Commuting - The #1 thing you've bought that has made your commute easier

For me, it's the ridiculously-expensive-but-totally-worth-it pair of Outlier OG Pants. Being able to hop into a pair of nice slacks that stretch, wick sweat, and repel water/dirt/stains has been awesome. I rode through a heavy rain, had a little moisture on my thighs, but was totally dry within 15 minutes. I spent the rest of the day lecturing to my students but still looking professional. I know, I could just get rain pants for when I think it's going to rain and then change into cheap slacks at work and yadda yadda, but it's just easier to wear the same thing to work and at work--and it's great knowing that if there's an unexpected shower that I'll still be fine.

Quality headlight.

I bought a studded tire for the front wheel on my fixed gear commuter this winter, and the difference is incredible. I feel like I can safely go at least 5 miles faster over icy roads than I would have with a non-studded tire. I just climb over icy bumps that would have sent me sliding before.

I have 2 items

1. Rack w/ trunk bag
2. NiteRider headlight

My wife commutes by bike everyday and she lists her top three things as:
1) rear rack/panniers- commuting just would not be happening without them
2) fenders- without these rain/snow days would be miserable
3) Pletscher twin leg kickstand- this addition really rocked her world as she didn't have to struggle loading/emptying her panniers with her bike leaning against a wall

She also has other accessories such as lights and apparel that I think are just a given if you ride a bike.

Pedals.

Pretty similar to the OP, but I picked up a great, and expensive, pair of professional-looking riding pants from a company from Chicago called Nonetheless (http://www.nonethelessgarments.com/products/narra-wool-bender-pant).

Other than that, a solid head light

Fenders. Close behind are quality panniers and lights.

The ring lock.

Pedals.
+1
When I put pedals on my bike, it cut down the commute time by 685%.....

Ortlieb waterproof messenger backpack. Having all gear totally dry in pouring rain is well worth the money.

Not sure if this qualifies as "Things I've bought" maybe more like "best money spent".

Membership and donations to the Charles River Conservancy and Livable Streets Boston- 2 organizations that proactively advocated for improvements to the Charles River bike path and bike lanes on Commonwealth Avenue- my 2 routes into work. After 30 years of riding an inferior and crumbling bike path and battling for respect and space on Commonwealth Avenue these improvements have made my commute easier than any rain gear, cycling shoe, pannier, studded tire...

They have also made the city more bike friendly with more bike racks. MASS BIKE, was useless for about 25 years with regards bike infrastructure but they've finally changed their tune and I've appreciated their past efforts to allow access to public transit for cyclists. The bike racks on buses and particularly their efforts with commuter rail trains has made some of my longer commutes much better.

Quality headlight.

+1

Two quality head lights... one for the bar and the other for my helmet.

Also.... gatorskins. Thank goodness for that.

Neoprene socks. they rock.

Ortlieb paniers. I love them.

Brooks Saddle!

Ditched the backpack for a pannier.

And the list could go on, but as you only asked for #1...

1. Bright headlight (MiNext 600 Cordless)
2. Quality tires (GP 4 Seasons)

+1
When I put pedals on my bike, it cut down the commute time by 685%.....:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

I'm with Andy_k - my headlight (MiNewt 600 Cordless) and my tires (Continental SportContact)

Okay, since nobody else said it... a bicycle.

+1
When I put pedals on my bike, it cut down the commute time by 685%.....

Hey that's no joke. When I was a kid, we weren't exactly dirt poor, but dad couldn't get around to fixing everything immediately. I stripped out a pedal on my 20" sting ray bike and rode around the entire summer with one pedal! My friends were always amazed that I could keep up with them by just contorting my foot and pushing on the top of the crankarm. The odd thing is, my dad repaired my bike by welding the pedal back on and it was not exactly perpendicular to the crankarm. I can still remember that strange, eccentric wobble of the pedal as the cranks went around and that bugged me way more than riding with one pedal!

Rear rack.
It served as a rear fender at the same time. I just attached a bag that has my lunch and extra clothes via a bungee cord. Best $$ spent, besides the bike itself.

For me, it's the ridiculously-expensive-but-totally-worth-it pair of Outlier OG Pants. Being able to hop into a pair of nice slacks that stretch, wick sweat, and repel water/dirt/stains has been awesome. I rode through a heavy rain, had a little moisture on my thighs, but was totally dry within 15 minutes. I spent the rest of the day lecturing to my students but still looking professional. I know, I could just get rain pants for when I think it's going to rain and then change into cheap slacks at work and yadda yadda, but it's just easier to wear the same thing to work and at work--and it's great knowing that if there's an unexpected shower that I'll still be fine.

+1 for Outlier pants. If your commute is short enough you don't wear bike shorts underneath, consider merino boxer briefs too. They don't cling or stink

#1 - Replaced my platform pedals with SPD pedals a couple years ago. That alone cut my commuting time by 10%-15%.

