Heated floor mat for use at desk.

After years of cold feet I have just discovered and acquired a heated floor mat that I put under my desk. FANTASTIC! I used to suffer half of most days with cold feet but no more!

I got my from www.indus-tool.com but there are others. If you suffer like I did, this might help you too.

elares

Besides all my other common safety gear... my Take-A-Look mirror.

Fenders - best commuting tool evar.

Utility Trailer, without a doubt. Saved me from having to drive many a day, just for a small load that wouldn't have otherwise fit on the bike.

My Mafac tire irons, a patch kit and Zefal hpX pump.

My brain.

In winter the 12 oz thermos for coffee. Year around it is the bungee cargo net that I have used for everything imaginable.

Eiither the 100 watt headlight or the commercial zenon-strobe taillight.

I agree 110%. This is the greatest device ever created.

Alright, maybe not but it is a wonderful commuting accessory that I can't imagine being without. I have yet to meet someone who has tried this thing out who ended up not becoming addicted.

<Sheepishly raises my hand> I went to a permanent mount mirror on my bikes. I can't count how many eyeglass mirrors I have lost and many times I don't wear glasses at all. Gave my GF a bar-end mirror and now she never wears her eyeglass mirror anymore.

From a philisophical view, while I love some of the neat gear I use when I ride, I also want to be able to jump on my bike and ride without having any special gear or equipment, which is why I have platform/clipless combination pedals, Brooks saddle and permanent mount mirror. If I need to run a quick errand, I don't need to change clothes or hunt down gear, I just get on and go, like we did as kids. Cycling shouldn't have to be a production with costume and props.

Edit: so my vote would be for pedals like the Shimano M424, that allow you to ride in street shoes or with cleats.

My Fly TI saddle. Super comfortable for those long days in the saddle....... Commute would not be the same without it

I agree about not needing the costume and props which is why I like this mirror in the first place. I always wear the same (sun)glasses when I ride, no matter where I'm going or what time of day it is, so it's nice to always have my mirror with me. I also like this for the fact that it's with me no matter what bike I'm riding - not so with the permanent mount mirror.

Meet #2. Everytime I went to look at it, it would take five seconds to get it steady enough to see, which was way too much time when I can just look over my shoulder.

My favorite accessory - my milk crate. Instant SUB.

I wear eyeglasses instead of cycling glasses so I perfer not to have to attach and deattach a mirror to my glasses for every ride. Thats why I use a helmet mirror. It always available no matter what bike I ride and its very stable and convient.

Craig

I rate my helmet mirror as mission-critical equipment

thanks - you just helped me find a christmas present for someone!!!

also my favorite tool is a wireless outdorr thermometer, which i have in my bedroom/bathroom. glance at the temp and i know exactly how to dress

If you couldn't get it steady, you were probably using narrow glass frames. I couldn't get the TAL to work with my glasses either. But there's a small adaptor that comes with the take-a-look. It connects to your helmet. With this arrangement each look takes only a glance and is rock-steady.

Not that I'm knocking the backwards glance, if you're young enough and/or agile enough. But most people aren't willing to look back every 5 to 10 seconds (which is what they recommend in driver's training -- if its true for cars, then more so for bikes).

This was my problem for the first week or two that I had it. During this time, I also had it mounted on my helmet visor, which I thought would be the best place. Since moving it to my sunglasses, it doesn't really vibrate or move except for with my head, which is fine. It still took a little getting used to, but I can't imagine being without it now.

I'm still constantly looking over my shoulder - it's nice to know what's a half mile behind you so you know what to expect. Kind of like what I remember in drivers' education...if you're watching your mirrors, you should always know what's around you at all times and blindspot checking is only to confirm what you already know.

Agreed here...my riding glasses are plastic frames, fairly large arms on them, which makes for a extra sturdy and steady mount.

For winter, my greatest commuting accessory is my ski jacket. It has pit zips, a hood, is water and wind proof, has a powder skirt which keeps cold air from sliding up into the jacket, has a bottom zipper that I can zip up to allow more hip movement when on the bike, it's roomy, lots of pockets and comes w/ a super warm fleece jacket. Articulated elbows for freedom of movement, and does a good job of keeping me warm.

For me it is my panniers.
Denver is frequently cold in the morning and much warmer in the afternoon.
I've had days of 15F in the AM and 50-60 in the afternoon.
I simply can not pack everything back without extra carrying capacity.

I know this sounds stupid, but I can't get away from it.

My greatest commuting accessory has been my bike.

I used both helmet and glasses mounted take-a-look. It wasn't so much the amount of jiggle, as trying to locate the postage stamp of mirror against the moving background, and then figure out what it was I was seeing. Meanwhile, there's stuff in front of me that was more pressing. Anyway, my choice is no mirror, others is different. Now, back to favorite accessories...

Another one for me ... my Zefal HPX pump. It's fallen off three times, got clipped by car tires, caught in my gears, and still works like a champ, providing real tire pressure. But now it rides in my bags.

Okay. I've seen this elsewhere and I just have to ask: How? How do you drink coffee and ride in the cold. Here is Colorado, even though the weather can be very nice even in the dead of winter, all of the cities close their bathrooms on Labor Day! If I tried to ride to work and drink coffee on the way, I'd need to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes! I have nothing against coffee. I have one very strong cup per day after I get to work but how do you ride a bicycle, in cold weather, and drink a diuretic? Enquiring minds want to know!

While I do love my mirrors and insulated coffee mug, I would have given up cycle commuting after my second day if not for my rack. I couldn't stand the backpack.