The Best Holiday Gifts for Mountain Bikers

Looking for the perfect gift for the mountain biker in your life? Whether you’re shopping for a seasoned trailblazer or a student-athlete new to TX NICA, we’ve got you covered!

From practical gear to fun accessories, these gifts will keep riders prepared, comfortable, and ready to take on every trail.

1. Sunglasses

Every rider needs a reliable pair of sunglasses to protect their eyes on the trail. Check out some of our favorites below!

2. NICA Gear

Let them show their TX NICA pride with official apparel! Shop for t-shirts, sweatshirts, and more at our TC Screenprinting store. COMING SOON!!!! You can also find TX NICA merchandise at your local Trek store.

3. Multitools

A great multitool is essential for quick fixes on the trail.

Budget Friendly

A great multitool is compact, lightweight and has all the trailside tools you’ll need – think Torx wrench, and a chain tool. Pay attention to the chain tool’s compatibility!
Get exclusive NICA discounts here.
Crankbrothers M19 Multitool

High Stoke Factor

The OneUp EDC Pump Kit holds everything a rider could need for trailside repair and it all fits inside of a handy hand pump.

4. Gloves

Whatever the season, a good pair of mountain bike gloves is essential They help riders keep a solid grip on the handlebars and offer a bit of protection during crashes.

MTB Gloves

HandUp Gloves has some of our favorite designs! Cooler weather options are also available!

Texas-Cold weather gloves

Once the weather starts to turn cold-cold, step away from the expensive winter cycling gear and go to the OGs. Get a pair of Carhart winter gloves. Ride bikes in the frigid cold, then go build a snowman!

5. Socks

Cold feet can make or break a ride! While performance socks are pretty easy to come by, finding the perfect cold-weather sock to keep you riding can be a whole other ball game!

Wool Socks

SmartWool has been leading the wool sock game for a long time, but really any cool weather wool sock will do to keep those toes toasty as temperatures drop.

Keep Warm – no matter what

For the person who just can’t ever keep their feet warm – try out these waterproof Hemy socks! They’re so good, you’ll never need your old shoe covers again! Get out and ride, rain or shine. They have gloves as well!

6. Sleeping Pad & Bag

Camping during race weekends is always fun, but with February’s chilly temperatures, staying warm is essential. A quality sleeping bag and pad will make overnight adventures cozy and comfortable.

Sleeping Bags

You want to find a bag that packs down to a reasonable size, but that will also keep you warm during our cold race season! Our recommendation is to look for a bag rated for somewhere between 0 and 20 degrees. We’ve had a race or two where the lows have gotten down to around 15 degrees! If you invest in a good bag and take care of it, it should last decades!

Budget Friendly and Awesome: Kelty Cosmic Synthetic
Variety: Big Agness bags for their variety and sleeping pad integration. NICA Coaches receive exclusive discounts through Expert Voice.

Sleeping Pads

This is another item that if chosen right, should last you decades. Unless you plan on backpacking or bikepacking, be wary of ultra lightweight pads as they tend to be noisy when you’re sleeping and much more prone to holes. Look for “car camping” pads for race weekend purposes!

Budget friendly and awesome: Thermarest Basecamp

7. Fenders & Frame Protectors

Did you know you can add a second skin to your bike to add personality and protection?!

High Performance

We know bikes are a big investment goodness knows mountain bikes can take a beating. The best way to keep that baby as good as new is with an InvisiFRAME wrap.

High Stoke Factor

GroundKeeper makes frame protection, fenders and so much more to help protect your bike and make it look rad! They’re a women owned company

8. Family Trail Time Together

The best gift doesn’t come in a box. Spend time exploring trails with your loved ones and create unforgettable memories. Plan your adventures with resources like Trailforks or MTB Project. Connect with other TX NICA community members through our league’s Strava Club.

9. Bike Lights

Light up their rides with a reliable bike light! The Bontrager Ion Elite R offers excellent brightness and durability, while the Outbound Lighting Trail Edition features a sleek, low-profile design.

10. Water Bottles & Hydration Packs

Hydration is key! Upgrade their setup with a durable CamelBak Podium water bottle or a reliable Osprey hydration pack. Perfect for long rides and races!

Hydration Packs

It can be tricky on our tight and twisty course to find time to grab some hydration. A 1-1.5L pack is perfect for NICA races.

Budget friendly and awesome: Osprey 1.5 (and extra bite valves!) or Camelbak Hydrobak Light 1L
High Performance + High Stoke: USWE Outlander Pro 2L

Water Bottles

There are never too many water bottles around the house. Find one with a good lid. Insulated bottles can be great for keeping hydration cool in the summer.

Visit your local bike shop to see what they have in stock! #proparentingtip stuff the bottle with some bike food/snacks.

11. NEW BIKE DAY

It’s hard to beat #newbikeday no matter what time of year. Not sure where to start? Here are a few things to look for:

Bike Fit: a good fitting bike is far more important than “better” components on a bike.
Fork: Look for an air rather than a coil/spring fork.
Wheels/Tires: If you can, get wheels and tires that can be made tubeless. You’re looking for a knobby mountain bike tire that is 2-2.5″ wide for our courses. Check out our FAVORITE Squirt easyfill sealant pouch!
Brakes: Disc brakes offer far more stopping power than rim brakes, especially if the weather gets sloppy.

Head into your local bike shop learn more!

High Performance

Trek Supercaliber is one of the most popular varsity level bikes we see on a NICA weekend. Our Rose City Cycling Team’s coach @thebikechick has a bunch of videos

Check out Trek Bicycle Hurst and Outlet in DFW for closeout deals on all things Trek!

Budget Friendly and awesome

Check out the league’s Texas NICA Bicycle Exchange on Facebook for deals on used bikes from current and former TX NICA athletes and families. This is a closed/private group and you must request access.