After a few tours with America by Bicycle, I’ve grown to love a few things. Being out on the road for 52 days, you certainly appreciate simple easy to use items that make life a lot easier. Here are just a few of those comfort things.

Cateye wireless“Strada”  computers

No tiny buttons, the computer is the button. Very easy to cycle through

the modes with gloved hands. Also, it has 2 trip distances. This makes it

very convenient to follow a route sheet and keep track of the cumulative

miles while resetting each leg distance.

Topeak Handy Phone Pack Plus

I use this to carry my cell phone and my digital camera

The bag mounts anywhere you have a round tube and can

easily quick-release. It even has a belt clip when it’s not

on the bike. You can keep all your E.S. close, safe and

handy. The real beauty is being able to whip out that

camera while still moving to get that amazing shot.

Innovations Ultraflate Plus

Pumping up bicycle tires  after a flat is so 20^th century…

A CO2 inflator makes quick work of getting a flat. The part that

takes the longest is pumping up your tire with a minipump. Why

not carry a little air compressor with you? Of course if you have

more flats than cartridges then you are stuck.

Here’s a tip, being that I’m cheap, I purchase BB or paintball gun

CO2 cartridges at at the sporting goods or department store. They

only come in the smaller 12 gram size but they are vastly cheaper.

Keep in mind though, that they won’t get recommended pressure

for road bikes (90lbs) or mountain (30lbs)for that matter, but enough

to get you to a good floor-pump.

Big FAT Carbon Handle-bars.

These are a real noticeable upgrade to any older bike. Not only do

they have the new 31.8 clamp standard and the vibration dampening

of carbon fiber, they have a wide ergonomic platform for your hands

when you are on the “tops”. These seriously have eliminated

numbness in my hands.

Casio Exilim camera line

This little guy fits nicely in my Topeak phonepack. I can keep

Both eyes on the road, and be taking pictures with one hand.

It also has a “YouTube” button that starts taking pretty good

video instantly.  Again, no fumbling with modes or dials. When

you are done taking the video, it goes right back to camera mode.

FYI! I never actually look through the camera when I’m shooting on the bike.

Keep your eyes on the road! Point it in the general direction and keep it steady.