"They already have everything" is almost never true. What is true is that you do not know which bit they are missing. Riders are easy to give to once you stop thinking about objects and start thinking about days.
Here is what to give, by the kind of rider you are giving to. Birthdays, an exam passed, a retirement, a thank you: none of this is only for December.
They have just started
Give a skills course. A beginner does not need better equipment, they need somebody to tell them where to look and what to do with their elbows. One day with an instructor removes more fear than a season of riding behind friends who are quietly waiting at every junction.
Around CHF 129 for a day in a small group, and rental is available if they do not own a bike yet, which makes it a complete present rather than a present with homework attached.
They have the bike, the tools and three helmets
Give a shuttle day. The one thing an equipped rider cannot buy for themselves is a day where somebody else drives, chooses the trails according to the conditions and fixes the bike if it breaks. CHF 95, 5,000 metres of descent, and nothing to organise.
They have been talking about a trip for three years
Give a contribution towards it. A voucher for part of the cost of a week is often what finally turns "one day" into a booking, especially if several of you put in together. The amount is free from CHF 50, so a group of friends can build something substantial without anybody having to carry it alone.
They are always working on their own bike
Give a mechanics course. There is a particular kind of rider who would rather understand the thing than pay someone to fix it, and for them a day in a workshop learning to bleed brakes and set up a derailleur properly is worth more than any component.
They always ride alone
Give a guided day. Some people ride alone because they prefer it and some because they have never found the group. A guided day is a low-commitment way to find out which one they are, and it comes with somebody who knows the ground.
You genuinely have no idea
Give the voucher itself and let them choose. It is valid on everything we do, shuttles, courses, tours, trips and rental, for two years, which means they pick the date and the activity when it suits them rather than trying to guess a free Saturday six months out.
It arrives by e-mail within seconds with your message on it, so it works whether you planned this three weeks ago or eleven minutes ago.
How much to put on it
The amount is free from CHF 50. Three markers that mean something:
- CHF 95: a full day of shuttles.
- CHF 129: a skills course with an instructor.
- More: a weekend, or a serious contribution towards a week away.
Under CHF 95 a voucher is not a failure, it is a contribution: several people club together, or they top it up themselves towards something bigger.
Ordering
Amount, recipient, your message, done. The gift voucher page takes about three minutes, card or bank transfer, and the voucher is in your inbox before you have closed the tab.
Two more specific occasions, if that is where you are: Valentine's Day and Christmas.
Chris
