What cycling related gifts did you get for Christmas?

Christmas was lovely. We had a really nice time with family on both sides. Though this Christmas is sad because my MIL's mom *just* found out that she has brain cancer. And it's pretty aggressive. We didn't get to visit that grandma over Christmas, but were definately thinking of her. She's been healthy for her 80 years. So, on one hand a person thinks, "That's been a really good run..." But on the other hand, "I know that everyone has to go sometime, but it still sucks."

So, we have to embrace our families and cherish the great times. My husband and I really enjoy giving gifts. I like to make things for people when the opportunity presents itself, this wasn't one of those years. But we think that we really nailed the gifts and were ecstatic to make people happy.

I was happy to enable my husband and his love of animals and the farm. So I got him a gift certificate to a hatchery so that he can pick out some more exotic chickens.

He and my in laws got me gift certificates to a LBS so that I can get a mountain bike. Woo!! I think that I'm going to aim for the Giant Rainer. It's not top of the line, but it's not bottom end either. I plan to mostly ride it on gravel roads or minimally maintained roads and perhaps a horse trail at a couple of local state parks. I hope that they still have 08 models available today in my size. They're supposed to be on sale.

My mom gave me some cookbooks that she had used and a cushy sweatshirt and socks. Yay for cozy warmness.

We still have Christmas with my grandpa tonight. He's had some battles with health this year too and has gotten better. I'm greatful for all of that too.

Happy New Year!!

The motto, it is better to give than to receive is what we did this year. DH and I gave a huge tote full of new clothes to the battered womens shelter/homeless shelter. To see the look on the staff's faces and excitement when they recieved the clothing was worth every penney spent. I gave money to those in the family that really need extra help, and xmas eve was spent with whole family enjoying a meal together. The meal included lots of good food, no bickering or argueing, and lots of laughter and wide eyes from the foster children that had never had a visit from santa. That was priceless.

Sorry to hear the sad news, Hammer:( We were at my grandmother's having dinner when we got the call my other grandmother was on the way to the hospital. Nothing serious, she hadn't been feeling well, but it certainly puts a damper on the day.

I gave lots of cycling gifts. Actually, that's all I gave. My brother an I got our parents a Cycleops fluid trainer. I set it up yesterday and was very jealous. My Minoura rim-drive's days are numbered:eek: I also gave everyone spare tubes, tire levers, and Planet Bike Blinky 7's, and got a lock for my parents. I got my brother the Park Tools chaingang kit and some lube, plus an Italia jersey, and mom got some Specialized Sonoma's. Oh yeah, and Ruthie gave my dad a cycle computer while mom got some Pandora beads. Such a thoughtful kitty:rolleyes:

As for me, I got a pair of Performance Triflex tights. My brother also got tights. When I went to try mine on, I thought they were a bit roomy in the crotch. He said his were kind of tight all-around. That's when mom realized she'd mixed them up:p Once I had on the right pair, they fit just fine. I also got some winter gloves that have to go back, socks, and a Yukon Extreme headlight.

Overall it was a good Christmas. Seemed less stressful than past years. It was nice seeing my cousins back from college, though I missed my cousin calling from Italy. He's finishing his culinary training and spent the holiday with my grandfather's cousin. He said the food was the best he's had there and they were treating him like a king. That's what family's about, even if you've never met them before:cool:

DH put in to help me re-build my Axiom to fit like my ID8 - new stem, new seatpost, new cables, and bar tape. It should be much more comfortable to ride now, and I'm looking forward to spending some road time on it, as I'm already sick of rollers, and it's only December. :eek:
I was told I have a gift certificate to my LBS "coming soon" - but I haven't seen it yet, and last time I checked with the shop, they had nothing in their books on it. :( I wish it would come, as I'd like to apply it to that Seven merino wool jersey I ordered from them.
My family has pretty much given up on the gift giving thing. We buy stuff for the kids, and play a gift-exchange card game where gifts are limited to $15-20 and generally include some variation on holiday coffee mugs and hot chocolate mixes. :rolleyes:
I'm just glad I got to spend some time with my family...no matter how crazy they sometimes make me.

As you all are aware, I gave myself Christmas about a week or so ago when I purchased my cragislist hardtail -see new hardtail now the fun begins thread under mountain biking. My husband and I have mostly just purchased things that we needed around the house as improvements, such as new computer screen, iHome radio/iPod dock, clothes-some cycling too. That is about it. Good Christmas and not over budget either.

We scaled down Christmas for the adults this year, and most of my gifts wound up being cycling related because my husband and I decided to mostly do stockings for each other. (I had asked for a Bobike baby seat for my daughter, but at the last minute J. decided they were too dangerous and he bought me a really nice Smartwool sweater instead. I forgive him.)

I got a new hemp bag for my Soma, which is on order so I don't have it yet, plus a full tool kit and frame pump for that bike. I had had the brilliant idea of putting another clip onto it so I could switch my QR Topeak tool bag between my two road bikes, but on my first solo ride with the Soma, I (a) forgot to do that, (b) read an unreliable weather report and got me and the baby stuck in the rain when (c) I got a flat tire. With no tools, a nearly dead cell phone, and a very angry toddler who wanted to go home. So he got me a tool kit to never leave the Soma, since bag-switching is clearly too much for me to handle!

I also got Power Grips which I am going to try on the Soma (I do not want to have to wear special shoes on that bike since I use it to haul the kid to playgrounds and such) and a really nice Ibex sweater that is too pretty to just be a base layer.

I filled his stocking with Clif bars, gel packets, a new patch kit, a couple of sets of Pedros levers (we have a million; he got me some too, and they also make great baby toys in a pinch -- she stacks them like Legos), some new gloves, and toe covers. He loved the toe covers and I may get a set as well.

Penny got nothing bike related but that is because she already has everything.

That Seven wool jersey is nice.

Oh, I forgot, I also got J. a wool Campy jersey.

I got my new LHT about 6 weeks ago. I'd asked for contributions towards it for both my birthday and christmas this year - by chance it had been ready to pick up on my birthday.

So for Christmas I got some money from my parents which roughly equates to the custom built wheels. They also gave me a topeak multi-tool.

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Originally Posted by MDHillSlug

I got a Park tool bike work stand.

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Wow that's the ultimate gift, how the heck did they gift wrap it? LOL

I told my husband I didn't want anything, except a tire patch kit. I got 2 of them, and some all weather rubber floor mats for my station wagon.