Christmas gift help

[Janey8]

Good morning everyone,

Christmas is creeping nearer and after searching the internet for a good few hours I thought it might be a lot more efficient to ask people who know their stuff.

I am pretty much a looking for some cycling accessories for my boyfriend, but I don't actually know much about cycling at all. He uses his bike to commute to work every morning. It is a B'Twin Triban 3 60cm Frame.

He has mentioned to me that he'd like a bike rack - which would fit his bike? How do I recognize quality?
And also he asked for waterproof trousers to go over his shorts. Do you guys have any recommendations of some really well working waterproof trousers?

And finally.. if you would want to be given a cycling accessory for christmas - what would you like to receive?

I would really really appreciate an answer to one or some of my questions, it would help me so much.

Have a wonderful week
Best,
Janey8

 

[sazzaa]

I'd probably say to leave the rack and trousers as he might be best picking them out himself... but I think one of the Garmin Edge range would be a pretty safe bet for a gift. Everyone loves a gadget!

 

[vickster]

Topeak supertourist rack and slide on trunk bag with the fold out panniers. I think these are probably the best & most useful cycling accessories I have bought

Waterproof trousers tend tp get vert sweaty. I'd let him get those himself, get him some Evans vouchers or similar to use

 

[sazzaa]

Topeak supertourist rack and slide on trunk bag with the fold out panniers. I think these are probably the best & most useful cycling accessories I have bought

They're on my wishlist at the moment, rucksacks are doing my head in...

 

[Irish_Marty]

If he wants a rack maybe he would like panniers too, but this stuff is far from cheap when you're buying quality and since you asked how do I recognise quality I'm guessing you're looking quality. As long as you're buying from a decent store then you can recognise quality from the price tag. Online at Evens Cycles is where I do almost all of my shopping and I rate them very highly. If you're looking racks and/or panniers expect to pay £60 - £100 for good quality.

Tubus lowrider front rack £65 < best seller
Tubus Logo rear rack £93

 

[vickster]

They're on my wishlist at the moment, rucksacks are doing my head in...

They are fab, so flexible. Not huge but once full pretty heavy. Happily take a laptop or the like, or a decent amount of shopping!

Allterraincycles have had good deals on these in the past, although they may charge for postage

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/super tourist/list/search

I have the disc version on one bike and non disc on another - both work well

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/.Topeak-MTX-EXP-Trunk-Bag-with-Pannier_2551.htm

 

[Doc333]

Garmin Edge 200 is a serious bit of kit that works great and is fairly cheap. Rapha clothing is expensive but brilliant and even if you can only afford to buy him a winter beeny hat for under his helmet, you'll make him a happy boy.

 

[sazzaa]

They are fab, so flexible. Not huge but once full pretty heavy. Happily take a laptop or the like, or a decent amount of shopping!

Allterraincycles have had good deals on these in the past, although they may charge for postage

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/super tourist/list/search

I have the disc version on one bike and non disc on another - both work well

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/.Topeak-MTX-EXP-Trunk-Bag-with-Pannier_2551.htm

Sorry for slight thread hijack, but if I go with the Topeak MTX Trunk Bag with Panniers, which rack would I be looking for to fit a Genesis Vapour Disc? There's loads of choices on the Topeak website and they all look the same to me!

 

[vickster]

The super tourist disc, you need the slidy on one http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/.Topeak-Super-Tourist-DX-Disc-Rack_130495.htm

 

[sazzaa]

The super tourist disc, you need the slidy on one http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/.Topeak-Super-Tourist-DX-Disc-Rack_130495.htm

You're a star - thanks

 

[vickster]

It's a bit of a pig to fit! Attach it to the seatpost first and then to the stays

 

[sazzaa]

It's a bit of a pig to fit! Attach it to the seatpost first and then to the stays

Will do. Think I'll go with the DXP Trunk Bag, looks like it is the same as the one you posted but more capacity?

 

[vickster]

Maybe, I rarely fill mine unless I go to the supermarket and get carried away!