canklecat

Underwear that's fun to wear.

baldilocks

Fabrication is one of the most noble pursuits of man.

gringomojado

Why the mirror controversy?

Darth Lefty 

I'm not sure a list of standard commuter equipment is "underrated" except by those who spurn it as nerdy... and that would make it a different topic.

I think Cat Ears are intriguing and when I'm back in the saddle I'm going to try some.

calamarichris

A pro-fit.
I felt like an utter tool walking out of Nate Loyal's fitting studio, $180 poorer with only a little business card with my measurements scribbled to show for it. The end result of nearly 3 hours?: my cleats were shifted a few mm and my saddle up and back a little. And he gave me some advice about how to sit on the saddle and work on my core & back muscles.

But then my chronic knee pain magically vanished. I cancelled the appointment with the knee-surgeon (which could easily have cost 20 or 30 times what the pro-fit cost), and was able to ride longer and faster than before--even faster than when I was in my twenties when I was dumb enough to instead spend that money on sew-ups and the latest Oakley sunglasses.

Pops1959

My thoughts exactly.

ckarr

I think this soap from Grant Petersen's bicycle website is worth it: Pine Tar Soap Grandpa's brand

It is definitely underrated.

MrWasabi 

I agree. I went back and forth about having one. The extra weight, stability, not being cool (kidding), blah, blah, blah but in the end it's just too useful IMO especially for my situation. I installed a BV adjustable double kickstand and am loving it.

I'd also agree with a mirror and I'd add Bike Brite as my suggestion to the mix. Hose off your bike, let it sit a few minutes, then hose it back off. I've been using it on motorcycles for years with very good success.

Milton Keynes

I didn't care if a kickstand was "cool" or not, I wanted one for my bike. I got tired of always trying to find something to lean it up against, and was irritated to notice some scuffed paint from when my bike was leaning against something and fell. I searched Amazon and found a few which might have worked OK, but ended up going to a LBS and getting a high quality one which is quite sturdy and is a lot more solidly mounted than the ones I found online. It's mounted on the left seat stay & chain stay, so it's far enough back that I can stand the bike up and run the chain backwards when cleaning & lubing it.

Pauley L

When there isn't something to lean my bikes against I can always find this common thing known as "the ground." Scuffs have never bothered me.

In my world, the most underrated accessory would be an adjustable/dropper seatpost. Game changer when I first used one 11 years ago.

one4smoke

Which one did you get? Have a link?

Hardrock23

My mirror. Im a really jumpy person so its definitely a huge help for me. I have to know whats around me at all times.
Im kinda interested in trying the full coverage Cat Ears this winter though...But Im back n forth on those. I kinda love my $2 fleece headband/ear warmers and I have doubts the Cat Ears will fit as good.

ColonelSanders

Often there are people walking by and they don't appreciate your bike blocking their walking path.

bruce19

Baseball cards in the spokes of my Colnago.

bulldog1935

In the winter the most useful bike accessory is a place to carry weather shell and layers.

Milton Keynes

I'll have to take a picture of it and post it later. I don't even remember the name of it.

*edit* I found a link to it online, it's a Greenfield stabilizer.



I like that it clamps on to both the chain stay and the seat stay, and it flips back and stays out of your way. You won't hit it with your pedal or foot like kickstands mounted close to the BB. It's not height-adjustable but it's just the right height for my bike.

TimothyH

Body Glide.

cyclist2000

Mine is the frame pump. Never use it except when I have a flat on the road, then I want to get up to 100 psi is a reasonable amount of time.

canklecat

My new-to-me 1992 Univega came fitted with one of those, or a very similar kickstand that clamps around both the chainstay and seatstay. First kickstand I've had that I wasn't tempted to remove immediately. And as you described, there's plenty of clearance for the pedals to spin backward -- handy for quick chain cleaning with one of those solvent filled reservoir brush doodads.

MuddyBikeRider

My Hopey steering damper.

Milton Keynes

Yeah, I think it's a quality product. I may have overpaid for it a bit, but the shipping probably would have made up for it and I got to support my local bike shop, even if it was a minor purchase. The ones I found on Amazon didn't look very promising, only clamping to the chain stay and the reviews said that if you overtighten the set screws it will strip the threads on the aluminum housing. The one I bought came with a couple of thick, split plastic tubes to put around the seat stay and chain stay so the part which clamps to them doesn't scratch the paint. And being a non-adustable height kickstand it seems like it would be a bit more sturdy than those which are adjustable.

rmfnla

Blinkies during the daytime.

Everyone knows lights are important at night, but those little guys can save your butt during the day...

Rollfast

You're the engine, not an accessory

Rollfast

There's nobody out there at night though.

Rollfast

I agree completely, so I got a cruiser. I have one of those twin/forked stands on my heavy Rollfast. I've still got plenty of scrapes on any of my three, they just happen.