All in a Day's 2016 gift guide for avid cyclists, female magicians, sleigh lovers

Finding the right gift for the fussy and finicky in your life can be a real challenge, but All in a Day's gift guide is here to help this holiday season.

HostAlan Nealbrought together a panelof experts to helplisteners struggling to buy the right gift.

If you're buying for a cyclist

Laura writes: "Hi Alan! My 33-year-old son-in-law has got to be the hardest person to buy a gift for at Christmas time! He is athletic and likes to ride his bike in the Gatineau Park's hillsand trails. I have no clue what to get him for Christmas! I only have one daughter and I come from a family of three girls so I'm relatively clueless as far as finding gifts for young men who have everything! I hope you can help me."

Nick Vipond, an avid cyclist and coachwhohas raced bikes for 20 years,suggests gettingcyclists who like to ride year-round a waterproof item.

Vipondrecommends aCastelliGabbacycling jacket as a reliable option for those willing to spend a little more. For those looking to get something at a lower price point, bike-specific tools are a great option.

IanFraser, who works at Cyclelogik,recommends a dropper seatpost, which adjusts the height of the bike's saddle as the person cycles.

"You can get into an entry level one of those for like $260. They've been around for a long time but the quality is a little bit better and the weights are a little bit lighter and it's a little more reliable," he said.

However, something far less expensive that Fraseroften buys for fellow cyclists as stocking stuffers is a dry shower foam called Muc-Off.

"It's like having a showerwithout having a shower," he said.Cyclists who don't have time to batheafter a sweaty ride can go back to work smelling good.

Christie Spence, the National Capital Commission's director ofGatineauPark, saidseason passes for outdoor lovers is an affordable and useful gift.

A season's pass costs $55 per person and cabin rentals in the park are available for up to 17 people for excursions. Yurts and winter cabinsare also 40 to 50 per cent off during the week.

If you're buying for a female magician

Gwen writes: "Alan, my teenage daughter has gone through a few stages of interests now but whenever she's into something she takes it on with gusto. Everything she can find out about it. This new interest I know nothing about. She seems obsessed with female magicians. She keeps asking why there aren't more female magician types out there. She keeps pointing out games, stories, movies, shows that advertise male magicians. So it's a world I know nothing about. Are there gifts that would introduce her to cool female magicians?"

Genevieve LeBlanc also known as The Geek Girlis one of thehead organizers ofQueer Con 2016. She suggests Gwen purchase the DC Comic Zatanna for her daughter.

Zatanna Zatarais a superherowho is bothastage magicianand an actualmagician.

"She is the first thing that comes to your mind whenever I think of anything to do with fiction that is a female magician. She's got this greatoutfit with a top hat and coat tails and tuxedo and she's got really cool powers," LeBlanc said.

The Ottawa Public Library has also puttogether a list of books with female magicians for readers interested in theunique genre. Library employee Ann Archer, also a member ofAll in a Day'sbook panel, suggests threereads that can be borrowed during theholiday season:

Soria(2016)

In 1919 Boston, best friendsCorinneand Ada perform illegally as illusionists in an infamous gangster's nightclub, using their "afflicted" blood to con Boston's elite, until the law closes in.

Girl in the ShadowsbyGwendaBond (2016)

Eighteen-year-oldMoiraMitchell grew up in the shadows of Vegas's stage lights while her father's career as a magician soared. More than anything,Moirawants to be a magician too, but her father is dead set against her pursuing magic.

Delusionby Laura L. Sullivan (2012)

Twoteenage sisters, Phil and FeeAlbion, descendents of a long line of stage illusionists, are sent from London to the countryside during World War IIonly to discover a hidden college of real magicians who just might help them save England from the Nazis.

Kaye Cormier, who works at the Comic Book Shoppe on Bank Street, recommends another DC Comic called Raven.

Cormierdescribes Raven asa strong female character with an interesting backstory. "Just the way that her magic works is really neat."

If you're hoping tohitch a ride on a sleigh

Tara writes:"I'm struggling not so much with finding what to get for someone, but how to get it.My four-year-old son has repeatedly asked for one thing only for Christmas: a ride on Santa's sleigh. Given Santa's very busy schedule, not to mention time zone and geographic logistical issues,I'm not entirely sure how to pull this off. Grateful if anyone has any great ideas on how to provide a sleigh ride experience for a four-year-old boy!"

Unfortunately, aCBC investigation revealed the real thing wouldn't be feasible given the time of year.

Holly T. Elf, the Chief Postal Elf for Canada Post, said they do get the odd request for sleigh rides, but the vehicle is currently in the shop.

It's been moved into the Christmas Eve Journey Staging Garage so the mechanical team can fix the heater and update the GPS before Dec. 24.

"I haven't even been on Santa's sleigh," Holly T. Elf said. "This sleigh is 100 per cent magic ... and that magic only works with Santa on board. So unfortunately, [a ride] is just not something we can do here."

Fortunately, there are options around Ottawa that offer authentic North Pole experiences.

Ian Andrews ownsIan's Christmas Adventure Park and Tree Farm at804 Richmond Rd. in Beckwith. The farm is one of the official training sites for Santa's reindeer.

"We don't have Rudolph, Rudolph stays with Santa, but we do have three," Andrews said."Blitzen is our main reindeer, he loves everybody."

Andrews suggests Tara and her son visit the farm, which is open from 6 to 9 p.m. until Dec. 24, so they can meet Blitzenand his friends. While the farm doesn't have Santa's actual sleigh, it does have a giant replica to take pictures with.

Visitors can also visit Santa's workshop and an elf house which Holly T. Elf confirmed is"a 100 per cent authentic replica of an elf house from the North Pole."