If you had $250 to spend...

[lunacycles]

B.O.B. trailer

[TrekTheKaty]

OH, yeah. Ditto the rain jacket (mine's a cheapy from Performance, so that won't set you back) and a small digital camera (I have a canon sureshot). Just sent my favorite 10 pics out to be enlarged so I can start a "bike" wall

[ZenSojourner]

upgrade the Despatch to 9 speed, if you could do that for $250.

[hilldweller]

Pretty sure I need a new helmet as mine's over ten years old (though has spent most of its life nice and safe on top of the wardrobe).

And what I really want is the She Loves Hills jersey when they're available

[OakLeaf]

Ugh.

What I just bought at the LBS or TE over the last couple of days:
cassette
chain
chain whip, cassette lockring tool, chain tool since I haven't done any of that
since it was 6-speed freewheels
two tires (one needs to be replaced within the next 200 miles or so, the other just to have in reserve so I don't have to go searching for one the right color when I do need it)
arm coolers
shorts

Do I get another $250?

[Miranda]

Oh my... that would be gone in a heartbeat with some things already mentioned.

Sorry if this has been posted up and I missed it, but... vehicle travel rack.

I have a suv with a factor mount hitch. I *love* my Yakima hitch mount rack. Mine they don't make anymore. Changed to something else. It is called the "King Pin 2". Holds two bikes. Comes in a 4 option. Plus, in winter for the 4 they make a ski rack mount accessory.

Mine has an intergrated locking system. Hitch mount lock. I own their top tube adapter for smaller frame triangle etc. Plus, this handle bar "flop stopper" tool.

My design I can leave on the vehicle all the time. I can't lift it with my back issues. Being on all the time was a must for me. DH puts it on start of season. I re-arrange the garage so the door will shut with it on all the time (btw, long vehicle--tight garage).

The carry arm folds down to get the garage shut. And not to be in the way at parking lots etc. Plus, the whole hitch mast folds down to open the suv tail gate etc.

My suv does have a 3rd seat. I can just barely wrestle my bikes inside for transport. Which is nice for bad weather etc. However, it gets old quick w/tire dirt and grease on ya.

Having my hitch mount has been so liberating to just load up and go easily. Anytime.

Plus... I have myself, and had more than one bike mechanic say... "WOW! this thing makes a great workstand!". And it does.

FWIW.

EDIT ADD: This link shows what my rack was replaced with: "DoubleDown2"...

http://www.yakima.com/racks/bike-rac...bledown-2.aspx

[tzvia]

Just got a bike repair stand, a Park, and it is awesome. It makes wrenching not so wrenching . Stuff that should be simple but never seems to be, like replacing cables, bleeding hydraulic brakes and adjusting the shifting, are a piece of cake once the bike stops falling over and moving around! Tools tools tools. That tool that holds the handlebar steady so you can adjust stuff and replace the handlebar tape, a chain wear indicator, cassette whip and cassette removal tool, a really good chain breaker and a set of Allen wrenches tops my list of tools. Been building it up and just need to invest in a chain breaker at this point so I can put away all the hokey multitool ones. A good book on bike maintenance for sure (no recommendations as I don't have anything current.) Maybe a wheel truing stand...

[Delta7]

I like Luna's style ... alot

Luna Sportgear.com_Graton Short Sleeve Jersey

Short Finger Glove

[TxDoc]

$250... right now I'd just put them in my savings - I'm saving for a campy ghibli ultra