Just wandering what discoveries have been made for stuff not designed to be used for cycling, but end up being brilliant for it.

My suggestions:

Using running shoe gaiters (Inov-8 Debris Sock) over waterproof shoes and under winter tights to stop rain running into the shoes works wanders – no wet feet whatever the conditions and only £10.

Zip ties and Duck Tape – never go out without it on long rides.

Leatherman – as above.

I am sure there are more that I use.

Any others?

Obvious one would be rubber for climbing shoes used for bike shoes with flat pedals.

Were camelbaks originally designed for biking? Or military and running?

Haribo.

Jelly babies and Haribo.

OK – but what about the kind of things that aren’t obvious – I have been wandering about using my Heine Gerrick motorbike gloves for winter riding this year for example as they are much warmer than any cycling gloves I have found.

Things that avoid the inflated costs of cycling kit?

Any bearings and bolts bought from a hardware supplier, rather than a bike shop.

Wellies! (on flat pedals in deep snow)

Things that avoid the inflated costs of cycling kit?

Decathalon kit? (cycling or not)
Great value & decent quality, there walking softshell (specifically) just saw me through this last winter,

+ 1 for motorcycle gloves, I use mine on really cold winter days

edz motor cycle layering system.

consist of thin base layer, slightly thicker fleece mid layer and a pertex pull on shell.
less than £100 the lot.

I popped to a local army surplus place the other day and they had decent looking softshells for £40 – seemed a bargain and got me thinking what else may be hidden in there.

They also had goretex socks which looked OK.

Orientering shinguards as bramble bashers
Klick-lock kitchen storage boxes as waterproof toolboxes
Airport security gate ziplock bags as waterproofing (always grab a handful!)
Cake
Beer

whats said up there ^^^^ and 100mm DPC as a tyre boot

I like the DPC as a tyre boot one – you could roll a bit up and shove it in your seat post/handlebar for emergencies.

always grab a handful

So you’re the reason they now cost £1 for two 😡

Drinking. Thats the only non bike thing that works on a bike.

Rainy commutes have seen me wearing wellies and neoprene surf gloves.

The gloves work nicely, grippy, warm and windproof, and you don’t have to worry about them leaking, because they’re supposed to.

I remember the days when a cut in half coke bottle zip tied to the down tube made a good mudguard…

Who’d have thought someone would make lots of money making a proper one!

sawchain oil

Bolle Contour safety glasses
Army surplus goretex trousers
LED torches
NHS sling for my broken collar bone…

🙁

So you’re the reason they now cost £1 for two

You can buy them? 😯

Just wandering

I have been wandering

wondering – you have been wondering. 😡

I have been wandering (about)

That is correct. If your going to be a pedant, you need to be on the moral high horse of accuracy

helicopter tape

If your going to be a pedant

😉

Motorbike ground anchors and chains. Motorbike fork oil. Car DOT brake fluid. Waterproof bearing grease. Long shelf brackets (for hanging a bike on the wall).

ipad

the top/cork things from sherry and port bottles make good bar-end plugs

APF

Cling film (around the toes between two pairs of socks) instead of overshoes.

Walking gaitors.
Bolle safety glasses.
Motor trade Grease/brake fluid/fork oil.