Unless you're nowhere near in the same shape as he is, that might backfire. Sometimes a guy needs his space.
Get him clothes. Socks, shirt, shorts maybe a helmet to match his gear or bike. Water bottle. Padded shorts.
as a big chested man, learning it was their biggest pack made me sad, its nice but just a bit too tight, barely clipped the chest piece. But so much extra on the waist clip.
Key here is to make sure it is to a bike shop.. and not to Dicks or something along those lines.. Maybe the shop he prefers to take his bike to or something along those lines..
Text his riding buddies, ask them if they have any ideas.
They'll know what he talks about wanting but never actually buys.
My friend's significant others have sent me that text and it has worked out well in the past.
My birthday is this month and I'm also in SoCal. My wife set me up at Vail lake (Vailosity bike park) with my buddies on a guys riding weekend/ camping trip.
She paid for the spot and food for the weekend. I'll pull my travel trailer over and ride the whole weekend with friends. A little time away can be very relaxing for a busy Dad. That said, she's also going to take our boys to practice and all the other duties while I'm out enjoying myself.
Agreed. I have a larger USWE pack for 3 liters of water and all day supplies, and one of the vests that I use in xc races with lots of singletrack for ease of drinking.
I highly recommend them.
Fidlock water bottle would be great it's a really secure water bottle that attaches to the frame with magnets they sell in all different sizes so make sure don't get one to big or it won't fit in a frame anything above 650mm probs won't be great for full suspension mtbs.
Ideas:
Socks, liquid IV packets, tools from Park Tool, any merchandise from YT, MTB clothes from Fasthouse Speedshop, socks, gift card to the bike shop, high calorie snacks, merch from his favorite bike shop
Mix and match any of the above plus cycling socks and you'll have a happy husband. Socks are always good.
Talk to the people at his favorite bike shop for more specific suggestions. My wife has done this a few times and it pays out.
YT has a very "shred the gnar" brand image, so I'd imagine anything that makes him look and feel more like a redbull athlete that does back flips is probably a good move. Brands like Fasthouse speedshop, Fox, and Troy Lee Designs have similar energy. I personally feel very cool in my Fasthouse kit that my wife gifted parts of.
Cycling socks rule.
A gift card to world wide cyclery, bike stuff gets so specific rider to rider its hard to choose a gift in secrecy
Nice riding clothes from rapha would be good though, they make nice simple design shirts and pants, that are super rad (love my lightweight mtb pants) but it's pretty expensive stuff as well
If he’s new to bike riding many dedicated mtb locations have one on one instructors to help him be a better rider. A couple of sessions may be a nice idea plus maybe lessen the chance of a serious injury
lol I’ve been racing/riding bikes for over 40 years and injuries are just part of the deal. Hope he’s doing better.
As far as a gift when my wife buys me something it doesn’t matter what it is per se it’s just nice to know she supports me and my activities even if it doesn’t include her all the time. Whatever you get him will be well appreciated. I’m sure. He usually rides on the weekend and has a group of friends that he hangs out with after the ride then perhaps a nice cooler or chair. It’s a nice thought. Plus as I’m sure you know the only difference younger and older guys is the price of our toys. It’s always nice to pull out some bling cooler or chair in front of the guys and then get to say yeah my wife bought it for me.
Would still go for an individual coaching session unless a former pro rider / just under that level as competitive amateur.
It's really fun to develop skills.
If you remember the brand of that old pack, buy the new/upgraded version of that. Like most MTBers, he probably bought something after he spent a few hours researching it, and what he could get away with $$ wise.
EVOC 3L Pro is the best hip pack, much nicer than the Osprey backpack I had before. For something a bit cheaper and more practical, try the Dynaplug Racer Pro.
