16 Insanely Expensive Bike Things You Do NOT Need (but want...) 

Extra pro Jimmi tip: If you’re going to use the Thule rack, you have to repeat the mantra ‘bikes on the roof, bikes on the roof’ as you drive so you don’t accidentally forget and go through a low barrier

Don't spit out the tab from your gel into the road! I find them everywhere. Some gel packs retain their tabs.

As an avid indoor-cyclist/Zwifter I'd argue that the Vacmaster was one of the best investments I made ... and yes, in races I do ramp it up to max setting. For indoor cycling a good fan is a must-have and from the purpose built fans, this is actually coming out at the bottom end ... have a look a the Wahoo headwind if you are going for unnecessary.

One thing about getting older as a cyclist is that although my fitness drops, my ability to buy expensive equipment increases. Buying good winter kit was the best cycling purchase I ever made.

Park tool bike stand, more expensive than most but essentially for bike maintenance or just washing your bike. Solid, easy to use and looks so much nice than my previous stand.

Love the chemistry Frances and Jimmy have so entertaining and useful products to. keep it up guy's.

Jimmy’s tip of taping the gel to the top tube reminds me of my buddy who used to unwrap his Power Bar, lick one side repeatedly, then slap it licked side down on the top tube. There it would stay, and he’d tear off bits and gobble them during the ride. Of course, his top tube was covered with spittle and crud from bars and it was the grossest you ever saw, but it worked for him.

The shoe dryer is brilliant. I use it all the time too. Also great for warming your shoes in the morning before a ride!

I'm going to add the Garmin Varia Rear Light - especially the one with camera. I bought the basic version and love it. However on several occasions I wish I had the camera version. On my wishlist.

That shoe dryer is the best bike related purchase I've made in the last 12 months. Bought it after seeing you use it. I'd definitely argue it's a need for any UK-based cyclist. Certainly cheaper than using two different sets of shoes!

Rohloff 14-speed hub gears. Hugely expensive -- about £1200 just for the hub, superbly engineered, brilliant to use. You know you want one ...

I bought an aero vacmaster for around $65 US, came with the remote and all. I would argue that adequate cooling is a huge requirement for indoor cycling. It made a huge difference for me versus using a pedestal fan and ceiling fan, even when outdoor temperatures would be 0°. I almost never have to clean sweat off the trainer mat.

I have an Urban Arrow Family (in fact, it's a year to the day since I picked it up). eCargo bikes, like your Omnium, are absolute game changers. Yes, they're expensive, but they're intended to replace your car. I've been able to do pretty much all but maybe 2-3 food shops using it, and anything like vet trips, doctors, dentists, errands etc. They're a great way to combine your love for cycling with getting stuff done. I can't recommend them enough for anyone who lives close enough to the stuff they need on a week to week basis (like in towns or cities) instead of a car. Also, it's great being able to say my other bike was £6k 😂 Especially when your day to day road bike is £2k 😂

OneUp rack from the USA. I live i Colorado and this hitch mounted rack is not only super convenient, but is borderline indestructible. I was rear-ended in traffic with it on one winter, and while the car behind took heavy damage, the rack took all of the impact and was unharmed. And they also sell replacement parts at a reasonable price should something wear down after a number of years.

Jelly sandwich, on white bread, regular jelly contains 268 calories 5.7 g of protein and 58 g of carbohydrate.

Daughter bought me a boot/glove dryer years ago. Hunting gear, diving, cycling you name it. In summer use after every ride. Sweaty gloves and and helmet. Set for no heat and air dry them. Endless options

For the Thule racks, depending on the car that one has, you would also need the towers and the clamps (for a naked roof). Thus realistically driving that system to be ~$500-$650, not including the bike rack and lock cores. Just thought I would clarify :). Great video though!

I had some of the northwave boots. One issue I found is that water can run down your leg and into the boot, which then fills up as it’s waterproof and can’t let the water back out. Saying that though the water gets quite warm in the boot, like a little foot spa!

