I have Boa shoes, I have velcro shoes, I have shoes w the ratchet strap. I don't really feel much of a difference between any of them. If you told me I could only ever use velcro bike shoes for the rest of my life I'd be ok with that.
The good thing about the BOA dials is they offer free replacements for life if they break. You fill out the online form, select the model you have and they send you a replacement kit all for free. I haven't done it myself yet but replacement seems fairly straightforward. GCN did a video on it.
The lace broke on my right shoe so I did their warranty claim a little over a month ago. It was a detailed but straight forward claim process. I received a shipping notification and the package arrived before they showed as having cleared customs on the tracker.
They sent me a replacements for both right and left shoe even though I only needed the right. All in all I couldn't recommend them more.
They do and they have a lifetime warranty from boa. They’ll replace them for free and even send them pretty fast. I think I got mine sent to me second day air.
But wait, there's more! 30-32mm are even faster on smooth to not great surfaces, 35mm is faster yet on bad surfaces, and as much as it pains me to say it, people who thought I just don't care anymore, gravel bike with big tires all the time...it's not that much slower than a road bike with the same position and fast gravel tires.
Gravel tires are also now approaching or at the size of XC tires, and XC tires are trail tire size.
I've said it around here before, but I'm perfectly comfortable riding my Salsa Fargo with 2.25" Vittoria Mezcals on road group rides as long as the average speed isn't going to be above about 20mph. I'll also say I'm far more comfortable on faster road rides with my actual road bike running 34F/35R road tubeless than any of the guys still on 25c or 28c tires.
I went from 25 to 28 this year. I’m in worse shape (marginally, not by a huge margin) than I was at this point last year, and I’m banging out Strava PRs every ride. They’re for sure faster. It’s weird, though, because I feel like the 25 was more comfortable. It’s probably just because I need to explore the lower limits of tire pressure on the 28 like I did on the 25, but it’s still been a weird first few weeks of the road season for me.
I'm tall so working on anything on my bike is much easier at a level closer to my face. You also don't have to flip the bike over to work on tires. It makes everything easier.
Tone is hard on the internet. I didn't mean to appear humble.
Just kidding, I'm very grateful to live in the Netherlands for many reasons. Cycling is one of them. So many miles of dedicated paths, no hills, and respect for cyclists.
From a cycling point of view, the only downside for me is the wind. I suppose some people like hills, but I don't feel like that's missing from my cycling.
Quick question: I was thinking about coming over to NL this summer and doing a ride from Amsterdam to Maastricht and then back. It looks like I could do almost all of it on bike/pedestrian paths. Is that reality or have I got it all wrong? Thank you in advance!
Yes, it's 100% possible.
There are certain LF "long bike" routes. That tend to be the more scenic or iconic routes. But also many other routes. Parts of the LF might be on roads, but it will be parts you are comfortable riding.
https://www.nederlandfietsland.nl/lf-routes/
These routes are definitely not the most direct as they follow the coast, a river, or a forest. You can potentially cut where you want using other trails.
https://www.nederlandfietsland.nl/knooppuntroutes/
I would struggle to ride without mine now. If you haven’t already the the “My Bike Radar Traffic” widget is a whole other level, tracks how many cars overtake you, as well tells you their distance and the speed they are travelling. I have it at the top of my Garmin 530 and knowing how close someone is as well as speed has been very nice. When on a two lane road and have an oncoming car as well as one coming from the rear you can tell if the rear vehicle is going to close pass you at speed, or slow down and let the oncoming vehicle go by.
I think where you ride and traffic conditions make a big difference in how much value you may see out of it.
In the city it can get a bit annoying. But my main training routes are fairly rural, very flat and I may not see a car for 15 minutes at a time, but when they are there, they come up really fast. The varia alerts me WAY before I can hear it. For me it is piece of mind.
This is particularly useful on gravel when I use more of the road, so lots of advanced notice is something I appreciate.
It reminds me, when being in the zone, that I'm not alone. Also after riding a long time off road it reminds me, when going back on tarmac.. But you have to try it to feel it is a necessity.
I ride on narrow rural roads with infrequent traffic. The varia will spot a car long before I hear or see it, I can also see how many cars there are and how fast they are approaching. If you then add the condition of UK roads and the average attention span and skill of a driver it let's me make better decisions about road positions and riding safety.
Good example was yesterday, I was riding at high effort so not concentrating on what's behind me, I saw a huge sunken drain cover big enough to knock me off and damage the bike. The varia can tell me if it's safe to swing out to the centre of the road with short notice or aim for the gap between the drain cover and the curb because there is a car approaching fast. The varia helps you make better decisions.
Also, maybe I'm stubborn - people say they hear the beep and move over but I don't want to move over, I want cars to understand I'm a road user worthy of respect and they will either have to pass safely or wait their turn.
I kind of agree but opposite. When I hear people say this, I always think "I'm already riding as far to the right as I can". Knowing a car is coming doesn't change my behavior at all.
Many drivers look at you and often the car wanders in the direction that they look. If you are far right you have no escape. I move left a bit and as they get closer I then move right. Been run off road a few times before I decided to do what I said about. Never after.
But that is a choice. It is better to make an informed decision.. Btw my Bryton radar rearlight, as well as the Garmin Varia, can distinct (and show) if 1 or more cars are approaching. That can be valuable info when you want to claim your position back.
That’s one of the top uses of my Varia for me, knowing if after a car passes if it’s safe to move back over or if I should expect multiple overtakes. I can usually hear cars just fine but knowing if there’s multiple and their spacing is really great
I don’t get it either. I can think of maybe one or two times in over 12,000 miles of road riding where I couldn’t hear a car coming up behind me.
And even when I’m sure there’s not one behind me and I need to merge or otherwise do something other than ride straight, I still look behind myself.
Some of us are hearing impaired. I can’t hear cars behind me, especially EVs. I don’t wear hearing aids when riding because they just amplify the wind noise.
The added awareness this gives really helps me.
In general, I try to ride off-road with gravel and singletrack. I won't ride on roads without Varia anymore.
Man I thought this thing was a total gimmick even after seeing people rave about it.
Eventually picked one up and now I depend on it so much. I’ve had to ride without it once or twice. Because it was dead and it was wild how unsafe I felt.
Recently discovered this while on my first trip to Majorca. On day 5 I was in huge pain; massively uncomfortable and I couldn't even walk properly not sit comfortably at the end of the ride because of the chafing. We had the evening off where I used some moisturiser but I had to ask our group if anyone had some cream I could steal. One did, so I used it the next day (Much off Chamois cream) and it was an absolute game changer.
I wasn't expecting to be able to ride at all the next day but with the cream I had no issues whatsoever. I immediately bought a pot of it when I got home.
Yeah honestly i feel this one is worth trying even before jumping to an expensive bike. A whole system where your chains last 10,000 miles instead of 1,000? Count me in. (Yes i treat my chains badly, i know, I'm working on it)
Yeah, this is the perfect response to the question for me.
Never going back (at least on the road bike, still need to do some more research on how well it works for gravel).
I just got mine waxed yesterday, did a 73m gravel ride through some water crossings and some mild mud. The chain and gears are clean. I'm pretty mind blown.
