The Best $X You've Spent on Cycling

[MattTuck]

Pick the denomination, $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, or $100+. What was the thing you bought that has been the most valuable to you.

Difficulty, no Gabba Jerseys.

For me, it's gotta be the Specialized Floor pump I bought for $40ish bucks, back in the early 2000's. That thing is still going strong.

[Cicli]

I bought a Silca Pista pump at goodwill for $3.99.

[Lanternrouge]

It was about $350 and it was a NiteRider Digital Pro 12 and accompanying plug-in tail light that I bought on or about the day to fall back in the fall of 1999. It was my first year in the regular working world and it made such a difference being able to still get time on the road during the darkness of winter.

[Anarchist]

Probably this

http://www.xxcycle.com/moyeu-dynamo-av-a-dh3n80-3w-bloc-rapide-32t-36t,,en.php

Accompanied by this

http://www.xxcycle.com/busch-and-muller-cyo-premium-front-light-iq-tec-p-80-lux-1752qsndi-04,,en.php


and this

http://www.xxcycle.com/busch-and-muller-secula-rear-light-331-2ask,,en.php

[holliscx]

Definitely not Challenge tires

I've always been a fan of ultralight windshells that pack small in a jersey pocket. I've had two PI Pro Barrier Lite jackets that have been kit favorites.

Oakley shades probably rank up there

[Likes2ridefar]

Three pairs of Assos fi.uno s5 bibshorts on sale for $113 each close to ten years ago that are still going strong.

[jmoore]

The 2 professional fit sessions I've had are by far the best cycling money I've ever spent.

[Exonerv]

My $75 Rocket 7 shoes are pretty darn high on my list. Super light and amazingly comfortable.

[Daveyk]

selle anatomica saddle

[Geeheeb]

$10 fuji sagres at a rummage sale got it all started. the bike is long stolen, but it was my first, and cycling has changed my life for the better.

[Joachim]

Bike fit with a REAL good fitter

[ofcounsel]

My Spurcycle bell! I ride a lot of mtb trails where bikers co-exist with hikers. A nice bell is a must. And this bell has such a nice tone that it just brings me joy each time I use it. I ring it for just for the heck of it sometimes :)

http://www.spurcycle.com/products/better-bicycle-bell?variant=4768635973

[Louis]

The $125 I paid for a Nashbar Frame' AL frame. I have numerous other bikes, but that + the Kestrel EMS Pro fork I have on it are still my go-to combo for the vast majority of my rides.

[dougefresh]

Giro Empire VR90s are up there for me.

[coffeecake]

$15: Defeet Duragloves. I wear mine so much and they have held up for 4 years.


On the spendy side,

Rapha winter jersey, this one (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/62/c6/19/62c61992fcd055cc87d1f779e4298a15.jpg). I might get flamed, but I'm drinking the kool-aid on this piece. It is somehow perplexingly warm, breathable, and comfortable. And I've tried to make tons of jackets work.

[Steve in SLO]

$50 for a pair of used Sidi Genius shoes that are going strong at six years and counting.
Honorable mention to my Rapha classic bibshorts. No matter what the price, they would be a bargain.

[gdw]

Complete set, front and rear, of Avid Arch Supreme V brakes and Speed Dial Ultimate levers for $60. Beautifully made and they perform as well or better than many disc brakes in dry weather.

[paredown]

For me, it was the purchase of my Mercian while we were in the UK in 2001. Purchased on UK eBay, and I took the train up from London to Sheffield to pick it up. I think I paid 500 GPB...

And the best part--the young guy who sold it to me had a dad that raced the Milk Race BITD, so we got to talk about some hard men.

I had raced in the '70s, continued to ride a little, and eventually stopped riding for all intents and purposes, and that Mercian got me riding again, on a 'modern' bike in the best possible way--on a frame that felt like my old racing frame (531c instead of 531), Campy 8 speed.

[OtayBW]

(3) Selle Italia SLR Kit Carbonio Gel Flow saddles. Purchased at different times off of EB. Probably will be the last saddle I ever ride.