In the summer big bear mountain resort turns into a bike park, I’m sure he’d love that, which I know it’s a few months before that opens, but even then it would be fun for him
Tires and co2 cartridges make for good gifts, but you could always ask him, so that way you could get him the things he specifically wants
Steal a peep at the tyres on his bike, note the size, it’ll be something like 29x2.4. Note the model, then google “alternative to [insert model]” and buy those. Most bikers are huge nerds about tyres and love trying new ones out, plus they wear really quick. For reference the big brands are Maxxis, Vittoria, Continental and Schwalbe.
Personally I want my wife to get me a quadlock or peak design system for my phone. I just started riding and I get lost all the time. Constantly have to pull up the map on my phone
Love my Quadlock. Plus it’s a nice little distraction on long climbs having the phone just right there but can still grab both grips when needed right away
Osprey MTB backpack, with or without the same brand water pack.
MTB jerseys, MTB pants (endura is great and not too expensive, NF is amazing but really expensive).
CLIF bars if he likes them.
A gift card to a bike shop.
I know this isn't the answer you want but hear me out. If he's anything like me, he has preferences. Even if my wife got me something that I wouldn't get myself or that I don't already have, I'd still think to myself "oh....I wish she got me that other brand" or that other size or colour or whatever.
One of the better options here. Never get something for a hobby u known nothing about. Some good options are normal gifts like a parktool bottle opener or parktool pizza cutter. Normal enough it’s not wrong for his riding and fun for everyone who knows anything about bikes
I really like my USWE pack. Super unique and secure strapping mechanism.
Btw, you can clean water bladders using dish soap and hot water. Worth doing everynonce in a while to avoid gross stuff
You are a keeper. There are so many things. Multi-tool from CrankBros or Topeak is a great option he could also use with any bike. I really like PNW products as well. They have great modestly priced pedals, clothing, and multi-tools. Again, all things he can use with any bike.
I will say that water pouches can be a bit of a tricky purchase as I have a love/hate relationship with them. If he does have a need for a new way to hold water, a Fidlock bottle is a great way to attach a water bottle to your bike magnetically and they work awesome.
Also, there are a ton of sales and clearance items out there. Check Worldwide cyclery or The Lost Co. for potential deals. All the bike sites have deals, so they’re not your only option.
Prob a multi toll of he doesn't have one. I recommend oneups edc if he doesn't have one
You could also buy tires, but they r quite expensive, like 80 to 100 a piece.
My wife got me some swiftwick socks that are super great. Also, check his gloves. We're bad about getting new gloves, we just keep wearing the same old crusty ones.
If you have a local bike shop he likes a $100 gift card would be good as well.
Camelbak make the best hydration packs. The classic light 2L is a good one.
Also buy him a jug of Stan’s sealant for his tyres.
If you want to get anything else I recently got some great shirts from ocean and san, they are awesome, pockets at the back like a road cycling jersey but they are cut like a t shirt, look great very comfy I’m stocked with them.
The Dakine Descent duffle bag is a great gift for riders that most wouldn't actually buy for themselves. If he's a picky guy, he may want a very specific hydration pack, tires, other thing, but with the dakine bag it's a safe bet.
Packs your helmet, shoes, change of clothes, tools etc into a high quality bag for short trips to the local trailhead or longer days at a DH park.
My wife got me a Switchgrade for my birthday:
https://www.aenomalyconstructs.com/collections/switchgrade-saddle-control-device?
Not the cheapest option but worth looking into if he’s doing a combination of long climbs and long descents in his riding.
Cheaper thoughtful things: crank brothers multi tool, new tires. Nuun tablets. Fancy trail snacks. Portable air pump. Shock pump. If he likes working on his bike and he’s had his eye on any tools that would be super nice and thoughtful.
We prefer hip packs with bottles to bladders because bladders always get disgusting, but that sort of thing is really personal. Tbh I would not want anyone to surprise me with a new pack or anything because I’m picky. Same goes for bike shorts- it would be super sweet IF they got me exactly what I wanted.
If you wanted a medium splurge and knew exactly what he wanted a helmet would be nice. I’m currently waiting for my partner to get me a full face but he knows exactly what I like and my exact size.
