What’s the best upgrade or bike component you have purchased in the last 12 months

Switched to 1x on my XC bike using a Garbaruk 10-48 on my M8000 drivetrain. Who needs 12-speed with 11 like this! :sunglasses:

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This is such a great topic…I love hearing about bits of gear :+1:

This tough to answer because I got a custom built bike this year…which is just as obnoxious as it is awesome. But as for the individual pieces of gear, I would have to say either…

…44cm Thomson Carbon handlebars not only are they super lightweight, fantastic bars, but I can’t believe how much going from 42 to 44 improved my on bike comfort. Or…

…Bontrager flare daytime running light. Not only is it actually safer, it makes me feel more confident and safer while riding during the day.

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Best for me was doing a bike fit. With new insoles /shims, slightly wider saddle, shorter pedal axles, and an adjusted position, after about a month of adaptation the knee pain is gone.

Also awesome - “daytime running lights” for my commuter. Replaced front wheel with one with a Shutter Precision dyno hub, plus Supernova lights - never have to remember to charge the anything and I get a “bonus” 5W training load.

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Redshift shockstop suspension stem for my cyclocross bike. I felt like it has helped take the sting out of some of the rougher CX courses in my area, and as a result my hands, wrists, and elbows haven’t been as sore the day after the race (I’ve had a past wrist injury that never healed 100%). I might look into their seatpost as well to see if will help with my lower back being tight and sore the day after.

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The Power2Max NGEco which got me into power-based training and subsequently into TrainerRoad.

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I’m looking into this as a Christmas present. How did you decide the shape? I’ve never ridden on tri bars before so not sure which will suit.

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From a bike perspective wend wax Link. Not the effort of a proper waxed chain but keeps so clean, runs smoothly and really low effort to maintain vs cleaning and re-lubing.

From a training perspective adding ethernet to the shed, no longer trying to get wifi to get TV to watch while training has saved me probably 10 mins per workout

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TRS Plus 12 speed conversion kit.

I converted my 11 speed XO drive train on my Niner RKT 9 RDO with this kit. Added a lot of range with the 9 - 46t cassette and still have pretty tight ratios with it being 12 speed. A great option without having to spring for a whole new Eagle drivetrain.

Porter Cable C2002 pancake air compressor, Dynaplug kit, and tubeless tires. A lot of goat heads west of the Mississippi River, and instead of stopping to fix a flat I just keep rolling and clean up a little sealant after the ride. I’ve used the Dynaplug two times to seal a couple larger holes during a ride.

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I bought mine from a mate when he upgraded to a TT bike, so the shape was decided for me :slight_smile:

These are the bars, I’ve found them comfortable:

Couldn’t imagine using the straight bar type.

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Here ya go… my best upgrade!

The little strip of grip tape on my basebar…

Seriously though… my last race was a very hilly duathlon with descents through switchbacks… I’m pretty sure that little extra grip saved my life :slight_smile:

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  1. Actual road bike (instead of a touring bike outfitted for commuting).
  2. Onto that, I bolted a better saddle.

I got a nice component for my saddle. I put a Trek Domane under it.

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I went to Di2 with hydraulic brakes on my cross/gravel rig, and that was a huge improvement over 105 and mechs, however the RD/RX derailleur was the biggest improvement. Dead silent drive train offload now and I LOOOOOOVVVVVVVEEEEE it.

I put a Tannus solid tire on the rear wheel of my eBike commuter and love it.

+1

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Enve aero handlebar/stem that actually fit me! Narrower bars to match my narrow shoulders have totally changed the way my upper body and back feel by the end of a ride.

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Tacx Neo😬

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25mm Hutchinson Fusion 5 Galactik tyres with latex tubes on my road bike. Massive upgrade from the 23mm maxxis that came with the bike