[Seramount]

both my favorites are high-dollar...$500+

Rx cycling glasses (Rudy Project)

DA C24s

[recoveryride247]

On the spendy side,

Rapha winter jersey, this one (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/62/c6/19/62c61992fcd055cc87d1f779e4298a15.jpg). I might get flamed, but I'm drinking the kool-aid on this piece. It is somehow perplexingly warm, breathable, and comfortable. And I've tried to make tons of jackets work.

backing you up on this one! i bought one on sale for $150 when Rapha were offloading previous season gear, and i've squeezed so much value out of it already.

also going to vouch for Rapha bibs. I held off for a few years, but finally caved for a pair of classic bibs, and they are hands down the best i have ridden in

[rustychisel]

tyres. the best I can ride.

in terms of bang for buck nothing comes close
in terms of technical requirements nothing comes close
in terms of transforming the feel of a bike nothing comes close

[john903]

I bought my Hampsten Cinghale at Seattle bike swap in 2008 for $325.00 frame, fork, Chris king head set. It is built up with Campy Chorus 10 Speed from January 2000 which I also got a smoking deal one to be a tester and write some reviews for. This bike is just right and I see me keeping this for a long time.

[PaMtbRider]

$$$$ on a Spectrum Ti for my wife. Her prior bike was a Trek 5200. The Spectrum made her fall in love with cycling. I can't think of a better deal then that.

[CampyorBust]

SMP Glider! I listened to a knowledgeable guy at a LBS years ago gave it a go over the Evo and Sratos, glad I did! Looks like it will need a re-finish in about a year or two. It used to be white and is slowly morphing into grey.

[batman1425]

Fit session with Chris at Bike Doctor in Waldorf, MD. Most comprehensive analysis I've had done and was the only person who could diagnose my pain and figure out how to correct it. Outstanding service and money well spent. Got me back on the bike pain free after struggling for 2 years.

[Tickdoc]

Easy. Of all of my cycling related purchases only one is what I consider "life affirming"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Handgod/B1072039-AB26-49F6-A5BD-F3FC39A38EF2_zpsib8dvsjx.jpg

[Bradford]

I have to cheat and call it a tie for me. The first was $450 I spent on a Nashiki Colorado in 1988 when I lived in Bloomington and couldn't afford a car. That reminded me how much I liked riding and I haven't stopped since.

The second was the $2,400 I spent on the Serotta Board classifieds to buy a Legend designed by the famous bike designer Dave Thompson, which fit me like a glove. That was 11 years ago and I still love every mile I put on it. I wonder what ever happened to that guy...I assume he's hiding a tequila still from the Federales somewhere and running his hooch to the cantinas in an old pickup at night.

[shovelhd]

Coaching at $150/month. When I was gunning for the National Championship, it was invaluable. Injuries and medical issues ended my career early, but with the help he gave me I still achieved great things on the national stage before it was all over.

[oldguy00]

Easy - Wahoo Kickr, using with TrainerRoad.

Regardless of price, it is the one thing that actually made me a better rider.

[don compton]

After years and years of trying to find the perfect ( racing) bike, I had finally had enough. One of my fellow club members had just purchased a Rivendell Romulus
bicycle. After a conversation with my friend I went to the Rivendell store and fortunately Grant Pedersen ( the owner ) was there. After a long conversation with Grant, I walked out with a new Rambouillet frame set.To be able to set the bars higher than most standard frame geometries has extended my riding. I may have quit riding if I had not met Grant.

[Jeff N.]

A Parlee Z1 I got off Ebay for $1300 several years back. A sleeper, apparently. -Jeff

[Johnny P]

A Bellwether winter cycling jacket that I bought years ago for $100 and can still use.

[weisan]

My custom Taylor.

[jmal]

Fit session with Chris at Bike Doctor in Waldorf, MD. Most comprehensive analysis I've had done and was the only person who could diagnose my pain and figure out how to correct it. Outstanding service and money well spent. Got me back on the bike pain free after struggling for 2 years.

Chris is a great guy and he runs an excellent shop. I haven't seen him in years as I moved away from MD.

[leftyfreak]

I have to cheat and call it a tie for me. The first was $450 I spent on a Nashiki Colorado in 1988 when I lived in Bloomington and couldn't afford a car. That reminded me how much I liked riding and I haven't stopped since.

The second was the $2,400 I spent on the Serotta Board classifieds to buy a Legend designed by the famous bike designer Dave Thompson, which fit me like a glove. That was 11 years ago and I still love every mile I put on it. I wonder what ever happened to that guy...I assume he's hiding a tequila still from the Federales somewhere and running his hooch to the cantinas in an old pickup at night.

