5 magazines’ top picks for holiday shopping lists

Popular cycle and sport publications offer product round-ups of their favourite choices as customers (and sport shops) count down to Christmas.

Outside Magazine – 2012 Holiday Gift Guide:

Lazer Effect snow helmet with GoPro mount – “It’s about time. The Lazer Effect helmet features an integrated GoPro mount, the first to do so. Score extra points with the budding Warren Miller on your list by giving the helmet and GoPro’s HD Hero2 camera ($300) as a pair.”

Feedback Sports Sprint work stand – “There’s no better time for ripping apart the bike, cleaning and lubing and checking it all over, and putting it back together again like new, than the holiday break between Christmas and New Year’s. And there’s no better stand for doing it with than the Sprint. This has all the great features of Feedback’s top-shelf stands (burly build, quick-release height adjustments, 360-degree rotation, super compact size when folded) with the added benefit of a fork-mount-style mounting system for added stability.”

Pedal Magazine – Annual Gift Guide 2012:

“Axiom Modular GrandTour Series panniers are waterproof and ultrasonically welded, not sewn, featuring Sonictech polyester construction for light weight and durability. Available in 60, 45 and 30-litre sizes.”

Canadian Cycling – Gift Guide:

DT Swiss RC 32 Wheels – “The budding racer will appreciate these carbon-fibre clinchers during long days in the saddle. The front wheel has radial lacing while the rear is two-cross. They have claimed weights of 660 g and 790 g, respectively. The freehub accommodates Shimano and SRAM 9- and 10-cog cassettes. It can also be upgraded to take an 11-cog unit. They are hand built in Switzerland. That racer will be impressed with the label, signed by the wheel builder, that comes with each wheel.”

49°N Bell – “This bell by 49°N combines safety and bling. It also has a flip-up review mirror, but it may see more use as a handlebar-mounted compact.”

Super B 29-Piece Tool Set – “Cone wrenches (13 mm, 14 mm, 15 mm and 17 mm), 15-mm pedal wrench, a freewheel remover for Shimano HG cassettes and a bottom bracket wrench are just some of the tools in the Super B kit. When the wrench on your list gets this gift…well, let’s just say you’ll be able to drop off your bike for repairs for a while. It’s almost as if the wrench should thank you for dropping off your bike too for the chance to put the tools to use.”

SRAM XX1 Drivetrain – “SRAM’s buzz-making XX1 gruppo is sure to be on the wish list of many mountain bikers this year. It’s elegantly simple: one chainring and 11 gears ranging from 10 to 42 teeth. Your mountain-biking friend can swap out the chainring to accommodate terrain or his or her fitness. The XX1’s simplicity also means a lighter system, especially with no front derailleur and associated cable, housing and shifter.”

Canadian Cyclist – 12 Days of Cycle Christmas Gift Guide:

Crankbrothers pump – “It is Day 2 of the 2012 Canadian Cyclist Gift Guide, and today we suggest … a new pump.  It may not seem like a very exciting gift, but it is one of the most useful things any cyclist can receive, especially if your giftee is still struggling with an older model.  Pumps have come a long way in the past few years, with greater gauge accuracy, lighter weight and faster inflation. Norco’s Axiom line has a number of excellent models, as does Specialized, Park Tools, Topeak and Blackburn.”

Women’s Cycling – Gifts for Christmas:

Park Tool pizza cutter wheel – “Cycling and food go hand in hand. Check out Park Tool’s pizza wheel for the cyclist who loves the kitchen as much as the saddle.”

For product information and availability, find a bike or sport dealer in Canada.