The one piece of gear that has the biggest positive effect on the commute.
03-04-11 | 12:55 AM
#27
bragi
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 3
From: seattle, WA
Bikes: LHT
As a year round rider in a place with a brutal climate there is ONE thing that makes it all possible more than any of the others.
Studded bike tires. (Nokian W106 in my case)
Without them I'd be on my arse, in the hospital or I'd be driving the car. I just needed to sing their praises once more after surviving yet another icy sketchy morning upright and intact.
what's yours?
Studded bike tires. (Nokian W106 in my case)
Without them I'd be on my arse, in the hospital or I'd be driving the car. I just needed to sing their praises once more after surviving yet another icy sketchy morning upright and intact.
what's yours?
03-04-11 | 01:48 AM
#29
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27,266
Likes: 152
From: YEG
Bikes: See my sig...
Could not pick just one thing as it is the sum of really great parts and accessories that makes the commute and riding enjoyable... IGH, full fenders, comfy saddle, good racks and bags, lights, and reliable tyres.
03-04-11 | 05:44 AM
#32
Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham, UK
Bikes: Early 90s Raleigh Vitesse, early 80s Raleigh Equippe fixie conversion, falling apart cheapo mountain bike.
An 11t sprocket on the back; for a few glorious (downhill) minutes, I can keep up with the rest of the traffic!
03-04-11 | 05:56 AM
#34
The space coyote lied.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 48,794
Likes: 11,008
From: dusk 'til dawn.
Bikes: everywhere
I can't decide between these two. Even though my current raingear isn't all really good (Jacket really good, gloves fair, Pants good, boots fair, backscratcher fender good)
I guess really good backpack is up there also. It's been miserable with bad backpacks in the past.
I guess really good backpack is up there also. It's been miserable with bad backpacks in the past.
03-04-11 | 07:13 AM
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,242
Likes: 0
In this order, these are a few of my favorite things:
Fenders with mudguards
Nokian studs
Marathon Plus tires
nice rear rack, with spring thing
Chain guard
Rear blinky (mounted on rack)
Rear blinky (helmet)
LED headlight
Fenders with mudguards
Nokian studs
Marathon Plus tires
nice rear rack, with spring thing
Chain guard
Rear blinky (mounted on rack)
Rear blinky (helmet)
LED headlight
03-04-11 | 07:37 AM
#36
"Per Ardua ad Surly"
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 0
From: Kitchener, Ontario
Bikes: Bianchi Specialissima, Mongoose Hilltopper ATB, Surly Cross-Check, Norco City Glide
03-04-11 | 08:19 AM
#38
Unlisted member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 435
From: Chicagoland
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock
B17 or my lights. Or my high viz vest, or my rear rack, or the better rear derailer I installed a few years ago, or chain wax, or the rack trunk - I can't make up my my mind here.
03-04-11 | 09:48 AM
#41
Commander, UFO Bike
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 23
From: Subject to change
Bikes: Giant, Trek
Last edited by K'Tesh; 03-04-11 at 09:52 AM.
03-04-11 | 10:09 AM
#43
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 848
Likes: 21
From: Fort Collins CO
Bikes: Kona Dew, Kona Ute, Salsa Timberjack, Salsa Fargo, New belgium brewery cruisers-2014 and 2009 and 2007
dependable tires and tubes came first. If you are getting flats you wont want to ride. I already plan on having a bike set up with studs for next winter.
the rest is just bells and whistles, though I have to admit that having the baskets on the back has added several more commutes to my schedule because I can take care of grocery shopping/ errands on my way home now.
the rest is just bells and whistles, though I have to admit that having the baskets on the back has added several more commutes to my schedule because I can take care of grocery shopping/ errands on my way home now.
03-04-11 | 10:25 AM
#45
Bicycles are for Children
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: West Central Indiana
Bikes: The kind with two wheels
I currently reside where the weather is almost always nice and there is no real "winter," so my answer might be a little different from the others.
With me, it would be a tie between two of my most recent acquisitions:
1. Topeak Frame pump: After I acquired it, I finally shelved all my mini-pumps (which I previously used to air up tubes on the road). It has pretty much negligible weight, fits easily under the top tube and remains out of the way, and makes it possible for me to air up tubes on the road without getting a full upper body workout that I always got when airing up a tube using a mini-pump. Although I still hate getting flats, I don't mind them as much now that I have a decent portable pump that can quickly fill a tube with air in a minute or two.
2. Shimano indexed Barend shifters: I upgraded from downtube shifters. They were relatively pricy (for me, anyway: they were around $80), but it is nice being able to shift gears while keeping both hands on the handlebars. It also makes it possible to seamlessly shift gears while standing and charging up a hill. Another added bonus is that I no longer have to worry about bar-end caps that either tend to fall out or else have to be covered with a tacky, unsightly strip of tape.
I recently acquired some commuting raingear, not sure how long before I get a chance to use them here in arid South Texas.
With me, it would be a tie between two of my most recent acquisitions:
1. Topeak Frame pump: After I acquired it, I finally shelved all my mini-pumps (which I previously used to air up tubes on the road). It has pretty much negligible weight, fits easily under the top tube and remains out of the way, and makes it possible for me to air up tubes on the road without getting a full upper body workout that I always got when airing up a tube using a mini-pump. Although I still hate getting flats, I don't mind them as much now that I have a decent portable pump that can quickly fill a tube with air in a minute or two.
2. Shimano indexed Barend shifters: I upgraded from downtube shifters. They were relatively pricy (for me, anyway: they were around $80), but it is nice being able to shift gears while keeping both hands on the handlebars. It also makes it possible to seamlessly shift gears while standing and charging up a hill. Another added bonus is that I no longer have to worry about bar-end caps that either tend to fall out or else have to be covered with a tacky, unsightly strip of tape.
I recently acquired some commuting raingear, not sure how long before I get a chance to use them here in arid South Texas.
03-04-11 | 11:11 AM
#48
can't single out an item but there is an aggregate shift toward reliable stuff that lets me get to work on time and to childcare on time at the end of the day to retrieve my kids...
03-04-11 | 11:30 AM
#49
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Bikes: Windsor Wellington, Schwinn Le Tour
#1 and 2 are the P7 LED flashing light on the helmet and a green or yellow jersey for visibility.
Honorable mention to the taillight, rack and panniers, gatorskins, thorn resistant tube and slime.
Honorable mention to the taillight, rack and panniers, gatorskins, thorn resistant tube and slime.