Drying your shoes more quickly than just air drying also helps minimize odor problems. I use a boot/shoe dryer very frequently. For me it is a necessity. There are dryers available that have a heat or no heat option. 👍🏼

Can you two rate wind proof and winter riding gloves? With you riding in cold/wet conditions regularly, it would be good information since we're entering winter season.

That Vacmaster Turbofan with remote keeps me alive during Zwift races and is still cheaper compared to the Wahoo fan...and I prefer to adjust the level myself with the remote. I don´t need it but I would otherwise have 2-3 regular cheaper fans around and no room for this!

Hitch mounted bike rack, specifically Kuat ones. Don't need to worry about forgetting that your bike is up on the roof. Kuat because they last long time but they are very modular so if a part wears out or gets damaged, you can just replace the part at a reasonable price.

That shoe dryer is absolutely boss

Good advice about the shoe dryer. I have one for my ski boots. It hadn't occurred to me to use it for my cycling shoes till now. Thank you for the tip.

I wanted to add something about the Thule bike rack that I learned when considering buying one. Ultimately I went a different direction, but many people online have reported that the thule cross bars are more aerodynamic, and as a result don’t produce anywhere near as much wind noise as competing brands. It’s not going to bother everyone, but if you drive an EV that is already rather quiet, it can make a big “quality of life” as you won’t be wanting to constantly take the rails on/off.

The shoe dryer is essential if you ride for any significant duration indoors. The enduro bearings aren't ideal for Sram dub because they eliminate the plastic hat/reducer and are sized to fit the dub axle. This creates metal on metal contact on the crank axle which causes unnecessary wear.

Right there with ya for Silca. not the frame pump though, just bought their Terra floor pump. Excellent gauge for low pressures. Cost way too much, but I'll never have to buy a floor pump again. another one is a workstand. Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic bike stand. silly expensive, but SO nice to use. And portable; take it down, bag it up, through it in the car when heading out to an event.

Thanks for the tip on the Vacmaster. I too tend to overheat on the turbo. Bought one and used it for the first time yesterday. Just wow. It’s in a completely different league to the fan I’ve used before. Also the remote is a nice feature.

+1 for Northwave winter boots. Mine have lasted three winters so far. The only issue I have with them is the cuffs aren't tight enough on my legs so water gets in and then can't get out! Solved by adding GripGrab CyclinGaiters. Keeps my feet completely dry even in torrential downpours 👍

Shoe drier is an absolute must. I run, hike, and bike and this has saved me having wet shoes after rainy or snowy rides or runs

Yakima High Road is the best rack. Clamps the front wheel so no issues with carbon frames. Compatible with 26-29 inch wheels and includes a steel loop in the wheel clamp to slip a D-lock through for security. Also includes a long cable lock anchored within the rack for extra security..

Fully endorse that shoe dryer. I have the exact same one. It's even useful post zwift. I've also used it for walking boots and general trainers. Worth buying!

I am really curious about those Enduro BBs now! Thanks!

I got the standard Vacmaster when it was on offer and teamed it with a remote control plug socket. You can only use one power for your workout but it works and is cheaper 👍🏻

it be fun to see you guys stress test a dual suction roof rack like the one from Rockbros.

Vacmaster and Northwave winter boots are both superb. I've used those boots on numerous winter audaxes. Not tested them at -15 though. I value my aging bones and they don't like black ice. They def work well around -5 though.

Got myself a Vacmaster second hand a few months back. This thing is absolutely brilliant!

I believe a Brompton fits here. I've had mine for 10 years and it's amazon for running errands. I use it almost everyday. If I go further than ~3 or 4 miles my back starts hurting and I'm guaranteed to have knee pain the next day but that doesn't detract from the love of my $1000+ shopping cart.

Thanks both - Tubolito tubes on their way - Tail Fin to follow ready for my next tour of the Wild Atlantic Way (I will need space for good waterproofs, I think!).

I live in Sweden, every house has a shoe dryer, they are great for drying shoes, boots, gloves etc, bet bit of kit ever! Great for cycling stuff or just regular every day use.

I love my shoe dryer. I use it to dry my gloves and helmet too. It can take several days for your rain soaked shoes to dry out without some sort of heat source.

