A new handlebar plug because the first one fell out after a bad wrapping job.. Not that cool, but it's the last thing I bought for the bike....

My only recent (2 months ago) purchase was a pair of Pearl izumi cold weather gloves, prior to that was a Craigslist screaming deal on a Surly 1x1 mountain bike.

Although I do need to recable and tune my road bike up, maybe I will take it in to the shop this time for some love.

This year...

2012 Trek Cobia 17.5"
Ergon GS.1 Grips
Bontrager Evoke R Saddle
Tifosi Dolomite glasses w/ clear lenses
Bontrager Quantum Helmet
Bottle Cages, Bottles, GU Brew
Garmin FR60 HRM Watch + Speed/Cadence Sensor

Still will need some new tires, maybe a new multitool.. new clothes as i lose weight... race entry fees..

Well it looks like I'm going to have to spend some £££'s - dropped my riding glasses as I got home today - they're a pair of old Bolle Edges with the prescription glazed insert fitted. Unfortunately, the Prescription insert frame snapped, and the lens cracked from side to side. I can't get on with contacts, and the Bolle's are out of production (and are pretty much ready for replacement anyway - 5 years of MTB mud and Road grit have taken their toll on the protective glass anyway) so it's looking like a whole new pair of glasses. I'll try and get into the opticians on Tuesday for a eye-test (again, I'm about due for one anyway) and get something sorted.

Not really schwagg - just consumables today - doing a CLA (clean lube and adjust) this morning, and after cleaning down the chain, ran the chain-checker over it, and it's borderline for replacement - time for a new one, I guess... I say consumables, as chains usually last me about 2,500km - at the moment, thats pretty much measured in weeks not months

Goodness only knows how long I'd take to rip a 11 speed chain to bits... I'm currently running old 9 speed Ultegra and SRAM 991 chains, so it's decent quality kit, but not weight-weenie fodder.

I love DHB gear; I have a pair of DHB Bib shorts and two pairs of DHB Shorts.

The Aeron Pro's are fantastic - better than anything I've worn that hasn't had the Assos Label on it!

I just did a upgrade from sora to 105 everything but shifters.

Do tires count? Michelin Pro3's in 25 mm. Been running the Pro3's in 23 mm and love them but trying the 25's. The jury is still out.
And I have a Fizik Aliante Versus saddle on order. I think that's about it for recent purchases.

Bought SPD/Platform pedals for my hybrid. Now I'm clipped in both bikes. WOOT.
Got a little mirror for the road bike. It's sleek.

Fun ideas everyone - makes a girl wanna go shopping.

Just got my Cannondale Synapse a new tube - not glamorous or fun, just necessary.

Cableset came Friday (Jagwire Racer) in red. Got everything on. . . sadly, front derailleur no worky to the big ring. Don't know if it's the shifter or the bb.

Another spendy day, I'm afraid...

Getting ready for todays ride, I noticed that the Chamois in the Gore bike-wear shorts I bought was a little "clumpy"... on further investigation, the padding had come adrift from the outer surface, and was flopping around inside the 2 layers of cloth. Not a happy bunny for that - £80 for a pair of shorts that I've only had 3 months worth of wear out of... Sad thing was, I'd actually kept them back and not used them over the winter while riding on the turbo, as they were so comfortable, I wanted to get the use out of 'em on the road, and not kill them off with heavy rotation use on the turbo. I'd bought a pair of the DHB Aeron Pro's (Wiggle own brand stuff) maybe a month after the Gore's, and they'd been used all winter on the Turbo, and done alternate days with the Gore's out on the road (One pair on the bike, one in the wash/drying!). The DHB's are unmarked, and pretty much perfect, so - sold to the fat bloke with the long hair, one additional pair of Aeron Pro's :laugh: And, while I've been at it, as an effort to set myself up for the summer, another pack of half a dozen Bidon's so I can scrap the scruffy faded ones from last season.

Oh, and on Saturday, I made a discovery that I think may make my summer cycling happier and more comfortable than it's been for a long time. Finally, I've discovered a proper, effective and DURABLE sunscreen. My local pharmacy recommended it, it's called Riemann P20. Apologies for those people who've used it before, but I'd never heard of it. For those like me, it's pretty damned amazing. The big problem with normal sun-creams is that on the bike, they just get sweated off. This stuff is different. It's more like a coat of varnish than a suncream. It's Good for 10 hours on one application, you can't sweat it off, it's waterproof enough to survive swimming in it! - it only comes off with hot water and soap. As implied by it's name, its a SPF of 20, and to be honest, for once, I believe it. Over the last 5 days i've spent over 10 hours on the bike, and i've accumulated a very gentle healthy colour. As I've naturally got a complexion that's somewhere between white and pale blue, and a tendency to go like a lobster after 15 minutes of watery sunshine, the stuff's amazing! Only slight downside is, as I said above, it's a bit like a coat of varnish - a thick oily liquid in an alcohol base, the alcohol evaporates and the oil drys after 15 minutes and becomes effective. So - you find yourself standing around in the scud, smelling of alcohol, waiting to dry enough to put your riding kit on. Not a pretty sight, but worth the slight hassle to avoid the pain of sunburn, not to mention the potential longer term dangers. Certainly something to put on the shopping list for anyone doing century rides and Audax Brevets I reckon!

Garmin Edge 705, with HRM & Cadence. To replace my aging 605. It is great!

Fleece lined full length kit....

Oh I lie I lie... matching water bottles just last week.