stapfam

Couple of things I have spent a lot of time over the years with "Inferior" versions of bike accessories and in the last 6 months I have managed to upgrade these items. Took a bit of research and the "Good" items were not going to be cheap. First of all was a GPS for the bike. Garmin seemed to be the ones to go for but even the cheap ones were a bit beyond my reach financially but with a bit of waiting for the offers to come round and I finally bit the bullet and got the 500 with 30% off the retail price. It has proved to be reliable and accurate so at least I can find out why that particular section of the road was so easy- or so hard.

The other item I really wanted to get was a Video camera for the bike. I had a drift camera that was about adequate but it was not responsive enough for the varied sunlight that occurs on the roads round here. Video quality was OK but the real problem was wind and bike noise. Every video seemed to have an annoying rattle that increased with volume the harder I rode. Research told me that the GO PRO was the one to get but at double the price of the Drift- it was out of the question. However towards the end of last year the series 2 started to get a big price drop due to the 3 coming out and a bit of searching on E-Bay and I got the outdoor version at about 1/3rd off. The quality is superb with only a few annoying points that can be overcome and I now have to learn how to edit the videos to cut out the rubbish takes on the rides.

Now I am not one for technology and both these items require some "Skill" in setting up properly and using but I am getting acceptable results. I am finding out what I am doing wrong with them but I do need a bit more practice with them before I can say they are doing the job I want them to.

So what have you managed to "Acquire" in the last year or so that you ought to let others know about?

DowneasTTer

I like a good gps as well. I purchased a Garmin 610 last year and it was a great watch for cycling and general wearing. However, like many others using them, I found the contacts on the back of the watch corroded. That lead to not able to charge. The end result was an expensive yet not usable gps. Around the same time Garmin came out with the Fenix. So I returned the 610 to REI and purchased the Fenix. Along with the watch I have the heart rate strap and the tempe. The Fenix is my every day wear watch at this point. It does a pretty good job as a wearable handheld gps. I have even loaded a few local bike trail geocaches complete with hints and logs. Haven't use it yet but plan on next week. One thing the 610 had over the Fenix is the number of data fields you can have on a data screen. The 610 allowed for 4 and the Fenix only 3. Oh well

climberguy

Two of my best buys were Lake winter cycling boots (about $95 (half off) at Nashbar), and Craft Siberian lobster mitts--very warm, for $39.95. Both made cold weather riding much more tolerable.

Ruby13

Bought my Dura Ace C24 wheelset for $550 (list $1400) with only 300 miles on them. The weight savings from the R10's made quite a difference on the hills.

GeorgeBMac

Several good ones:

First was an IPhone 5. I got that because being way out on a trail, miles from the nearest landmark, I was worried that if something happened, I might be able to call EMS -- but I wouldn't be able to tell them where I was... Plus, after I got it, I found Strava which I really like...

Then in September I got a Trek DS 8.5 and loaded it with fenders, rack , trunk etc... I wanted it so I could ride through the winter -- and it has done a GREAT job of that...


And, this evening I just bought a 2008 Lemond Poprad Disk Cyclocross! I guess I can't really count this as a best buy yet as I have only done a short test to see if it could be fitted to me. The LBS is going to fix it up next week and fit it to me... But I am very excited!

105 drivetrain, BB7 mechanical disks, carbon fork and seat post. True Temper OX Platinum steel frame and a "Made in the USA" sticker!

NealH

Shimano SH 315 shoes (47 EE). I'm looking for a back-up pair now as they fit like a fine glove.

Lizard Skin bar tape. Just the right tacky feel and padding. Love the stuff even if it is a pain to keep clean.

longbeachgary

I like Sidi shoes and picked up a couple of pair of the Nevada for $49 each from Performance Bike - plus I get 10% for the club and free shipping.

Dudelsack 

My iPhone 5. I really don't need to use my Garmin 500 anymore. Takes decent photos, good map features, Strava is full featured. It does everything but pedals my bike.

rdtompki

Found an FSA SL-K Light Triple Crank Set to replace the compact double on my Volagi. These are not retailed in the US, but the seller was in France. Huge improvement for my particular riding style and terrain.

jdon

BG fit for my Lynskey, shims for my aprè achillies surgery foot position.

NOS88

My best buy was the $99 Nashbar touring frame. It has turned out to be an amazingly good frame for my daily commuter.

LAriverRat

700 LR Minimags JRN on 01/02/13 for $6.95 per 100. Second would be a 1973 gas pipe Gitane with lights/generator, rear rack, Hi Flange hubs, skewers, Mafac Racer brakes for $4.00.

Gerryattrick

Tools!

The money I've spent on tools this year has been my best investment by far, and buying better quality tools makes every job so much easier. There's no job I need to go to the LBS for anymore.

tsl

After discovering a crack in YellowBike's head tube (probably dating back to damage sustained when we were hit by that car in 2009), I too was in the market for a cheap frame. After reading of your experience with the Nashbike, and considering that, short of errant Pontiacs, I'd had good experience with a bottom-of-the-line bike, I went in search of one for myself.

