In this time of giving, the holiday stockings should be filled with new kit – at least, my stocking should be! And I’ll bet I’m not alone. Here is my gift guide to cycling kit that I would love to find under the tree or over the mantle – some racing and some casual gear. But it’s not all about me – it’s about you and your loved one! Hopefully this gives you some great ideas for Christmas surprises.

The Edam / The Breukelen

Even if you have everything, you can never have too much merino wool for cycling or too much Dutch! Road Holland’s Edam and Breukelen jerseys (men’s and women’s respectively) are perfect to wear alone, wear over base layers and wear just about anywhere, whether on the bike or off.

In addition to the incredibly soft but hard-wearing merino-poly blend fabric, both jerseys feature classic and crisp styling. But looking good doesn’t mean compromising performance. The Edam and Breukelen have three rear back pockets (one is zippered to fully encase a smartphone), reflective trim, and longer than normal sleeves to ensure they do not ride up when your arms are extended over your handlebars.

The Edam comes in Royal Orange, Midnight Blue, Devil Red, Silver Grey, Forest Green, and Road Black and is available in sizes XS to XXXL. The Breukelen comes in Royal Orange, Silver Grey, Devil Red, and Road Black and is available in sizes XS to XXXL. US$150/£95*. (For shipping details, see the website.)

HT Thermal Jersey

I visited the Panache team in Boulder, Colorado last February and was not only impressed by the quality of their products, but also how much they love the sport of cycling. Their passion shines in their products. These clothes are high performance and have a fresh style. The HT Thermal Jersey is no exception. I love the bold houndstooth and striping. Pair that with matching bibs and – bam – panachetastic!

The fleece-lined HT Thermal Jersey is purposely engineered to keep the rider warm in cold conditions. Panache has made the arms long enough so that the wrists are covered even for tall riders like me! The HT Jersey is available in sizes XS to XXL. US$160/£102* (For shipping details, see the website.)

Saint Trophime Jersey

 

I’m in love with the classic patterns by designer Lauren Ayers on the Saint Trophime Jersey from Tenspeed Hero. The four-spot pattern on this black jersey is hypnotic and the green TSH badge on the chest really sets it off!

Made in Italy with premium grade fabrics, the Saint Trophime is lightweight and silky smooth. Each garment has a hidden thin zipper, three rear pockets plus a zippered pocket for added security. The Saint Trophime is available in sizes XS-XL. US$130/£83* (For shipping details, see the website.)

The Ooriginal

OORR is a new apparel startup in Sydney, Australia and the Ooriginal Jersey is their first offering – a striking white and black design on lightly brushed fabric that is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles! Three generous rear pockets with reflective detailing and an additional reflective zippered pocket make for lots of storage. The Ooriginal also has a headphone hole for internal routing of your cable from right rear pocket and a pump holder to secure a mini-pump! The Ooriginal comes in sizes S-XXL. AUS$159/£87*  (Shipping is free in Australia and NZ; a flat AUS$20 worldwide.) 

Klassic Leather Gloves

 

Some of you might have heard my podcast with KindHuman founder Adam Abramowicz. He’s a fantastic guy with a team that is making fantastic products. Take these lust-worthy Klassic gloves, for example. The soft, supple, perforated sheep’s leather makes them feel as good they look, with padding on their leather palm and a skin-soft, terry-cloth pad on the thumb. Finger pulls on the middle and ring finger make glove removal easy. Available in small, medium, or large. US$40/£25* (For shipping details, see the website.)

Davis Phinney Jersey

Everyone needs some candy cane for Christmas and the Davis Phinney jersey from Rapha delivers! The jersey is constructed from Sportwool™, chosen for its versatility, comfort, and breathability. It features a quarter-length zip, three large rear pockets and zipped valuables pocket. The central band and rear pocket detailing are highly reflective. It’s Rapha. It’s gorgeous. And to make it even better, when you purchase the Phinney jersey, part of the proceeds from the sale will go to the Davis Phinney Foundation to help those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. (If you don’t want to buy the jersey, why not make a donation to the charity anyway?) Sizes XS-XXL. £140/US$220 (free shipping).

Women’s Ultimate Winter Urban Groupset

If you fancy outfitting your loved one for her winter commute, look no further. Vulpine is offering this urban groupset in a one-stop-shop kind of way. The package (you get your choice of colours for almost everything in the set) includes cotton rain trousers, long sleeve merino tee, Harrington rain jacket, thermal storm cap, a polka cotton cap, two pairs of socks and merino boyshorts. Buy it all together for £449 – a saving of £91 if you bought them separately. DEAL! Check out the website for a variety of bundles for both men and women. (Global standard shipping free on orders over £45.)

Signature LS Jersey

 

The Signature LS Jersey from Shutt Velo Rapide has a world champion jersey feel but kills the cliche with class. Designed with MerinoPerform, a super-soft mix of merino wool and fast-wicking polyester, this jersey quickly moves moisture away from the skin and speeds up evaporation. Merino wool on the inside of the garment delivers that luxury feel against your skin, while the outer polyester layer provides a superior level of performance.

The full length front zip helps with temperature control and in back, there’s a long, contoured hem with soft silicon gripper to stop it from riding up when you’re down in the drops. With three large rear pockets and a fourth waterproof pocket, there is plenty of room for the things you need to carry. Sizes by availability. £120/US$188* (Free postage for orders over £100.)

Gabba 2 Convertible

The Gabba 2 Convertible by Castelli is the one jacket for every condition. For cold weather put the thermal jersey underneath and you’ll be warm. In cool conditions, use a base layer and you’re ready. Rain? Just put it on and go. And when it warms up, zip off the sleeves and pair it with some arm warmers. I love it in bright blue and word is that, in black, this is the jacket of the peloton. Sizes S-XXXL. $229/£146* (see website for stockists).

All prices and links correct at time of going to press. Make sure to review each company’s shipping policies.

*The second price listed is approximate and for reference only when you’re ordering from an American or Australian site to the UK.

All of these companies have a variety of products – most also have stylish urban cycling clothes as well as accessories such as snoods and caps, so make sure you have a look at their entire range. If you do buy anything from these companies, let us know what you think of them!