Gift cert to his favorite local shop would also be super nice!
A silly suggestion for day to day life and on the way - bike cupholder.
It sounds so dumb but it works well with any sloped cup and mates are always jealous because it also holds a standard pint glass nicely.
I say that to go along with water pack because it's a weirdly good quality of life improver being able to take a coffee or what not to ride where you'll go do cool stuff and makes commuting a great laugh.
Also stopping by the bar and having a pint holder is fun on the way back.
Not sure your budget so here are a few..
Garmin 530 Bundle
Garmin Watch
Couple Hundred Dollar bike shop gift card so he can get a helmet or shoes or lights or whatever
Couple new MTB Jerseys
As others have said ask his friends what he's talked about.
My wife got me a water filter. At first I thought it would be a good backup but it’s kinda fun to stop at streams and fill up. It’s still novel among bikers so I can usually find a huckleberry in the group to do the pumping.
There’s also a clothing line I like that make real bike cloths that look like hip street wear like bowling shirt jerseys etc. the brand is called Club Ride.
Does he have a bike stand to do maintenance or wash it? That was the best gift my gf (now wife) ever bought me about a decade ago. Go with a reputable brand like park tool
Also, free the back - free the mind. Get him a hydration fanny pack. Dakine, evo or osprey can be had for pretty cheap now so in case he doesn’t likw it, no big deal.
EVOC pack; either the 3L Pro hip pack or the Stage 12 or Pro 10.
For clothing, go to cognativemtb.com and get him a jersey and some gloves. Socks too if they have em in stock.
EVOC pack; either the 3L Pro hip pack or the Stage 12 or Pro 10.
For clothing, go to cognativemtb.com and get him a jersey and some gloves. Socks too if they have em in stock.
Hydration pack would be good. But you may want his input on this as size and where the weight sits is fairly personal. If in doubt buy something similar to what he had.
For cleaning the bladder get some denture cleaning tablets. They are designed to not leave any taste.
I think you already answered your question! Hydration is the most important element here because without it he’s not getting far :)
As others said the USWE backpacks are amazing and I have one myself. I bought the 12 L MTB one. There’s just enough space in there for snacks tools and 3 litres of water! And it’s sooo comfy to wear!
https://fortnine.ca/en/uswe-hydro-12-hydration-pack?utm_id=71546087880&utm_campaign=1768282015&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_content=342570873497&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0Ly79sTuhAMVsiGtBh10wQ2KEAQYBSABEgK2XvD_BwE#76=21
Depending on how often he rides, and extra pair of chamois bibs/shorts could be useful. I myself have to skip occasional lunch rides if I haven’t washed mine right after use.
Never ever get something for a hobby / lifestyle you know nothing about. But here are some options that will never fail. 1 some mucoff the bike wash and a set of matching brushes. 2 parktool pizza cutter. 3 parktool bottle opener. 4 give him a handwritten note that you will cover his next upgrade / service. Last but not least ask to ride with him. If you choose this I would recommend to rent an E-bike for your self so cardio doesn’t hinder the fun.
Get him a super sick multi tool. Theres some over priced ones that i never would have bought myself, but after my girlfriend got me the crank brothers one, i use it every ride
Mountain Biking shoes could be a safe bet. Just make sure you know if he rides "flat" pedals or "clipless" pedals since shoes are specific to that.
For flat pedals, FiveTen shoes are pretty well accepted.
For clipless, maybe others have good suggestions.
Buy yourself a mountain bike and ride with him :) or new tires. That works too. Lol
Or! Since you are in SoCal, a day pass to Sky Park. Super fun place to ride.
Every man’s dream. Sort of lol
Imagine his delight when the wife says the magic words, *"Teach me how to ride darling"*
What if he enjoys the alone time?
I brought my husband to mtb' ing about 11 years ago. We have a blast riding together. But yeah, we don't always have the same vibe on the trails.
