Wildwood 

We all know that fit and the right saddle are perhaps essential for a good ride, so:


LET'S NOT INCLUDE - SADDLES or a FRAME THAT FITS


For me it's all about an efficient ride.
My top three are = lightweight wheels/tires, narrow drop handlebars (38s if you please), gearing appropriate for the terrain given old legs+lungs. With 48/34 drilled rings, 22mm tubulars, 38 Campione d Mundos = this one fits the bill for long rides with moderate hills.

Bianchigirll 

well....

Wildwood 

1. Flask, 2. beer-ish beverage, 3. so where's the tokes? No #3?

noglider 

I can't see the appeal of alcohol with a ride. Maybe after, but not during.

Three things don't pop to mind. Handlebars that are appropriate for the bike are nice, but you said we can't talk about fit here.

I like nice tires.

Light wheels are great, too. For a while, I had a Surly Cross Check which is a very heavy frameset, and I put very light wheels on it. The result was a bike that didn't feel terribly heavy.

I also enjoy brakes that work really well. They make me feel safe, and they also give me permission to go stupidly fast while being ready to get smart at a moment's notice.

79pmooney

Good handlebars and brake levers.. I'm loving the Tektro V-brake levers. Huge. Wonderful undersides. For me, as a fix gear rider, the undersides of brake levers and esp the treatment at the base of the lever itself is key. That's where my finger contacts and it it isn't treated right, I will draw blood from chafe on long hills.

For me, ideal handlebar width vary with the bike. Narrow for geared road bikes 39-40. Wider for fix gears, 42. Still wider for mountain climbing fix gears for both the climbs and the descents.

Stems that are long enough! Half mine are custom. Only 2 (of 6) are "normal" stock lengths. (12 and 13)

Fix gear drive trains! Love em! I now have 3. I'm in heaven.

Ben

rando_couche

1) Comfort (both fit and ride quality)
2) Speed
3) Responsiveness

HTupolev

Front derailleurs!



Dinosaurs!



Freewheels, shifters, and other mechanisms with appealing clickity-clack acoustics!

nesteel 

Adequate gearing.
Comfortable brake hoods.
Wide bars. Currently running 44's on most.

non-fixie 

Need to think for the other two, but number one is probably a cockpit I like to look at:

exmechanic89

That's a neat set-up, definitely a vintage one.

For me, I agree with narrower bars being one of the 3. A compliant but responsive frame as well, and no rain.

davester

Number one is looking down and seeing that I'm riding a thing of beauty (come to think of it, that one applies to more than just bikes).

Number two is excellent geometry and frame resilience that can let me descend treacherous, winding descents with confidence.

Number three is wide, smooth tires (currently running 32 mms) that give me the win, win, win of reduced rolling resistance, comfort, and turning grip. I am so totally done with jittery, slow, skinny tires now that I've seen the light.

primo123

1.Perfectly indexed shifting system
2. A properly adjusted FD that does not rub
3.Nice cushy bar wrap

Wildwood 

So I have to agree with @non-fixie and @exmechanic89 - Nice cockpit, and no rain (brother I hear ya!).


Made me think that "make your ride a pleasure" is highly dependent upon the ride, so I submit on my rain bike the top three would be:
Fenders, obviously
Clean handlebars, nothing distracting to take my eyes off 'wet road' hazards
Narrow bars, thereby facilitating use of a rain cape, if needed.


And if I may add a 4th = ORIGINAL paint/decals

clubman 

1 health
2 gas prices
3 cheap vintage bikes

Standalone 

1. Fresh grease and ball bearings.

2. New brake pads

3. A soul. Sometimes it's in the spring of the steel. Sometimes it's in the mechanical smoothness, sometimes in the mechanical wonkiness. Sometimes it's in a unique design or build or a story that goes with the acquisition or building of the bike. Sometimes it's like the velveteen rabbit. Ride it enough and it becomes "real."

Chrome Molly

1. Good tires, that don't get a flat during your ride.

2. A front derailleur (index brifter driven) that doesn't rub on your big or little cog, but doesn't toss the chain over when shifting to the big ring either

3. Wheel/frame combo that makes the bike feel lively

Bikerider007

1) Good company or good music
2) Good route, either scenic or challenging
3) Good maintenance. Zero to few issues a better day makes.

randyjawa 

Everything working perfectly. The quiet sound of cutting the wind. And glancing at the sun reflecting off of the spokes on the front wheel.

iab

1. Tires
2. Clothing
3. Route

kcblair

1. My tubulars.

2. A quiet bike, no chain slap or rattles as I hit bumps

3. Low gearing.

Drillium Dude 

Quiet drivetrain, sunshine - and getting home without wrecking

DD

1989Pre 

#1 a vintage bell.
#2 a steel fork with a 50 mm rake
#3 a front gear changer so I can use one of those
new-fangled double cranksets.

frameteam2003

Air--in my tires, at my back, in my lungs

bear_a_bug 

Borrowing a few already mentioned:

1. Route - Preferably never ridden by me before. Best if mostly quiet country roads with lots of curves and a few hills.

2. Quiet drivetrain - Can't stand a clicking, knocking, or any other boogieman noises

3. Tailwind - Say what you will about getting a good workout in a headwind, I just like going fast without hardly trying.

jamesdak 

No headwind the whole ride

A quiet perfectly functioning drivetrain

Light wheels and tires