Cycling guilty pleasure purchase?

[bicycletricycle]

That $36 dollar inner tube got me thinking. What cycling stuff do I buy that even I think is a little ridiculous. For me it is Nitto water bottle cages. When I first saw them I thought the idea of a $70 dollar cage was ridiculous. King stainless cages are all a person could ever desire IMO. Why would anyone ever waste their money on those I thought.

Well, it turns out I do. I really like the touring version and I think I own 5 pairs of them. Still seems a little silly but I really like them.

Runner ups-
$40 Merino underwear
$7000 dollar bicycles
$200+ dollar campy carbon aero levers

What bicycle stuff do you guys buy that still seems a little ridiculous when you do it?

[NHAero]

The Agave Finishworks King Ti cage anodized rainbow finish for $80 to match the wheels on the Firefly with Pillar rainbow anodized spokes. And after many years of riding XT and Ultegra, fitting out the Firefly and the Strong with Dura Ace. Maybe also six Spurcycle Frankenbells?

I'm waffling about including the Assos Zegho G2 sunglasses because they were very briefly $199 for some inexplicable reason at Bike Closet instead of the usual $429 price. By far the best glasses I've ever had. I carry the hard case if I know I am stopping on a ride because I can't picture spending $400 to replace them, the $200 was by far the most I have spent on sunglasses.

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

That $36 dollar inner tube got me thinking. What cycling stuff do I buy that even I think is a little ridiculous. For me it is Nitto water bottle cages. When I first saw them I thought the idea of a $70 dollar cage was ridiculous. King stainless cages are all a person could ever desire IMO. Why would anyone ever waste their money on those I thought.

Well, it turns out I do. I really like the touring version and I think I own 5 pairs of them. Still seems a little silly but I really like them.

Runner ups-
$40 Merino underwear
$7000 dollar bicycles
$200+ dollar campy carbon aero levers

What bicycle stuff do you guys buy that still seems a little ridiculous when you do it?

[kppolich]

Extra eTap battery, Rapha Cargo Bibs, CeramicSpeed grease.

[Toddtwenty2]

Buying the titanium railed Berthoud Aravis vs the steel railed Aspin always makes me feel a pang of guilt at the extra expense for something that still isn’t particularly light…. But, I still do it and thoroughly enjoy the saddles.

[ERK55]

Well uhhh…was looking at Cane Creek eewings crank arms. Cost about a g-note.
Of course, you’ll still need to buy a spider, chain rings, and bottom bracket. Figure another $300 or so.

[weisan]

eTap, Nagasawa track bike

Those are the only two I can think of.

[wallymann]

colnago lugged carbon #2 and #3.

classic steel bike #2 and #3 and #4.

[nspace]

Spending more on a Hirame pump head than I did on the entire pump. But it feels so nice to squeeze closed when you have the clamping pressure set perfect.

[yarbsr02]

Originally Posted by nspace

Spending more on a Hirame pump head than I did on the entire pump. But it feels so nice to squeeze closed when you have the clamping pressure is set perfect.

+1 for that pump head. Feels ridiculous to purchase but has been worth every cent.

[saab2000]

Dura Ace or Record vs their less expensive counterparts. I ride DA and 105. The difference is there but minuscule. DA isn’t needed but it’s fun. Same when I had Record from Campagnolo. Love them both vs their less fancy brethren. Guilty pleasures.

On the other side, Veloflex never felt like a guilty pleasure. They were simply better than the rest.

[Coffee Rider]

Mine is acquiring stuff I don't really need, mainly in the form of bikes and frames. I've decided that collecting is a hobby onto itself as a form of rationalization.

[yarg]

Searched for a long time for a ti serotta seat post clamp, found one for $90 and didn't hestitate.

[RudAwkning]

Really nice tools that I may only ever use a handful of times.

[Likes2ridefar]

I just received a $30 tire plug kit concealed in a look a like c02 cartridge - from the Netherlands.

[Waldo62]

Well yeah, custom frames, but my real guilty pleasure is headlights. I just can't get my fill of lumens and more and more lumens.