Best Apparel & Accessories Under $100

[tulip]

For winter riding: an old cashmere cardigan from a thrift store: $10 max. Even better (and cheaper) it if has a few moth holes in it. Layer that with a windbreaker and a base layer, and you are set for the coldest days.

[Owlie]

+1 on the arm warmers. They're also useful off the bike. I've thrown them on under long-sleeve shirts for the walk to class..
Also +1 on the Polar bottles. They keep stuff cool and they don't give your water that plasticy taste.

[Becky]

A few of my favorite things:
Arm warmers,
a really lightweight windbreaker vest that scrunches up into a tiny ball (like my PI Optik),
Terry Bella shorts and knickers (probably no longer under $100 though ),
Smartwool socks,
a Buff,
my Mountain Feedbag (http://www.epicrideresearch.com/product-information.php), and
those wicking beanies or doo-rags- they keep the sweat off my face.

[Kiwi Stoker]

A Halo sweat band- they really work in stopping the sweat in the eyes and I also use mine to prevent the awful helmet line across my forehead.

[MommyBird]

Wow, this is some great information.

The most unexpected item has got to be the Mountain FeedBag. My husband is feeling the bug to do some ultra-distance rides and one of those bags would be great for training rides.

Arm warmers were more popular than I expected. I will have to move them up higher on my wish-list. I measured my arms and most of the brands do not even offer my size and I am not petite!
I would be interested to know how many prefer the unshaped to the shaped styles.

Thanks
Gayle

[nscrbug]

Wow, this is some great information.

The most unexpected item has got to be the Mountain FeedBag. My husband is feeling the bug to do some ultra-distance rides and one of those bags would be great for training rides.

Arm warmers were more popular than I expected. I will have to move them up higher on my wish-list. I measured my arms and most of the brands do not even offer my size and I am not petite!
I would be interested to know how many prefer the unshaped to the shaped styles.

Thanks
Gayle

Along the same lines as the mountain feedbag, I diligently use my "bento box" on every single ride. A bento box sits on the top tube, right behind the stem. They come in various sizes (I use a medium-sized one by RavX) and it's the perfect size to hold a Clif Bar, a pack of Luna Moons, and a few Newtons. I also use it to hold my cellphone, chapstick, & keys if I happen to be wearing a pocket-less cycling top.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Gosh, there are so many great biking accessories and clothing items for under $100, I wouldn't even know where to begin! Under $50, or under $30, now that might make it more interesting...

[OakLeaf]

I'm with Bleecker. Other than components, shoes and my best wool tights (which actually were like $80 in 1987 dollars ), I don't have much of anything on my bike that's over $100 singly. (If you add it all up though... ) I keep trying for a pair of expensive shorts (and actually committed to a pair not long ago), but so far my favorites are still the $80 Shebeest SSS.

A definite +1 on arm warmers, and this is the time of year for them - when it's too cold for short sleeves when your ride starts, and too warm for long sleeves by halfway. Knee warmers or leg warmers can be nice, too.

As far as accessories, I guess it would help to know what you already have. So far no one's mentioned tire inflation. IMO a pump is a necessity. It can be a full-sized frame pump if you have room for one, or if space is at a premium, a CO2 system plus a mini-pump for backup. Tire levers, spare tube, and patch kit for backup, and an under-seat pack to carry all that (plus whatever else you might want to put in your seat pack).

[Becky]

The most unexpected item has got to be the Mountain FeedBag. My husband is feeling the bug to do some ultra-distance rides and one of those bags would be great for training rides.

I love it, especially for the price! I use mine for stashing my phone, keys, and work ID when commuting, and extra food and a camera on centuries and long MTB rides. Best of all, nothing falls out if (when) I fall, and the contents stay dry even in a hard rain.