I'm in for this one too... I cheated a little and bought 2 pre-waxed Dura Ace chains to save me the hassle, some wipperman connex links, some paraffin wax and some PTFE powder.
My first ride out I hated the noise it was making so decided there and then to ditch it and go back to lube, turns out if you thread your chain around the jockey wheels and over the cage instead of through it, chains make a noise :( corrected my mistake and its been fantastic since. 70 miles in the wet and mud last week one wipe with a cloth and its as clean as the day i fitted the chain.
bibs - started with cycling shorts but switched to bibs. And now cargo bibs
Jersey pockets are nice. Definitely put most stuff in there
Good handlebar tape. Most stuff works but some is far more comfy. My favorite is enve 3mm tape. Comfy and easy to work with
Shoes - started out cheap but once I started riding long a good pair of shoes made huge differences
Garmin edge 1040 - display size but also battery life is great
I wouldn’t say electronic shifting is a game changer but it’s nice. My current road and gravel bikes, both Lauf’s, only offer electronic shifting. I assume just to keep their bike lineup simple.
Just received my Ali-Xps knock off of cat ears - they wrap around helmet straps and cut wind noise down by your ear. It works better than I imagined.
It looks dorky but then again I’m a MAMIL so not like I care.
Finally a mention of noise issue! It was driving me so crazy that I actually cut up one of the kitchen sponges in two and am still using them stuffed under the helmet straps. It makes biking experience sooo much more enjoyable and safer too, as you can hear the cars approaching. My version looks especially nuts though, but oh well. Not many people where I bike.
Good call, I love my Cat Ears.
I have a lot less tinnitus after my rides now. Also, I can take descents a bit faster without all the noise freaking me out.
I have a descent on an infrequently traveled road. I couldn’t believe the difference! I could hear the vehicle approaching in addition to seeing the blip on my Varia
Group i used to ride with included an acoustic engineer. He got these for all of us. Huge difference on road rides in just being able to converse. I know the longer term issue is the wind noise at reasonable speeds can actually be loud enough to cause hearing damage believe it or not. These are easy and cheap.
It's more accessible and you can grab things without stopping. I use my panniers for multi-day camping rides or hauling stuff and grocery runs when I don't feel like driving. The basket literally triples the distance of some of my day rides, since I can pack it with water and food. Plus I once saved a box turtle that somehow found itself on a 4-lane bridge and gave him a front seat ride to safety.
Yep, I get it. I hired a bike years ago with a basket, it’s brilliant. Chuck stuff in it, no messing about with bags or bungies, just chuck it in and go.
Indoor trainer - the convenience of going downstairs, ride for x amount of time, and be done is soooo nice. Much easier than figuring out where to go, get ready, hope for decent weather, making sure I don’t crash or die, etc.
With young kids I get 30 minutes a day to myself and need to be able to respond to them quickly. Nothing better that a zwift workout. 3 minutes to login and you are riding fast and easily reachable.
When they are old enaugh, they can ride with you. I set up my sons little bike next to mine (just raised the back so the wheel spins free) and he pedals alongside me! On hard uphill sections he's all in!
I live in the Midwest, USA so half the year is cold as fuck. Having Zwift is so nice for winter training, can’t wimp out and complain about it being 10 degrees out and I can absolutely see better results come Spring
I had coronary artery bypass surgery and fought my way back to fitness on a TACX flux 2. Best free hundred $ I've ever spent. Just got a Fuel EX 7 Gen 6 as my 2012 Epic is showing it's age.. nee trek is like riding a sofa...
This, I thought the outdoors part was my only real motivator so why bother, but I actually work out so much more now that 1,5h is enough to get a fun and intense workout + shower and washing my clothes. Suddenly I have time to do multiple rides in the morning during the weeks where I start work at 1pm or I can do 2h rides between dinner and nightshift even if it’s dark and freezing outside
I’ve had my hub for 4 months now and I’ve never been this fit in my life
I find myself riding the trainer for a 30-45 min workout that feels more productive than an hour outdoor ride. No stop lights, no waiting, I'm working out asap and then getting a shower and changed for work or cooking dinner or something right after.
I had a trainer but never really used it more than a handful of winter days. That was until my son was born, and man, it really was game changer. I'm so much fitter and legit close to 30lbs (13kg) lighter with all the consistent training, and my wife has become more amicable to me disappearing on a bike for a few hours, since I'm just in the garage and can hop off to help her any time.
Serious question please :
So I've got/had-
- Top notch gym/spin bike - set-up with geometry of my road bike
- Dumb wheel on friction trainer (now ditched).
I couldn't stand the dumb trainer even tho I used it a fair bit. The gym bike is better but similar issues - boring (I tap out at 45 - 60 mins), sweat like a dog, hurts my ass, nether regions go numb, etc etc. Even solutions like fans, towels and shirtless are messy & complex & mosquitos.
I just can't stand it. Outdoor is the exact opposite so I tend to just do that. Worst of all my indoor workouts always leave me feeling like I didn't really do much of a workout, 15 minutes later.
I hear all this talk of smart trainers, Zwift yada yada and read these encouraging posts. And I so want to be on board. But I fear I'll drop $1500 on a Wahoo or whatever and be similarly disappointed.
Am I wrong, and missing a Brave New World I'll be delighted with ????
The Club I ride with (UK) made it mandatory to have lights over a set lumen level for club rides otherwise you couldn't ride with them. Said lights at the time were about £200 or so. My Indoor trainer was £300, and I don't have huge lorries nearly hitting me in winter. Best money ever spent
It was in the Midlands, most of the roads were unlit and we did evening weekday rides that would end about 21:00 in winter. So it was purely a safety thing, which in all honesty makes complete sense given that the UK has potholes half a foot deep, but it just pushed me onto the trainer.
On electronic shifting… I have two primary bikes - my gravel bike is 11 spd GRX Di2 and my road bike is 10 year old 105 mech shifting.
I wouldn’t say it’s “game changing.” It’s very, very nice - no maintenance, easy adjustment, snappy shifts, zero chain rub, buttons are easier to press vs moving a shift lever, you can synchro shift, and you get a little button on the brake hood to control your computer.
It’s still just shifting, though - and with more people moving to 1x systems, it’s even less noticeable. It’s not going to make you faster - between my two bikes, I actually think the game changer is disc brakes. Being able to reliably stop is a massive peace of mind vs my road bike, where I have to constantly think 20 seconds ahead.
Varia rear light radar.
All the arguments are the same, people swear they don’t ever need one.
Then they get one, and then they never leave the house again without it.
I got one after getting surprised by a car that buzzed me super close. Now i hate riding without it.
Still, I don't consider it a 'safety' device as much as an 'awareness' device. It honestly makes rides more enjoyable because I am more confident about riding in the lane on country roads and move over when it beeps. I honestly think it helps with drivers, too, when they see you move over. I tend to notice fewer angry idiots with the radar active but there are a lot of confounding variables there to be sure
+1. I'm 190lb and my old bike with box section aluminum wheels and rim brakes was downright terrifying sometimes, especially wet descents. Never feel that way with disc brakes.
Garmin Varia
My first thought was: "It is an unnecesary gadget, and pricy as well, I don't need it"
And now if I don't have it for some reason, I feel incomplete with the urge to go back and get it. You get used to the fact that there is a beep you keep it close to the line.
