Okay tri geeks, this post isn’t really for you, it’s for your family, wife, father, sister and friends, so make sure to tell them to check it out so you get something cool this Holiday. It’s that time of year again and that means only one thing, time to figure out what to get a triathlete that already has everything or is a newbie in the sport and needs some help. Well, we hope to take some of the pain out of your holiday shopping with some of our gift ideas for your triathlete.
Stocking Stuffers
Here are some small gift ideas that any triathlete would enjoy this holiday season.
• Keep your loved ones running or cycling shoes smelling like new with Stuffitts. They’re made of 100 percent cedar shavings, which absorb moisture and eat up stinky scents. Simply place these soft, foot-shaped forms in your shoes after work or work-outs to eliminate wetness. The pure cedar filling starts absorbing moisture in minutes and renews your shoes. MSRP: $9.99 (www.stuffitts.com)
• Training for long distance triathlon events requires long hours of training. Sometimes it’s not close to home and you bet that they are out there without any form of identification. Ensure their safety and your peace of mind with Road ID, a durable, rugged, athletic, fashionable line of identification gear. They have a variety of colors, options and types that strap to their wrist, ankle or shoes. MSRP: $19.99 (www.roadid.com)
• How about nice keepsake to help them mark their accomplishment or to inspire them to reach for their triathlon goal. Trinity Designs has some nice keepsakes for your triathlete like this unisex Tri Pendant on Black Linen Cord or these hand-polished Triathlon Pendant’s. If they aren’t into jewelry, then you might consider this Triathlon Frame which holds 4" x 6" picture and has a nice verse on the wood frame. MSRP: $16.00 to $20.00 (www.trinitydesigns.org)
Essentials
Triathlete's tend to have a lot of gear but they also tend to wear it out or run out of it when it comes to the essentials. Some of the basics include socks, tri / cycling shorts, jerseys or nutrition items. We ignored these items and came up with some other exciting gift ideas.
• Triathlon training involve more than just swimming, biking and running, it also involves some general strength training for an overall optimal balance. The problem is trying to figure out what things to incorporate at the gym when it comes to weights or core workouts. Here is a new book that should help out, Strength Training for Triathletes. This groundbreaking book is the first to integrate strength training into the triathlete's training regimen. You can help them gain performance, without spending more time on the road or in the water. MSRP: $21.95 (www.velopress.com)
• Triathletes tend to be finicky when it comes to certain brands or the fit that a certain product offers. Maybe you just don't know the size they need or the brand they like. Problem solved, get them a gift card at their favorite or local triathlon store / bike shop / running store. If that's not possible, go online and do the same. Some online stores to look at are Gear West Bike & Triathlon (link), Inside-Out Sports (link) or TriSports.com (link).
• The “30 Years of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship” hardcover coffee table book is bound to be inspirational to all triathletes, from those who dream of possibly attempting an Ironman race someday to those of us that have a completed one. You can expect plenty of good stuff from author and Ironman Hall of Fame inductee Bob Babbitt in this new book to motivate your triathlete, inform them and/or inspire them. MSRP: $34.95 (www.amazon.com
• Here is a nice essential that for those weight-obsessed triathletes, it’s a 70 grams pocket-sized bike pump that they can throw in their back pocket or attach to the side of the water cage. The Micro Rocket CBT from Topeak is a Carbon Fiber Road Bike Frame Pump with T-Handle and Side Mounting Bracket designed to pump tires up to 160 psi. MSRP: $49.99 (www.amazon.com
• Here is a nice gift idea for that newbie triathlete that might not have everything just yet. Remember, they need a way to transport all of their equipment besides their bike to the race site and the Louis Garneau Tri Pack Evolution should help them do that nicely. It’s more than an ordinary backpack, it’s has everything they might need to get their helmet, wetsuit, running and cycling shoes to the transition area, heck it even includes foldable chair just in case they need one to rest on when putting their different shoes on. MSRP: $85.00 (www.amazon.com
Special Items
If you want a big hug this holiday we'd suggest giving them one of these as a gift.
• Most athletes enjoy a pre-race day massage to relax the muscles or a post race massage to get rid of some of the knots derived from racing hard. So why not get them a gift certificate for a massage or two.
• With the economic situation the way it is it might be a tough year when it comes time to register for next year’s races. Race entry fees start to add up after a while and more so when they participate in longer distance events. For example a Half Ironman triathlon might have an entry fee in the $180 to $250 range while an Ironman event could have a fee as high as $525. Get them a cash gift card at your local bank with a pre-determined amount of money that they can use towards race entries expenses; this should bring a smile to their face.
• Better off, if they tend to travel to races by plane and you have frequent flyer miles, think about getting them a plane ticket with your miles, they would sure love you then.
Ultimate Gifts
If a price limit doesn’t exist then and they don’t have something like this and they seem to have everything else then these items might work for you. You might also want to consider a training camp or training plan option.
• Going fast is what every triathlete wants to do especially on the bike. Nice and light carbon race wheels can help them but can cost a small fortune. If they don’t have the money, you can still help them go fast at their next major race by renting them carbon race wheels for only $140 from RaceDayWheels.com. This is also a great “Try Before You Buy” option if they have been thinking about getting a pair in the near future. (www.racedaywheels.com)
• We don’t always have ideal conditions when training or racing and when it comes time to clean our bike or we need to fix something it’s nice to have something like a bike work stand to help us out. The work stand helps hold the bike in place and gives us access to work on the bike with both hands. One option is the Spin Doctor Pro G3 Work Stand found at Performance Bicycle. It’s a versatile work stand with a rock-solid tripod base and a 360° rotating clamp and it folds up nicely when it comes time to store it. MSRP: $219.99 (currently on sale for $159.99) (www.performancebike.com)
