Cyclocross season is winding down in much of the U.S. and that means the holiday season, or Crossmas, is upon us. With Thanksgiving relatively late this year, we got on top of things and put together the first of our 2019 Holiday Gift Guides a bit early this year.
We take a look at some items we have personally used and reviewed during the past year we think could make good gifts for the favorite cyclocross and/or gravel enthusiast in your life. Our first guide has a mix of tech items, bikes, stocking stuffers and clothes.
Use the Next button to scroll through each.
Stocking Stuffer: A Better Bottle
Specialized has deservedly become the dominant force in water bottles, and your cycling loved ones likely has one or a dozen in their cupboards. But there just might be a better bottle for your main gravel-loving squeeze or cyclocross-racing buddy.
Not all bottles are created equal. The Soma Fab Further bottle carries a whopping 38 oz, the CamelBak Dirt Podium bottle keeps the dirt off thanks to its Mud Cap, and the Elite Fly 550ml bottle is ultralight and carries just enough for your cyclocross race. © Cyclocross Magazine
And all three are affordable and perfectly-sized stocking stuffers that make it possible for you to ensure every teammate or family member stays properly hydrated.
Soma Fabrications Further Bottle
If your gravel-crazed loved one often heads out for a real gravel grind, and doesn’t want to weigh her back down with a hydration pack, the Soma Fab Further bottle might be just what the doctor ordered. Carrying a whopping 38 oz of a favorite beverage, the Further bottle dwarfs the standard “big” bottle by 46% extra fluid capacity.
The Soma Fab 38 oz. Further Bottle carries 46% more than a standard “big” bottle. © Cyclocross Magazine
Throw two or three on a bike and go further. The 30cm-tall bottle fits in all but the smallest frames, features a graduated index to help the lucky recipient measure out mixes, and comes in a clear LDPE-free plastic that reveals how much of her hydration is left.
Soma Fab 38 oz. Further Bottle. © Cyclocross Magazine
More info: somafab.com
Fly Elite 550ml Bottle
While a giant 38oz bottle might help your loved one ride further, what if he only wants to ride in crooked circles around a park? The 58-gram Fly Elite bottle is the perfect bottle for the cyclocross racer in your life when handups are a crime, or when you’re lucky to be sleeping in.
The Elite Fly 550 bottle is ultralight, carries just 18oz, and might be sized perfectly for a cyclocross race.
The ultralight, ultra-squeezable bottle carries just 18 oz of fluid, which might be just about right when for 45-60 minutes of effort.
More info: elite-it.com or buy on performancebike.com
CamelBak Podium Dirt Series Bottle
Maybe you think size doesn’t matter, but cleanliness and health do? Give the gift of both with a CamelBak Dirt Series Bottle with a Mud Cap. We’ve found ourselves reaching for Podium Dirt Series bottles when we know we’re heading out for muddy, dirty or dusty rides. Doesn’t that describe all the fun rides?
CamelBak’s Podium Dirt water bottle keeps things clean during muddy cyclocross and dusty gravel. © Cyclocross Magazine
CamelBak’s Mud Cap adds a layer of protection to keep your hydration cleaner. Sure, it adds a manual step to taking a sip, but it also helps the rider avoid wasting precious drops in an attempt to squirt away dirt, or worse, dung.
CamelBak has recently redesigned its Podium bottles with updates over the pictured model, but the Dirt Series still boasts Chill insulated ($17) and non-insulated options ($13), and both come with the Mud Cap.
Give the joy of muddy or dusty riding, without the taste of it.
More info: camelbak.com or buy on competitivecyclist.com
