Commuting - Roadside Treasure

I believe there may have been a thread along these lines started by Cambronne, but I didn't see it. Anyway...
Yesterday on my ride in I found a nice pair of large size bent nose needle nose pliers. I was very excited because this is one of the few tools I did not already own!

I`ve found lots of things along the road, even if not rideing.
The latest a brand new necktie, color wasnt bad at all,med blue and gray medium size bands.
Steve.

I know, it's true. Sort of makes me think about all the other things motorists whiz past without noticing.

I mostly find those black rubber tie-downs, usually missing one of the hooks about once or twice a month. Apparently, whatever they were holding down fell off somewhere else ;). I've also found a C-clamp, and a small pair of vice-grips. My biggest find was a swiss army knife in excellent condition (although, actually, I was jogging when I found that one).

today i saw a little red blinkie hanging out on the side of the road, still blinking, but i didn't stop for it. somewhat regretting already, as it could've been payback for my own lost blinkie (lost a month ago and already replaced). but perhaps the owner will come looking for it... or maybe i will pick it up on my way home.

now the question is... how come i never find crisp new twenties on my route??

hahaha....

me too, I have never been lucky seeing a crisp 20 bill on the road,

well...as far as those crisp twenties, I think I must've been riding slow enough to pick 'em up and break 'em for change...it could account for all those quarters, dimes, and nickels on the route! ;)

Of course, i've rode by lots of doggy doo, too, but i think that's another type of "road treasure". ;)

I once found $20 on the side of the road. But it wasn't that great really. They were Australian dollars and right now the exchange rate sucks!!!

Chris

Sometimes I think God himself puts stuff on the road just for me to find.

Once, I needed a 1973 Strumey Archer three speed hub for a restoration I was doing. As I was bicycling home and thinking where I could buy a date-specific hub, I found one right on the curb being thrown out; 1973 Sturmey Archer 3-speed - exactly what I needed!

It was the exact date I needed and it was in great shape; shiny like a new dime. Better yet, it was a complete rim with the hub so I didn't have to thread spokes or anything. What are the odds of that happening?!

Mike,

How's everything?

The odds of that happening by accident are, in my opinion, nil.

I like to think that you are being compensated for that nice work you did in trying to extend the olive branch to that fellow who cussed you out!

It's good to know there are people like you who don't seek revenge.

Pete Clark

I guess finding roadside treasures will come with time, eh? I've been commuting for most of the winter, and so far all I've come across on my trail are a few McDonald's wrappers and a dead skunk. :eek:
Maybe I should change my route so I can find the REAL goodies.

Patience, A F, it was months before I scored my pair of pliers! Just keep your head down. :-)

I think I found a DIAMOND today!

YES! I was riding home today and suddenly "Pheeeeew", I got a flat. Naturally, my initial reaction was "Oh, man, Bummer".

However, when I repaired the tire, there it was sticking through my tire and slashing my tube; what appeared to be a diamond! Imagine my excitement.

Nah, it wasn't a perfect thing from a ring or anything. It is quite misshapen really all jagged and all, but it is clear and shiny just the same.

I've had similar experiences with what appeared to be brown and even green gemstones, but this is my first experience with a clear one! My thinking is that it must be a diamond.

Oh boy, I can't wait for the wife to come home so I can gift it to her.

Man, you got me coughin'...

By the way, I like Technogirl's comments about other categories of roadside treasure. Seems like (aside from diamonds) I find lots of "pelts"...

Do that many people forget to collect their prize?

Amazingly, just the other day, I found a car left at the side of the road and with its wheels parallel to the curb, it could almost have been left there

Still, luckily, some caring member of the community had taken precautions against the likes of me, claiming such a find, by securing the car with a sunshine yellow wheel clamp

some people eh?

Grover,
I can see you are going to fit right into this wacky crowd!
Welcome,
Raymond

Treasusre update
A couple of days ago I found a practially brand new Craftsman 3/16 flat blade screwdriver. Looks new except for a few little dents in the handle, probably where it hit the street when it fell.
Total so far:
1 bent nose needle nose plier in very good condition
1 nearly new screwdriver
Rainman

i pick up marlboro packs. the coupons on the side have gotten me several toys...a freeplay radio, lighters, bags, etc. and it cleans up the roadside! try it...working toward a neat coat right now...

