What to Get the Young Rider in Your Life: A Gift Guide for Parents & Grandparents
Every fall, the same conversation happens in our shop: a parent or grandparent leans on the counter and asks, "My kid - my grandkid - is getting into mountain biking. What should I get them?"
We love this question. So we built the Gifts for Young Riders collection to make it easy: the youth bikes, helmets, gear, and fun extras we'd pick for our own kids, all in one place.
Start with the helmet. It's the one gift that matters most, and fit is everything. The Kali Chakra kids' helmets ($50-$65) are the ones we put on our own boys' heads, and for young riders hitting jumps and the bike park, the Kali Maya and Zoka youth full-face helmets step up the protection. Not sure of a size? Bring them by the shop - we fit helmets free, any time.
Gear they'll be excited to unwrap. Youth gloves and jerseys from HandUP, Troy Lee Designs, and more ($24 and up), knee guards, the TLD Rockfight chest protector, and photochromic kids' sunglasses that darken in the sun. These are the things young riders actually ask for - and outgrow so fast that fresh gear is always welcome.
Our own matching set. The Youth Galactic Trails Jersey ($49.99) is a Brown County Bikes design - and it has matching HandUp Galactic Gloves ($34.99) made just for us. A jersey-and-gloves set in the same print is the kind of gift that makes a young rider feel like the real deal. Because it is.
The fun stuff. Snack! frame bags shaped like pizza, watermelon, and donuts. The Kids Ride Shotgun tow rope, for little legs that can't quite make it up the big climbs (yet). Small gifts, big smiles.
The big gift. Ready for a first real mountain bike? The Transition Bandit 20" and Kona Honzo 20" are proper trail bikes for young riders - not toy-store bikes. And if your little one is outgrowing a Strider, the pedal conversion kit gives that same bike a second life.
When in doubt: a gift card. Brown County Bikes gift cards run $10-$500, and they come with the best extras we offer - our staff's advice, free helmet fitting, and a shop dog greeting at the door. (Well, most days.)
Shop the full collection here: Gifts for Young Riders - and if you're visiting Brown County State Park this season, stop in before or after your ride. We'll help you pick the gift that gets them out on the trails.
- Danielle & Kate, Brown County Bikes