Holiday gift ideas for that cyclist in your life.

Byline: BICYCLING by John Aeby For The Register-Guard

IS THERE A BICYCLING enthusiast on your Christmas gift list? Or are you a cyclist looking for a way to drop some "useful" hints?

If so, here's an article you can study or leave in some appropriate location for dropping obvious hints.

I admit that cyclists are a pretty hard lot when it comes to shopping. If they're at all particular about their bicycle, chances are that their related gear is carefully picked to suit their style of cycling as well.

But here are some ideas for gifts that would appeal to a wide range of cyclists.

Multi-tools - compact and relatively lightweight, these provide the tools necessary for most roadside/trailside repairs. They're not designed to replace the full-sized tools you need for serious work and adjustments.

Instead, multi-tools offer an easy-to-carry emergency tool kit in a small package. They range in price from $8 to $40.

My favorites are the tried and true Cool Tool, the Crank Brothers tool and the Topeak Alien.

Cold weather clothing accessories - these make fall and winter cycling, well ... accessible, and most cyclists will appreciate having more.

Gloves are a must. Head, arm and leg warmers are highly versatile layers of clothing that work well for cold wet weather and the many days that start chilly but warm up later on. These range from $10 to $30.

Fairly new at cycling shops are cold weather undergarments. These provide a breathable layer designed to retain your core heat. Some have a wind resistant front layer for greater heat retention. These cost about $50 per piece.

Cycling shoes, which are light and let the air flow through them, are not good for cold weather riding. For the hard-core winter rider, well-insulated booties go over the shoes and keep toes toasty warm and protected from wet weather. These sell for $40 to $60.

But our milder weather more often calls for something lighter, such as toe warmers. I prefer one design that slides on easily, covering the whole instep and being held on with an elastic strap - and costs $15 to $20.

Books on cycling make great gifts, especially during this season when bicyclists dream of warmer days and fair winds. Of course cycling books span a huge range of "how-to's," where to go and personal journeys. Here are just a few recommendations:

For the off-road cyclist, there's "Kissing the Trail: Northwest and Central Oregon Mountain Bike Trails" by John Zilly ($16.95). This book features more than 70 trails, and it includes mileage, maps and elevation profiles, clear directions, exploring opportunities, hazards and where to find more information. A handy chart indicates seasonal availability and difficulty level. The book lists trails near Bend, Eugene, Hood River and the Columbia River Gorge, the coast and metro-Portland.

This book is getting hard to find, but the publisher shows it as still available at www.sasquatchbooks.com.

"Road Biking: Oregon" ($14.95) - Though it's doubtful that any one book can do justice to covering the quality and quantity of great road cycling routes in Oregon, Lizann Dunegan has done a decent job of listing a good variety of routes around the state. This might be just the thing for the cyclist who wants to explore a wider diversity of Oregon's countryside. With 40 tours, which vary in length from eight miles to 118 miles, the book covers a wide range of abilities and fitness levels.

This new release includes maps, elevation profiles, traffic conditions, terrain, points of interest, listings for local restaurants, hotels, bike shops and rest rooms along the way.

With the Lewis and Clark bicentennial coming up, "The Bicycle Guide to the Lewis and Clark Trail" by Tod Rodger might be just the thing for the ambitious bicycle tourer. This is one of the most useful bicycle touring guides you'll find anywhere. By riding and researching the route many times, Rodger has compiled a vast amount of information which he keeps current with a companion Web site.

Armed with Rodger's book, cyclists can know nearly every campground, grocery store, restaurant, motel, bicycle shop and hospital along the 3,000-mile route. The book is available online at www.deerfootpublications.com for $24.95, plus $4 shipping.

Finally, what better gift can you give a cyclist than bicycling itself?

Wrap up a gift certificate toward an organized ride such as Seattle to Portland, Oregon Bicycle Ride or Cycle Oregon. Fees range from $75 to $700.

A smaller-scale gift could be entry into an event ride such as the Eugene GEARS Blackberry bRamble, the Strawberry Century in Lebanon or the Covered Bridge Bicycle Tour in Albany. Costs range from $15 to $35.

Better yet, plan a ride specifically tailored to the interest of the cyclist on your list. Include all of the arrangements: the route, the accommodations, the food, the logistics and ride support - and did I mention plenty of good food?

After all, doesn't Christmas - like cycling - invoke a time of friendship, unity of spirit and peace - and did I mention good food?

John Aeby, a Eugene-area free-lance writer, can be reached at [e-mail].