Do you have particular bike related fetishes?
 

I seem to have a thing for gloves, and tires. ALWAYS looking at them whether I need them or not.And likely to buy just to try, or in the case of gloves, match kit.

Yes, pedals and rear derailleurs. And cranksets, and seatposts, and stems, and brakes and levers, and... :D

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c8336cdadd.jpg

Sexy fork with nice rake, chrome lugs and socks.

I like the smell of a new tire. Ummmmmmmmmmmm!!!

Do you have a "safe" word?

Bags and such-like. Frequently perusing those. Just bought one, actually: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A nice buzzy rear hub......

No.

Actually, that might not be true. I like buying things that go well with my touring set up. This spring I got red shoes and a new red camelback to go with things. Wish my tent sack were red.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4b5e473ebc.jpg

Ortlieb is my favorite word.

"Suntour"

There was an old school beer brewed in Philly called Ortlieb's. "Drink Joe's Beer!"

http://fishtownbeerrunners.com/wp-co...ny_20522-3.jpg

I'd say keeping the hair on the legs beaten down, at least when it's time to intimidate the other roadies with all your weird veins showing.

You've worked hard to look like a wannabe TdF domestique. You even carry extra hydration on long rides in a bottle in rear jersey pockets the same way.

Can't leave some unsightly hair behind when you need to maximize your signaling and tribal belonging.

Otherwise, for products?.........Time trial products. Skinsuits, aero everything. Ebay endless times for that elusive deal on something mis-labeled or mis-categorized on a skinsuit or single wheel.

But people are smarter than you think and find it also and they get bid up.

I think it's the engineering nerd in me that likes that. Some roadies who do TT are monsterously strong, but unfathombly ignorant about being fast in a TT.

There's a guy local to me super strong. Even in tune to the best gear to own. Not all TT roadies are that smart even, to know what to buy or use. Even still, he's 100% convinced you should push more power downwind and downhill than headwind and uphill. He's convinced that since you're going so crazy fast downhill it must work out better. Math, how does it work?

I'd definitely give it a try as long as I don't have to go to Philly.

Tools. I have a hard time resisting obscure, vintage bicycle tools.

Modern Sturmey hubs are crazy. They click at twice the speed the old English ones did. They click whilst pedalling so the clicking is always there, like background music, but stop pedalling and the second set of pawls kick-in, giving mechanical orchestra of click-chatter...

I've got an eye for detail and i get picky, i get into something and then i know how i want it, but this can be with any part of the bike. I'm stopped from getting too carried away by time and money - far more the latter.

Vintage European steel racing bikes from the 80s. In particular, I love old Ciocc and Rossin bikes. Chromed lugs and rear triangle, Campy C-Record, Modolo stems, SSM saddles etc. I ride a modern carbon bike with Di2, discs and tubeless 28s on carbon rims, but I love these old bikes. I also love high end vintage Japanese road stuff like 3Rensho.

Seat bags. I am forever searching for the perfect seatbag: just the right size, unobtrusive, does not sway, does not impede my legs. Current choice: the Silca one.

Tires. Tires do more to affect the ride of a bike than anything else. I'm particularly obsessed with gravel tires. Current choice: Compass / Rene Herse.

I like my InBike cheapo, but I suspect it is way too big for what you're looking for (it's just right for me, though - the side pouch fits my headlight exactly, for instance).

Titanium. There's something about it...

Shoes and helmets...

Italian stuff...

Dropouts
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6988a6ab98.jpg

Time Trial style frames and aero integrated parts.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4ee236319f.jpg

Nice lugs (no, not nice jugs, or nice lungs, but nice lugs!)

USA made frames and red, white and blue color accents.