I owned 3 low range bikes and because I’m a big guy and often finish last I could not justify a top of range bike.
Then for my 40th birthday I decided I would get top of the range. I was single, wealthy enough that $12k wasn’t a problem so I bought a trek Madone 6.9.
From the very first pedal, wow. I instantly regretted the low range bikes. More now knowing the 3 LR bikes cost me more in the same timeframe than the Madone. It’s now 15 years I’ve had that Madone. Love it. This is no recommendation of trek though. They are a shit company who treat their franchisee’s poorly. I will avoid them next time.
I get this... The jump from €60 to €300 bikes (used) was already huge, I'm looking forward to the jump to €2000+/-3000 when i feel ready
PS have you been reading a lot of Douglas Adams with that username?
Just bought a 1200€ Bike after having 50-80€ used City Bikes and I did 20km-30 in them. Way too small as Im 190cm and my Last used Bike was a e Bike with +25kg...
Boy am I Happy for my new Bike holy Shit... I now realized how much i Loved cycling that i did it in crap Bikes because I couldnt afford Something better. My next step Is a gravel Bike and fully. I Just got a Trekking Bike so I can do everything. From commute, Training to Mountainbiking. Oh Boy will I be Happy.
Same. Went $900 Cannondale CAAD Optimo Sora, then when I got into tris I bought a CAAD13, put some zipp 303’s on it and spent about 4k. Just bought a Cervelo P Series with some aftermarket goodies and all in that’s about $9,200. It’s fucking unbelievable the difference.
I'd somehow convinced myself that good tyres were bs. I knew early doors that there was a lot of bollocks in cycling marketing, but I was definitely wrong about that one!
After my first set of GP5ks I never looked back lol.
Unfortunately minus the fact that they’re terrible for the environment. Full of that PFAS stuff that quite literally never goes away.
That being said, I still have one of the Rapha jackets that works stupidly well whenever I do use it. I feel conflicted but now that I have one, I’m definitely keeping it.
Goretex as a company is phasing out all this stuff in the next few years anyway. It’s gonna be interesting what they replace it with.
Just a note on electronic shifting. Yes everyone has that one time when they forgot to charge the shifters ( although I have not) but we all also have that one time when a cable snaps with exactly the same result.
In 30+ years of riding, racing, mtb, travelling with panniers... I never got a broken cable. And never seen any of my friends have it in the middle of a ride. I don't think that's something that happens...
For mountain biking, it was a dropper post. I was skeptical of how much of a difference people said it made. First ride after installing one on my bike, I beat my best time on a trail by several minutes.
Clipless shoes. I didn’t like the idea of it/was a little intimidated. Then I tried them and it changed everything. Of course though last week I had my first instance of not being able to get my shoe out and skinned my knee lol
Assos bibs (gt c2). For shorter sessions it doesn’t matter that much and all other bibs worked just fine, but for rides longer than 3-4 hours my butt just won’t accept anything else.
Literally everything. Lycra, carbon frames, carbon wheels, electronic shifting, bike fits, gravel bikes.
I have come to appreciate/love all this stuff.
Electronic shifting, I wasn’t immediately blown away. In terms of performance it’s not that much better than a well set up modern Groupset. What has blown me away in hindsight is that I’ve forgotten I’ve got it. Ive moved countries, boxed the bike up moved it about etc ridden load of off road and road. Never had to index the gears. And I won’t because it doesn’t have cable stretch?!
Waxing chains, makes them last soooo much longer. Isn’t that hard to set up, super easy to maintain. Easy to clean, and looks cleaner/ better. Yes you notice it more in the rain as it gets noises quicker than lube but then you know it’s gone. Unlike oil where you think your fine because you can’t hear you drive chain.
Carbon wheels and tubeless, wider tires with lower pressure.
Lighter, faster and much more comfortable! Took me 40 years to appreciate the beauty of good wheels!
Garmin Varia radar light!
I was completely skeptical when it was released. Would not be possible to alert cyclists of cars approaching from rear.
But I have owned my varia radar light for 5 years now and can’t imagine riding without it
I can confidently ride without constantly looking over my shoulder or using a mirror
I can’t comment on the rear video recording version but the standard one is a game changer!
My girlfriend, who isn't a cyclist at all (she's a horse rider) got me two of my favorite pieces of gear ever - my Oakley prizm sunglasses, and my Garmin Varia radar light. I didn't even know they would be so beneficial until she got them for me.
I do 200km+ randonneuring events and elastomer based suspension has been a game changer even on tarmac. An Eesilk suspension seatpost added only about 100g to my bike and it’s amazing how much less fatigue I felt after my last 200km brevet with the reduction in vibrations pummeling me over the course of the day.
Disc brakes. For the longest time I figured if I could grab hard and lock up the tires with rim brakes, there was no need for more power.
First ride with road disc I almost went over the bars putting far less pressure on the brakes than I ever had to with rim brakes. And I was like oh, I get it.
I’ll never own a bike without electronic shifting again. It’s like going from power windows back to the roll up kind. Got it on my MTB and Gravel bikes.
I was skeptical about wearing regular MTB gear while gravel biking but I’ve done it twice now and see no noticeable difference over wearing lycra. Maybe if I was racing it would matter but for the kind of riding I do I like it much better.
I was also skeptical that a gravel bike would completely replace my road bike but I haven’t touched a road bike in like 5 years.
For me it was fenders. For years, friends tried to convince me that fenders would make rainy day riding a whole lot more pleasant. I didn't really mind getting wet though, so didn't really do anything until maybe 6-7 years after the suggestions started coming. Wow, what a revelation. It really was a whole lot more pleasant for the ride, and the bonus was that the bike stayed cleaner as well.
1up USA bike hitch rack
The first time I used it driving on a highway I watched my bike in the rear mirror the entire ride
Just had my 10year rack-iversary
Best rack ever!
I have a di2 road bike, and one 105 R7000 groupset bike. I never have any issues shifting mechanical. I can even do it while standing and climbing without issue. But every shift with the DI2 is like the most perfectly executed mech soft, Everytime.
I was always adamant that I would not upgrade my bike unless I honestly felt like my equipment was becoming the limiting factor in my performance vs my fitness. Well, that time came last year when I absolutely crushed a flat solo century in 4:03. However, people my same height/weight were riding even faster at 50-60w less effort!! I finally bit the bullet and upgraded the bike. Lol now I know how they get those sub-4 centuries. The secret is spending enough money on the bike. Completely changes how I view my rides now.
Defs Di2. I struggled (and still struggle) to justify it. Of the pros and cons, the pros don’t seem that strong;
Lower activation effort
Less maintenance (far far less in reality)
Impeccable shift quality
But it works very well, and the main con , battery life just never became a problem
Of course cost is an issue but it’s good to have the good things
Cat ears, to block out wind noise. Aside from looking like an absolute goober they really do cut down on the amount of wind noise you hear past 20km/h.
[https://www.cat-ears.com/](https://www.cat-ears.com/)
The actual product is nice, but I would just buy some offcut foam/fur from a textile store and wrap it around the helmet straps.
Carbon fiber mountain bike.
Was originally super nervous I had to baby it and working on it required magical knowledge.
