As an electronics hobbyist, just solder the ends!

Not always easy with stainless cable or teflon coated cable.

I'm going to try that trick with the shrink tubing as I am putting new brakes on the road bike this weekend and after looking around the shop have found no cable crimp ends.

Nope. You should get Velcro straps (or any sort of strap) to lock down one of your brake handles. Then, your bikes will be extremely stable to lean against anything (even against one another like a couple of cows in the cold weather).

My kids have taught me thoroughly that kickstands are not cool! That's the only reason my bike has none.

Caruso

Yen, you are cool - kickstands kick butt! I'm sure they will become retro soon then you'll be on the cutting edge of COOL. (I have a kickstand on my bike and love it. Only desert and gravel on some of my rides- makes it hard to lean a bike that way.)

I haven't tried anything but resin core solder and have failed on
stainless too. My next attempt will be wrapping the cable with
thin (~#22) solid copper wire and soldering that. Maybe...

I did not know this until three days ago, and it works.

IF you grab a water bottle (or anything else) while you are moving, and you want to feel more stable when you do it, place one hand on the handlebar about an inch or two from the stem. That way you don't overcorrect your steering.

I like the idea of this, but like Charlie Brown, how do I know when WL is going to pull the ball away?

Use that green 'airhose' again on the next ride . . .
Put one end in in mouth, other end in ?$$ . . . and talk to yourself!

One of the 'tricks' I always preach to new folks is to always use the multi-tool for home bike maintenance. This will let you know exactly what other tools you need to pack for the road. In addition, the 'multi' is notoriously cumbersome [what with all those bells-n-whistles flopping about] and the constant use affords one the chance to get the 'feel' of the thing.

I keep a 0.25 ounce sampler of Aquaphor in my saddle bag. Having a chaffing problem in the middle of a ride? Maybe a sore spot on your foot? Scrape your knee? Lips getting dry? Get sunburned on your neck?

I grabbed three of them at a doctor's office ... free samples.

There has been a few times when I've been very glad to have the little bugger with me.

Yeah, the solder is great if it sticks, which it usually won't. Now I dip the end in quick dry epoxy

While shifting your front derailler to the smallest chainring, if the chain goes off the small chainring and into oblivion, continue pedaling and quickly shift to the next bigger chainring. If you are quick enough, on most bikes, this will always recover without jamming the chain or having to stop. It even works on those funny bikes I ride.

If you haven't got a mirror that is the best way to look backwards.
Yup, holding the handlebar. No, you know.....

Careful, torque is cheap.....

I used to have a "flickstand"....but took it off because I always had visions of it slipping down and locking my wheel on some downhill. Very unlikely, and never heard of it happening, but well.....it could've maybe.

Carry your spare tube inside a sock. It keeps the saddle bag (or whatever) from rubbing a hole in it over time. The sock is useful over your hand if you need to do something with the chain.

Or if you need to make a puppet

After transporting your bike and putting the front wheel back on, always, always, always, remember to close the tab on the front brakes. Forgetting to do so makes for some very interesting moments. Don't ask how I know this.

Also after transporting your bike with the front wheel removed - If your computer is not registering, check to see if you put the front wheel on backwards so the magnet is on the wrong side. don't ask how I know this one either.

The tab for the front brakes? I don't know what this means....

I haven't taken a front tire off since '87... have they change the quick release?

I guess it's really more of a small lever than a tab. At least that's how the Shimano 105 brakes release.

Learn to use the barrel adjusters on your brakes for on-the-road brake pad-to-wheel adjustments.

Yes, you can eat one cookie to many at rest stops!

Thoroughly snap down the cap on water bottles, especially those filled with sticky energy drink. Others still laugh at me for thoroughly drenching my face, jersey, etc. with Cytomax when I squeezed the cap off with my head gloriously thrown back.

A basket big enough to hold a 12 pack.

The new Trek Lime bikes, the ones with the auto-shifting 3-speed, have a mini-rack on them that was designed to hold a six pack. And it comes with a built-in bottle opener.