2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Tools for mountain bikers
Winter time is a good time for the enthusiast mountain biker to upgrade or tune-up their favorite ride. Cold, rainy days offer the chance to stay inside, sip some warm cocoa and wrench. With that in mind, here are a few gift suggestions for the DIY cyclist and a few gift suggestions to help them when they are out on the trail as well.
Lezyne RAP 21 LED
Lezyne has come up with a cool twist on their popular line of RAP multi-tools. New for this year, they have added a compact 1 lumen LED light tool tip. The Lezyne RAP 21 LED light body is made of CNC machined aluminum and is activated by a on-off twist operation. If you ever get stuck on the trail after dark without your lights, this just might do the trick. Don’t want to carry something this big? The RAP LED also comes in a RAP 15 and RAP 7 version. $34.99
Park Tool – IR-1 Internal Routing Kit
Internal cable routing looks trick and helps keep a bike’s lines nice and sleek. But when it comes time to change or upgrade your cables, internal routing can be a real pain. Park Tool’s new IR-1 Internal Routing Kit comes to the rescue. It uses magnets to easily route your internal cables. The kit includes 3 unique fittings designed to thread electrical cables, brake and shifter cables and housings, and liners. The design is simple yet effective. $59.95
Bontrager – TLR Flash Charger floor pump
From the very first time we laid eyes upon the TLR Flash Charger, we knew it was something special. We have been using this Bontrager pump with great success, as it makes seating tubeless tires a breeze. You pump up the “charge” and then release it all at once in a “flash”. No noisy compressor needed. $119.99
Effetto Mariposa – Espresso Doppio
Espresso Doppio isn’t something to drink before your ride (okay, maybe it is, but not this one). Here, we are referring to the double-size inflate and repair canister made by Italian brand Effetto Mariposa. The 125ml cartridge is designed to fill large volume MTB tires which makes it a ride saver if you slash a sidewall during a ride. The Espresso Doppio uses the same formula as Effetto Mariposa’s popular Caffelatex, so the sealant can last up to 3 to 6 months. $17.95
Fix It Sticks – T-handle multi-tool
Fix It Sticks are a unique alternative to the traditional multi-tool. Two metal handles and a handful of bits come together to form a T-shaped problem solver that’s great for dealing with road- or trail-side repairs. $35
Folding Saw & Folding Shovel
Winter riding means wet conditions and wind, which sometimes combine to cause downed trees or debris. Perhaps not as useful as a Mattock or McLeod but a lot easier to carry, a folding saw and folding shovel can help when there is trail damage that needs to be cleared. But remember to avoid IMBA’s 10 Most Common Trail Building Mistakes. What’s rule #1? Always get the land managers permission before doing any trail clearing or building. $20-$25 at Home Depot/Lowe’s/OSH
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