2015 Holiday Gift Guide

Roll your eyes if you must, but enduro (both the race format, and the idea in general) has had a significant influence on bike, gear, and apparel design. No longer are we forced to choose between uphill efficiency and downhill fun. Modern mountain bike products do it all - and many do it all very well. (And yes some are "enduro" blue, too.) Here's a round-up of great enduro-oriented gift ideas that will keep the adrenaline junkie in your life riding (or racing) fast and safe.

MRP Fork

MRP Stage Fork

This enduro-oriented offering with 34mm stanchions isn't the lightest or cheapest fork out there. But during our personal test time (including at Boulder, Colorado's amazing Valmont Bike Park pictured above) it's proven reliable and highly capable, deftly smoothing out small bumps and soaking up big hits with predictable control. Prominent features include what MRP calls Ramp Control, which allows on-the-fly adjustment of the ending stroke curve of the air spring via a knob at the top of the left fork leg. Dial it in to retain small bump compliance, but get a progressive big hit feel. Or open it up for a more linear stroke. The idea is that when cranked down it will help you maintain control on especially steep or fast trails by preserving the last portion of stroke for those true crux moments, while at the same time maintaining your trail bike's more stable slack geometry. Just what the doctor ordered when you need to quickly adapt to varying trails during a race. For 2016, the fork will be available with 10 different sticker kits, so you can match colors with your bike. Available in 140mm, 150mm, 160mm and 170mm for 26"/27.5"; and 120mm, 130mm, 140mm, and 150mm for 29er. Price: $989 | More info at www.mrpbike.com

Bontrager Rally Helmet

Bontrager Rally Helmet

Protect your significant other's most valuable possession with this great gift from Bontrager. The Rally Helmet has an in-mold composite skeleton that increases helmet integrity. Or put another way, it'll lessen the impact of that unscheduled trip over the handlebars. The one-hand-adjustable Headmaster fit system easily manipulates height and circumference, while the flexible head-conforming FormFit brow band has a custom feel and improves venting when climbing. Best of all it comes with a crash replacement guarantee, meaning Bontrager will send you a new helmet for free if your old one is involved in a crash. Now that's the gift that keeps on giving. Price: $100 | More info at www.bontrager.com

Crankbrothers Pedal

Crankbrothers Mallet E Pedals

Billed as the ultimate pedal for enduro riding and racing, Crankbrothers Mallet E has a unique concave platform for better foothold, plus six adjustable pins per side to increase grip. These pedals also have customizable float and release angle, and traction pads with adjustable height. Four-sided entry helps you quickly clip back in, while the chamfered edges lessen the chances of rock strikes. Perhaps most important of all, Crankbrothers has switched to premium bearings and a double seal system in hopes of alleviating some of the durability issues its pedals have had in the past. Price: $165 | More info at www.crankbrothers.com

Scott Goggles

SCOTT Hustle MX Goggle

It wouldn't be enduro without goggles, and who better to supply your gift getter's eye protection than SCOTT, which has been making goggles for 45 years. The made-in-the-USA Hustle MX boasts excellent frame ventilation that channels air flow onto the lens as opposed to the eyes. A silicone strip on the inside of the strap keeps the Hustle MX in place on your helmet, while SCOTT's TruView lenses are lightweight, block 100 percent of harmful UV rays, and pass strict testing protocols for safety. The lenses also have a permanent anti-treatment to make sure you will always be able to see that rock garden lurking ahead. Price: $65 | More info at www.scott-sports.com (goggle frame, strap, and lens color and style of the prize given may vary subject to stock on hand).

EVOC FR Supertrail Bolivia Pack

EVOC FR SuperTrail Bolivia Hydration Pack

All-day-ride carrying capacity is combined with superior protection in this best-in-class hydration pack from EVOC. Among the FR SuperTrail's highlight features is a unique a back protection system can be detached and worn separately, and nylon-ripstop material construction for long term durability. There's also a wide tool compartment opening for easy access during trailside repairs, and it has an integrated rain cover and accommodates hydration systems up to 3 liters (bladder not included). Available in three sizes (S, M/L, XL) based on body height. Total pack volume is 20 liters for the M/L. Claimed pack weight is 2.86 pounds. Price: $230 | More info at www.evocusa.com

Vittoria Tire

Vittoria Morsa Tire

In scientific terms Graphene is a material that comes in the form of thin, nearly transparent sheets of pure carbon. In mountain biking terms it helps make tires faster, grip better, more puncture resistant and last longer. The new Vittoria Morsa with Graphene is all of these things in one enduro-racing-ready package. Designed for rougher and slippery race courses, this tire has an aggressive tread for better grip while rolling fast, plus sharp, squared edges that bite into sharp turns. Available in 2.3" for 26, 27.5 and 29-inch, and 2.5" for 26 and 27.5. Price: $65 | More info at www.vittoria.com