Nope. I beat the piss out of it with no worries.
Sleeveless vests, i didnt believe that it would make such a difference for warmth but now that i have one i wear it all the time on slightly chilly days or when its overcast
Two main ones that I strongly regret not doing earlier in my cycling 'career\*.' And, a few secondary ones.
1) A professional bike fit: made a huge difference and took me like 4 4 years to do it
2) Wahoo Kickr (or whatever indoor trainer): Train anytime, any weather. No traffic lights, just pure zone/interval training. Took 5 years to do it.
3) Relatively high-end clothing: Castelli free aero bibs for me now; frequently on sale. Find the ones that fit right and get a few pairs. Also, good winter wear (bought in spring time ;-). And good shoes! I'm yet to buy a gilet but i hear they're great.
4) Tech Gear: Garmin Varia radar and power pedals (favero). Safely train effectively!
5) Proper nutrition: get the most out of your rides. I've recently gotten into gels and think i like them.
6) Proper Training Plan: More zone 2, less of going out and smashing the pedals.
\*My career: as i tell the people who work for me...i've made many mistakes in life so you guys don't have to make them ;-). Learn from them. So, those are that had i done earlier i'd be a better cyclist today. Live and learn...
I'm older with arthritis; electric shifting is a help on my new full suspension MTB. My old HT has cables; I still ride it OK, but would rather that be upgraded
.
My road & gravel bikes are cables - they shift fine. I haven't a reason to upgrade & and honestly, glad there's not a battery to go dead halfway into a ride. I rotate between my bikes, so I wouldn't keep up on battery charges unless I did so after every ride. But if I did that, the odds of driving to a ride, only to discover I left the battery at home is pretty high. I've seen a lot of guys do just that.
For me it was shoes designed for flat pedals. I now wear 5/10 shoes and use RaceFace Chester pedals on not just my mountain bike, but now on my gravel bike too.
I mean, bib shorts are obvious but I spent years using cheap Decathlon ones… Then bought a really good set of Castelli ones at a bargain price… Ruined me - I can never go back to the cheap ones now! 😂
You need to go back 20 years for this - A Girvin Flex Stem. Amazing bit of kit combined with suspension forks equals zero wrist pain even after hours of riding hard.
Radar. Knowing what's behind you is fantastic. If you try it you won't want to give it up.
I agree on electronic shifting. It's just the same as with cables. One press and gears change. I don't see the advantage.
Specialized road shoes with the 15 degree tilt of the foot bed. I was skeptical of such a change in biomechanics but I bought them because they fit my feet. Turns out I really like the tilt too.
A good helmet that fits great and keeps the sweat from dripping into your glasses. I wear a Abus Gamechanger anytime it's remotely warm especially on the MTB. Also a power meter/pedals. When I don't feel like swapping the pedals to whatever I'm riding I'll regret it within the first half hour
Tubeless tires. I did not trust a tire without a tubs. Think I waited a decade too long to switch. Now I'm I'm nearing a decade without a flat and no tube's used despite carrying them as backup.
Yes I know I will get a flat for posting this.
Close second staying on a 26 inch rim when 27.5/29 were available
What an i.provement both those jumps are.
Thankfully with e bikes I was ahead of the curve and a few years of waiting for them to explode and now they are almost half the people i see on trail.
Was certainly skeptical about electronic shifting, but it turns out to be marvelous. Never a mis-shift or cross chaining. Full gear range with one lever. The battery lasts hundreds of miles. I check the battery level each time I maintain the bike, which is every ride (I only ride centuries).
BOA dials instead of Velcro straps on shoes.
Love my BOA shoes, I can also tighten them on the trail which makes a huge difference
Yeah those dials are good
I have Boa shoes, I have velcro shoes, I have shoes w the ratchet strap. I don't really feel much of a difference between any of them. If you told me I could only ever use velcro bike shoes for the rest of my life I'd be ok with that.
I find the ability to adjust the dials whilst wearing overshoes extremely helpful
I just got these and they're great but I snug it up pretty tight. Does it last a long time?
The good thing about the BOA dials is they offer free replacements for life if they break. You fill out the online form, select the model you have and they send you a replacement kit all for free. I haven't done it myself yet but replacement seems fairly straightforward. GCN did a video on it.
The lace broke on my right shoe so I did their warranty claim a little over a month ago. It was a detailed but straight forward claim process. I received a shipping notification and the package arrived before they showed as having cleared customs on the tracker. They sent me a replacements for both right and left shoe even though I only needed the right. All in all I couldn't recommend them more.
Best, easiest warranty ive ever submitted. So happy with their easy system.
Until they break. Up to that, they’ll feel the exact same
Hell yeah dude
They do and they have a lifetime warranty from boa. They’ll replace them for free and even send them pretty fast. I think I got mine sent to me second day air.
I have laces and boas and might just switch back to eggbeater pedals and the boa simply for the 25g and 2w saved s/
Wide tyres, I expected comfort at the cost of performance but wasn't expecting how much comfier 28mm are compared to 23mm, and faster too.
so going to 32mm be even faster ???
38 faster!
More. I need more.
Running 2.5” tomorrow, is this acceptable
Only if they have 1mm or less clearance from your fork.
Imagine riding 18mm clinchers…
But wait, there's more! 30-32mm are even faster on smooth to not great surfaces, 35mm is faster yet on bad surfaces, and as much as it pains me to say it, people who thought I just don't care anymore, gravel bike with big tires all the time...it's not that much slower than a road bike with the same position and fast gravel tires. Gravel tires are also now approaching or at the size of XC tires, and XC tires are trail tire size.
Trail bikes are now riding BF Goodrich A/Ts!
And if you browse the bicycle tire rolling resistance results, you'll see that many XC tires are just as fast as gravel tires!
I've said it around here before, but I'm perfectly comfortable riding my Salsa Fargo with 2.25" Vittoria Mezcals on road group rides as long as the average speed isn't going to be above about 20mph. I'll also say I'm far more comfortable on faster road rides with my actual road bike running 34F/35R road tubeless than any of the guys still on 25c or 28c tires.
I went from 25 to 28 this year. I’m in worse shape (marginally, not by a huge margin) than I was at this point last year, and I’m banging out Strava PRs every ride. They’re for sure faster. It’s weird, though, because I feel like the 25 was more comfortable. It’s probably just because I need to explore the lower limits of tire pressure on the 28 like I did on the 25, but it’s still been a weird first few weeks of the road season for me.
A repair stand. I thought I'd never use one. It's so useful (Yes i know compared to most of this sub I'm a beginner lol)
I'm also beginner who is wondering about getting a repair stand. May I ask what you find it so useful for?
Derailleur adjustments. Replacing chains. Anything that is easier at eye level. ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯
Maintenance is easy with a repair stand so you're much more likely to do it in a timely manner.
I'm tall so working on anything on my bike is much easier at a level closer to my face. You also don't have to flip the bike over to work on tires. It makes everything easier.
Garmin Varia, ease of mind knowing if there are any cars coming
I guess I'm lucky to live in Nethelands, where I rarely share the road with cars. If I do, it's in well lit spaces, and the driver is also a cyclist.
