Cycling gear to get for the biker on your gift list

Find gifts for the cyclist in your life.

Do you have cyclists on your holiday shopping list? Maybe they’re serious racers or people who bike commute daily, rain or shine. Whether your biking loved one likes to careen down mountain trails, crunch the gravel, or glide down paved roads, there’s always an accessory or two to make the ride more fun. Which makes them blessedly easy to shop for. Or maybe if they’ve been really, really nice, Santa will buy them a brand-new bike.

Here are this year’s top picks for holiday gifts for bike lovers. From affordable add-ons to top-end bicycles, this gift guide full of cycling gear has you covered.

See it all in a weekend with these 6 one-day outdoor adventures

Spend all day outdoors.

As much as we might wish for it, most of us can’t be on vacation every day. For the majority of the year, we have to settle for making the most of our weekends. This presents a unique challenge for outdoorsy types. When you crave adventure, it can be difficult to fit all your activities into a day or two. This is where one-day adventures come in clutch.

If you want to maximize your free time, keep a bucket list of one-day outdoor excursions. Are you curious to try a new hiking trail? Add it to the list. Want to see a new side to your state’s scenery? Plan a day trip. And if you can’t decide which activity to try next, peruse this list of one-day outdoor adventures to keep your weekends fun and active.

Bike from Montana to Idaho on the Route of the Hiawatha

It’s a ride to remember.

Go on a bike ride to remember on the Route of the Hiawatha. Once the site of a historic railroad, this 15-mile biking and hiking trail travels a scenic path between Idaho and Montana. It’s the ideal location for a serene tour of picturesque forests. Plus, for curious adventurers, the region’s mysterious tunnels and past glories provide enough intrigue to fuel a weekend of exploration.

Before this trail became the Route of the Hiawatha, it was a railroad known as the Milwaukee Road. The line prospered in the 1800s, sailed through a massive forest fire in 1910, and eventually filed for bankruptcy in 1935 (and 1977). Today, cyclists can unravel these stories and more while traveling past miles of thriving trees and bright blue skies. Learn more about these iconic stories and sights with this photo guide to the Route of the Hiawatha.

The 12 best cycling trails in the United States

Put your helmet on and head out.

Racers, athletes, and hobbyists all love biking. Why? Aside from cycling’s numerous health and transportation benefits, the sport is simply a fun way to spend your time and explore the outdoors. If you love biking but want to shake up your routine, try going for a ride along some of America’s best cycling trails.

Check the air pressure on your tires and double-check those brakes because these biking paths will take you all over the country. Whether you like to ride through leafy green forests, along rocky mountainsides, or on clear and paved paths, this list has options for all kinds of riders. Get ready to find your new favorite cycling trail.

Oh, and don’t forget to deck out your bike with these great accessories.

Nonbinary cyclist Abi Robins helps change the world of gravel biking

Cycling for all.

Abi Robins is a pioneer in the gravel biking world. They were the first person to race in the nonbinary category of Unbound Gravel, a Kansas-based bike event. Robins also founded Queer Gravel, an organization helping to make the gravel biking world friendlier to queer and trans people through meetups, clinics, group rides, advocacy, and mutual aid.

In 2021, Unbound created its nonbinary category in response to anti-trans legislation throughout the United States. That year, Robins was the only one to show up for it. In 2022, 17 nonbinary riders competed. As biking events move toward inclusivity, Robins hopes more queer cyclists will feel welcomed.

A person from the knees down posed on a blue bike.

Feeling safe in the gravel biking world

“As a non-binary person, I want to show up at events where I feel safe and welcomed and like I can show up as my full self,” Robins said in an interview with Yuri Hauswald, GU Energy Labs’s elite athlete manager.

For event planners, building an inclusive space means having resources like gender-neutral porta-potties and trans-friendly medical care nearby. Robins appreciates that event producers like Life Time are working to include more athletes but stresses that welcoming attitudes must start earlier in an athlete’s path. 

