6 Last-Minute Gifts for Mountain Bikers

1. New Chain - Okay, so it's not exciting. But a new chain every 1,000 miles is like an oil change for your car every 3,000 miles: cheap insurance. See, if you use your chain too long, it stretches out and wears the cogs and chainrings all funny. And then it's too late for a new chain to cure your shifting woes - you'll need to spend all sorts of cash to replace the worn bits. I recommend SRAM chains.

2. Ergon Grips - I love these things, especially the GP-1 model. I consider them the best $30 upgrade I've ever made to my bike. They're head-scratchingly odd at first sight, but one ride will turn just about anyone into a believer.

3. A big box of energy gels - Find out your favorite mountain biker's energy gel of choice and fill the stocking with it. It's not long-lasting, but its totally practical. It's something we use on every long ride, so there's no way this will get returned to the bike shop like an ugly tie.

4. A bunch of fresh water bottles - Yeah, I know ... this also doesn't sound fun. But every biker makes the mistake of letting water bottles sit with a bit of energy drink in the bottom. Then it gets all funky and turns into a totally grody-to-the-max science project. A few fresh bottles can make it easier for your MTB friend to get that next ride started without scrounging for the least-disgusting bottle in the house.

5. A gift certificate for a tune-up at the local shop - This might run you about $50. And you'll give the gift of a smooth-shifting, powerfully braking off-road machine with true wheels. And there's the luxury of a tightened headset and properly adjusted hubs and bottom bracket to go along with the package.

6. A cleaning kit - You can opt for a $40 Pedro's Pit Kit. Or you can save some clams by getting a bucket, some used t-shirts, a big bottle of Simple Green and a Park GearClean Brush. It's a perfect set-up for a do-it-yourselfer.