What cycle product has surprised you?

[Spiderweb]

SPD pedals from toe clips and straps. Nothing to be frightened of, easier to clip in and out than toe clips and you feel much more connected to the bike.

 

[Oldbloke]

A bottle of Slime which was proving difficult to get into the tube, so I forced it to the point that it "exploded" and decorated me and most of the surrounding area in dayglow goo.

 

[Jody]

Stans and tubeless kit for me. Great invention.

 

[User6179]

Kenda inner tubes, tried to fix a puncture in the sink and the valves fell out the tubes, not the cores but the whole valve stems.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

The poor quality (creaking/groaning) of my recent Trek purchase. First bike couldn't be sorted and nor could the replacement bike. A Trek will never darken my garage again.

No doubt there are masses of Treks out there that are 100% AOK but I had two duffers in a row and am disenchanted with the brand.

I was surprised!

 

[Thorn Sherpa]

Reynolds Steel frames and how comfortable the ride is even on roads that look like they've been bombed!

 

[Markymark]

My cycle cap. Definitely saved my life when I fell off.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Carbon fibre frames. Surprisingly overrated,as they're just the same feel and give the same ride as aluminium. Well that's my experience anyway.

 

[bpsmith]

Carbon handlebars. Soak up loads of vibrations. It's very subtle, until you ride in Alu bars again.

 

[Alan O]

A pair of cheap unbranded brake levers.

The lever flexed, the bit that holds the cable nipple popped out and - no brakes

A definite surprise. My pants nearly had a surprise too!

I got a pair of cheap levers from China a while ago. When they arrived they were so horribly nasty and bendy, I separated the plastic and metal parts and tossed them straight in the recycling bin - they were so obviously dangerous I wouldn't give them away to anyone.

 

[numbnuts]

My Trike, many miles and still smiling and no brown pants.........as yet

 

[tallliman]

I'll second the gilet for this. So useful and warm for so little material!

 

[AndyRM]

The Hövding airbag...

 

[SpokeyDokey]

My cycle cap. Definitely saved my life when I fell off.

@Markymark

That should be a 'starter for ten' in a Cycle Cap thread.

 

[Welsh wheels]

Armwarmers. I was surprised at how tight they are, even the larger sizes.