kid on a bike next to a Christmas tree

How to Wrap a Bike for Christmas

Bikes are the ultimate Christmas gift. We all remember the Christmases when we got a bike from Santa. Gift the chance to reconnect with the outdoors.

Each November, Google searches for kids' bikes increase by 20% to 30% as parents look to get their ‘main’ Christmas present sorted early enough to arrive on time for the big day. The bike arrives on time and you think you've got the perfect Christmas gift, then the realisation hits – how on earth do you wrap a bike for Christmas?

You’re not alone, each December Google searches for ‘how to wrap a bike’ and ‘how to gift wrap a bike’ shoot up between 200% and 300% with parents desperately trying to work out how to handle one of Santa’s more awkward gifts.

Do you leave it in the box unbuilt? That isn’t very ‘Christmassy’, and then you’ll have to build the bike during the madness of Christmas day. Do you simply pop a bow on the handlebar? Come on, where is the fun in that!

The good news is, that at Decathlon we’re here to help. We’ve teamed up with gift wrap expert Jane Means who has given us a number of gift wrapping options for bikes, whether you’re wrapping a children's bike or an adult bike.(Including mountain bikes and e-bikes).
 
Top tip: Opt for fabric or a paper table cloth to wrap your bike, it won’t tear as easily as wrapping paper and will make the whole process much easier.

Method 1: The Easiest Way to Wrap a Bike

What Jane uses: A bed sheet, scissors, ribbon and baubles.

The easiest way to wrap a bike is to use a bed sheet. The bed sheet replaces the wrapping paper which can often tear with the pointy and sharp edges of the bike.

  • DIRECTIONS

    • Turn the handlebars to the side
    • Lay the bike on the bed sheet and wrap the sheet over the bike
    • Bring in the sides of the sheet and tie them in the centre like tying your shoelace
    • Fluff out the ends of your knot to help create a bow

  • OPTIONAL

    • To add a bit of flair add a ribbon and thread a collection of baubles to the top
    • To disguise the bauble strings you can create a large bow out of left-over ribbon. This helps to add something extra to the bed sheet and really make it look like a special gift.

What Jane uses: flexible wrap such as fabric or a paper table cloth, cellophane, scissors, ribbon, a tall stool or chair (or a second person) will also be helpful.

Method 3: The Cracker Method

What Jane uses: Flexible wrapping such as fabric or a paper table cloth, cellophane, double sided tape, scotch tape and ribbon.

• Place the fabric on top of the cellophane on the floor. Jane recommends using double sided tape to stick the two together, which will be helpful during wrapping.

• Turn the handlebars on the bike to the side.

• Lay the bike on the wrapping and bring the front and back edges over the bike.

• Straighten your wrapping to beaten your work.

• Jane uses double-sided tape and scotch tape to fasten along the edge to stop the wrap coming apart in the next step, it helps add a little more security.

• What you should now have is a long sausage roll shape of wrap with the bike laid in the centre.

• The next step is to scrunch the end of the roll to resemble a cracker. Secure the scrunch with a length of ribbon and repeat at the other end.

• Trim the ends of the cracker to the same length (using your hand or arm for length can help).

• You can use the offcuts to create a bow.

• Cut away any excess to even up the wrap.

Method 4: The Purse Method

What Jane uses: A paper table cloth (Jane uses two stuck together with sticky-back-plastic due to the size of the bike), a stapler, double sided tape and ribbon.

Directions

• Place the bike upside down on the table cloth.

• Bring the front and back of the wrap above the bike into the centre.

• Start to roll the wrap down toward the bike.

• Staple together at the bottom to help secure.

• You can carry on rolling the paper around the bike to create a curved roll. Staple to secure.

• Use double sided tape and roll once more to help secure and tidy the wrap.

• To create a bow wrap a length of ribbon under the handle bars and up to the front wheel. Creating the ribbon here will prevent the material sagging.

• Snip the ends of the ribbon into sharp diagonal points.

• Using the ribbon cut offs you can scrunch them together, tie them to the bike ribbon to create a bigger bow on the bike.

Method 5: The Cross Roads Method

What Jane uses: Two lengths of cellophane (different colours) and ribbon.

This method is ideal for smaller kids bikes such as balance bikes.

Directions

• Lay your cellophane on the floor in a cross shape.

• Fold the lengthways cellophane to roughly the same width as the bike handlebars.

• Place the bike upside down in the centre of the cross.

• Bring the front and back cellophane together above the bike.

• Bring the side lengths of cellophane up and scrunch at the top.

• Secure the scrunch with a length of ribbon.

• Cut down the cellophane to beaten.

• Tie in more ribbon to create a pretty bow.

There we have it, five different methods to wrap a bike for Christmas or a Birthday present. Now all you need to do is work out where you’re going to hide it until the big day...

Don’t forget the stocking fillers!