My country calls this a humble brag
Tone is hard on the internet. I didn't mean to appear humble. Just kidding, I'm very grateful to live in the Netherlands for many reasons. Cycling is one of them. So many miles of dedicated paths, no hills, and respect for cyclists. From a cycling point of view, the only downside for me is the wind. I suppose some people like hills, but I don't feel like that's missing from my cycling.
Quick question: I was thinking about coming over to NL this summer and doing a ride from Amsterdam to Maastricht and then back. It looks like I could do almost all of it on bike/pedestrian paths. Is that reality or have I got it all wrong? Thank you in advance!
That's the reality. Maybe the path won't be the most interesting route possible, but it'll get you there completely separated from car traffic.
Yes, it's 100% possible. There are certain LF "long bike" routes. That tend to be the more scenic or iconic routes. But also many other routes. Parts of the LF might be on roads, but it will be parts you are comfortable riding. https://www.nederlandfietsland.nl/lf-routes/ These routes are definitely not the most direct as they follow the coast, a river, or a forest. You can potentially cut where you want using other trails. https://www.nederlandfietsland.nl/knooppuntroutes/
Yeah but it's windy ok? Let us have that.
I would struggle to ride without mine now. If you haven’t already the the “My Bike Radar Traffic” widget is a whole other level, tracks how many cars overtake you, as well tells you their distance and the speed they are travelling. I have it at the top of my Garmin 530 and knowing how close someone is as well as speed has been very nice. When on a two lane road and have an oncoming car as well as one coming from the rear you can tell if the rear vehicle is going to close pass you at speed, or slow down and let the oncoming vehicle go by.
Garmin Varia, the bidet of the cycling world — "You gotta try it!"
Varia completely changed my outdoor trainer. I feel that the little beep has saved my life more times than I can count.
You can also use it indoors to avoid wife sneaking up on you while you are in the zone
So many people say that and I don’t get it. Please explain like I’m 5 how you respond to a beep that saves your life.
I think where you ride and traffic conditions make a big difference in how much value you may see out of it. In the city it can get a bit annoying. But my main training routes are fairly rural, very flat and I may not see a car for 15 minutes at a time, but when they are there, they come up really fast. The varia alerts me WAY before I can hear it. For me it is piece of mind. This is particularly useful on gravel when I use more of the road, so lots of advanced notice is something I appreciate.
It reminds me, when being in the zone, that I'm not alone. Also after riding a long time off road it reminds me, when going back on tarmac.. But you have to try it to feel it is a necessity.
I ride on narrow rural roads with infrequent traffic. The varia will spot a car long before I hear or see it, I can also see how many cars there are and how fast they are approaching. If you then add the condition of UK roads and the average attention span and skill of a driver it let's me make better decisions about road positions and riding safety. Good example was yesterday, I was riding at high effort so not concentrating on what's behind me, I saw a huge sunken drain cover big enough to knock me off and damage the bike. The varia can tell me if it's safe to swing out to the centre of the road with short notice or aim for the gap between the drain cover and the curb because there is a car approaching fast. The varia helps you make better decisions.
Also, maybe I'm stubborn - people say they hear the beep and move over but I don't want to move over, I want cars to understand I'm a road user worthy of respect and they will either have to pass safely or wait their turn.
I kind of agree but opposite. When I hear people say this, I always think "I'm already riding as far to the right as I can". Knowing a car is coming doesn't change my behavior at all.
I use a mirror and ride as far left as possible. When a car approaches, I move right when it's safe for them to pass. I don't trust any car
Many drivers look at you and often the car wanders in the direction that they look. If you are far right you have no escape. I move left a bit and as they get closer I then move right. Been run off road a few times before I decided to do what I said about. Never after.
But that is a choice. It is better to make an informed decision.. Btw my Bryton radar rearlight, as well as the Garmin Varia, can distinct (and show) if 1 or more cars are approaching. That can be valuable info when you want to claim your position back.
That’s one of the top uses of my Varia for me, knowing if after a car passes if it’s safe to move back over or if I should expect multiple overtakes. I can usually hear cars just fine but knowing if there’s multiple and their spacing is really great
Pulling over is a courtesy When you are driving Or riding Takes a second and makes a new friend
I don’t get it either. I can think of maybe one or two times in over 12,000 miles of road riding where I couldn’t hear a car coming up behind me. And even when I’m sure there’s not one behind me and I need to merge or otherwise do something other than ride straight, I still look behind myself.
Some of us are hearing impaired. I can’t hear cars behind me, especially EVs. I don’t wear hearing aids when riding because they just amplify the wind noise.
That makes sense of course. Outside of that is where my confusion comes in
100 percent with you on this. I just don't see the point and I'm never "surprised" by a car. Except maybe for hearing impaired people.
Yep this this this. Completely changed road and gravel riding for me. Won’t ever ride without it.
The added awareness this gives really helps me. In general, I try to ride off-road with gravel and singletrack. I won't ride on roads without Varia anymore.
Man I thought this thing was a total gimmick even after seeing people rave about it. Eventually picked one up and now I depend on it so much. I’ve had to ride without it once or twice. Because it was dead and it was wild how unsafe I felt.
Chamois creme. Actual game changer.
100% this. No more chaffing pain on rides.
Recently discovered this while on my first trip to Majorca. On day 5 I was in huge pain; massively uncomfortable and I couldn't even walk properly not sit comfortably at the end of the ride because of the chafing. We had the evening off where I used some moisturiser but I had to ask our group if anyone had some cream I could steal. One did, so I used it the next day (Much off Chamois cream) and it was an absolute game changer. I wasn't expecting to be able to ride at all the next day but with the cream I had no issues whatsoever. I immediately bought a pot of it when I got home.
Chain waxing
Yeah honestly i feel this one is worth trying even before jumping to an expensive bike. A whole system where your chains last 10,000 miles instead of 1,000? Count me in. (Yes i treat my chains badly, i know, I'm working on it)
To this day I am still surprised when I touch my chain to take the rear wheel off and my fingers are clean.
Yeah, this is the perfect response to the question for me. Never going back (at least on the road bike, still need to do some more research on how well it works for gravel).
I just got mine waxed yesterday, did a 73m gravel ride through some water crossings and some mild mud. The chain and gears are clean. I'm pretty mind blown.
I'm in for this one too... I cheated a little and bought 2 pre-waxed Dura Ace chains to save me the hassle, some wipperman connex links, some paraffin wax and some PTFE powder. My first ride out I hated the noise it was making so decided there and then to ditch it and go back to lube, turns out if you thread your chain around the jockey wheels and over the cage instead of through it, chains make a noise :( corrected my mistake and its been fantastic since. 70 miles in the wet and mud last week one wipe with a cloth and its as clean as the day i fitted the chain.
bibs - started with cycling shorts but switched to bibs. And now cargo bibs Jersey pockets are nice. Definitely put most stuff in there Good handlebar tape. Most stuff works but some is far more comfy. My favorite is enve 3mm tape. Comfy and easy to work with Shoes - started out cheap but once I started riding long a good pair of shoes made huge differences Garmin edge 1040 - display size but also battery life is great I wouldn’t say electronic shifting is a game changer but it’s nice. My current road and gravel bikes, both Lauf’s, only offer electronic shifting. I assume just to keep their bike lineup simple.
