fubar5

Sooo, what are your best/worst purchases in 2002?

My best:

A)Deuter Backpack, I can't say enough good things about it.
B)Innovations Ultraflate..Haven't gotten a flat since I bought it!!
C) Cannondale Vertex shorts
D) Sidi Titan 2 shoes
E) Trek Windtek jacket..This thing rocks, period..it could be a little more waterproof, but it does a good job
F)Park Cyclone, gets a chain pretty clean pretty quick

Worst:
A) Sidetrack booties..they suck, period
B)Specialized BG gloves...I thought they were getting better, but they still suck
C)Specialized Airforce 2 mini...A piece on the inside broke so it is useless..and I haven't even used it that much
D) Pearl Izumi Attack shorts..ouch!

So, what is your list??

shokhead

Felt SR71,shimano R535 pedals-all good bad-supergo wireless computer,couldnt read it in the sun.

Dougmt

Funny you should post this. I was reading old posts from last year and saw this come up... at any rate:

Good:
Nashbar photon sport twin light
Cateye 300LD light
Terry liberator gel seat
Zefal hp/x frame pump (right size)
eggbeater clipless pedals
Specialized sport comp shoes
aztec cables
Peformance brand racks and panniers. I REALLY like them.

Not so good:
Performace brand cycling shorts, the first pair ripped on the seams, and one of the second pair completely lost a seam.
Specialized Hemishpere Armadillo tires, jurys still out on this one.
Zefal hp/x frame pump (wrong size)

Terrible:
Cheap POS tube from LBS
Terrible Cateye 550 lights.
Homemade chain lube-did not work well at all with Galveston's salt and sand.

Doug

Sailguy

Good:

Nite Rider Digital Pro 13v 32W w/ Taillight - Awesome lighting
Giro Pneumo - comfy and cool helmet
Cateye HB100 Computer - works great, rain or shine.
Topeak Road Morph Pump - Soooo much better than my old frame pump
Continental GatorSkin 700x28c tires. - Made my commute better
Performance interchangeable lens sunglasses - a lens for every occasion

Okay :
Perl Izumi winter booties. These don't keep the water out very well at all, but the feet stay nice and warm. They wear a bit exccessivly too.

Not so good:
Cheap yellow & black cork handlebar tape from the LBS. Shredding after 6 mo.

amerpie

Since 2002 was the year I started cycling, I have a lot to choose from

Good:
Cannondale R600 Double chainring Road Bike
Ditto on the Dueter Backpack
Powdered mix @ home Gatorade
I like my Performance shorts
And my Illuminite vest



Bad:
Plastic Finish Line chain cleaning gizmo, broke in 30 seconds
All "energy" bars
Unrotated Continental 3000 Ultra tires

shokhead

Speaking of you cannondale,i was at the lbs,supergo and all cannondales marked down.The only price i noticed was the R400 for $579.That was a 02.

ZackJones

Bad: Selling my Lemond BA on Ebay because I hadn't rode it in several months.

Zack

DnvrFox

That one really hurts. I would REALLY MISS my Lemond BA.

Best Purchase -

One Micro Vascular Decompression of the Trigeminal Nerve by a vascular brain surgeon. Took away all that absolutely awful continuous electric shock pain. Cost?? $31,526.47, of which the insurance paid all but $250.00.

Worst purchase:

The Bike Forums Jersey which, even though supposedly Extra Extra Large, is a Europen cut and in no way fits my American Extra Large shoulders and chest (I do a lot of weight lifting and a fair amount of eating!!). BUT, my wife thinks the purchase was fine, as it fits her perfectly!!

Erick L

Best: Zefal bottles with a dust cap. I love those things.

Worst: A book on the (largely unfinished) trans-provincial bike path called the Green Lane.

I haven't bought much in 2002.

P. B. Walker

Good:
Specialized Armadillo Tires
Bike Planet Protege 9.0 Cyclocomputer
RLX Polo Sport Speed Jacket
RLX Polo Sport Speed Vest
Performance Classic Short Sleeve Jerseys
Performance Century Gel Bib Shorts
Rudy Project Kerosene Sunglasses
CamelBak Rogue
Topeak Joe Blow Pro Floor Pump

Not Great (i.e., a few problems but works ok):
Performance Axiom HR 600 HRM
Pearl Izumi Bib Tights (ok, but not perfect)
LeMond Poprad - (the frame is great (853 Steel), but I've basically had to replace every other part on the bike. The only original parts still on the bike (besides the frame and fork) are the rear brake, handlebars, and the seatpost. I am considering replacing the forks, but probably won't. Next bike I buy will be built up starting with just a frame.


Bad:
Vetta V100 Wireless Cyclocomputer
Rear wheel built by LBS (totally sucked)
The 3 different types of tights I bought

----------------------------------------------------------------

Good for 2003:
New set of wheels built by a different LBS... they are awesome so far.
CycleOps Fluid2+ Trainer


PBW

ParamountScapin 

Good (excellent, actually)
- Campy Record triple crankset & FD (up from the double).
- Ksyrium Elite wheels.
- American Classic Ti QR skewers.
- Scapin MTB frame (Columbus Nemo tubing).
- SID XL fork.
- XT crankset and FD.
- Sidi Titan II (replaces my Titan I).

Bad:
-Pearl Ozumi leg warmers - couldn't do anything to keep them from falling down around my ankles after a couple of miles. Must have been designed for someone else. A waste of money.
- Selle Italia Prolink Trans Am saddle - not the saddle's fault. It just didn't fit my butt. So went back to the Prolink Gel, which fits just right.

