What piece of cycling kit/gear is not essential but has enhanced your experience enough not to ever go back?

[hexakhwab]

Obviously we need the bare essentials, bike, helmet and cycling wear, I am asking about kit/gear that we can get by without, but has enhanced your experience so much that you'll never go back. Let's leave clipless pedals out of the discussion as we can obviously live without just using flat pedals, but we all know they are a game changer.

You can include clothing, components, bike tech, essentially anything you take on your ride that enhances the experience of that ride. It would be interesting to know why also.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Padded cycle shorts.

P. S. Welcome to the forum, pop into the say Hello thread and tell us a out yourself.

 

[novocaine]

AI assisted narration on all my journeys.

 

[markoc]

In terms of modern mtb, dropper posts have been an absolute game changer.

Modern rear mechs with clutches; say goodbye to chain slap.

Regarding retro - sounds silly, but helmet peaks (Troy Lee et al) made a big difference to comfort.

Shimano hyperglide and rapidfires.

DX thumbies

 

[Woz]

David, we need you.

 

[Imlach]

Hiking boots

 

[Imlach]

AI may save forums as we finally have something to talk about. They're better questions than I could come up with.

Maybe humanity is doomed.

 

[CassidyAce]

Does cake count as cycling kit? Certainly gives me a performance boost.

 

[fettler]

Don't get me wrong, I regularly ride canti's, V's and Magura's but for anything not related to rose tinted glasses/bicycles then it would be disc brakes. Far more and longer lasting power, minimal maintenance and ability to ride with wobbly wheels.

 

[2manyoranges]

...weirdly enough, carbon bars. They indeed are not essential but for their dampening properties, strength and low weight, they are damned fine.