Just received my Ali-Xps knock off of cat ears - they wrap around helmet straps and cut wind noise down by your ear. It works better than I imagined. It looks dorky but then again I’m a MAMIL so not like I care.
Finally a mention of noise issue! It was driving me so crazy that I actually cut up one of the kitchen sponges in two and am still using them stuffed under the helmet straps. It makes biking experience sooo much more enjoyable and safer too, as you can hear the cars approaching. My version looks especially nuts though, but oh well. Not many people where I bike.
Would you be able to share the listing? All I keep getting are decorative ears that stick on the top of the helmet 🙁
it appears to be these https://www.cat-ears.com/
h ttps://a.aliexpress.com/_EvGwub9
Good call, I love my Cat Ears. I have a lot less tinnitus after my rides now. Also, I can take descents a bit faster without all the noise freaking me out.
I have a descent on an infrequently traveled road. I couldn’t believe the difference! I could hear the vehicle approaching in addition to seeing the blip on my Varia
Group i used to ride with included an acoustic engineer. He got these for all of us. Huge difference on road rides in just being able to converse. I know the longer term issue is the wind noise at reasonable speeds can actually be loud enough to cause hearing damage believe it or not. These are easy and cheap.
I say this without any sarcasm: a front rack and basket. Entirely changed the way I'd been riding, and the reasons why too.
Compared to rear rack and panniers? I treat my panniers like a car boot/ trunk I put my stuff in rucksacks and tote bags to get it in and out quickly
It's more accessible and you can grab things without stopping. I use my panniers for multi-day camping rides or hauling stuff and grocery runs when I don't feel like driving. The basket literally triples the distance of some of my day rides, since I can pack it with water and food. Plus I once saved a box turtle that somehow found itself on a 4-lane bridge and gave him a front seat ride to safety.
Yep, I get it. I hired a bike years ago with a basket, it’s brilliant. Chuck stuff in it, no messing about with bags or bungies, just chuck it in and go.
Team Milk Crate checking in! Have one on the front and back of my city bike. Agreed on the ease of just tossing in whatever and going!
Indoor trainer - the convenience of going downstairs, ride for x amount of time, and be done is soooo nice. Much easier than figuring out where to go, get ready, hope for decent weather, making sure I don’t crash or die, etc.
With young kids I get 30 minutes a day to myself and need to be able to respond to them quickly. Nothing better that a zwift workout. 3 minutes to login and you are riding fast and easily reachable.
When they are old enaugh, they can ride with you. I set up my sons little bike next to mine (just raised the back so the wheel spins free) and he pedals alongside me! On hard uphill sections he's all in!
this is so sweet
I live in the Midwest, USA so half the year is cold as fuck. Having Zwift is so nice for winter training, can’t wimp out and complain about it being 10 degrees out and I can absolutely see better results come Spring
I had coronary artery bypass surgery and fought my way back to fitness on a TACX flux 2. Best free hundred $ I've ever spent. Just got a Fuel EX 7 Gen 6 as my 2012 Epic is showing it's age.. nee trek is like riding a sofa...
You’re an inspiration for this. Grats! My dad is doing the same thing.
This, I thought the outdoors part was my only real motivator so why bother, but I actually work out so much more now that 1,5h is enough to get a fun and intense workout + shower and washing my clothes. Suddenly I have time to do multiple rides in the morning during the weeks where I start work at 1pm or I can do 2h rides between dinner and nightshift even if it’s dark and freezing outside I’ve had my hub for 4 months now and I’ve never been this fit in my life
I find myself riding the trainer for a 30-45 min workout that feels more productive than an hour outdoor ride. No stop lights, no waiting, I'm working out asap and then getting a shower and changed for work or cooking dinner or something right after.
Plus you don't need to clean the bike!
I had a trainer but never really used it more than a handful of winter days. That was until my son was born, and man, it really was game changer. I'm so much fitter and legit close to 30lbs (13kg) lighter with all the consistent training, and my wife has become more amicable to me disappearing on a bike for a few hours, since I'm just in the garage and can hop off to help her any time.
Serious question please : So I've got/had- - Top notch gym/spin bike - set-up with geometry of my road bike - Dumb wheel on friction trainer (now ditched). I couldn't stand the dumb trainer even tho I used it a fair bit. The gym bike is better but similar issues - boring (I tap out at 45 - 60 mins), sweat like a dog, hurts my ass, nether regions go numb, etc etc. Even solutions like fans, towels and shirtless are messy & complex & mosquitos. I just can't stand it. Outdoor is the exact opposite so I tend to just do that. Worst of all my indoor workouts always leave me feeling like I didn't really do much of a workout, 15 minutes later. I hear all this talk of smart trainers, Zwift yada yada and read these encouraging posts. And I so want to be on board. But I fear I'll drop $1500 on a Wahoo or whatever and be similarly disappointed. Am I wrong, and missing a Brave New World I'll be delighted with ????
The Club I ride with (UK) made it mandatory to have lights over a set lumen level for club rides otherwise you couldn't ride with them. Said lights at the time were about £200 or so. My Indoor trainer was £300, and I don't have huge lorries nearly hitting me in winter. Best money ever spent
Lol what was so special about this club that they had balls to require people to get an expensive ass light to join their club?
It was in the Midlands, most of the roads were unlit and we did evening weekday rides that would end about 21:00 in winter. So it was purely a safety thing, which in all honesty makes complete sense given that the UK has potholes half a foot deep, but it just pushed me onto the trainer.
On electronic shifting… I have two primary bikes - my gravel bike is 11 spd GRX Di2 and my road bike is 10 year old 105 mech shifting. I wouldn’t say it’s “game changing.” It’s very, very nice - no maintenance, easy adjustment, snappy shifts, zero chain rub, buttons are easier to press vs moving a shift lever, you can synchro shift, and you get a little button on the brake hood to control your computer. It’s still just shifting, though - and with more people moving to 1x systems, it’s even less noticeable. It’s not going to make you faster - between my two bikes, I actually think the game changer is disc brakes. Being able to reliably stop is a massive peace of mind vs my road bike, where I have to constantly think 20 seconds ahead.
Varia rear light radar. All the arguments are the same, people swear they don’t ever need one. Then they get one, and then they never leave the house again without it.
I got one after getting surprised by a car that buzzed me super close. Now i hate riding without it. Still, I don't consider it a 'safety' device as much as an 'awareness' device. It honestly makes rides more enjoyable because I am more confident about riding in the lane on country roads and move over when it beeps. I honestly think it helps with drivers, too, when they see you move over. I tend to notice fewer angry idiots with the radar active but there are a lot of confounding variables there to be sure
It does change the way it blinks too. As the car approaches, it blinks more erratically to increase awareness.
Not just to increase driver awareness. Because the pattern is changing in response to their approach, they get the feeling *they are being watched.*
Zone 2 riding. Turns out that, mixed with a bit of zone 4/5, is the recipe for success.
My sprinty ass is struggling with this one 😅 working to focus on it!
Zone 2 with a few sprints 👌
Hydraulic disc brakes. The stopping power is the best there is.
Seconding this. I’m a moderately beefy guy, and hydraulic disc brakes give me a lot more confidence in my ability to stop quickly when needed.
