A quick one for the Mountain Bikers of the .org

[Dappa D]

its my little brothers birthday on wednesday (25!)

ive heard he bought a GT something or other mountain bike last week for about £400 and is right into mountainbiking at the mo.

so any ideas for a good gift relevant to MTB, for about £15 - £20?


Many thanks

Tight Wad;)

edit - boogar ment to put this in IB!

[Luckypants]

A bike computer?

[Dappa D]

helloo ther, whats a bike computer LP? is it like a mileage/speed thing? (please excuse my ignorance!)

[Scoobs]

A bike computer?

+1 good idea.

[Scoobs]

helloo ther, whats a bike computer LP? is it like a mileage/speed thing? (please excuse my ignorance!)

Yeppity yep.

[keithd]

yep, go with that. in halfrauds they range from about £8 - that'll give you ODO, speed, time, average this that and the others.

spend a few more quids worth of pounds and it'll do all sorts, distance, time, speed, menstruation cycle,

thumbs up lennie

[Dappa D]

nice cheers lads...great idea...thats his prezzie sorted along with a book of national cycle trials as suggested by venom via PM, thanks all :-)

[Magnum]

Lizard skins are a good buy to protect the chainstay. They are under a tenner.
http://lizardskins.com/products/view_product.html?type=mountain&product_line=chainstays&product_id=15&name=Jumbo%20Chainstay&name2=&page_number=1

You can also get a range of gloves well in that price range, which he will need on a mountain bike.
This is the best website ever for anything mountain bike related http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/

Cleaning products are also essential, such as chain cleaners, chain lube and 'muc off' http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=520

If youve already bought him something, then maybe other people in your family could buy hime some of that stuff.

[Dappa D]

cheers magnum, spoke to my mum and he already has the computer thingy so im going with the book, a bottle and holder and gloves are a good shout..cheers

[MrTom]

If he's 'right into moutain biking' then I suspect a bike computer won't be of much use.
They are all very well for road riding and pottering about, but if he's into moutainbiking seriously then a computer is just cluttering up the handlebar, and is one more thing to break on a rock. Also I can't think of any useful info a computer will give during a ride that's relavant to mountain biking. I don't know many people who have one.

If he's just getting into it (I suspect he is - there are bikes for waaaay more than £400!!) then perhaps he doesn't have a decent multi tool or pump yet.

Topeak Alien is usually thought highly of http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1616

And this just back in your budget http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11318

Or how about putting some money towards decent padded shorts. Even the baggy brigade wear them underneath.

[Dappa D]

MrT, yea he just starting out fella, he's got the shorts, cleaning stuff and multitool and a pump (bought with the bike along with the computer i have now been informed)

I wanted to surprise him but when my mum said he had all this i gave in and called him to ask what he wanted, he wants a water bottle and holder, so ill get this at halfords tonight along with some gloves and maybe a book......

I also asked what hes doing with it, he said early days all he has done so far is go along the cycle track from bristol to bath! lol .....bloody light weight!!! but hoping to do some trials/off road/downhill type stuff come summer time!

[El Saxo]

I'm just getting into MTB's too so I can think of couple of things he might want...

If you go with the book idea, how about this (http://www.rutlandcycling.com/2726/Park-Tool-Big-Blue-Book-Of-Bicycle-Repair-Second-Edition.html) - I plan to buy it to tell me how to repair all the stuff I break from falling off! :lol:

Either that or a hydration pack instead of the water bottle - I went out on a couple of rides and found the bottle wasn't quite enough water - I got very envious of my mate's hydration pack so I just bought one of these (http://www.rutlandcycling.com/10502/Hydrapak-AS-Cargo-Hydration-PAck.html). Only £30 and it means he can carry plenty of water as well as bits 'n' pieces like a spare innertube, multitool etc on longer rides.

[Dappa D]

looked at the hydration packs, look good (wouldnt mind one for ride outs on the sv!)...but he can get his own if he wants one down the line lol...was thinking that book, venom also suggested it so i might go with that over the routes book, cheers ES

[maviczap]

Camelbak hydration back pack is good, but something simple like the toppeak alien tool is very useful.

An underseat pack, with a puncture repair kit & a spare inner tube is another worthwile purchase

[speedplay]

A saddle pack with a spare tube, some tyre levers and some co2 cannisters is worth a shout too.

just read the whole thread and agree with above answer :)

[maviczap]

Has he got a helmet? After what happened to Natasha Richardson makes sense to wear one mountainbiking.

[xXBADGERXx]

Crank Brothers Multitool , best £20 I ever spent
http://media.rei.com/media/963687.jpg

[urbane1]

Bar ends, they really help when climbing

[MrTom]

Bar ends, they really help when climbing

Just beware of the fashion police telling you they're sooo '90s!

[xXBADGERXx]

Just beware of the fashion police telling you they're sooo '90s!


Only if they are Purple Anodised :smt026

[urbane1]

Oh no. you've seen mine!