What are your best 3 cycling purchases?

[gavroche]

1 my bikes
2 the shed I had to build to house all my equipment and bikes.
3 garmin 200.

 

[Aravis]

I have to echo the Garmin Edge 200. Never missed a beat. Even though it's about to be replaced, as long as it breathes it will always find a place on my bike.

Secondly, a pair of £3 gloves I found in Asda some time last year. I don't know if they're intentionally designed for cycling, but they have reinforcement on the palms which works perfectly. Warm as toast in the coldest weather, but not waterproof at all - remember the price! When I next go out in serious rain I'll be testing a pair of Aldi lobsters.

But way out in front, the Flying Fortress saddle, £61 from Halfords. A design classic; nowadays I can't imagine sitting on anything else.

 

[tyred]

1. Brooks saddle
2. Dynamo lighting
3. Carradice panniers

 

[Reynard]

1) Wiggins Rouen 650 road bike
2) Cygolite Dart front light
3) Cold weather / windproof cycling gear

 

[I like Skol]

Difficult one because there are so many! Tools have to be high up there including a cheap little spoke key I bought around 25 years ago and has built dozens of wheels since, but counting that in the top 3 would be far too serious.

1. GT hybrid bike. Has become my default ride and covered many thousands of happy miles of commute and leisure riding.
2. Foska 'crash test dummy' yellow cycle shirt. Makes me smile every time I put it on.
3. Shimano SPD shoes and pedals, anything else just isn't right. I feel one with the bike but can comfortably walk about off the bike.

I could easily list a top 10 or top 20 but that wasn't the question was it?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Garmin Edge 1000

Disc brake road bikes

Tacx Neo trainer

 

[Blue Hills]

Can I ask which Shimano shoes? After having at least a couple of "flashier" ones fail through over adventurous design and "modern materials" I really rate Shmano's old-fashioned fabric shoes. Near indestructible. I expect them to last until the soles go.

 

[Blue Hills]

Shimano pd-m324 combination pedals

Yes great near perfect pedals for day to day cycling - apart from the fact that to service them you need a tool costing as much as the pedals. Do you have it? I keep waiting for Shimano to do a sensible minor redesign of the pedal but I don't think they will so I will I think have to bite the bullet/nut and get the tool.

 

[I like Skol]

Can I ask which Shimano shoes? After having at least a couple of "flashier" ones fail through over adventurous design and "modern materials" I really rate Shmano's old-fashioned fabric shoes. Near indestructible. I expect them to last until the soles go.

Had the M038 for many years and they are damn near indestructible. Still perfectly functional except for the lining around the heel starting to disintegrate (however, I have had them so long I can't even remember how long that is, could be 10 yrs!)

Now replaced with a pair of MT71 gore tex lined and with a vibram sole. The closest thing to a 'normal' shoe I have ever cycled in.

 

[Ice2911]

Yes great near perfect pedals for day to day cycling - apart from the fact that to service them you need a tool costing as much as the pedals. Do you have it? I keep waiting for Shimano to do a sensible minor redesign of the pedal but I don't think they will so I will I think have to bite the bullet/nut and get the tool.

No tool at the moment for servicing but hoping they won't need servicing for quite a while. Saw you were asking about shimano shoes. Here are mine, I really like them as feel ok when walking off the bike as well.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Brompton
Dynohub lighting
£12 Decathlon barbag

 

[WelshJon]

Campag Zonda wheel upgrade with gp4000s tyres - feels like a different bike.
Garmin edge 520 - does everything I want and much more.
Track pump.

Honourable mentions to dhb areon race bib shorts. Fell apart before I replaced them

 

[Blue Hills]

4

Had the M038 for many years and they are damn near indestructible. Still perfectly functional except for the lining around the heel starting to disintegrate (however, I have had them so long I can't even remember how long that is, could be 10 yrs!)

Now replaced with a pair of MT71 gore tex lined and with a vibram sole. The closest thing to a 'normal' shoe I have ever cycled in.

Snap skol. Just checked and those are exactly the same as mine. Must have had well over 12 years. I suppose, cycling being what it is these days they have discontinued them??????

Can't have folk buying simple well made durable stuff.

 

[I like Skol]

4

Snap skol. Just checked and those are exactly the same as mine. Must have had well over 12 years. I suppose, cycling being what it is these days they have discontinued them??????

Can't have stuff buying simple well made durable stuff.

Lol! I got to a point where I was having trouble unclipping. I assumed it was worn pedals and lubed them which helped a bit. But the problem soon returned. When I eventually investigated properly I found that my occasional foot down at the traffic lights and what little walking I had done in the last decade had worn the cleats almost to a knife edge and once replaced the shoes were as good as new

 

[Blue Hills]

Lol! I got to a point where I was having trouble unclipping. I assumed it was worn pedals and lubed them which helped a bit. But the problem soon returned. When I eventually investigated properly I found that my occasional foot down at the traffic lights and what little walking I had done in the last decade had worn the cleats almost to a knife edge and once replaced the shoes were as good as new

Yes, my cleats are worn. Will have to drill them out I think. Truly a sign of a good shoe when they outlive the metal stuff. Anyone know if they, or something very similar, are still available?