I always go to the pottie before I leave the house or office. I've only once had to stop during my 1 hour+ commute and I was fortunate enough to be by the train station.

There are so many I don't know where to start. Probably my favorite is neoprene booties. Trust me I have tried all kinds of things to keep my feet warm. I started with a pair of XC ski boots that I cut the toe off of (I have a nice triangular scar on my left index finger from where the razor blade slipped and sent me to the emergency room on Christmas Eve. One of several Christmas trips to the ER ). Way too cold. Then I tried wool socks over my shoes and then covered them with duct tape. Worked but ugly. And finally someone made neoprene covers and I won't go back.

Next would be bib tights. They keep me warm when it's cold out and they don't cut me in half like regular tights.

Next would be hightech fabrics. Okay, polypro can get rank but it is warm. The newer fabrics insulate as well or better and they don't stink. And they aren't as futzy about how you treat them as wool (which I love).

Next would be clipless pedals. No more fumbling for the pedal. Just stomp on the pedal and engage. And with the advent of mountain bike shoes you can even walk in them.

Then there is the mountain bike. Sure it might be slow but at least it doesn't have the same tendency to turn turtle in the winter as road bikes do. Plus, being slower, it's a little warmer to ride. And it's more fun.

And then there is the light. I have tried every combination of lighting that you can imagine. I have used a 6v drycell lantern strapped to my front rack. I've tried various combinations of internal battery lights. I've juiced up old Cateye HL100 to run 7.2V halogen lamps (they work well but the bulbs don't last) and, finally, MR-11 halogens. I now have enough light to see where I'm going and to get respect from cars whereever I go! Trust me 52W at 14.4 V of light demands respect!

Finally, I've tried something new this morning that may be better than all the rest! I made aluminum foil inserts to go under my shoes insoles and for the first time that I can remember my feet were hot when the temp is below 25F. I don't know if it's a placebo effect but my feet certainly felt warmer.

I don't have a problem with having to go to the bathroom while I ride but if I were to drink coffee while riding, it would be painful. Cold, coffee and riding would be a bad combination for me.

What I didn't mention was that this habit is thanks to a neurotic mother who would become absolutely livid if she had to stop the car for one of us to use the restroom. It didn't matter if we were just running across town or accross the state, she hated to stop. So the one time I did have to stop on my ride home, all I could hear was my mom's voice rattling around inside my head...

"DIDN'T YOU GO, BEFORE WE LEFT THE HOUSE?!"

Childhood, it's where you either get screwed up, or really screwed up.

(Wow, sharing really is cathardic. I feel better already. I think I'll make two pottie stops on the way home tonight )

Gloves.

The minor spills I have been in would have been FAR worse had I been picking gravel out of my palms. Not so much because a scrape is the end of the world, but scraped palms really interfere with 90% of life's activities. I never cheap out on new gloves; always get the best padding and comfort.

In my case, a heavy rail commuter train ride provides a comma in the sentence of my commute. After 11 miles of ride, a nice hot cuppa joe is just the thing. If I can't hold it at that point, the car with the bike racks also has a loo.

Ditto. I tried one and hated it. Gave me a headache trying to focus on that little spot.

I'd have to say either fenders,which keep me clean,or locks,which keep my ride safe.