And your purchase of the Legend led to my purchase of your IF Crown Jewel! $550 for the frame, fork, headset, stem and seatpost if I remember correctly. It's still the only road bike I've ever owned.

This goes hand in hand with the $75 I spent to have a fit with Ti Designs. In the process, I got a great fit that helped resolve some injury issues I was having, I learned to pedal a bike :D, and I gained a weekly riding partner and a great friend. Almost all of my best days on a bike have either been with him or a direct result of his teaching/coaching.

[merckx]

I don't know what I paid for them, but that is irrelevant because my Fizik shoes are priceless.

[Louis]

And your purchase of the Legend led to my purchase of your IF Crown Jewel!

We won't ever have enough info to be able to play this, but I'm sure we could do the "Seven degrees of separation" game for quite a bit of the bike stuff used by forumites.

[leftyfreak]

We won't ever have enough info to be able to play this, but I'm sure we could do the "Seven degrees of separation" game for quite a bit of the bike stuff used by forumites.

Frames might not be that hard to figure out, but do you think people would be honest about bibs?

[rounder]

I bought a CIII serotta off ebay for $700. First thing I ever bought off ebay. It arrived and was beautiful. Got excited and bought the parts to build it up off ebay.

[Tandem Rider]

I bought a tandem in about '92, no SO at the time, just helping a shop owner buddy who needed to make a minimum order. The next year I met Mrs TR, I've had a tandem partner since. Best investment ever.

[Llewellyn]

Easy. The frame that bears my forum name :hello:

[froze]

For me, it was the purchase of my Mercian while we were in the UK in 2001. Purchased on UK eBay, and I took the train up from London to Sheffield to pick it up. I think I paid 500 GPB...

And the best part--the young guy who sold it to me had a dad that raced the Milk Race BITD, so we got to talk about some hard men.

I had raced in the '70s, continued to ride a little, and eventually stopped riding for all intents and purposes, and that Mercian got me riding again, on a 'modern' bike in the best possible way--on a frame that felt like my old racing frame (531c instead of 531), Campy 8 speed.

Weird, that almost sounds like what I did. I went to London with my wife on a business/personal trip, we got a rental car and made a side trip to Derby where I "accidently" found the Mercian Cycles shop and I ordered one there which about 3 months later I got it at my house. This was in 2007. The Mercian people gave me a heck of deal on the previous years Campy Athena groupset for about 1/2 the price of what it sold for in the states.

I've had a lot of good buys, the list would be too long to bore people with here.

[thwart]

Either the E-motions that get me through every winter...

Or the Peugeot PX-10 that I just bought today for $300. :banana:

[19wisconsin64]

without a doubt buying my first set of "cleated" shoes was a game changer for me in 1983. so much better than running shoes.

the next game changer was buying a pair of lycra cycling shorts a few months later that year. i have no idea how i rode without them.

can't even remember what i paid those items in the way back time. well, way back time for me!



but...i do remember a kind fellow forum member selling me a HED Ardennes Wheelset in excellent condition for $400 a few years ago. magic carpet ride.

[FlashUNC]

Assos Summer Gloves at $75. Pricey at the point of sale, but five years later, they're still going strong with a lot of life left and I probably would have spent more than that replacing $25 gloves on a regular basis over that same period.

[bcroslin]

The 2 professional fit sessions I've had are by far the best cycling money I've ever spent.

this.

[regularguy412]

$1,045.00 for a new pair of Easton EC90SL 38mm carbon tubular wheels -- shipped. Caught them on close out online.

Life's too short to ride average wheels every day.

Mike in AR:beer:

[climbgdh]

My Pegoretti Duende..... Got a good deal on it too!!!:beer:

[Hawker]

Selle Anatomica saddle. Pain free riding for the first time in 35+ years of riding.

[zzy]

<$20: Defeet Woolie Boolie socks
<$100: Sidi Genius 3 Megas I got from Nashbar for $80. With molded insoles and 10k+ miles I can't image a better shoe.
<$500: Hand built CXP33s on DuraAce hubs. Took 8k+ miles of abuse before finally popping a spoke. Rode them until the brake track wore out.

[ajhapps]

$30 for an NYCC membership - learned some great bike skills in their SIG groups and made some life-long cycling friends

[Gordito]

I did not score crazy low prices on them but the three items that I have ridden the most and enjoyed the most were a San Marco Concor Light (50€ approx), a set of Campagnolo Neutrons (500€ approx) and a pair of Shimano Dura Ace 7800 pedals (175€ approx)

The best quality for buck available at that time (bought 10 years ago)

[sandyrs]

In the sub-$20 category, my best purchase so far has been embro from Mad Alchemy. Now I actually get excited to race in bad conditions (even if my equipment hasn't caught up yet).

