Throughout my cycling life I've gone through moments of enlightment re: equipment and gear. You know how some equipment you think is total crap, until you actually try it. Every single time I've thought "what a waste of money" until I tried the piece of equipment.

As an example:

When you first started cycling and said to yourself "who would ever need shoes that clip into your pedals, what a waste of money". Then you actually try them and realize how effective the clipless pedals are and you learn how you are actually supposed to pedal in circles, rather than just mashing.

Other examples:

"Why would you ever need cycling bibs, what's wrong with plain old cycling shorts? What a waste of money", until I actually tried them. Damn, best thing I ever bought last year. I'll never go back.

"What good is a computer with Cadence, I just pedal how I feel comfortable, what a waste of money" until I realized the benefit of spinning and how for me when I get tired I start to mash. It's a good visual cue for me.

"Who would ever need actual cycling socks?" I just tried a pair of DeFeet's this year and damned if they aren't a thousand times better than regular CoolMax or cotton stuff, at least for me.

"Heart rate monitor, pppffffttt. Who needs that? I'll just ride until I'm tired" I've properly learned to use mine in the last few weeks and what a dramatic difference it's made for me in my training. I've ramped up my intensity way more than I ever thought possible. It's not the be all / end all, but it's a great tool.

Granted, some stuff is crap, but I'm amazed at how many times I've scoffed at trying a cycling specific piece of equipment only to find out a year or two later just how great some of this stuff is.

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