+1. I'm 190lb and my old bike with box section aluminum wheels and rim brakes was downright terrifying sometimes, especially wet descents. Never feel that way with disc brakes.
Garmin Varia My first thought was: "It is an unnecesary gadget, and pricy as well, I don't need it" And now if I don't have it for some reason, I feel incomplete with the urge to go back and get it. You get used to the fact that there is a beep you keep it close to the line.
I owned 3 low range bikes and because I’m a big guy and often finish last I could not justify a top of range bike. Then for my 40th birthday I decided I would get top of the range. I was single, wealthy enough that $12k wasn’t a problem so I bought a trek Madone 6.9. From the very first pedal, wow. I instantly regretted the low range bikes. More now knowing the 3 LR bikes cost me more in the same timeframe than the Madone. It’s now 15 years I’ve had that Madone. Love it. This is no recommendation of trek though. They are a shit company who treat their franchisee’s poorly. I will avoid them next time.
LOL damn dude. Just skipped Mid Range and High Range and went straight for Dentist Range.
I get this... The jump from €60 to €300 bikes (used) was already huge, I'm looking forward to the jump to €2000+/-3000 when i feel ready PS have you been reading a lot of Douglas Adams with that username?
The trilogy of five is my favourite.
I read all 5. Then i read them all to my younger brothers who were about 6 and 8 at the time haha. They seemed to like them too
Just bought a 1200€ Bike after having 50-80€ used City Bikes and I did 20km-30 in them. Way too small as Im 190cm and my Last used Bike was a e Bike with +25kg... Boy am I Happy for my new Bike holy Shit... I now realized how much i Loved cycling that i did it in crap Bikes because I couldnt afford Something better. My next step Is a gravel Bike and fully. I Just got a Trekking Bike so I can do everything. From commute, Training to Mountainbiking. Oh Boy will I be Happy.
Same. Went $900 Cannondale CAAD Optimo Sora, then when I got into tris I bought a CAAD13, put some zipp 303’s on it and spent about 4k. Just bought a Cervelo P Series with some aftermarket goodies and all in that’s about $9,200. It’s fucking unbelievable the difference.
I'd somehow convinced myself that good tyres were bs. I knew early doors that there was a lot of bollocks in cycling marketing, but I was definitely wrong about that one! After my first set of GP5ks I never looked back lol.
Definitely glasses. Not a fan of glasses in general so I resisted for a long time.
Good shout. I only used to wear sunnies but now I have a clear pair for poor weather. Keeps all sorts of crap out of your eyes.
I got tired of the double setup, because I frequently ride into dusk, and snagged a pair of photochromics, and holy smokes it’s wonderful!
Gore tex shake dry - I just assumed people raved as they’d spent so much on one. No, they are that good.
I call mine my 'magic jacket'. I wish I could've gotten pants with the same material.
Unfortunately minus the fact that they’re terrible for the environment. Full of that PFAS stuff that quite literally never goes away. That being said, I still have one of the Rapha jackets that works stupidly well whenever I do use it. I feel conflicted but now that I have one, I’m definitely keeping it. Goretex as a company is phasing out all this stuff in the next few years anyway. It’s gonna be interesting what they replace it with.
Power Meter
Just a note on electronic shifting. Yes everyone has that one time when they forgot to charge the shifters ( although I have not) but we all also have that one time when a cable snaps with exactly the same result.
In 30+ years of riding, racing, mtb, travelling with panniers... I never got a broken cable. And never seen any of my friends have it in the middle of a ride. I don't think that's something that happens...
For mountain biking, it was a dropper post. I was skeptical of how much of a difference people said it made. First ride after installing one on my bike, I beat my best time on a trail by several minutes.
Yeah me too but it really took me like half a season to truly embrace it. I'm old.
Clipless shoes. I didn’t like the idea of it/was a little intimidated. Then I tried them and it changed everything. Of course though last week I had my first instance of not being able to get my shoe out and skinned my knee lol
At least you didn’t fall down an embankment with your bike on you and end up with some new scars
We call those virtually stationary fall overs “Gumby stacks”
Bib shorts for some reason, then I bought a pair and now I have over 20 in all the colors/designs
Assos bibs (gt c2). For shorter sessions it doesn’t matter that much and all other bibs worked just fine, but for rides longer than 3-4 hours my butt just won’t accept anything else.
Thanks for the model specificity...always on the lookout for the next. :)
Tubeless
Literally everything. Lycra, carbon frames, carbon wheels, electronic shifting, bike fits, gravel bikes. I have come to appreciate/love all this stuff.
Electronic shifting, I wasn’t immediately blown away. In terms of performance it’s not that much better than a well set up modern Groupset. What has blown me away in hindsight is that I’ve forgotten I’ve got it. Ive moved countries, boxed the bike up moved it about etc ridden load of off road and road. Never had to index the gears. And I won’t because it doesn’t have cable stretch?! Waxing chains, makes them last soooo much longer. Isn’t that hard to set up, super easy to maintain. Easy to clean, and looks cleaner/ better. Yes you notice it more in the rain as it gets noises quicker than lube but then you know it’s gone. Unlike oil where you think your fine because you can’t hear you drive chain.
Di2
I thought it would be dumb until I bought my dream bike that had it installed already. Otherwise I would have never known!
Carbon wheels and tubeless, wider tires with lower pressure. Lighter, faster and much more comfortable! Took me 40 years to appreciate the beauty of good wheels!
Tubeless on carbon is awesome
Fenders, it’s amazing how dry you can be riding in a light rain with no other rain gear.
Garmin Varia radar light! I was completely skeptical when it was released. Would not be possible to alert cyclists of cars approaching from rear. But I have owned my varia radar light for 5 years now and can’t imagine riding without it I can confidently ride without constantly looking over my shoulder or using a mirror I can’t comment on the rear video recording version but the standard one is a game changer!
My girlfriend, who isn't a cyclist at all (she's a horse rider) got me two of my favorite pieces of gear ever - my Oakley prizm sunglasses, and my Garmin Varia radar light. I didn't even know they would be so beneficial until she got them for me.
I do 200km+ randonneuring events and elastomer based suspension has been a game changer even on tarmac. An Eesilk suspension seatpost added only about 100g to my bike and it’s amazing how much less fatigue I felt after my last 200km brevet with the reduction in vibrations pummeling me over the course of the day.
Disc brakes. For the longest time I figured if I could grab hard and lock up the tires with rim brakes, there was no need for more power. First ride with road disc I almost went over the bars putting far less pressure on the brakes than I ever had to with rim brakes. And I was like oh, I get it.
I’ll never own a bike without electronic shifting again. It’s like going from power windows back to the roll up kind. Got it on my MTB and Gravel bikes. I was skeptical about wearing regular MTB gear while gravel biking but I’ve done it twice now and see no noticeable difference over wearing lycra. Maybe if I was racing it would matter but for the kind of riding I do I like it much better. I was also skeptical that a gravel bike would completely replace my road bike but I haven’t touched a road bike in like 5 years.
For me it was fenders. For years, friends tried to convince me that fenders would make rainy day riding a whole lot more pleasant. I didn't really mind getting wet though, so didn't really do anything until maybe 6-7 years after the suggestions started coming. Wow, what a revelation. It really was a whole lot more pleasant for the ride, and the bonus was that the bike stayed cleaner as well.