Exactly one item that I own and that is the Thule Bike rack system. They are really good. Easy to use and very secure. But, keep in mind that with the more oversized MTB frames and with the use of a Thule Carbon Frame protector the clamp system might nog clamp that well. You have to make sure it is really secure. A few years back I was a bit to quick putting my mountainbike on the roof of my car. A few corners later my bike swung to the side of the car causing some dents. Luckily my bake stayed fitted on the rack where wheels are put in because of the insanely strong wheel straps.

#1 DA Di2. Unless you are a member of Jumbo Visma, Utegra or 105 Di2 is more than enough.

I bought the shoe drier after you had it on your video last year I think and its changed my life 😂😂 cycling shoes, walking boots, kids shoes, gloves, its had some use for something I didn’t know I needed 😂

15:50 Thile Bike Rack can turn from "expensive" to a "super expensive" thing. If you forget about your bikes when going into an underground garage 😂

I love my SRAM etap groupset. I have the "slightly" cheaper Rival one. But what difference since switching from a 10sp Ultegra mechanical groupset.

Great Video and great recommendations! Love my Fidlock bottles. How about you two make a video about cargo bikes and why Jimmi ultimately chose the one from Omnium. :D

The shoe dryer is an excellent purchase. Mine gets a lot of use from my kids shoes as well! And for bike racks, the INNO tyre hold system beats the thule frame clamp for me.

I have a Lasko X-Blower Utility fan/floor dryer/squirrel cage fan *they are called different things everywhere* that I use for indoor training and also for just general air circulation and on occasion floor drying. WELL worth the 65 USD, no remote on my model so I did a bit of modification involving wire and solder. It's awesome, highly recommend for anyone riding indoors. They are MUCH better fit for the task than box fans/turbo fans, fans do not direct air efficiently, blowers do. Have had a shoe dryer for decades and it gets pretty heavy use, mostly for boots in winter and my sons' running shoes during the cross country season. Very much worth the price if you live in a place where it snows heavily and you spend significant time in said snow, these are near indispensable IMO. If either of these items broke tomorrow, I would replace them, tomorrow. The rest of the items, nah. I do have an ebike for commuting and a trailer to attach when desired for shopping, a dedicated cargo bike would be wasteful for my use case. Cheap trailer is just more convenient and much cheaper for most people than a cargo bike with the same capability. I get it, it's the same disconnect drivers have when they convince themselves they NEED a pickup truck because they occasionally haul things instead of just buying a small trailer and hitching it to their car when needed.

On my the top of my list is a titanium bike (with sram red preferably) 😅, maybe i wil have saved up enough by next year...

The shoe dryer is awesome ! such great value and you recommended it in an old video and boy it was a great recommendation ❤️💪 If you ride daily or weekends it’s a perfect gadget !

I love my Enduro BB. The Xd-15's just keep getting smoother and smoother.

The Vacmaster 54 is a breath of fresh air.... seriously I used a small table top fan for a while and this thing is just brilliant, I set it about 6 feet away and adjust the tilt...Not one to sweat much anyway this thing ensures there's no dripping nonsense going on and I've done 4hr indoor rides where the salt is dried on my arms and head....

Highly recommend a shoe drier (the one they feature is good, but there are loads of similar ones). I have a pair of boot driers that I use for my ski boots, but they also work great for basically any other type of shoe. They get to basically body temperature, so no issue with melting glue or anything, but they'll get your shoes nice and warm for you.

Got that same boot dryer for Xmas. GAMECHANGER! It does gloves booties, shoes and hats. Love it.

The ipump twist work real good. They have a slim floor version that's pretty slick

Can a channel keep on getting better and better...hell yes

Arundel Mandible carbon bottle cage. Pricey, but holds big bottles like nothing else.

