How to wrap a bike as a gift this Christmas

Getting a new bike for Christmas is a core childhood memory. Not only is there a huge dopamine hit from the shiny new frame and pristine tyres, but there’s something magical about gaining a sense of freedom.

It’s not just the surprise of getting the independence you longed for that stays with you, but how it’s presented. Children outgrow bikes, but the memory of following a trail of clues to discover their surprise gift can last a lifetime.

Here are our top ideas for gift wrapping a bike so you can give your child more than just a set of wheels this festive season.

1. Festive decorations

Not all of us are gifted with the talent of wrapping presents to a professional standard. But this becomes more obvious when the less creative of us are presented with a bike.

Enter festive decorations—with some creativity, they can bring the Christmas cheer for you without the hassle of wrestling with wrapping paper.

You could try an oversized bow, gift tag or stocking attached to the handlebars or even wrap festive lights around the frame to make it extra magical.

Sometimes, it’s enough to let the bike speak for itself when your child walks into the room on Christmas morning, as the thrill of spotting a brand new ready-to-ride bike is hard to beat.

Or, if you have time to organise it, another unique idea is to hide the bike behind a wall of festive balloons, which would help create a lasting memory for your little one.

2. Festive tablecloths

We don’t blame you if you don’t want to learn how to wrap a bike for Christmas the traditional way, as it’s certainly no mean feat.

But another idea is using a festive tablecloth as a sturdier alternative to wrapping paper, as it’s easier to work with when covering a larger gift.  

It’s also more eco-friendly as you’re not creating a pile of paper waste, and you could reuse it for Christmas dinner!

Related: The ultimate guide to bike security

3. Bike-sized gift bag

This could answer your prayers if you’re struggling to learn how to gift wrap a bike and want to make your life much easier.

We didn’t have them back in the day, but there are now bike-sized gift bags you can simply wheel the bike into on Christmas Eve without a fuss.

There are a few options out there, from Amazon to Halfords, and they’re relatively inexpensive. So, you don’t need to worry about spending too much on top of the bike itself.

4. Festive duvet cover or blanket

Perhaps the most eco-conscious option for wrapping a bike for Christmas is using a festive duvet cover or blanket you already have in your home.

It’s also the quickest and easiest way to hide a bike if you’re running out of time on Christmas Eve, especially if it’s a larger model for an older child. No one can blame you for not wanting to wrap 24” wheels!

One thing to note—ensure you cover the gears and chain with an old cloth to protect the duvet or blanket from oil.

5. Disguise the gift

Do you want to give your gift some creative flair? If so, a fun way to do so is to disguise the gift as something else.

You can use paper or cardboard to change the bike’s shape and throw your loved one off completely to make it more of a surprise.

Try to fashion the parcel into a reindeer, or carefully stand it upright and see if you can create a Santa or snowman shape. The options are endless when you use your imagination.

Related: How to tighten a bike chain (step-by-step)

6. Treasure hunt

This is undoubtedly one of the best ways to reveal your child’s gift to them on Christmas morning.

Since learning how to wrap a bike is difficult, disguising it using one of the ideas above and creating suspense through a treasure hunt is ingenious.

You could wrap up smaller items, such as the helmet or bell, and create a trail of clues leading to the bigger present.

Another idea could be to use a Santa Claus footprint stencil to create snowy footprints to help guide them (and ramp up the excitement, of course).

Let your imagination run wild and create lasting memories for your little ones by getting them involved in unveiling their bike.

7. Go traditional

So, you’ve decided to bite the bullet and learn how to wrap a bike for Christmas the old-fashioned way.

It may take some time, but it’s worth it when you pull it off. Plus, your little ones will appreciate your effort for years to come when they remember the magical feeling of tearing open the paper to find their favourite Christmas present.

This TikTok video is one of the easiest methods we’ve seen, using smaller strips of paper to gradually cover the frame and components. 

Specialist bike insurance through Cycleplan

Nothing is more fun than riding together as a family, but accidents can still happen no matter how careful you are. You may want to consider specialist cycling insurance to help you feel at ease.  

With multi-bike cover through Cycleplan, you can protect your family’s bikes together on one simple policy. Everyone in your immediate family who lives with you is covered by the benefits selected, completely FREE of charge.

You can protect your bike against theft, accidental damage, and malicious damage up to £30,000 and opt for Public Liability cover up to £5m, so it’s not only your bike that’s covered. 

Click here to learn more about how we can help or get an online quote today