These Valentine’s Day Gifts Will Make That Special Cyclist’s Heart Race

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Finding the best Valentine’s Day gifts for the cyclist in your life is both a challenge and a wonderful opportunity to show how well you know them and one of their deepest passions. But like most special occasions, holiday-themed gifts can be uninspired. And, truthfully, cyclist-forward presents often feel a bit tacky. It’s hard to get excited about a seasonal teddy bear or box of chocolates shaped like hearts when you know all that required was one trip to Target. It’s especially a buzzkill when your idea of a gift is simply adding a bicycle to something like a pair of socks or a T-shirt. (The thought does count, but can’t we do more?)

In that spirit, we’ve rounded up some of the best Valentine’s Day gifts for cyclists that won’t make your lover cringe, whether they’re an anime-loving nerd, an everyday snacker (or toker), or a pizza-making chef.

‘Yowamushi Pedal,’ Vol. 1 by Wataru Watanabe

Yowamushi Pedal is a love letter to cycling by way of manga. Beautifully drawn and pumped with inspiration, the story follows high school power-pedaler Sakamichi Onoda and his journey to compete against the school’s most serious first-year road racer, Imaizumi.

If it helps, the anime adapation is frequently recommended by ultra-weeb and Bicycling rider-in-chief, Bill Strickland. Grab Volume 1 for your lover, and we promise they’ll have a new favorite hero.

Rover Classic Stainless Steel Bento Lunch Box

PlanetBox’s Rover steel lunch box is a solid gift for the neat freak who loves to keep their stuff organized. This clamshell box is a lightweight material that can withstand a few bumps and drops, and it has five compartments to neatly pack food into. It’s the ideal packable book-sized box for a lunchtime ride or a romantic picnic.

Portable Travel Bidet

No one likes a sweaty saddle. Give the gift of a fresh bum with a portable travel bidet. It’s lightweight and easy to pack and squeeze, plus has a non-slip grip and a retractable head. Just don’t mix it up with a regular water bottle.

Bike Pint Glasses (Set of 2)

I know I said bike tchotchkes can be lame, but every cyclist needs a bike-related pint glass. And sometimes, a love of beer also means a love of bikes, or vice versa. This couple of pint glasses lets your Valentine celebrate both.

Oat Bars (Variety 12-Pack)

Hater, lover, frequent snacker, whoever—if they’re vegan (or even if they’re not), they’ll dig these oat bars from Bobo’s. This 12-pack has four chocolate chip, four coconut, and four original bars to deliver the sugar, carbs, and energy they need to fuel that next ride. They’re also gluten-free.

Aspire Seven Socks

Swiftwick makes some of the best socks for cycling. Ultra-thin and compressive, the Aspire Seven is one of our favorites. And because it’s stain-, mildew-, and perspiration-resistant, it’s great at preventing those dogs from stinking. That also means less chance of chafing or blisters over long rides.

C5 Gore-Tex Shakedry Cap

Waterproof your lover’s dome with a Gore-Tex cycling cap. It’s tough, reflective, lightweight, packable, and, most of all, keeps the rain away from that pretty little face. This cap fits underneath a helmet and can help prevent sweat from dripping into eyes, and it makes a good cover for helmet hair during a stop for a post-ride bite.

StashLight Doob Tube

This doob tube is water-, smell-, and crush-proof for keeping that stash safe. It’s also, wildly, a refillable flint lighter, so your giftee won’t have to worry about forgetting to pack theirs. A key ring seals the deal—it can clip onto carabiners, belt loops, and bags for the most practical EDC. If your Valentine likes to smoke after a ride, this is a great, inexpensive pick.

PZT-2 Pizza Tool

Park Tool, the ubiquitous bike tools brand, has one of the best niche gift-able products: the PZT-2 Pizza Tool. This bicycle-shaped pizza slicer is sharp, practical, and ergonomic for a nice slicing grip. And it’s dishwasher-safe.

Original Kraft Notebooks (3-Pack)

If your Valentine often finds inspiration on their rides, this gives them a way to jot down and record their thoughts (in a please, physical way a phone can’t provide). This three-pack of Field Notes is enough to support 144 pages of thoughts, whether they like sketching what they see on their rides or they find themselves journaling on the daily.

Check Coconut Robe

Typically known for its sand-resistant towels, Nomadix recently released a limited-edition robe. This small-batch product is made of micro terrycloth and perfect for recovery days, hanging out, and lazy post-shower loafing. It also has a hood for extra coziness.

CP-1x Sunglasses

Roka’s polarized sunglasses are attractive, lightweight, and, most importantly, non-slip. Each arm has grip pads to keep the glasses put while your Valentine is out cycling. The CP-1x is one of our favorites for its full coverage against the sun.

Talon 6L Backpack

This lumbar-supportive hip pack can take a beating, whether on a hike, the trail, or diving downhill on a mountain bike. Its 6-liter capacity is big enough for a slew of snacks and an emergency poncho. Plus, two pockets for water bottles ensure they won’t go thirsty. Grab this in red to stay on-theme.

M19 Multitool

The M19 multitool is a bulletproof gift for any cyclist, period. It’s ready for any screw or chain you throw it at, plus it’s slim enough to comfortably pocket. Best of all, it has a lifetime warranty for future-proofing that safety.

Revive Recovery Shoe

The Revive is an active rest-day shoe that’s equal parts Merrell Hydro Moc and Croc Clog, but with an outsole that makes it wearable out and about as much as at home. Its ultra-squishy midsole provides comfort, and after a long day of cycling, that bounciness is what’s needed for rest.

Thirteen Daybag

This 13-liter bag is big enough to hold your commuter’s lifestyle, on or off their bike. It’s made with tough ripstop fabric to prevent tears, plus its water-resistant coating protects its exterior from rain and its interior from any bottle spillage. Grab it in green, navy, or black.

Clásico Seasoning Mini Pouch (Pack of 2)

If your Valentine loves fruit, grab some Tajin. The seasoning is a killer hack that gives fruit a kick with chili peppers and sea salt, making that next bikepacking trip a little more spicy.

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