“I feel like at this point, it’s time for the rest of the industry to step up and start pulling their weight when it comes to trans and non-binary inclusion in cycling,” Robins said. “There are so many other touch points that a cyclist has to go through before they’re ready for an event, especially an event as large and intimidating as Unbound.” This includes feeling safe enough at their local cycling shop to get involved in the sport in the first place.

While event organizers are trying to welcome diverse audiences, some cyclists remain leery of racing in certain states. “These major events, they’re happening in states that politically lean in a way that can be really hostile towards these marginalized groups,” Robins said. “And these events happen on back roads even in what we might call quote unquote safe states. You get out into rural areas and generally those lean more red politically and again, I try not to overgeneralize, but those are areas that are generally more hostile to trans folks and to people of color. I know that’s not always the case, but it’s the case often enough and that it can make it scary.”

Changing the world

Despite the challenges, Robins believes gravel riding can help change the world. “I’ve experienced firsthand the power of spending time on a bike with someone you don’t know and how equalizing and connective it can be,” they said. “I try not to overstate it, but I do really feel like Gravel is one of the places where we have the ability to make a powerful and positive social impact that’s not just about cycling, but is about the country and the world.”

Former Saints Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham injured in Miami cycling accident

Former Saints Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham was injured after being struck by a car while cycling in Miami, but he expects to make a full recovery:

What’s Jimmy Graham up to these days? The fan-favorite former New Orleans Saints Pro Bowler is becoming something of a world traveler, having earned his pilot license and taken up small-aircraft flying as a hobby when he was still wearing black and gold. His old friend A.J. Hawk shared an update on the Pat McAfee Show this week, adding that Graham expects to make a full recovery after being injured in a Miami car accident.

Since shifting his focus away from football and towards other pursuits, Graham has taken up sailing and professional cycling, and Hawk says he’s currently training to sail around the world within the year. But those plans have been interrupted by a gnarly injury after being struck by a car while out on his bike.

Hawk described a nasty muscle injury to Graham’s calf, saying of the accident, “He was riding his bike down in Miami yesterday, or two days ago, he says a car turns left, hits him, takes him out. He says he did more damage to the car than the car did to him.”

Graham commented on the accident himself after Hawk broke the news, saying on Instagram that, “My body has certainly built up a callus for punishment over the years. I’ll be fine. Stay safe out there.”

Here’s to a speedy recovery for the former Saints standout. Graham won Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition with the Saints in 2011 and 2013, though a contract dispute frayed his relationship with the team and head coach Sean Payton, prompting his trade to the Seattle Seahawks in 2015. He bounced around the league for a few years after that, spending time with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, but he’s been out of the league since 2021. From the sounds of it, he’s determined to see the world and enjoy his retirement from pro football. We’ll wish him the best.

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Go mountain biking at these six scenic destinations in the US

Gear up for these rides.

If you enjoy mountain biking with a side of gorgeous scenery, destination trails are a must. Whether you like cycling through moss-covered forests or biking alongside red rocks, there are plenty of beautiful mountain biking trails open for public use throughout the United States. While notoriously rocky regions like Colorado are known for quality mountain biking trails, there are also stunning options in Arizona, Washington, Vermont, and more.

Curious to discover some of the country’s finest mountain biking trails? Then pack your bags and bike for an unforgettable experience at these six scenic mountain biking locations. And don’t forget to check out some of the world’s most difficult mountain biking trails here.

Watch: Bull violently attacks rider in off-road bike race

A cyclist was violently tossed off his bike and then rammed by an angry bull during the Rock Cobbler off-road bike race in Bakersfield.

A cyclist was violently tossed off his bike and then rammed by an angry bull during the Rock Cobbler off-road bike race in Bakersfield on Saturday.

Tony Inderbitzen made the regrettable decision to try to pass a bull on the trail instead of giving the animal a wide berth as other riders apparently did, and he paid a painful price.