I've got a tailfin on my bike and it's brilliant. My bike has its rim brake mounted by the bottom bracket, has no brake-bridge or rack mounts, combined with a quick-release that is recessed into the stays, there is no way for a conventional rack to be fitted, this solved it. Going through the rest of your items, I've got Sram eTap Red (original model) on it and although I don't have red-shift's pedals (but am considering them) I do have their shockstop stem and seatpost. It's a super comfy and practical commuter bike that most people think is completely overkill seeing as I only paid £600 for the bike to begin with, but as I ride it 5 days week, what price is comfort? I also had a pair of the Northwave boots, they worked great, but I found the top of the neoprene was soo tight that it was really difficult to get my foot in, eventually the liner ripped when trying to put them on so I had to bin them. The fidlock bottles look like a great idea, will have to check them out.

Had the Vacmaster for 3 years now, brilliant piece of kit, definitely recommend it!

2:26 Works for kids rugby shoes as well, never a week where I haven't used this.

As someone who lives in the PNW, a shoe dryer has been the best winter investment. Hiking boots, running shoes, cycling shoes...its even great for warming up the shoes before I go out!

I had a Wahoo Kickr trainer. I'm older and basically got tired of putting my bike on the trainer to do indoor sessions. So I blew an absurd amount of money and got the Kickr bike. It is SO COOL. Works great. I absolutely did not need it - but I love it. It cost way more than my road bike.

Spatz Shoe Covers!! One VOTE!!

Bought the same shoe dryer after watching an old video where you recommended it. Easy to do after a ride: hang inserts over a radiator and whack the dryer on. My current shoes are yet to get that wet dog smell. So thanks, Francis

I bought one of the Shoe Dryers from seeing you mention them in a previous video. I've used it on my kids sports boots more than on my Cycling shoes but it was a good purchase.

One item to mention is the PedalCell dynamo. Closing down soon though sadly. Pretty informative and entertaining 👍

Don't forget Redshifts other products, especially the suspension seatpost and stem. Between those and the cheaper arclights, they're the best upgrades I've made.

Carradice made a better tailfin 50 years ago called the bagman. They only really fit carradice bags which are not as aero as the tailfin but I've never found that to slow me down when I've lightly packed it. It's stiff as hell and you barely notice it being there. You can get it for £50 odd from Sjs and the QR version can fit any saddle with metal rails. They also make some struts which increase the load capacity from 10kg to 20 and make it even stiffer. Including the bag and the strut you're paying less than £150, and you don't need rack mounts at all since the struts can attach where you mount the fenders. You can also strap a backpack or an 8 pack to it if you need

I love the Silca Frame Pump. My wife got it for me for my birthday a few years back. I want to have it painted in the same color as my bike. I also really like the Fidlock bottles. I have not lost a bottle in years since switching to Fidlock.

Remember back in the day frames had little nubs on them specifically for frame pumps.

have you got any product recommendations for getting energy Gel out of headset and frame

Wow I need that Topeak Torque wrench. I haaaate my Pedro’s torque wrench. The roll up sleeve that holds the bits isn’t super secure so literally within a month one of the bits got lost. Another bit doesn’t stay in its sleeve either so it’s permanently mounted on the wrench’s bit holder. It just doesn’t seem like the type of quality you’d get from Park Tool or that Topeak one.

Me and the Mrs have a Talifin system each. Love them. Only issue is I own one of the only bikes that they dont make an axle adapter for! (Colnagos Hexlock system) Definitely buying the shoe drier though!

Never heard of the magnetic bottles. They are amazing!

You had me at purple flip paint! My addition would be MAAP bib shorts. Obscenely expensive but they have the pad that keeps my butt happy.

redshift. if u pedal backwards does the lights switch to red at front? is it rotation direction that determines colour it sets on

Mine is tow hitch mounted Thule XT3 fold, which I bought years ago for 849.- and nowadays they sell it for almost 1250.-, best thing I ever bought for a bike. Only needs a towing hitch which was another 1600.- 😅. Fidlock - hated it, rode it on gravel and it is damn noisy, rattled so much, gave it to my kid, he doesn’t care but I was taken aback how an expensive product can be so shoddy built…

Anyone know of an alternative for the GripGrab overshoes that goes on gravel/mtb shoes?

4:10 does Topeak still make them? Cause from time to time I search one and they are never in stock.