Close #2 - Using the right tires. Slicks in the spring-summer-fall. Studs in the winter. (Instead of the stock knobbies that come with you typical mountain bike.)

Durable components... not the crap they sell to people who buy a bike and leave it in the basement.

Okay, since nobody else said it... a bicycle.Ha . . . . . . . ha . . . . . . . . ha . . . . .

Okay, since nobody else said it... a bicycle.

Damn you, scroca! I was reading through each post, hoping nobody'd swoop in and do this one first.

Shoulda known!

I was going to say a road bike, but if we're talking add ons then I'd say an extra set of Crank Bros pedals for my MTB commuter.

Mi-Newt Cordless 150 HL. Then got another one for my fg commuter. Replaced the bb(Sugino 103mm, crankset(Sugino RD-2), chain(KMC silvered Heavy Duty), cog(Vuelta 15t). The top end's great now...when I get get it there. :p

1. Good cycling jacket, over pants and water/weatherproof gloves (scored at REI garage sale).
2. Ortleib pannier bag.
3. Fenders

I would call #1 more of a necessity. The rest have made it much easier.

The idea that I could still do this at age 41, through a town that's not bike-friendly (or, wasn't THEN!).

About to be 53, and haven't looked back.

The number one thing that helped my commuting was selling my car. No excuse not to ride comes at a price, but I now consider it a bargain. My favorite thing I actually bought, (other than my bike....) is my Brooks B-17.

+1 for Outlier pants. If your commute is short enough you don't wear bike shorts underneath, consider merino boxer briefs too. They don't cling or stink

I just ordered a pair a few days ago and I hope they're as good as my wool shirts. I'm used to cotton undies, but the tighter fit of the OGs doesn't give them enough room to breath, so when it hit the 80s last week I had two days back to back where it felt like someone had crammed a moist toilette into the backside of my pants.

1. Good cycling jacket, over pants and water/weatherproof gloves (scored at REI garage sale).
2. Ortleib pannier bag.
3. Fenders

I would call #1 more of a necessity. The rest have made it much easier.

#1 has kept me commuting in the winter months. #3 for when winter rain actually arrives. And adding a hybrid bike with disc brakes.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gqmlpFB7gCw/TyUV7SJEOJI/AAAAAAAAGAk/CX3iYEi81js/s640/Dashboard-01.jpg
a nice PDW Takeout Handlebar Basket (http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/pdw-takeout-handlebar-basket-prod26988/?currency=usd) really useful for me.

Food, riding is definitely better when I have eaten in the past day or two.

The number one thing that made my commute easier? A Job!! :thumb:

Okay, it hasn't necessarily made my commute easier, but certainly safer. I replaced my old single pivot side pull brakes with modern dual pivot brakes from Tektro and added cyclocross interrupter levers to my 80's road bike, and they both made a HUGE difference.

I say a bike computer. I have learned how to pace my self and find my commute much easier.

Clipless pedals and shoes.
Full fenders, which I thought would never fit on my 23c road bike.... But they did

Definitely my LED lights. I simply can't imagine commuting home after dark without my 1,000+ lumen LED lights now.

Dynohub

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gqmlpFB7gCw/TyUV7SJEOJI/AAAAAAAAGAk/CX3iYEi81js/s640/Dashboard-01.jpg
a nice PDW Takeout Handlebar Basket (http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/pdw-takeout-handlebar-basket-prod26988/?currency=usd) really useful for me.

Slight hijack of the thread, but..... you oughta start a thread about your build! For some reason, your dashboard interests me...

OT- the monthly ISP fee to read reviews and look at how-to vids on youtube.

Otrlieb Backrollers and Tubus Logo. Getting the weight of clothes/computer really made a huge difference.

Easier commute:

1) Large platform pedals (much easier to pedal wearing all kinda shoes!)
2) Rack-top multipurpose bag (fits EVERYTHING I need daily and very easy to put on/take off)
3) Changed my handlebars to something that fits my exact needs (it's incredible how even a tiny difference in rise/width etc can make in daily commuting)
4) Joe's No-Blow tubes (haven't installed them yet, but everyone here swears by them)

Safer commute:
1) Air-horn (hands down on this one... has already SAVED my bacon a few times)
2) High-powered strobe light for front (flea v2.0) and rear (cheapo Chinese, will get something better)

Bike tools. If I had to bring my bike into the shop every time it needed adjustments, I probably wouldn't be a bike commuter.

Xtracycle

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h362/mtnbiker2082/xtra1.jpg

A good light system. Without lights, I wouldn't be able to bike commute except during the longest days of summer.

Lights and my B17 although the bike was the obvious first choice....

Good lights
Panniers
Building a new commuter to my specs. Drinking the STI's and SPD Kool aid along with it.

Dynohub

Me too. Well, a Shimano generator hub, with my new bike. And a light made in Portland. I don't think it's any brighter than my battery powered Cygolite but I don't have to plug it in when I get home.