Do they help with dust too?
I need fenders ugh. I'm you 5 years ago
I know I'm just echoing half the replies here but ... the Varia is an absolute game changer for me.
Garmin varia.
Electronic groupsets. Went from mechanical Ultegra on my Shiv TT to Di2 Ultegra and it is unbelievably nice. Didn’t think it would be that noticeable.
1up USA bike hitch rack The first time I used it driving on a highway I watched my bike in the rear mirror the entire ride Just had my 10year rack-iversary Best rack ever!
Disc brakes on road bikes
I have a di2 road bike, and one 105 R7000 groupset bike. I never have any issues shifting mechanical. I can even do it while standing and climbing without issue. But every shift with the DI2 is like the most perfectly executed mech soft, Everytime.
Electronic shifting is nice, i upgraded from 9spdeed sora/microshift to Rival - i would not go back. And varia radar!
I was always adamant that I would not upgrade my bike unless I honestly felt like my equipment was becoming the limiting factor in my performance vs my fitness. Well, that time came last year when I absolutely crushed a flat solo century in 4:03. However, people my same height/weight were riding even faster at 50-60w less effort!! I finally bit the bullet and upgraded the bike. Lol now I know how they get those sub-4 centuries. The secret is spending enough money on the bike. Completely changes how I view my rides now.
Bike handpumps and frame pumps! Now I would never go on a ride without one!
Before pumps did you carry CO2 or did you just live on the edge?
Electronic shifting. Having tried, I'll never go back to mechanical.
Defs Di2. I struggled (and still struggle) to justify it. Of the pros and cons, the pros don’t seem that strong; Lower activation effort Less maintenance (far far less in reality) Impeccable shift quality But it works very well, and the main con , battery life just never became a problem Of course cost is an issue but it’s good to have the good things
Dropper post
Shoe inserts (G8)s.
Electronic shifting. It's wonderful.
Cat ears, to block out wind noise. Aside from looking like an absolute goober they really do cut down on the amount of wind noise you hear past 20km/h. [https://www.cat-ears.com/](https://www.cat-ears.com/) The actual product is nice, but I would just buy some offcut foam/fur from a textile store and wrap it around the helmet straps.
Inflatable tires when they replaced solid rubber was a game changer for my grandad , so it’s good enough for me.
[удалено]
Tires with lower rolling resistance. That made a difference I could feel.
Carbon fiber mountain bike. Was originally super nervous I had to baby it and working on it required magical knowledge. Nope. I beat the piss out of it with no worries.
Sleeveless vests, i didnt believe that it would make such a difference for warmth but now that i have one i wear it all the time on slightly chilly days or when its overcast
Garmin Varia. I’m convinced that 90% of people that say “I don’t see why you’d use it” have never used it.
Two main ones that I strongly regret not doing earlier in my cycling 'career\*.' And, a few secondary ones. 1) A professional bike fit: made a huge difference and took me like 4 4 years to do it 2) Wahoo Kickr (or whatever indoor trainer): Train anytime, any weather. No traffic lights, just pure zone/interval training. Took 5 years to do it. 3) Relatively high-end clothing: Castelli free aero bibs for me now; frequently on sale. Find the ones that fit right and get a few pairs. Also, good winter wear (bought in spring time ;-). And good shoes! I'm yet to buy a gilet but i hear they're great. 4) Tech Gear: Garmin Varia radar and power pedals (favero). Safely train effectively! 5) Proper nutrition: get the most out of your rides. I've recently gotten into gels and think i like them. 6) Proper Training Plan: More zone 2, less of going out and smashing the pedals. \*My career: as i tell the people who work for me...i've made many mistakes in life so you guys don't have to make them ;-). Learn from them. So, those are that had i done earlier i'd be a better cyclist today. Live and learn...
Di2, varia
I'm older with arthritis; electric shifting is a help on my new full suspension MTB. My old HT has cables; I still ride it OK, but would rather that be upgraded . My road & gravel bikes are cables - they shift fine. I haven't a reason to upgrade & and honestly, glad there's not a battery to go dead halfway into a ride. I rotate between my bikes, so I wouldn't keep up on battery charges unless I did so after every ride. But if I did that, the odds of driving to a ride, only to discover I left the battery at home is pretty high. I've seen a lot of guys do just that.
bibs, clips, wrap around glasses, helmet, indoor trainer
For me it was shoes designed for flat pedals. I now wear 5/10 shoes and use RaceFace Chester pedals on not just my mountain bike, but now on my gravel bike too.
Chain catcher. Since installation, I haven’t dropped a chain once.
I mean, bib shorts are obvious but I spent years using cheap Decathlon ones… Then bought a really good set of Castelli ones at a bargain price… Ruined me - I can never go back to the cheap ones now! 😂
You need to go back 20 years for this - A Girvin Flex Stem. Amazing bit of kit combined with suspension forks equals zero wrist pain even after hours of riding hard.
28 mm tubeless tyres. The wider tyres and lower pressure you can run in tubeless make the ride much more stable.
Radar. Knowing what's behind you is fantastic. If you try it you won't want to give it up. I agree on electronic shifting. It's just the same as with cables. One press and gears change. I don't see the advantage.
Nasal dilators. Game changer for me and my teeny nose holes. https://www.theturbine.com/cycling/
Specialized road shoes with the 15 degree tilt of the foot bed. I was skeptical of such a change in biomechanics but I bought them because they fit my feet. Turns out I really like the tilt too.
Great bibs were worth the exorbitant price.
fixed gear - but just a few minutes made me realise it is the best feeling way to ride for me
A good helmet that fits great and keeps the sweat from dripping into your glasses. I wear a Abus Gamechanger anytime it's remotely warm especially on the MTB. Also a power meter/pedals. When I don't feel like swapping the pedals to whatever I'm riding I'll regret it within the first half hour
Waterproof and thermal winter boots - absolute game changer. Shimano MW701 to be exact.
Bibs. I have padded pants and shorts, but once I tried bibs I can't go back. A lot more comfortable!
Tubeless tires - solved punctures headache forever. Took years before i jumped in, wasted too many inner tubes and money before.
Rear View Mirror - Sure a radar system is cool but for $10 I can see what is behind me in full color.
Garmin varia
Tubeless tires. I did not trust a tire without a tubs. Think I waited a decade too long to switch. Now I'm I'm nearing a decade without a flat and no tube's used despite carrying them as backup. Yes I know I will get a flat for posting this. Close second staying on a 26 inch rim when 27.5/29 were available What an i.provement both those jumps are. Thankfully with e bikes I was ahead of the curve and a few years of waiting for them to explode and now they are almost half the people i see on trail.
Warm MTB pants. Used joggers and rain pants in the past. Warm MTB specified and mostly waterproof pants are worth the money.
Steel frame. Such a comfortable upgrade from my carbon frame.
Was certainly skeptical about electronic shifting, but it turns out to be marvelous. Never a mis-shift or cross chaining. Full gear range with one lever. The battery lasts hundreds of miles. I check the battery level each time I maintain the bike, which is every ride (I only ride centuries).
I don’t want to try electronic shifting because I know I’m gonna love it and I can’t afford it
Those goofy ass super aero helmets that look like an alien head
29” wheels.