Five Ten Kestrel Boa Shoe

Five Ten Kestrel Boa Shoe

Designed to transfer power to the pedals as efficiently as possible, the Five Ten Kestrel features a unique dual-compound outsole, a stiff, carbon-infused shank, and a wider cleat interface that is compatible with all types of SPD pedals. The Boa IP1 closure system permits a custom fit with a simple turn of the dial, and the synthetic uppers are made from hydrophobic materials for minimal water intake, and have mesh inserts that improve breathability. Price: $180 | More info at www.fiveten.com

Continue to page 2 for more gifts for the all enduro all the time adrenaline junkie »

9point8 Fall Line Dropper Post

9point8 Fall Line Dropper Post

Dropper posts are among the most significant upgrades to any bike - old or new. Ease of use and reliability have improved over the years, as new players have entered the market and designs have evolved. One of the best new posts is the 9Point8 Fall Line, which features smooth lever actuation and up-down action that is light and damped. The Fall Line is claimed to work in all temperatures, and the locked position feels firm at any position in the travel. Available in 125mm-175mm lengths. Price: $380 | More info at 9point8.ca

Bell Helmet

Bell Super 2R Helmet

Some enduro race courses simply demand an extra measure of protection. That's when it's time to pull on Bell's Super 2R Helmet with removable chin bar. On the way up to the segment start, stash the chin bar on the back of your hydration pack. When it's time to get rowdy, clip on the bar, which attaches via three aluminum buckles that are borrowed from the ski boot world. The process takes about 30 seconds. When you're done you have a lightweight full face helmet that offers a little extra protection while gunning for that podium placing. Weight for a size medium is 430 grams without chin bar, 770 grams with. Price: $220 with MIPS | More info at www.bellhelmets.com

1Up Single Bicycle Quik Rack

1upUSA Single Bicycle Quik Rack

Compelling reason No. 1 to give the 1upUSA Single Bicycle Quik Rack as a gift: It comes fully assembled and ready to use, meaning you wont be up all Christmas Eve night trying to figure out which bolt goes where. It also weighs just 23 pounds, making it small and light enough to fit in the trunk of your car when not in use. But ease of use is the real selling point. Your enduro junkie can shuttle to their heart's delight without hassling with a cumbersome rack. Just open the arms, set bike in, close and go. It takes all of 5 seconds and your bike is securely held in place, so there's no fear of an "accident" on the highway. This rack fits bikes with wheel sizes from 16 to 29 inches and as wide as 3.25 tires. Price: $299 | More info at www.1upusa.com

Mavic Crossmax XL Pro Shoes

Secure foot hold, increased toe, heel and ankle protection, and a grippy outsole for off-the-bike-adventures are just some of the features built into the Mavic Crossmax XL Pro Shoes, which were designed in partnership with enduro stars Jerome Clementz and Fabien Barel. On the inside, an Ergo 3D tongue and Ergo Fit Ortholite innersole cushions your foot, while 3D breathable mesh keeps you cool and dry. And if the yellow colorway is just too much, they also come in a more understated black. Price: $200 | More info at www.mavic.us

Leatt Airflex Knee Pads

Leatt Airflex Knee Pads

Safety and comfort are combined in Leatt's Airflex knee pads, which feature a dimpled design that dissipates impact energy and improves ventilation. A strapless retention system makes them easy to get on and off, while their low profile and light weight mean you wont be cursing them when it comes time to climb to the next stage start. Price: $100 | More info at www.leatt.com

Club Ride Jersey

Club Ride Apparel Phantasm Jersey

If clothes make the man, then the jersey makes the enduro racer. Enter Club Ride Apparel's new Phantasm top, which is made of lightweight, breathable, quick-drying, knit fabric, and has an anti-microbial treatment so you wont offend the person next to you on the chairlift. UPF 20 UV protection blocks the sun's harmful rays, and a media port makes it easy to get pumped up on death metal (or smooth jazz) before your next shred session. Price: $55 | More info at www.clubrideapparel.com

Santa Cruz Bronson

Santa Cruz Bronson

The list of great enduro-capable bikes grows daily. From the big boys to the little guys, manufactures seem to have cracked the code on all-mountain fun. But if forced to pick just one to slip under the Christmas tree, we'd opt for the 2016 Santa Cruz Bronson. With its new-and-improved VPP suspension, this bike climbs nearly as well as an XC steed, and can tame trail as well as many of the bigger, less nimble bikes on the market. The latest tweak included modification to the shock rate, which now delivers greater small bump sensitivity and a more progressive mid-stroke. Frame geometry has also evolved with a steeper seat tube angle that places the rider right above the cranks in perfect position to ramp up the watts during flat sections. Combine that with a 66-degree head tube angle, longer top tube, and shorter chainstays and you have a bike that's truly race ready. Price: Starts at $3600 | More info at www.santacruzbicycles.com

This article is part of Mtbr's 2015 Holiday Gift Guide. For more gift ideas and holiday guides, CLICK HERE.