Mine: I bought my first serious hardtail after 15 years of riding full suspension because I had to lose the Orange 5. Much as I enjoyed the first outing on the Orange Clockwork (hereinafter referred to as “Pussy Riot”), after 15 years of full-suspension offroading, found that after an hour back home, I got really excruciating lower back pain.
Enter …
the Thud Buster.
Almost feels like full suspension, but without any pedal bob.
Two sets of Hunt wheels, one for the road bike to replace the heavy generic jobbies I’d inherited to keep the build cheap, and one for the ‘cross bike to replace the 29er MTB wheels I’d been using. Both have transformed the feel of the respective bikes.
Taking lead from the OP’s choice and assuming whole bikes don’t count, sticking a new Lyrik on my old Process 153 really gave it a bit of muscle and stability it had previously lacked with a Pike.
RS81 wheels on my road bike have been a revelation too, sooooo comfy compared to my Ksyriums – yet still pretty darn stiff.
Finally pensioning off my beloved Cove G-Spot and getting an Intense T275, goes up better, goes down better, goes around the bends better, some how not as exicting though.
Best upgrade was spending a week in Whistler.
It’s amazing how quick your skills (and confidence) improve when you spend a whole week just riding your bike down a hill 😀
Best change for me was building up a Stooge with a Brooks saddle and Jones bars. Most comfortable bike ever. Can literally ride it all day. Makes me want to be out riding all the time. Been out for a couple of hours today and already want to go back out again.
Time outdoors seems to be good for my mental well-being so it really helps.
Boring, but my best has been a new saddle and grips. Gone are the niggling aches on longer rides. Oh, and sticking a coil in my old Revelation too. Was a revelation [Boo!].
Thinking about it, I can’t think of anything I’ve changed. I’ve ridden my bike exactly as it was this time last year. That’s ridiculous, I need to throw money at it now to feel like a proper cyclist.
Other than tyres the only thing I’ve swapped on my bikes has been from a Raceface Atlas 785mm bar on my Transition Trans Am to a Chromag Fubar 780mm.
I now like the bike. I’d been not mad keen on it but it turns out the flat and shapeless Atlas bar was just crap and now I’ve got decent control over it it’s an amazing bike.
Uberbike matrix brake pads for the TRP Spyres on the road bike. I think that’s the only change I’ve actually made to a bike this year. They are a lot better than the original ones they ship with.
Moved from 26″ Nomad to Mega 275 and upgraded my Lyriks from 160 to 170mm with Fast Suspension damper and MRP Ramp Control, now the best forks I’ve ridden.