Christmas Gifts for Cyclists NZ: Trev's 2026 Gift Guide

Posted by Trevor Barrett on

Buying for a cyclist is hard. We already own three of everything, we're fussy about the stuff we don't own, and half of it comes in sizes you'd have to sneak into the garage to check.

So I've sorted it for you. These are gifts I'd be stoked to unwrap myself, split by budget, from stocking fillers right up to "you really love them". I'm just a regular bloke who loves riding, and I've spent most of this year training for Taupō, so a fair bit of this list has been road tested on my own legs.

Still stuck? Skip to the gift cards at the bottom. Nobody's ever been disappointed by one of those.

— Trev

Christmas shipping cut-off: order by Friday 18 December for NZ delivery before Christmas. Rural addresses can take a little longer, so get in early. Missed it? A gift card lands instantly by email.

Stocking fillers under $50

This is the stuff every rider goes through and never minds getting more of.

Trev's pick: Skratch Labs Sport Hydration Drink Mix 440g — $38

This is what I've been drinking through my Taupō training. It's flavoured with real fruit, has less sugar than the neon stuff and sits well on my stomach on long, hot rides. It comes in Mango, Oranges, Strawberry Lemonade, Lemon + Lime, and a caffeinated Lemon + Lime for the early starts.

Trev's pick: Squirt Chain Lube — from $5

The chain lube I keep coming back to. It's a biodegradable wax lube that doesn't pick up dirt, and you don't need to degrease between applications. The 15ml bottle ($5) fits in a stocking, and the 120ml ($24.95) will last them all summer.

Squirt Biodegradable Bike Cleaner — $24

A spray bottle with 3 concentrate sachets to go with the lube. It's a mild, biodegradable degreaser and bike wash, so there's no excuse for a filthy bike after the holidays.

Sweet Cheeks Butt Butter — $10.95 (15g) / $29.95 (100g)

Anti-chafe cream handmade in Wānaka from natural oils, beeswax and cocoa butter. Not the most glamorous gift, but anyone doing long summer rides will thank you.

Sweet Cheeks Butt Butter is a natural anti-chafing cream

Magicshine SeeMee20 V2 Rear Light — $25

An 18g, 20-lumen tail light that's small enough to live on the bike permanently. It's a cheap safety upgrade every road rider should have on.

Tineli Core Navy Aero Gloves — $49.95

Lightweight, vented summer gloves with good bar feel rather than bulky padding, plus a terry thumb for wiping away sweat. Sizes XS–XXL.

Gifts $50–$150

This is proper kit that makes summer riding better.

Tineli summer jerseys — $119–$145

Tineli's new summer range is about as good as it gets for hot Kiwi days. All of them have breathable Vent fabric, a full-length zip and a silicone hem grip so the jersey stays put.

Not sure of their size? A gift card covers it, and they can pick their own.

Magicshine Allty Mini Combo — $99

A front and rear light set in one box: the 300-lumen Allty Mini up front and the SeeMee20 V2 on the back. It's ideal for commuters and early-morning riders.

Bryton training sensors — $69.95–$99.95

If they've got a bike computer, these give them better data. The Smart Heart Rate Monitor ($69.95) shows how hard they're actually working. The Smart Speed & Cadence Sensor Set ($99.95) is magnet-free and works over ANT+ and Bluetooth.

Bryton Rider 17 GPS Bike Computer — $125

A compact, easy GPS computer for speed, distance and ride tracking with no complicated setup. It's a great first bike computer.

Skratch Labs Sport Hydration 20-pack — $79

The same mix I use, in 20 single-serve 22g packets. They're easy to stash in a jersey pocket or a bag for summer road trips.

Tyres: Hutchinson Caracal Race ($110) or Blackbird ($95)

For the gravel rider, the Caracal Race is Hutchinson's fast-rolling race gravel tyre, in 700 x 40, 45 or 50, black or tan. For the roadie, the Blackbird is their fastest road tyre, in 700 x 26, 28 or 30. Have a sneaky look at their current tyres first.

Supacaz Super Sticky Kush Bar Tape — $60

Fresh bar tape is the cheapest way to make a bike feel new. It's grippy and cushioned without feeling bulky, with road and 3.2mm gravel versions.

Big gifts: $150–$500

These are the ones that get a proper "oh, you shouldn't have".

Bryton GPS bike computers — $230–$495

There's one for every type of rider. The Rider 550 ($230) and Rider 650 ($320, touchscreen) have 2.8" colour screens. The Rider S810 ($495) goes big with a 3.5" touchscreen, proper navigation and up to 50 hours of battery. Not sure which? Read our Bryton GPS buying guide.

Bryton cycling computer display on a white background

Rear radar: Bryton Gardia R300L ($199) or Magicshine SeeMee R300 ($250)

These are radar tail lights that warn you when a car is coming up behind. The Gardia picks up vehicles from up to 190m and alerts you on a compatible bike computer or its app. The SeeMee R300 detects vehicles from up to 140m. On busy Kiwi roads, it's the most thoughtful gift on this list.

Xplova Mini Electric Bike Pump - $129

Say goodbye to wrestling with a pump! Simply set your desired pressure (in PSI or BAR) on the crisp digital LCD display, and the MP1 will inflate your tyres precisely

Dream gifts: $500 and up

For when they've been very, very good this year (or you're shopping for yourself).

Favero Assioma power meter pedals — from $860

The simplest way to add power to a bike. They're pedals, so there's no crank swap.

If they've started talking about watts, this is the gift.

OROME Valar 50mm Carbon Disc Wheelsets — $1,800–$1,999

New wheels are the upgrade riders feel straight away. These are 50mm wave-profile carbon disc wheelsets, available as the CS50A ($1,800) or CS50D ($1,999).

Build their dream bike — framesets from $1,799 + $800 build

Start with an Elves carbon frameset, either the Eglath ARX all-road ($1,799) or the Mori GTX endurance gravel ($1,899). Then I'll build it up with the parts they want through our Custom Bike Build Service ($800). Get in touch and we'll work it out together.

Not sure? Get a Trev's gift card

If you don't know their size, their tyre width or whether they ride road or gravel, a gift card is the safe bet. They pick exactly what they want, and it arrives by email, so it's perfect if you've left it late.

Trev's Cycle Shop Gift Card — $10, $25, $50, $100, $300, $500 or $1,000

Gift guide FAQ

What do you buy a cyclist who has everything?
Consumables. Every rider gets through chain lube, hydration mix and chamois cream, so they'll always use more. Start with the stocking fillers above.

What's a good gift for a cyclist under $50?
Skratch hydration mix ($38), Squirt Chain Lube (from $5), Sweet Cheeks Butt Butter (from $10.95), a Magicshine SeeMee20 rear light ($25) or Tineli Aero Gloves ($49.95).

What's the best safety gift for a road cyclist?
A rear radar like the Bryton Gardia R300L ($199) or Magicshine SeeMee R300 ($250). For a smaller budget, the Magicshine Allty Mini Combo light set ($99).

When's the last day to order for Christmas?
Order by Friday 18 December for NZ delivery before Christmas. After that, a gift card is your best bet because it's delivered instantly by email.

I don't know their size. What should I do?
Go for a non-sized gift like lube, nutrition, lights or a bike computer, or grab a gift card so they can choose.

Merry Christmas, and see you out on the road this summer. — Trev


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