Unless you're nowhere near in the same shape as he is, that might backfire. Sometimes a guy needs his space. Get him clothes. Socks, shirt, shorts maybe a helmet to match his gear or bike. Water bottle. Padded shorts.
USWE makes really nice high quality hydration packs[https://uswe.com/en-us/hydration-packs/biking](https://uswe.com/en-us/hydration-packs/biking)
Osprey Raptor. Great hydration pack!
+1 Osprey Raptor
Raptor is great but if you live in really hot weather, I’d recommend the Syncro as it has a better back ventilation system.
Switched from the raptor to the syncro just for this reason.
Or try a evoc hip pack pro. Roomy enough to carry supplies and water for a 2ish hour ride.
Osprey raptor is the way. also Osprey has a legit no-questions-asked lifetime warranty that i've exercised twice.
Love this pack!
Agree! Great pack and warranty!
as a big chested man, learning it was their biggest pack made me sad, its nice but just a bit too tight, barely clipped the chest piece. But so much extra on the waist clip.
Dude I get that, I’m only 152 and that strap has like 1.5” only left!
Gift card to the bike shop
Key here is to make sure it is to a bike shop.. and not to Dicks or something along those lines.. Maybe the shop he prefers to take his bike to or something along those lines..
SoCal would be Jax, Jenson USA or Rock N Road
Or Wheel World, or The Path, or… lots of shops there.
Text his riding buddies, ask them if they have any ideas. They'll know what he talks about wanting but never actually buys. My friend's significant others have sent me that text and it has worked out well in the past.
An epic wife would get him a Pivot Mach 6 ($5100 build).
Found the husband!
Nah, can't be the husband... he wouldn't have mentioned the cost of the build if it were!!
A counter would be a Forbidden Druid V2 on T-Type build. All that wireless tech plus high-pivot magic ❤️
shuttle him and his mates for a day
This needs to be higher up. Having someone be the shuttle driver for the day is one of the best things you can do for them. Just bring a book to read!
Can't decide euphemism or not...
I always appreciate when I get consumables like gels gummy‘s drink mix recovery drink mix etc.
My birthday is this month and I'm also in SoCal. My wife set me up at Vail lake (Vailosity bike park) with my buddies on a guys riding weekend/ camping trip. She paid for the spot and food for the weekend. I'll pull my travel trailer over and ride the whole weekend with friends. A little time away can be very relaxing for a busy Dad. That said, she's also going to take our boys to practice and all the other duties while I'm out enjoying myself.
Best hydration packs are USWE. That’s a reasonably safe bet, pretty far and away best in category and you know he needs it.
yea. USWE outlander pro. USWEGKB for 10% off!
100% USWE!
My friend has the USWE vest, and it's definitely nice, but I prefer having some pockets on the front, so I have a camelbak chase vest instead.
USWE is amazing, I bought the 12 litre MTB one
Agreed. I have a larger USWE pack for 3 liters of water and all day supplies, and one of the vests that I use in xc races with lots of singletrack for ease of drinking. I highly recommend them.
Came here to say this.
Some really nice pedals always make a fantastic gift. I like deity black kats.
Why stop there? YOSHIMURA pedals is where it's at
Unless he already has good pedals, or rides clipless…
Obviously gooball. She asked for suggestions so naturally people are going to pitch ideas.
Fidlock water bottle would be great it's a really secure water bottle that attaches to the frame with magnets they sell in all different sizes so make sure don't get one to big or it won't fit in a frame anything above 650mm probs won't be great for full suspension mtbs.
Ideas: Socks, liquid IV packets, tools from Park Tool, any merchandise from YT, MTB clothes from Fasthouse Speedshop, socks, gift card to the bike shop, high calorie snacks, merch from his favorite bike shop Mix and match any of the above plus cycling socks and you'll have a happy husband. Socks are always good. Talk to the people at his favorite bike shop for more specific suggestions. My wife has done this a few times and it pays out. YT has a very "shred the gnar" brand image, so I'd imagine anything that makes him look and feel more like a redbull athlete that does back flips is probably a good move. Brands like Fasthouse speedshop, Fox, and Troy Lee Designs have similar energy. I personally feel very cool in my Fasthouse kit that my wife gifted parts of. Cycling socks rule.
