the scissors to trim mole skin or gauze, the knife to slice an apple or other snacks, and the pliers to trim shift cables. $39.99 available on Amazon.

10. First Aid Kit

I wrote an entire post on what’s in my first aid kit and since I’m big on giving experiences over gifts anyway, you could choose to make your own first aid kit with your kids or loved one. But at the very least, please please please just buy a simple first aid kit to carry with you. REI has a basic kit that will run you $28.95 and is an excellent starting place.