Let's not mince words: if there's a cyclist on the "not sure what to get" portion of your holiday gift list, boy, do we have some swell suggestions for you! In order to keep verbiage to a minimum (so that you can get back to your nog/fruitcake/partygoing/knitting/hibernating/bike ride), here's a vicarious wish list to get your creative gifting juices flowing.
DIY (Do It Yourself)
The beauty of bicycles is their infinite capacity to support the homespun and the whimsical. No dealership need be consulted before fixing up your own panniers!
The Independent Publishing Resource Center, aka the IPRC, has a covey of workshops that could make a great gift certificate to expose your friend's inner bike zinester. Here is the IPRC's 2007 Winter Catalog (see p.3 for workshop descriptions).
Beer view mirrors. I'll say it again: beer view mirrors. Ben Salzberg, you're the greatest. Here's his DIY concoction on Instructables: Beer view mirrors (yes, that's right, beer. view. mirrors).
Like knitting? I'm currently wearing Ribbed Ear Flap Hat #5 for this month, which not only keep the ears warm but fits well under a helmet. This knitted hat gift that has never been met this season with anything but unilateral joy! I'm knitting #6 (in between typing fits, of course).
Homemade panniers are frightfully useful. Make panniers yourself with repurposed bags, kitty litter buckets, or talk to City Bikes about theirs.
Handmade Locally, Handmade Nationally
Let Bikecraft be your guide - it's day for 2007 has past by a few weeks, but never fear! The artists are still around town.
Get your best friend's younger sibling a ticket for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (February 2008), which is coming to our very own Portland!!!
Memberships and Gift Donations
This year, the Community Cycling Center's Holiday Bike Drive was remarkable for two reasons: it gave over 500 children their first bike, and a truck ran into the side of its office and took out one of its walls. Bad luck (twice, since their shop was burglarized some months ago) and fantastic work for our community are two big reasons to donate on your former-business-partner-but-still-friend's behalf. While you're there, consider getting a great bike-mounted coffee mug holder (my winter got a whole lot better since I got mine a few months ago!).
How about a membership with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance? Your favorite ex-landlord will get discounts at bike shops around the city and bulletins updating the doings for cycling rights in Oregon.
Is your second cousin once removed outside the greater Portland area but wants to plug into international sustainable mobility? How about a membership and/or stickers or books of the World Carfree Network?
Accessories and Apparel
As I'm sure you've noticed, it gets a bit chilly in the bike lane these days, and both bike and biker could use a little added frippery to get warmly from hither to thither.
Shaun Deller caps - my friend, Corey, has a few of Shaun's hats and has never failed to elicit compliments on his headgear. Highly recommended by countless passersby!
Lemolo Bags - as an alternative to other manufactured bags, how about this city-wrought vessel for all of your daily needs?
Okay, I've never been inside, but BicyclingHub.com just got a new store front for their historically online store on SE Water St. I hear good things!
Art & Culture . . . and stuff
Red Bat Press has a fine array of bike-related cards and stationary, from the authoress of Portland's monthly Small Museums by Bike rides, Carye Bye.
A bike culture movie classic, Triplets of Belleville is a boon to any cyclophiliac's media library.
Who doesn't like a good calendar before (solar) New Year's? The Sprockettes, Portland's mini-bike dance troupe, have their famous 2008 calendar available at a number of locations.
Everything You Could Want About Bikes
I love this museum. The Pedaling History Museum is a fabulous all-bike museum near Buffalo, New York and is a must-visit on your way to/from Niagara Falls. Carl, the co-founder-and proprietor, is as nice as he is knowledgable. Though Buffalo might be a ways away, the Pedaling History Museum's online store is a treasure trove.
steph's wish list
It may seem silly, but my bike rack is hollow and unfestooned without the sticker I lost two years ago, which I've been unable to replace. I'm talking, of course, about a commemorative bumper sticker from the Oregon Vortex, which I visited with my cousins when they were in the US for a spell. Apparently, military broadcasting abroad uses random TV ad spots as filler between episode pauses, and the Oregon Vortex has featured prominently. If you happen to go and think to get a bumper sticker, I'll totally pay you back!
May your holiday shopping be mild and your socks remain dry.
See you in the bike lane,
steph