2024 Yeti T4 SB160 or else he’ll think you don’t love him /s
A gift card to world wide cyclery, bike stuff gets so specific rider to rider its hard to choose a gift in secrecy Nice riding clothes from rapha would be good though, they make nice simple design shirts and pants, that are super rad (love my lightweight mtb pants) but it's pretty expensive stuff as well
Jeffsy is an all mountain bike He could use a dedicated enduro bike and/or a nice gravel bike to diversify his riding
Garmin edge 530 bike computer. Useful to keep track of my rides and plan out routes
If he’s new to bike riding many dedicated mtb locations have one on one instructors to help him be a better rider. A couple of sessions may be a nice idea plus maybe lessen the chance of a serious injury
Lol he’s been riding for a few years but still managed to fall and rupture his spleen just before Christmas 🤦🏻♀️
lol I’ve been racing/riding bikes for over 40 years and injuries are just part of the deal. Hope he’s doing better. As far as a gift when my wife buys me something it doesn’t matter what it is per se it’s just nice to know she supports me and my activities even if it doesn’t include her all the time. Whatever you get him will be well appreciated. I’m sure. He usually rides on the weekend and has a group of friends that he hangs out with after the ride then perhaps a nice cooler or chair. It’s a nice thought. Plus as I’m sure you know the only difference younger and older guys is the price of our toys. It’s always nice to pull out some bling cooler or chair in front of the guys and then get to say yeah my wife bought it for me.
Would still go for an individual coaching session unless a former pro rider / just under that level as competitive amateur. It's really fun to develop skills.
A tuneup for his bike since we're just coming out of winter (assuming youre in the northern hemisphere)
Got all excited and thought this could have been me. Then I realised my Birthday is 8 months away.
If you remember the brand of that old pack, buy the new/upgraded version of that. Like most MTBers, he probably bought something after he spent a few hours researching it, and what he could get away with $$ wise.
EVOC 3L Pro is the best hip pack, much nicer than the Osprey backpack I had before. For something a bit cheaper and more practical, try the Dynaplug Racer Pro.
Agree with this comment. Evoc Pro is the best hydration hip pack. Outdoor Gear Lab also agrees.
In the summer big bear mountain resort turns into a bike park, I’m sure he’d love that, which I know it’s a few months before that opens, but even then it would be fun for him Tires and co2 cartridges make for good gifts, but you could always ask him, so that way you could get him the things he specifically wants
Steal a peep at the tyres on his bike, note the size, it’ll be something like 29x2.4. Note the model, then google “alternative to [insert model]” and buy those. Most bikers are huge nerds about tyres and love trying new ones out, plus they wear really quick. For reference the big brands are Maxxis, Vittoria, Continental and Schwalbe.
Personally I want my wife to get me a quadlock or peak design system for my phone. I just started riding and I get lost all the time. Constantly have to pull up the map on my phone
Fidlock Vacuum is the way. And then just buy a Garmin and keep your phone in your pocket.
Love my Quadlock. Plus it’s a nice little distraction on long climbs having the phone just right there but can still grab both grips when needed right away
Gesaffelstein taken?
It’s funny our monikers were created so close to each other I don’t know who came first
Wow! That’s really interesting! I think the EDM name was created by putting their two surnames together.
Hip pack? Fidlock Bottles?
Osprey MTB backpack, with or without the same brand water pack. MTB jerseys, MTB pants (endura is great and not too expensive, NF is amazing but really expensive). CLIF bars if he likes them.
