What’s the one thing you’d like to see in your Christmas stocking this year? That’s the question we put to our forum and Facebook fans earlier this month and here we give you some of our favourites.
Andi Clark hit the nail on the head for us with his suggestion of "lots of love, laughter and happy times with my family and loved ones. An end to famine and poverty in the world, an end to all the wars and fighting...but I'd settle for a Commencal Supreme in green".
A little more personal was the request from McBain v1, who just wants their confidence to ride on the road to return after breaking a collar bone in a collision with a vehicle. Assuming this wish is granted, McBain says a Garmin Edge 200 "would be lovely - this would free me from the tyranny of having to remember to press 'start' and 'stop' buttons and would allow me to indulge my inner Geek".
The Garmin Edge 200 is in demand this Christmas
The size of DCR00's stocking would be something to behold, given what's on his dream wishlist. They are keeping their fingers crossed for a Pivot Mach 5.7 carbon frame, ENVE carbon wheels, a Shimano XTR Trail groupset and a Fox F140 Kashima fork, but will compromise with the more likely combo of a UK trail centre guide, Nukeproof Warhead flatbar and some running shoes. Again stretching the boundaries of stocking credibility is jimbo1484's hopes for a pair of Zipp 404s.
thegreatdivide has a challenge in mind for 2012, with an all-expenses paid entry to Rapha's Cent Cols Challenge. Riding up to 200km for ten days straight across the toughest mountain ranges in Europe would take its toll, so he also requested French actress Audrey Tautou accompany him as his personal post-ride masseuse.
Other requests include Daniel Leitch's hopes for a Colnago Ferrari CF8, though he readily admits this may be asking a bit too much. Joseph O Mohammed has his eye on a Trek Madone 6.9 plus a year off work on full salary to do it justice on the road, while Julian Goudge has a pie in the sky idea for his own velodrome (keep wishing Julian, there's always next year). Randy Tuckerman doesn't care what he gets, just as long as it's made from carbon, has full Shimano Deore XT and is a 29er.
Forget top of range dream machines, Sebastian Aske has the more modest hope of "a bike. Just a bike", while improving bike skills is at the top of John Wallis's list - he wants someone to teach him how to do a whip without losing any blood! Perhaps this is the guy to look to?