In the $100+ category, I anticipate that a cross bike that can actually make it through a muddy race without a mechanical will soon become my best purchase in that price range!

[oldpotatoe]

About $35, plus some others..neck gaiters

[Tickdoc]

About $35, plus some others..neck gaiters

agreed. I have some turtle fur I bought up 2 for one one year up in those beautiful Colo. mountains that are just awesome.

It's a hat...it's a neck gaiter... it's a camera protector...you can put it on your dog....it's a travel pillow....it's a hand warmer....yada yada yada.

I could sell those things in a booth at a fair!

[OtayBW]

About $35, plus some others..neck gaiters

agreed. I have some turtle fur I bought up 2 for one one year up in those beautiful Colo. mountains that are just awesome.

It's a hat...it's a neck gaiter... it's a camera protector...you can put it on your dog....it's a travel pillow....it's a hand warmer....yada yada yada.

I could sell those things in a booth at a fair!
I don't know guys...If that isn't windproof, if doesn't do much for me. My winter jacket(s) have high collars that preempt the need for a neck gaiter....for me....

[Bob Ross]

Rx cycling glasses

Oh yeah, totally this^^^

[oldpotatoe]

I don't know guys...If that isn't windproof, if doesn't do much for me. My winter jacket(s) have high collars that preempt the need for a neck gaiter....for me....

VERY wind proof. I have some thin ones from Curve too. Called 'Pandana'.
Even on cold days I have to take it off cuz it's so warm.

That's Hendrik!! Owns Curve-great guy.

[Gsinill]

Have to mention two:


A Serotta CSi F/F/H that I bought from Gothard here on the forum.
It had a cracked dropout weld which I was able to fix (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=164837) including color matching/repainting the chain stay.
Having it shipped from Switzerland, not knowing whether I can fix it myself, and it finally turning out to be the best bike I own: very rewarding!

http://i62.tinypic.com/2mzb7si.jpg


My Matfield (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=151496) which I got for $400 off Craigslist. EL-OS frame, wonderfully built by a virtually unknown builder.
Upgraded it to 11s and now it's really up there with the CSi.

http://i61.tinypic.com/15e9qop.jpg

[AngryScientist]

maybe sounds silly, but my garmin-800.

i am TERRIBLE with directions, and having a gps map right in front of me to load routes into and follow has allowed me to explore lots of new and fun places without the stress of keeping track of where i am in my head, which never worked well. a "game changer" for me.

[zap]

Our tandems.

[crashnburn]

Merino socks to keep my stubby foot/toes warm this fall/winter.

[Schmed]

The cheap single speed 29er rigid that I found on Craigslist. Simple fun, and it's helped my strength, not being able to shift!

[sandyrs]

maybe sounds silly, but my garmin-800.

i am TERRIBLE with directions, and having a gps map right in front of me to load routes into and follow has allowed me to explore lots of new and fun places without the stress of keeping track of where i am in my head, which never worked well. a "game changer" for me.

Not silly, that was a huge one for me as well. I can't count it as money spent though, because it was a gift!

[downtube]

$2200- Colnago C40 HP in 2009. It was the bike that got me back into riding after a 20 year hiatus. It has been a game changer for my wife and I. She saw how much fun I was having and wanted to get her own bike. We have ridden together like kids ever since. Vacations, events and adventures up and down the state. We aren't particularly fast but we just keep riding. My wife is now 64 and I am 60, we love nothing better than going out for rides every weekend Heck, not long ago my wife road an 85 mile event one day and then we did a 75 mile ride the next day. None of this would have happened if I hadn't found that C40. I will never part with that bike. I would like to thank all of you for this site which provides a lot of good advice, information and encouragement.
chuck

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/10972417144_5b63c6f8d3_z_d.jpg

[texbike]

While in college in the early 90s, I was fortunate to find a listing for a 10-year-old Cinelli frame/fork on a "for sale" board (remember those???) at a local grocery store. The price? $75! I put it together with a bunch of random, older Campy parts that I could afford on a student's budget. The bike rode incredibly! So smooth and precise.