I research thoroughly before buying, so I am usually quite happy with my purchases and their performance. Read and ask questions. But leg warmers just don't work for me.

easyrider

Wow! You guys buy a lot of stuff. I'm not judging. I'm just surprised.

My best expenditure: Letting a kid on the college team clean and tune my bike for ten bucks. He needed some money and I'm not a good wrench. He did a great job and I'll pay him more next time.

hillyman

Good: Most of the stuff I bought in 2002 was great. I've had my cheapo Motobecane Mirage for a year now and it is perfect for me. The STX 42/32/22 chainring and 12x34 cassette with Deore LX derailleur I installed with index downtube shifters. Old School that climbs like a goat. Fair: SPD road shoes. I'm going to do the splits or break my neck in them things. Bad: Nashbar Tourmalet SPD-R road pedals. Lightweight yes,but a pain to clip into.

hillyman

Those are great! I bought a couple of them from Walmart. Worth a little more effort to flip the lid to get a drink without bugs and grime

lotek 

Best:
Brooks B17 saddle,
Campy Chorus group
Clement Paris-Roubaix tires
Exte-Ondo shorts

Worst:
Fi:zi'k Pave saddle (ouch)

Marty

nathank

the Deuter packs are great and i've been a fan of them since i've been in Germany, and i REALLY like mine as it is so well designed and constructed.

are they easy to find in the US these days? (in the US i had previously never even heard of them)

i talked to a rep at a race last summer and he said they were increasing their North America presence...

chewa

Best - My Specialised Body Geometry MTB Comp shoes (I use them on road bikes as they're relatively ok for walking)

Worst - Wrench Force self sealing tube - it didn't.

fubar5

Ok dude, I just bought a Pave..You could have saved this for last!

nathank, Deuter does seem to be getting more popular in the states, which I think partly is ashame, I like having something that very few people had even heard of. The one amerpie and I have came from sierratradingpost, and after a little research, I figured out that they are models(Bike 1) not usually available in the US. I use mine for everything!

Oh yeah, another worst for me, renewing my Bike mag subscription. Every issue it gets worse, I can't believe I paid 15 bucks for it.

khuon

Best
===

[1] Easton EC-90 dropbars for my RB - The profile is just right for me

[2] Speedplay Zeros Ti pedals for my RB - independently adjustable inboard/outboard float and release angle, works great with my Sidis... simply wonderful

[3] Time ATAC Titans w/Titanium upgraded springs courtesy of Stan's No-Tubes for my MTB - Incredible upgrade from SPDs... works in mud, stable platform, smooth engagement

[4] Race Face SYStem for my MTB (actually bought this at the end of 2001 but didn't get to use it until 2002) - My 120mm/0 deg rise Titec stem put me way too forward... so I figured that while I was getting a new stem, I may as well get a really cool looking one. This one is 100mm/5 deg rise.

[5] Rudy Project Kerosene sunglasses - finally some decent side-wind protection for my eyes. No more tearing up on rides.

[6] Rudy Project Kerosene sunglasses - I had to buy them again after I faceplanted during a MTB ride

[7] Giro E2 - replaced my previous E2 due to the same crash that ruined my sunglasses.

[8] You Are What You Eat energy bars - These at least taste like food as opposed to a hunk of road pavement.

[9] Sugino baggies that my LBS was selling in the bargain bin for $10 each


Worst
=====

[1] Rudy Project Kerosene sunglasses - I had a horrible time dealing with Performance's mail-order customer service and their RX "deal".

[2] Specialized 700c tubes with threaded stems that didn't quite play nicely with my CO2 inflator.

[3] Odwalla Bars - Yuck!

[4] Giro E2 - Had so much trouble finding a replacement helmet at the end of Oct.

[5] Some rimstrip not because they were bad or anything but because I acted on habit and bought some with my tubes before returning home and realising that my rims don't need rimstrips.

lotek 

Well, its a personal thing, I didn't feel too comfortable
on the Flite type of saddles either (similiar to Pave).
I'm also a bit older than you, so I'm guessing you will
be fine with the Pave.

One other best that Fubar reminded me of:
Asphalt magazine. I can't wait to see what it
evolves into.

Marty

Bokkie

According to some my Gemini 1000 was the worst buy I made.

According to some my Gemini 1000 was the best buy I made.

This year, I will ride my Gemini 50/50.

dazco

Really?! I wonder if you just never tried tilting it forward a bit. When i got mine i had the same problem and thought it was worthless..........for about 1 minute that is. Then i simply tilted it forward a bit instead of having it tilted towards me and now i can see it perfectly even in the brightest sun.

orguasch

Good
Campy chain Oil
Mavic Sock
Team Fassa Bartolo, Jersey and Bib Short
Michellin "Giro De italia Tire
Inflate

Bad
Michellin Axial Pro

closetbiker

Best:

Shimano SPD shoes with cleats found at a consignment shop with 20% wear for $9. :thumbup:

A Blackburn mini pump at the same shop in perfect condition for $1. (I didn't need the pump, but my friend had a brand new pair of neoprene booties that he bought and never used, so we traded!)

Worst:

I guess I've been lucky, I don't think I've bought anything for the bike that hasn't worked out well.

oscaregg

Best: Cheap Challenge tubulars (back on 'em after 20 years off; the low end ones have improved drastically!) Sapim Laser spokes, the Hozan chainring nut screwdriver, my first bib shorts (Giessigi cheapos; Castelli this year)
Big Meat 2 degree wedges under my cleats--fantastic product

Worst: Bicycling magazine. It's like Rush Limbaugh--the worst information believed by the most people.