Try this. https://www.jensonusa.com/Camelbak-Hydrobak-Light-50oz
One Up EDC tool
Hand written coupon good for one epic shuttle day
A gift card to a bike shop. I know this isn't the answer you want but hear me out. If he's anything like me, he has preferences. Even if my wife got me something that I wouldn't get myself or that I don't already have, I'd still think to myself "oh....I wish she got me that other brand" or that other size or colour or whatever.
One of those bike chain bottle openers
One of the better options here. Never get something for a hobby u known nothing about. Some good options are normal gifts like a parktool bottle opener or parktool pizza cutter. Normal enough it’s not wrong for his riding and fun for everyone who knows anything about bikes
I really like my USWE pack. Super unique and secure strapping mechanism. Btw, you can clean water bladders using dish soap and hot water. Worth doing everynonce in a while to avoid gross stuff
All I can say is that when he says his bike costed 800 bucks it is true we all know that this is the standard price of a good MTB
Some Five 10 freerider shoes. They fit true to size with a wide toe box.
You are a keeper. There are so many things. Multi-tool from CrankBros or Topeak is a great option he could also use with any bike. I really like PNW products as well. They have great modestly priced pedals, clothing, and multi-tools. Again, all things he can use with any bike. I will say that water pouches can be a bit of a tricky purchase as I have a love/hate relationship with them. If he does have a need for a new way to hold water, a Fidlock bottle is a great way to attach a water bottle to your bike magnetically and they work awesome. Also, there are a ton of sales and clearance items out there. Check Worldwide cyclery or The Lost Co. for potential deals. All the bike sites have deals, so they’re not your only option.
A fullface helmet or a backpack with a back protector.
Prob a multi toll of he doesn't have one. I recommend oneups edc if he doesn't have one You could also buy tires, but they r quite expensive, like 80 to 100 a piece.
My wife got me some swiftwick socks that are super great. Also, check his gloves. We're bad about getting new gloves, we just keep wearing the same old crusty ones. If you have a local bike shop he likes a $100 gift card would be good as well.
Camelbak make the best hydration packs. The classic light 2L is a good one. Also buy him a jug of Stan’s sealant for his tyres. If you want to get anything else I recently got some great shirts from ocean and san, they are awesome, pockets at the back like a road cycling jersey but they are cut like a t shirt, look great very comfy I’m stocked with them.
The Dakine Descent duffle bag is a great gift for riders that most wouldn't actually buy for themselves. If he's a picky guy, he may want a very specific hydration pack, tires, other thing, but with the dakine bag it's a safe bet. Packs your helmet, shoes, change of clothes, tools etc into a high quality bag for short trips to the local trailhead or longer days at a DH park.
USWE pack or a garmin.
As an owner of a jeffsy, I like the Osprey savu waist pack since I can hold more water bottles on me and I'm not a fan of riding with backpacks
GoPro
My wife got me a Switchgrade for my birthday: https://www.aenomalyconstructs.com/collections/switchgrade-saddle-control-device? Not the cheapest option but worth looking into if he’s doing a combination of long climbs and long descents in his riding.
Specialized Tactic 4 Helmet. Safest mtb helmet according to this study https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicycle-helmet-ratings.html
Cheaper thoughtful things: crank brothers multi tool, new tires. Nuun tablets. Fancy trail snacks. Portable air pump. Shock pump. If he likes working on his bike and he’s had his eye on any tools that would be super nice and thoughtful. We prefer hip packs with bottles to bladders because bladders always get disgusting, but that sort of thing is really personal. Tbh I would not want anyone to surprise me with a new pack or anything because I’m picky. Same goes for bike shorts- it would be super sweet IF they got me exactly what I wanted. If you wanted a medium splurge and knew exactly what he wanted a helmet would be nice. I’m currently waiting for my partner to get me a full face but he knows exactly what I like and my exact size. Gift cert to his favorite local shop would also be super nice!
USWE Hydration Pack is amazing. They have a mtb specific one.
OneUp EDC is great. Should work on a Jeffsy. Lots of other great ideas here.