After riding Cannondales and a few other bikes, that Cinelli opened my eyes to what life could be like with a sweet, European steel machine. It established my love of traditional Italian bikes and became a benchmark for me. The best $75 I've spent! :)

Texbike

[moose8]

The fitting I got at fitwerx.

[AngryScientist]

While in college in the early 90s, I was fortunate to find a listing for a 10-year-old Cinelli frame/fork on a "for sale" board (remember those???) at a local grocery store. The price? $75! I put it together with a bunch of random, older Campy parts that I could afford on a student's budget. The bike rode incredibly! So smooth and precise.

After riding Cannondales and a few other bikes, that Cinelli opened my eyes to what life could be like with a sweet, European steel machine. It established my love of traditional Italian bikes and became a benchmark for me. The best $75 I've spent! :)

Texbike

still got it tex?

[texbike]

still got it tex?

It's long gone, unfortunately. I stupidly sold it about 10 years ago. My wife told me that I'd regret it. Perhaps I should have listened to her... :(

Texbike

[echelon_john]

$300 for a one-way ticket to Seattle to start a cross-country ride.

We hatched the idea on New Year's morning 1994, and hit the road in June. Underprepared, overpacked, and too stupid to care. One of the best experiences of my life.

[guido]

$300 for a one-way ticket to Seattle to start a cross-country ride.

We hatched the idea on New Year's morning 1994, and hit the road in June. Underprepared, overpacked, and too stupid to care. One of the best experiences of my life.

Nice!

[soulspinner]

My Sidi shoes.

[thwart]

$2200- Colnago C40 HP in 2009. It was the bike that got me back into riding after a 20 year hiatus. It has been a game changer for my wife and I. She saw how much fun I was having and wanted to get her own bike. We have ridden together like kids ever since. Vacations, events and adventures up and down the state. We aren't particularly fast but we just keep riding. My wife is now 64 and I am 60, we love nothing better than going out for rides every weekend Heck, not long ago my wife road an 85 mile event one day and then we did a 75 mile ride the next day. None of this would have happened if I hadn't found that C40. I will never part with that bike. I would like to thank all of you for this site which provides a lot of good advice, information and encouragement.
chuck

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/10972417144_5b63c6f8d3_z_d.jpg
Cool story, lovely bike.

[Raffy]

$99/yr for TrainerRoad

[d_douglas]

I bought my buddy's ti Redline CX frame and King HS for $300 about 10 years ago. I used it 4x/week to commute on, not to mention previous incarnations with knobby tires on muddy trails.

When I bought my ti Desalvo a few years ago, I had some pangs of regret after receiving it, not because it wasn't totally awesome, but because my Redline did most of the same things nearly as well for $300!

On the note of a part that was well worth it - King headsets. I have only bought one NEW in my life, but all my bikes have them and they just seem to work perfectly without any attention being drawn to them. They are always available on the forum for $75 or so dollars - seems like a no-brainer to me.

[gaucho753]

The best $100 I spent was for this used Burley Piccolo trailer. Countless miles of quality father-daughter time. Plus, it's enabled me to continue commuting by bike since I use it to pick her up from school each day. :)

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab69/gaucho510/CiloPacer/IMG_1755_zpss2n0z4ra.jpg

The best $500 (more like $450 if I recall correctly) was for my LOOK frameset--original owner since '87 and still the bike I enjoy riding most.

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab69/gaucho510/LOOK%20Equipe%20Bernard%20Hinault%20Reynolds%20753/IMG_5957_zpsec3f59d9.jpg

[kppolich]

Best $20.00 or less -Chamois Butt'r
Best $50.00 -Used Skin Suit
Best $100.00 - Adamo Saddle
Best $300.00 - Sidi Wire
Best $500.00 - P2M Power Meter with Rotor Crank

[climbgdh]

$300 for a one-way ticket to Seattle to start a cross-country ride.

We hatched the idea on New Year's morning 1994, and hit the road in June. Underprepared, overpacked, and too stupid to care. One of the best experiences of my life.

Love it.... Been there done that ..... except in my case it was coast to coast in Canada. And it was in 1994 as well. Can't remember how the plan was hatched but I expect multiple beer were involved. :beer:

[Tony]

Thomsom dropper seatpost. A game changer, use it almost as much as I shift! Well made, most reliable dropper available.

[jlwdm]

My first custom bike in 2007 - Serotta Nove with Record. $10k In 8 years I have never thought about getting rid of it. Stock frames did not work for me.

