Greatest cycling invention of the last 25 years?

[ebikeerwidnes]

Don't know about the best cycling item but one I really rate and wouldn't be without is the bar end mirror. Absolutely awesome bit of kit.

This is the one I have, utterly brilliant. Doesn't scratch as it's glass, don't vibrate etc.

https://www.italianroadbikemirror.com/ItalianRoadBikeMirrorWorldwide.html

I agree
never though a bar end mirror would be worth it
but I was buying something and it was cheapest on one of those sites with free delivery if you order over £x
so I added a cheap one on to try it

It is a very cheapo one - but works fine and I would not like to ride without it now - I find it a lot safer than looking over my shoulder
and I can see more easily

 

[Dogtrousers]

Not the past 25 years, but no older than a whole load of other things suggested above ... Quick Links.

In the 70s when I started playing with bikes the only way I knew how to break and re-join a chain was using a nail punch to drive a rivet out and then to use a hammer to peen the rivet over when re-joining. I think I may have bought a chain tool around then too. Anyway it took skill and mechanical sympathy, neither of which I have. There may have been a better way but my mentor Richard Ballantyne didn't tell me about it in his book.

Anyway, around 1980 or thereabouts I saw an advert in the CTC magazine for something called a Super-Link or some such. So I sent off for one. It was like a modern quick link - almost. There were two "rivets" permanently attached to one plate, that had threaded holes along their length. You screwed the other plate on with little screws. No more bashing and peening, or subtle fiddling with a chain tool. What bliss.

Now that those weird Shimano snap-off rivets seem to have gone away it seems that the victory of the quick link is complete.

 

[Drago]

I agree
never though a bar end mirror would be worth it
but I was buying something and it was cheapest on one of those sites with free delivery if you order over £x
so I added a cheap one on to try it

It is a very cheapo one - but works fine and I would not like to ride without it now - I find it a lot safer than looking over my shoulder
and I can see more easily

Not a fan, personally. As with cars, unless the user is properly trained and drtilled they simply become a substitute for proper obs. It's human nature, and the loudest protests to the contrary don't change that.

 

[Binky]

Not a fan, personally. As with cars, unless the user is properly trained and drtilled they simply become a substitute for proper obs. It's human nature, and the loudest protests to the contrary don't change that.

Try one they are superb. Saves looking over shoulder so super easy to do even at speed so particularly useful downhill.
I still make a quick glance back on occasion but I'd say 95% time no need as vision perfect just by a quick glance down.
So much better and becomes 2nd nature. Can't recommend highly enough.

No idea what you are getting it with loudest protests etc.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Try one they are superb. Saves looking over shoulder so super easy to do even at speed so particularly useful downhill.
I still make a quick glance back on occasion but I'd say 95% time no need as vision perfect just by a quick glance down.
So much better and becomes 2nd nature. Can't recommend highly enough.

No idea what you are getting it with loudest protests etc.

I'd like to propose bling bar end plugs - Hope:

Mirrors might be great, but no way is mere safety and visibility more important than style. We have blue and gold stoker and pilot to match the two tone paint job on the tandem.

Even more excitingly, self extracting crank bolt covers can be had from Middleburn. Again, we have matching gold and blue for pilot and stoker.

This is where the true invention is in cycling in the last 25 years!

 

[Saracenlad]

I am 82 this coming Sunday, my answer would be my Bike Assist. Best thing I have ever bought.