I’m never one to do today what can be put off until tomorrow, especially when it comes to shopping for gifts during the holidays. Just look how late I waited to pick out a Christmas Tree.
To help those who are like minded, I’ve put together a brief list of gifts I would think any utility cyclist would enjoy.
2009 Cute Commute Calendar
Price: $15
Where: Mellow Johnny’s, Jack and Adams, Pure Austin, Whole Foods (in Austin), Whole Earth Provisions, and Progress Coffee or order directly from Marsha Ungchusri at bikeaustin at gmail dot com
Local fit chick cyclists and Jack and Adams staffer Marsha Ungchusri put together this great high quality, glossy 14 month calendar of Austin women and their bikes. My wife calls it “one part pin up calendar, one part girl power.” It’s very well done and appropriate for cyclists, man or woman. Get one while they last.
City Cycling by Richard Ballantine
Price: $19.95
Where: Finer bookstores
For those just getting into cycling for transportation, this is a great book overall. I don’t necessary agree with his bike recommendations, but Richard Ballatine has put a lot of thought into this book to help those who want to start biking to get places. Highlights include strategies for picking a bike and securing it, getting the right accessories, dealing with traffic, and basic bike repair. I found the last two areas especially well written. This is a great addition to our Getting Started series for new and old cyclists alike.
The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles by Jan Heine, Photography by Jean-Pierre Praderes
Price: $60
Where: Finer local bike shops or online from Bicycle Quarterly
They don’t build them like they used to. For those who think steel is real and carbon is overrated, this is the book of bike porn for you. The editor of Bicycle Quarterly, (formerly Vintage Bicycle Quarterly) takes his encyclopedic knowledge of French touring bikes and adds it to loving shot color pictures, including close ups. Look for a more detailed review on Austin Bike Blog in the coming weeks.
Momentum Magazine
Price: One year subscription (6 issue), $19.95
Where: Subscribe online at Momentum Magazine
This Vancouver based magazine focuses on urban utility cycling in a way no other magazine does. With useful tips, interesting interviews, and product reviews, this is required reading for anyone wanting to get more out of cycling for transportation.
Charitable Donations to worthy bike causes
Austin Yellowbike Project
Price: Anything you are willing to give
Where: Donate online
World Bicycle Relief
Price: $134 buys a bike for an African heathcare worker, but any amount accepted.
Where: Donate online
Have someone who is impossible to get a gift for? Why not make a charitable donation in their name and honor the true meaning of the season, whether locally or globally. Austin Yellowbike Project refurbishes bikes to donate to those who can’t afford them, including hundreds to Austin children. After the building that housed their workshop was torn down, the City of Austin partnered with YBP to provide land for a new workshop. They are raising the $250,000 they need to build it with over half of the money raised. World Bicycle Relief is a nonprofit providing bikes to African healthcare workers. Having already placed close to 50,000 bikes across the world in just four years, the program helps healthcare workers get to more patients every day by effectively quadrupling the distance they cover walking.
We hope this helps, and Happy Holidays.
Related posts:
0 Comments on “Last minute gifts for the transportation cyclist”
Leave a Comment