If you’re like me, you’re always looking to upgrade your mountain bike gear. Here on singletracks we let you keep a wish list of the mountain bike stuff you want and today I thought I’d share some of the “most wished for mountain bike items” of 2008. If you’re looking for a gift to give a mountain biking friend this holiday season or if you just need to finalize your list for Santa, this should get you thinking 😉
#1 High end mountain bikes
Always a popular choice, though I don’t know that Santa can fit one of these in his sleigh. The most wished-for item here on singletracks is the Santa Cruz Blur LT and clearly this is a pretty amazing bike. With 135mm of rear travel this cross country mountain bike will make anyone feel like a kid again. Coming in at a close second is the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp, a pretty sweet deal at just over $2,000. Who said dreams had to be unattainable?
#2 GPS units
Admittedly we feel a bit responsible for the GPS mountain biking mania but fortunately this gift doesn’t have to break the bank. The Garmin Edge series is truly the best choice for mountain bikers and two Edge models, the 305 and 705, are tops on mountain bikers’ wish lists this year. Unless you’re a Rockefeller, I say skip the 705 and go for a 305. The Edge 305 may not have a color screen but it can do 75% of what the Edge 705 does. These puppies are rugged, reliable, and a huge upgrade over your basic cycling computer – just get one, you’ll thank us.
#3 Fox 32 Float Suspension Fork
This lightweight fork is air sprung with 140mm of travel and 140 miles of awesomeness. Getting a brand new suspension fork for your bike will transform your ride and make it feel new again. Good thing too – the ’09 Fox 32 Floats will cost you more than $500!
We’re not really sure how a pair of mountain bike shoes made it so high on people’s wishlists this year but we suspect it has something to do with Bombardier’s glowing recommendation. The sporty look belies the fact that these stiff soled shoes are actually money in tricky hike-a-bike spots. If you’re riding with mountain bike shoes that are more than 18 months old it’s probably time for some new kicks – do yourself a favor with the Roves.
#5 Pedals: Shimano M424 and Crankbrothers Eggbeater SL
Pedal choice really comes down to personal preference and singletracks wish list users seem to be evenly divided between chunky and svelte. The Shimano M424 pedals offer a large platform SPD-compatible pedal that is perfect for downhill and cross country riders and is a good choice for folks looking to make the switch to clipless. The Eggbeater SL pedals, on the other hand, are super lightweigh, elegantly simple in design, and the choice of many experienced riders. Can’t decide? How about getting both this holiday season…
#6 VioSport Adventure Cam II
I don’t think these video cameras aren’t being made anymore but singletracks riders really want ’em. If you can’t find a VioSport Adenture Cam this holiday season, check into getting a camera from GoPro instead. The Helmet Hero is a pretty solid camera and the new wide-angle model is supposed to be a huge improvement over the original. Bikes, camera, action!
If you want to get in your two cents on our most wished for mountain bike items, start your own gear wish list today. We even have a forum set up where you can tell us what you want and we promise to pass all requests on to the fat guy in the red suit before December 25!
For those who prefer to take matters into their own hands, check out JensonUSA this weekend* thru Sunday – free shipping on orders over $100. I’m told this is a rare event so take advantage of it while it lasts…
* Full disclosure: singletracks benefits from your purchase through our relationship with JensonUSA.
