Cold comfort for bikers

Gift ideas for cyclists include brightly painted wooden fenders.

Denial is useless. Winter has finally arrived, and the only way out is forward.

It's going to be a long ride and a crazy sort of determination is called for - enough anger to hurl yourself across the Mass. Ave bridge at midnight during a snowstorm, say, or the strength to get back on the bike after yet another ice-induced sprawl. That makes now the precise moment for kindness. Not toward the elements, of course, as they'll offer none in return, but to the favorite bike or bicyclist in your life.

It could be something shiny to set off the bike's strength, or practical to keep that certain someone safe. It's all fair game, and the place to look is your neighborhood bike store, where they're rarely at a loss for helpful suggestions. (Although you can get it all - and then some - online, there's a lot to be said for actually being able to touch and try.)

So what's big this time of year? Given the stygian gloom that reached its height (so to speak) with today's winter solstice, lights lead the way. Sam Wheeler, a four-year veteran of Belmont Wheelworks, suggests the rechargeable DiNotte 200L. "It will last for something ridiculous like over an hour at full power," he says. It comes with a helmet mount, one set of batteries and a carrier for a second, as well as a charger. Although not cheap at $159, it'll make actually seeing where you're going - not a bad idea - a lot easier. And to make sure you're spotted by cars, add a few $12 Knog Frogs, a popular mini-light recommended by Grady Lynch of Landry's in Allston.

If you're in more of a retro mood, Menotomy Vintage Bicycles, in the basement of the Cambridge Antique Market, offers a rocket-shaped fender light for $21. The shop specializes in classic bikes and "old-school accessories," says owner Vinny Vullo. "Nothing high-tech, just good old-style utilitarian stuff," he says, including wicker baskets, chain guards, and even little state license plates for your bike. Vullo says they have more than 30 kinds, and at $2 to $3 each, they make vintage style affordable.

When it comes to visibility, you can put the odds even more in your favor with some snappy reflective-sidewall tires. There are lots of options out there, but Specialized's reflective Armadillo model (starting at $50, and available in both 700c and 26-inch sizes) gets a lot of mentions. "It has some of the best flat-protection in the industry, with a Kevlar lining that's almost puncture-proof," Lynch says, before stopping himself. "I'm not really supposed to say that."

To keep those tires rolling, Arnie Mostowy, manager of Bicycle Bill's in Allston, stocks Serfas CC-20 Full Stick minipumps for $25. Although there are less-expensive models, he notes that this one is "more aluminum than plastic," better enabling it to withstand the season's rigors. And if a screw on your bike goes awry, he suggests having the Park IB-2 multitool close at hand. "It has all your Allen wrenches, both screwdrivers, chain tool," he says, and at $18, it'll be a bargain when the time comes.

If the Park IB-2 is a multitool, the "Keirin 4 Way Tool" from Harris Cyclery in West Newton is in some sense a monotool, at least in terms of its application. Made specifically for fixed-gear track bikes, it's a lock-ring wrench, "chainless chain whip," and adjuster for both axle nuts and chain tensioners, all at once. It has a lithe form common to the best industrial design, and will slip easily into the stocking of that certain cyclist.

When thinking about holiday offerings, however, don't forget that practicality takes many forms. The irresistibly cute Surly flask ("for precious liquids," as the company describes it) is ideal for warming you up after that subzero cross-town ride. Complete with matching cage for just $60, it's available through local dealers such as Wheelworks, and handily beats a plastic water bottle full of ice. Another option is wooden fenders from River City Bicycles; the company is based in Oregon but the fenders can be ordered locally. At $200 for a set, they're "somewhat on the custom side," says Sam Wheeler, but the style is unbeatable.

So get ready. Winter isn't about to go away, and a little kindness before the cruelty is just the thing.

Leighton Klein, when he isn't dodging snow and slush, can be reached at leightonwalter@yahoo.com.