Safety: My essential add-on is a rear view mirror. It is an absolute must-have safety device and I feel they should be legally required. Lights are nice, but I rarely ride in the dark.

Performance: Think about the tire size. If you're going to run 90 percent on pavement, then get a "28" tire put on. Bottle cage and bottle.

Feedback: Get a bike computer. The feedback it provides is very useful (and fun).

Convenience: Rear rack with a spring. Racks without the spring require bungee cords and they can be a problem and they don't always work very well. They may be an ounce or two heavier, but the bungee cords you'll need weigh that much so in the end there's no real difference in weight.