I'm surprised, considering the suite of Park Tools behind you, you didn't go for their Master tool kit. At a whopping £6,800, it's definitely insanely expensive, and as Nik will confirm, we all love a good tool. 😂

With the current Omnium lineup there are bespoke electric Cargo and Mini-Max models so you don't have to bolt on an aftermarket motor. :) That said, the E-Mini-Max starts at 5200 Euros (4500 GBP). I just kitted out a very similar bike called the ten07 Unicorn, you can just unscrew one big screw and take off the cargo rack to either save space in your shed/flat or to take it on train journeys where at least here in Germany you aren't allowed anymore to take cargo bikes with you. The whole (non electric, but SRAM GX Eagle eTap with drop bars and Rival brifters equipped) bike costs just shy of 6000 Euros, but my employer subsidies the leasing scheme with 55 Euros per month for three years so it was pretty much a no-brainer for me to max out the allowed total cost of the bike, even if I have to pay a bit of it myself. :D Oh, and Fidlock bottles are great. With the grit sprayed on the bottle cages when you're off road the bottles are looking really unpleasant after a short amount of time in traditional bottle cages. With the flip-up lids the nozzles stay clean and you can still easily handle the bottles one-handed.

The Thule rack comes into its own for dirty mtbs post ride. Was always putting dirty bikes in the car before. Plus they look cool af

Garmin Rally XC pedals. They even appeared on the video. They are soooo expensive, but for those who like, the amount of information it gives you is insane.

Park Tool anything is a must. You really are paying for higher quality parts & build quality.

I have one of those shoe dryers at the office. It’s a godsend in the winter. It’s also a complete hit with the others in the office.

I think Chris king hubs were good I had them on my Cannondale bike in 1999 brilliant hubs.

Feedback Sports elite repair stand. It’s ridiculously expensive, but so good.

Bikeracks! I love mine! And it looks cool on my mini clubman.

Best fan for indoor trainer is the Wahoo Headwind. Connect it to your HR monitor and it will increase speed as your heart rate goes up

Jimmy's Gel Method (Gimmy's Gel Method, Jimmy's Jel Method?) is the reason mechanics hate triathlon bikes. It's amazing what crap (literally?) triathletes will put up with on their bike, knowing the mechanic will have to clean it up when the seized or pulverized headset and welded on stem need to get worked on. Always fun to clean up the contrails of "miscellaneous" on the way to the back of the bike too.

2:58 so I had one but different brand and it melted and burned inside. Luckily it was on contret floor. I got another put a heatsink on transistor that likes burn and didn't have any issues.

Nice My expensive bike gear Topeak Jo blow booster Feedback sports sprint bike stand (awesome stuff) Full set of wera joker wrenches 5.5 to 19mm And a unior wheel truing jig Great content btw 👌 👏

The fidlock system looks interesting for behind the saddle bottles, but I have never seen anyone use these in this scenario (obviously triathlon...). Do you think they would still be secure enough in this position where so many bottles are prone to rocketting? Even with the bike swaying around during an out of the saddle effort?

Living in Ireland I need one of those shoe drying machines. Off to Amazon to order one now

Ortlieb panniers. I think they were ~$200 for the pair, but they're over 3years old now and just as waterproof as the day I got them. I've taken them through monsoons and my laptop has stayed dry in there. I can load them up with SO MANY GROCERIES. The plastic mounts haven't degraded - they've worn grooves into my metal rack! Don't skimp out on crappy panniers. Drop the cash for good ones.

Shoe dryers, rotting frame pumps, shoe covers, boots, rusting bearings,... time to relocate! (bring your TPU tubes and torque wrench with you!)

Gosh the tailfin is so good. I rarely use mine but everytime I do it's perfect.

I recently got a Zwift Hub One and started riding on Zwift pretty much daily. I cannot believe how much I sweated when riding indoors. Believe me that VacMaster fan is a MUST buy. It is also way less expensive than some of the competition (e.g. Wahoo fan at £230).

I have the cycplus tiny pump, best investment ever, I've used only twice, both in winter. How happy I was to be able to pump up my tires in 90 seconds with no effort, will buy it again.