Jeff

[thwart]

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab69/gaucho510/LOOK%20Equipe%20Bernard%20Hinault%20Reynolds%20753/IMG_5957_zpsec3f59d9.jpg
Speaking of screen savers...

That is glorious.

[Steelman]

$350 for NOS Basso Loto SLX frame/fork, on eBay.

Turned out to be favorite all time frame among: Vitus, Colnago, DeRosa, Tommasini, Rossin, and other Basso.

[SpokeValley]

No question...the $1100 I spent for a pristine Legend Ti f/f/hs from a forumite. No other purchase has come close to matching the enjoyment.

[LegendRider]

Airfare to France. Galibier, Alpe d'Huez, Croix de Fer, etc.

[pdmtong]

This thread has turned into let's post the "best bargain" we have made on cycling stuff rather than, as I had read the post, and I could be waaaaaay off, what is money spent that really made a difference to you in your cycling life.

I guess it is just me, but I was hoping to read more a-ha's from dollars spent (to perhaps inform my future dollars spent) rather than "look at lucky me, I scored an ottrott from a widow on CL for $400".

Now, get off my lawn!

[weisan]

Now, get off my lawn!

I agree with philips dupont magnetics pal.

[carlineng]

I spent $400 on a mountain bike clinic (Lee McCormack from Boulder) and it completely changed the way I ride mountain bikes. Gave me way more confidence and control going down steep, technical trails. Something that $400 worth of gear would never have been able to achieve -- $400 worth of wheels, suspension, drivetrain isn't much...

[PaMtbRider]

Thomsom dropper seatpost. A game changer, use it almost as much as I shift! Well made, most reliable dropper available.

I keep seeing comments like this about dropper seat posts. Makes me think I really need to try one.

[thunderworks]

By a wide margin . . .the money spent to take my wife, son and his girlfriend to Tuscany to ride with the Cinghiale tour company.

[Peter P.]

Stems and saddles on eBay. Unfortunately for retailers, the used market for these parts is very lucrative for the buyer. I pay well under 50% of new for two bike components which are usually up for sale for something other than they're worn and old. I've been very happy.

[Hawker]

$2200- Colnago C40 HP in 2009. It was the bike that got me back into riding after a 20 year hiatus. It has been a game changer for my wife and I. She saw how much fun I was having and wanted to get her own bike. We have ridden together like kids ever since. Vacations, events and adventures up and down the state. We aren't particularly fast but we just keep riding. My wife is now 64 and I am 60, we love nothing better than going out for rides every weekend Heck, not long ago my wife road an 85 mile event one day and then we did a 75 mile ride the next day. None of this would have happened if I hadn't found that C40. I will never part with that bike. I would like to thank all of you for this site which provides a lot of good advice, information and encouragement.
chuck

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/10972417144_5b63c6f8d3_z_d.jpg

Great looking bike. Happy to hear that you and your wife have found a shared passion....important as we enter the geezer years. :)

[93legendti]

I have Defeet wool arm warmers, knee warmers and gloves that are over 10 years old, have gotten tons of use and are still going strong. They weren't expensive and look almost brand new.

[Repack Rider]

Long sleeve Italian jersey, lined, $5 at thrift store.

2 pair bib shorts, $6 each at thrift store.

Another Italian jersey, $5 in thrift store.

French jersey with "Alpe d'Huez" logo, too small for me so I gave it to a friend, $5 in thrift store.

[Joachim]

Buying Ari's Speedvagen and getting a Kirk JKS-X.

[leftyfreak]

Buying Ari's Speedvagen and getting a Kirk JKS-X.

Nice combo! How would you compare the two? Was the Kirk a custom for you?

[Joachim]

Nice combo! How would you compare the two? Was the Kirk a custom for you?

Yes, it was. The Speedvagen just happen to fit me perfectly but it was custom for someone else. They both ride very very similar. Not sure I'll be able to detect a different in a blind test. I think that speaks volumes about the quality of botj builders.

[wc1934]

It's long gone, unfortunately. I stupidly sold it about 10 years ago. My wife told me that I'd regret it. Perhaps I should have listened to her... :(

Texbike
Your wife tells you to KEEP a bike and you don't listen to her - yikes!!

[Jaq]

$50 for a pair of used Sidi Genius shoes that are going strong at six years and counting.