I wanted to move over as much as possible from the old frame, so your Nashbike touring frame with its canti studs was out. I hunted high and low for something in aluminum, road geometry, with rack and fender mounts, which could fit said fenders over 25mm tires.

I found it in the UK at Ribble Cycles. Their Winter/Audax frame ticked off every box, and my timing was excellent. I hit it on one of their 10% off everything sales.

It tipped the scales at $136 for the frame, $115 for a Deda carbon fork with fender eyelets, and $23 for a Cane Creek headset, which Ribble kindly installed before shipment. Shipping from the UK was $80, but it arrived on the morning of the second day.

I took the frame to a friend who is a framebuilder. We measured it on the alignment table. In the main triangle, the head tube and seat tube were 0.001" (one one-thousandth of an inch) out of parallel. The bottom bracket is dead nuts to the head tube. Head tube to rear dropouts, it was a half-millimeter out of square, which he fixed with a couple of passes of a rat tail file through the replaceable drive-side dropout/RD hanger.

In short, we were both surprised and pleased with the level of precision in its construction. Additionally, the welds look nicer than those on my Treks, and the finish was also very high quality, with no noticeable flaws in the paint, clear coat, or decal placement. It came with everything too--all the screws, the bottom bracket cable guide, even the seatpost collar.

The build went just as perfectly.

After breakfast, I'll wrap the bars and it will get its inaugural spin, if the snow holds off. It gets its first commute tomorrow.

Gravity Aided

Bought a Garmin Nuwi 200, good for cars, biking, or walking . Enjoy it immensely. It has to go in for a battery modification now, though.

Altbrewer

Park workstand. I like using it almost as much as I like riding.

rydabent

I got a pair of Shimano Mountain Bike shoes on sale from Bike Nashbar to use on my LWB bent. They were adv on sale for $38. So I called in to order a pair. I was told that they only had a few left, and only in size 8. No problem I said as I wear a size 8. The order was written up and the clerk said the price was $23. Happy camper here!!!!

RonH

Not sure if this is the best buy but it makes carrying my iPhone a lot easier and I can check data on my cycling app while riding. And I can listen to music while riding the Suncoast Trail (no cars to worry about ).
What am I talking about? The Topeak Ride Case.

stapfam

You kept that quiet--Ride report and pics please.

Mr. Beanz

Too may to tell which is best but a few, I like 'em all!

Garmin Edge 500


garmin2 by gulpxtreme, on Flickr

Lezyne pump. Doesn't pump as high as I would like but it sure is purty!


pump by gulpxtreme, on Flickr

Set of lights for each of us. USB charging and work very well!


CygoLite by gulpxtreme, on Flickr


Couple of handbuilt front wheels. DA Fusion for Gina and Ultegra Fusion for me. My LBS owner buddy gave me good prices ordering the parts so it was cost effective to let him build them.


bikestuff1 by gulpxtreme, on Flickr

GP4000s for $37 each on Probikekitdotcom. Half price of the LBS, great buy!.......... if you plan 10 days ahead (delivery)


GP4000 by gulpxtreme, on Flickr

Ultegra hubs $136 shipped at ribblebikesdotcom. The front alone is $74 and the rear $130 elsewhere


hubs by gulpxtreme, on Flickr

Ionos helmet. Very comfortable and ventilated.

Also found these helmet cases at Sport Chalet. Reg price of $40 on sale for $19.99. Picked up 2 of them for that price. I had been looking for a helmet pod (also in pic) for 2 years but everyplace I tried to order, they were sold out. Actually ski helmet cases but work great with cycling helmets. Even have zipper compartments, something lacking on the cycling helmet pod.


helmetcase2 by gulpxtreme, on Flickr


I bought 2 Go Pros. One GP2 and one GP 3 White series. GP2 has been flawless but the GP 3 has been disappointing. I'm getting intermittent pink video images and going through a process with GP now trying to get it resolved.

Sample of PINK IMAGES click link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpSMaMftgsU


GoPro2&3 by gulpxtreme, on Flickr

New shoes. Much better than the old model I was wearing


IMG_3094 by mrbeanz1, on Flickr

Of course the Clyde/Athena jerseys. Turned out to be pretty cool

Wanderer

We like the pics of Gina.... start putting her in the fore front......LOL

Mr. Beanz

I would but she her accident record is not as clean as mine so if we're on the tandem, I get to drive.

DowneasTTer

Hi Ron,
You and a few others have mentioned the iPhone 5. I too carry an iPhone 5. Great device but, I have a question for you guys. How do you keep it charged and dry for a longer trip? As I listed above I use an Oregon 550t which is waterproof and keep the iPhone in my saddle tool bag. I might be able to save the cost of upgrading my Oregon if I can find a good way to carry the iPhone, keep it dry, and charged.

Thanks for any ideas

Biker395 

I was sorely tempted to get that too.

Instead, I ended up buying a new 2006 Schwinn Fastback Pro frame from Nashbar for about $80, and built that up from (mostly) spare parts. That was probably my best buy of the year.

tsl

Um, that would be ribblecycles.co.uk