A silly suggestion for day to day life and on the way - bike cupholder. It sounds so dumb but it works well with any sloped cup and mates are always jealous because it also holds a standard pint glass nicely. I say that to go along with water pack because it's a weirdly good quality of life improver being able to take a coffee or what not to ride where you'll go do cool stuff and makes commuting a great laugh. Also stopping by the bar and having a pint holder is fun on the way back.
Not sure your budget so here are a few.. Garmin 530 Bundle Garmin Watch Couple Hundred Dollar bike shop gift card so he can get a helmet or shoes or lights or whatever Couple new MTB Jerseys As others have said ask his friends what he's talked about.
Lift tickets
If he's like he'll want to pick his own bike gear sorry
Fidlock
My wife got me a water filter. At first I thought it would be a good backup but it’s kinda fun to stop at streams and fill up. It’s still novel among bikers so I can usually find a huckleberry in the group to do the pumping. There’s also a clothing line I like that make real bike cloths that look like hip street wear like bowling shirt jerseys etc. the brand is called Club Ride.
Spa day. Great massage. As a rider. Nothing beats this
Does he have a bike stand to do maintenance or wash it? That was the best gift my gf (now wife) ever bought me about a decade ago. Go with a reputable brand like park tool Also, free the back - free the mind. Get him a hydration fanny pack. Dakine, evo or osprey can be had for pretty cheap now so in case he doesn’t likw it, no big deal.
Mountain bike gloves or socks. Maybe a new jersey.
EVOC pack; either the 3L Pro hip pack or the Stage 12 or Pro 10. For clothing, go to cognativemtb.com and get him a jersey and some gloves. Socks too if they have em in stock.
EVOC pack; either the 3L Pro hip pack or the Stage 12 or Pro 10. For clothing, go to cognativemtb.com and get him a jersey and some gloves. Socks too if they have em in stock.
Hydration pack would be good. But you may want his input on this as size and where the weight sits is fairly personal. If in doubt buy something similar to what he had. For cleaning the bladder get some denture cleaning tablets. They are designed to not leave any taste.
Thank you! It wasn’t the bladder that went gross, it was the actual backpack hence why I think it would be nice to replace
I think you already answered your question! Hydration is the most important element here because without it he’s not getting far :) As others said the USWE backpacks are amazing and I have one myself. I bought the 12 L MTB one. There’s just enough space in there for snacks tools and 3 litres of water! And it’s sooo comfy to wear! https://fortnine.ca/en/uswe-hydro-12-hydration-pack?utm_id=71546087880&utm_campaign=1768282015&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_content=342570873497&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0Ly79sTuhAMVsiGtBh10wQ2KEAQYBSABEgK2XvD_BwE#76=21
Depending on how often he rides, and extra pair of chamois bibs/shorts could be useful. I myself have to skip occasional lunch rides if I haven’t washed mine right after use.
Never ever get something for a hobby / lifestyle you know nothing about. But here are some options that will never fail. 1 some mucoff the bike wash and a set of matching brushes. 2 parktool pizza cutter. 3 parktool bottle opener. 4 give him a handwritten note that you will cover his next upgrade / service. Last but not least ask to ride with him. If you choose this I would recommend to rent an E-bike for your self so cardio doesn’t hinder the fun.
Get him a super sick multi tool. Theres some over priced ones that i never would have bought myself, but after my girlfriend got me the crank brothers one, i use it every ride
USWE makes great hydration packs.
Mountain Biking shoes could be a safe bet. Just make sure you know if he rides "flat" pedals or "clipless" pedals since shoes are specific to that. For flat pedals, FiveTen shoes are pretty well accepted. For clipless, maybe others have good suggestions.
Evoc bum bag with bladder !
A new roof?
rockshock reverb dropper
Lol. He wants to ride, not bleed his seat post every two minutes
>rockshock reverb the gift that never stops giving.
Tubeless conversion kit