What gadget/gizmo/accessory did you buy with high hopes, BUT....

[steve-in-kville]

... you kept & used your old gear instead?

Just bought a newer Giro helmet. My older Stylus was wearing down. Didn't care for the ratchet adjustment on the new lid so I am sticking with my old one. I'll keep the new one as a spare, though. Its okay, but I am not in the mood to make the switch.

How about you?

[genec]

Wireless bike computer... Had two and they both were either a PITA and ate batteries or just didn't work. This was several years ago, so perhaps newer technology has yielded better results.

[Scheherezade]

Clipless pedals. They are nice, keep my foot in the pedal, but don't really add any sort of efficiency. The clownie shoes really limited what I could wear and when. I'd rather wear whatever shoes I want and not have to hear the "recessed" cleat scrapping against the sidewalk.

[KonAaron Snake]

A few:

Ortlieb's commuter bag...the side rack stinks, the bag straps are uncomfortable and cheap feeling, I don't like the way it secures. Very disappointing for ortlieb.

SRAM's 9 sp igh hub - utter junk. Granted I don't like igh, but this thing was miserable.

Selle an-atomica saddle - thin hammock. CHEAP feeling crap.

Lake winter boots. Thin, uncomfortable and very weird sizing.

All Oakley glasses...the arms go too far back and work poorly w helmets.

[no motor?]

Performance pedals with clipless on 1 side and platform on the other. Hated them, and should give them away. These.
Topeak minipump. It failed the one time I needed it.

[I_like_cereal]

Rear Blackburn flea rechargeable. The button wore out within 3 months.

Planet bike 1 watt rear. It would shut off mid ride. Turns out they received a batch of bad circuitry. They replaced it no fuss.

[no1mad]

Performance pedals with clipless on 1 side and platform on the other. Hated them, and should give them away. These.
Topeak minipump. It failed the one time I needed it.

Same here.

[no1mad]

A cheap Zefal safety light combo. A Knox u-lock.

[JeePakXJ]

I recently bought the Park Tool Chain Gang Chain cleaning system and upon its first use i had an epiphany that, alas, i can just take the chain off and dump it in gasoline, clean it by hand, then lube it up..

[zacster]

I also bought the Park chain cleaning system and have never opened it. It just seemed like too much trouble and didn't really save anything. I just wipe with a rag with some cleaner and re-lube.

[JeePakXJ]

I also bought the Park chain cleaning system and have never opened it. It just seemed like too much trouble and didn't really save anything. I just wipe with a rag with some cleaner and re-lube.

It actually works pretty friggin good..provided you have a bike stand that keeps the rear tire off the ground, which i didnt. I had to put my bike upside down on the ground and turn the chain cleaning tool around to use it lol.

[doc0c]

Magtenlight. Doesn't really fit properly, and the generator broke when I dropped it once. The lights that came with it are still working though, hooked them up to a dynamo hub.

[Igo]

I went from clipless to platform peddles on my hybrid commuter. I have to disagree with those who say clipless is not efficient, they are proven otherwise but I ride a combination of road, MUP and a little gravel and the constant transition caused a few wrecks. Now I can bang around as I please. I still use clip in on my road bike for sure but don't commute with it.
I also have to say that I've had major success using the park chain cleaning tool. I wash out the factory oil on chains and replace with cry lubes. It takes a few washings but the motion eventually gets all the oil out of the insides of chains. Uses citrus cleaner from Lowes rather than gasoline.

[kookaburra1701]

I've had major success using the park chain cleaning tool. I wash out the factory oil on chains and replace with cry lubes. It takes a few washings but the motion eventually gets all the oil out of the insides of chains. Uses citrus cleaner from Lowes rather than gasoline.

Ditto. It cleaned everything no hassle in 5 minutes. And I didn't even have to put my bike on a stand or anything, just turned the cranks backwards.

[JeePakXJ]

I went from clipless to platform peddles on my hybrid commuter. I have to disagree with those who say clipless is not efficient, they are proven otherwise but I ride a combination of road, MUP and a little gravel and the constant transition caused a few wrecks. Now I can bang around as I please. I still use clip in on my road bike for sure but don't commute with it.

Would you recomend clipped shoes/pedals for a 20mi RT commute that is on paved bike paths andbike lanes?

[Tuc]

Lightsaber, it was just a plastic tube with lights in it - wouldn't cut anything.

[JReade]

Would you recomend clipped shoes/pedals for a 20mi RT commute that is on paved bike paths andbike lanes?

It seems I'm an anomaly in the commuting world, I ride my road bike to work and use it as a training ride. I clip in with Look style cleats/pedals and I love it. I have other bikes that I don't clip in with, and I do feel a disconnect.

[ThermionicScott]

Would you recomend clipped shoes/pedals for a 20mi RT commute that is on paved bike paths andbike lanes?

I don't see why not.

[genec]

Lightsaber, it was just a plastic tube with lights in it - wouldn't cut anything.

Oh you need the deluxe model, from another galaxy.

[HardyWeinberg]

hand-cranked chain cleaner, went back to paper towels pretty quickly

[Igo]

Would you recomend clipped shoes/pedals for a 20mi RT commute that is on paved bike paths andbike lanes?

I would recommend clipless (this is your clipped pedals, I'll explain later) and SPD pedals on anything where the way in front of you is relatively certain and mostly unchanging. I quite clipless setups for commuting because there are all kinds of changes in my route. If you have wide bike lanes and not traffic on them like most bikes trails around here, sure, use a clipless shoe and peddle.

BTW, clipless means there is not strap over the top of your shoe, which used to be called clipping in. Has nothing to do with the hardware to hardware fastening devices known as clipless today. I know. I know.

[kookaburra1701]

Ha ha, the clipless thing confused me sooooo much when I first started riding.

[JeePakXJ]

I would recommend clipless (this is your clipped pedals, I'll explain later) and SPD pedals on anything where the way in front of you is relatively certain and mostly unchanging. I quite clipless setups for commuting because there are all kinds of changes in my route. If you have wide bike lanes and not traffic on them like most bikes trails around here, sure, use a clipless shoe and peddle.

BTW, clipless means there is not strap over the top of your shoe, which used to be called clipping in. Has nothing to do with the hardware to hardware fastening devices known as clipless today. I know. I know.

So..what you're saying is that..clipless shoes/pedals are the ones where you...clip your shoes ONTO the pedals? lol I think I got it..

[cjewett65]

Topeak fenders where the mount was flimsy and plastic and the steel hardware stripped out of the plastic. Topeak replaced it for free no hassle, but still could be a better mount

[Igo]

So..what you're saying is that..clipless shoes/pedals are the ones where you...clip your shoes ONTO the pedals? lol I think I got it..

Yep! LOL