Ditto, though I got mine for 75 and have only had 'em for 4. And I suppose we're just talking about accouterments, but I have to say, a couple years back I grabbed a Fuji Feather off Craigslist for 250, and it's been a godsend of a bike. Hugely fun to ride, I can thrash it a bit without worry, and single-speed in the winter does actually seem to pay big dividends in the spring.

[Spinner]

... is the best money that I have spent on cycling. It truly does change the behavior of motorist.

My life is worth considerably more than the $190 price of the Quad.

Cheers.

[Tony]

I keep seeing comments like this about dropper seat posts. Makes me think I really need to try one.

Before the dropper seat height was always a compromise, too low for climbs, too high for technical trails, way too high for down hill sections. Now I can have my seat height in optimal position at any time on the fly. Make a huge difference if your riding technical trails!

[scrubadub]

The best $100 I spent was for this used Burley Piccolo trailer. Countless miles of quality father-daughter time. Plus, it's enabled me to continue commuting by bike since I use it to pick her up from school each day. :)

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab69/gaucho510/CiloPacer/IMG_1755_zpss2n0z4ra.jpg



This. Just finished installing one. The kids are fighting over it - hopefully this keeps up and I can justify a Comotion Periscope to pull the Piccolo and ride with both kids at once.

[fiataccompli]

I'd say wool anything fits the bill for me. I got back into serious cycling with a retro-modern (mid 80s frame, early 2000s group) Bertoni Professionale for around $400 & a road trip. Actually seemed like a lot at the moment, but it fully rekindled my connection to cycling and appealed to my love of Classic Italian road bikes.

A good set of Krietler rollers from a local racer for $75 was a good one also, though many times that spent more recently for a slightly used e-motion roller setup was perhaps on par.

Pro bike fit certainly ranks somewhere in the mix too.


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[velotrack]

I guess it is just me, but I was hoping to read more a-ha's from dollars spent (to perhaps inform my future dollars spent) rather than "look at lucky me, I scored an ottrott from a widow on CL for $400".

Now, get off my lawn!

no doubt about it - i came into the thread thinking the same. but there's a healthy share of both here, i think.

[rugbysecondrow]

The 2 professional fit sessions I've had are by far the best cycling money I've ever spent.


Agreed. Smiley is the man!


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[fuzzalow]

The best money I've ever spent on cycling isn't from getting a steal on a bike, which I have never gotten anyway. It is from entr馥 to the entire virtual manifestation of cycling reality found on the web. And for me, that pretty much mean here in Paceline because there isn't all that much in cycling I find all that interesting. So a lotta bike stuff on the web I never see. But the blokes that make up the characters and personas, real and contrived, in this place are a source of fascination.

http://images.tweaktown.com/content/6/9/6955_999_supermicro-x10dax-intel-c612-workstation-motherboard-review_full.jpg

I had my home computer die recently. I despise typing into an iPhone and I loathe the inadequacy of an iPad to create content. So I hadda build a new workstation. Bought a Supermicro X10DAC. Yeah it's overkill. But it's my portal to here. So that there is the best money I've spent on cycling.

[bikingshearer]

For me, it's the $60 or $70 I spent in 1973 to by a "bike boom" special. You know the type: nondescript cottered cranks, cheap Weinmann side-pull brakes, gas pipe frame; steel SunTour derailleurs (now those worked great), 27x1-1/4 nondescript tires, wing nuts on the front wheel, regular nuts on the rear. It was in the same class as a Peugeot UO-8. It was branded "Benotto" with the same downtube decal the top-drawer Benottos sported (God only knows what role, if any, Mr. Benotto played in its creation - I suspect somewhere between "minimal" and "none") and some guy was selling them, new in the box, out of his garage, in a neighboring town. I talked my Dad into driving me over, and I thought hard about the purchase (hey, that was a lot of dough to a 15 year old, at least to this one, in 1973) but finally pulled the trigger. A couple of my friends had caught the bug from their fathers, and I wanted in, too.

That was the start for me. Everything about cycling and my love of it started then.

[Repack Rider]

The other day I was on a mountain bike ride, and I realized that I was wearing:

Jersey, thrift store $5.

Italian long sleeve warm-up jersey, thrift store, $5.

Bib Shorts, thrift store $6.

Cargo shorts my wife bought at some thrift store, $?

Helmet, a gift from a friend at the helmet company.

$250 shoes.