water bottles - unless you are accompanied by a support car to keep things fresh, drinking from a bottle full of 90-degree water on a 90-degree day sucks. I don't care how much I am mocked, I love my Camelbak and its cool blast of hydration and will never go back.

clips & toe straps - thank God for the inventor of Look pedals.

down tube shifters - I love anything that keeps my hands on the bars.

round handlebars - try a flat top wing-type bar and tell me your hands aren't more happy.