The bull charged him, knocked him off his bike and then rammed him, tossing him into the air. An 12-second video captured the confrontation.

“I am extremely sore,” Inderbitzen told FOX26 News. “I’ve never been this sore. Initially, right after the attack, my neck was killing me. That was the focal point of the soreness, now it’s the lower back.”

Inderbitzen had ridden past cows before while off-roading and didn’t give the animal much thought, as he explained to FOX26 News.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Bison herd demolishes car, terrorizes driver; ‘they ran right over me’

“I was coming through a section that was kind of a drainage area,” he told the station. “You’re constantly crossing sandy sections. I was coming off of kind of a long sand section, so I was carrying some speed and there was a slight incline.

“I didn’t think much about there being a cow there, and just thought it was one cow versus a dozen that I might ride through any one grouping on any day. I kept going, and as I got 10-15 yards from him, he turned – because he had his back to me. He turned, squared up, and I had maybe a second to brace myself or do anything.

“It’s a case of mistaken identity from a cow to a bull.”

A Twitter video from a different angle shows other riders steering clear.

Inderbitzen wanted to finish the race but was talked out of it by those who witnessed the attack. Inderbitzen told the Cowboy State Daily that the bull had attacked four cyclists in all, though race creator Sam Ames indicated the number was three.

Ames told FOX26 News the incident will prompt a route change in future races.

“For the record, while we love our shenanigans at the event, this was not planned, we don’t condone riding at or near bulls,” Ames said. “In nine years, we have passed countless cows and bulls. All riders involved are safe, unharmed if you can believe it, and two of the three finished the ride and toasted beers. Rider safety is a top priority, so while this is able to get some laughs, thankfully, we will review or modify our route as needed for next year.”

Yellowstone opens roads for spring cycling; ‘Anticipate hazards’

Yellowstone National Park opened a 49-mile stretch of connecting roads for spring bicycling Wednesday, but asked visitors to consider several factors before planning their ride.

Yellowstone National Park opened a 49-mile stretch of connecting roads for spring bicycling Wednesday, but asked visitors to consider several factors before planning their ride.

Among considerations, of course, are potential encounters with grizzly bears that have emerged from hibernation. (The park logged its first grizzly bear sighting of 2021 on March 13.)

The road segments are the West Entrance to Madison Junction, Madison Junction to Norris Junction, and Norris Junction to Mammoth Hot Springs.

If weather permits, two additional roads will open for cycling before all interior roads begin reopening for automobile traffic on April 16. (The road from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Mt., to Cooke City, Mt., is open year-round.)

Bison on the road in Yellowstone National Park. Photo: NPS

Snow has begun to melt at lower elevations but weather inside the park is unpredictable and wintry conditions can return with little notice throughout spring.

But beyond weather and bears, several possible hazards (or inconveniences) might come into play for spring cyclists. In a news released issued Wednesday, cautioning cyclists to “anticipate hazards,” Yellowstone listed the potential dangers:

  • Snowplows and other motorized vehicles operated by park employees or construction workers on the road.
  • Quickly changing weather conditions.
  • Temporary road closures due to weather conditions.
    Snow and ice covering sections of road.
  •  Wildlife on roads.
  •  No services available, except limited restrooms.

Stay safe while cycling in Yellowstone by following these guidelines:

  • Ride during daylight hours only.
  • Anticipate encountering bears, bison, elk, wolves, and other wildlife.
  • Stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from all other wildlife. Prepare to wait or turn around if bison or other wildlife are on the road.
  • Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
  • Stay out of closed areas.
  • Ride single-file and follow all other rules of the road.
  • Plan for self-rescue or repair. Cell phone coverage throughout the park is sparse and unreliable for communicating emergencies.
  • Prepare to spend an extended period of time in winter conditions in the event of a mechanical breakdown, injury, or other emergency.

Yellowstone’s fall bicycling season typically begins when roads close to automobile traffic in early November. It ends two or three weeks later when plowing operations cease to allow snow to accumulate for over-snow travel.