Ba-Dg-Er wrote:

"Oh well, I'll keep my eyes peeled"


.... Oooh, ouch! Don't do it, that could hurt! :eek:

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er
You would think with the frequency that I am on the road that I would find at least one goodie, but I haven't found a damn thing.

Oh well, I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Same here Ba-dg-er, I probably find more stuf riding my stationary bike than I do on my real bike.

We must just be a cheap lot in Idaho as I rarely find anything good here. Just the blown black rubber straps. But last summer outside of St. Louis, I found a nice Estwing framing hammer, and a pretty decent mini pump.

Well, the stationary bike is so boring I start looking around the room I'm in, and hey, what's that sticking out over there? Oh cool!! It's my bike magazine!! Darn, I've been looking for that for weeks.

I think I have to change my avatar, we are three now using these avatar

The best thing I have found ever was a complete set of golf clubs. I was on vacation on Prince Edward Island and was coming back to the campsite after visiting the nearby bakery ( 15 miles away) for bag of scones. I was passing a potato field, and saw a gleam coming from a deep clover-covered ditch on my side of the road. I stopped the bike and uncovered a complete set of golf clubs with the golf bag as well. it must have fallen off a vehicle sometime. I was wet, but not badly rusted. I put the whole thing on my back and pedaled back to the campsite.
I found a $20 bill yesterday coming back from a 31 mile Tour De Cure bike ride in Bar Harbor, ME. It was blowing across the road when I was at a stop light heading home. I ran out of the car and pocketed it.

Originally posted by balrog
I ran out of the car and pocketed it.

You were in a car?!?!?!?!? Blasphemy!!!! To mike anyway. But hey, you can tell your wife(if you have one), "look how much money cycling has saved me!!! I mean, I woulda had to spend several hubdred dollars for a golf club set". In which she will probably promptly reply,"yeah? well if you hadn't found those darn golf clubs you woudn't have started playing golf, now I have to pay for golf and biking!!!!

Originally posted by fubar5


You were in a car?!?!?!?!? Blasphemy!!!! To mike anyway. !!!!

Ya, I agree, Fubar5. That is blasphemy.

In a car?! Jeesh, that doesn't even count.

Try again, balrag. I was really into your story until the car part. That was like finding a bone in a fish fillet.

Originally posted by balrog
I ran out of the car and pocketed it.
I feel sure Balrog's fingers slipped and he meant to say, "I jumped off the bike..."

I've been noticing a genuine U. S. dime on the pavement where I ride a lot. Unfortunately, there is always heavy traffic and I can't stop for it. Now it's getting embedded deeper in the asphalt, and will be available only to archeologists before long....

Originally posted by JonR
Now it's getting embedded deeper in the asphalt, and will be available only to archeologists before long....
What will archeologists say when they dig up a 1957 Chevy?

Originally posted by Green Hornet

What will archeologists say when they dig up a 1957 Chevy?

"Woooow"
"What do you think it is?"
"I dunno"
" Think it's a 3 google,billion,zillion,trillion,million year old dino fossle, run over by some mysterious two wheeled instrument"

Originally posted by fubar5


"Woooow"
"What do you think it is?"
"I dunno"
" Think it's a 3 google,billion,zillion,trillion,million year old dino fossle, run over by some mysterious two wheeled instrument"

Now that's a true cyclist's response. :dance:

If future MALE archaeologists found a '57 Chevy, I think they would high-five and say "Duuude!" Guys don't evolve that fast. :)

This is fantastic!

Talk about God given opportunities to do good deeds?

I was bicycling along the local rustic bike trail the other day. Just floating along, not in any rush, you know; just drifting through the summer air on my two-wheeler.

Oh, people were zipping by me, some saying "move aside!" or "look where you're going!". Those are people who have a place to go and a timeframe to do it. Somebody forgot to tell them that the trail starts from nowhere and goes nowhere.

There was also a family that cruised by me and kindly said "Hello". A forty something mother, happy to be out, and a father trying to lead the group took up front and rear. The son appeared to be about nine years old full of freckles and the daughter about seven years old with golden hair whirling around her thoughts.

As we all know, it is the leisure man who finds roadside treasures and that is exactly what happened to me in mid-day. What do you think I found? Would you believe I found a small, live painted turtle in the middle of the path looking quite disoriented and confused.

"Oh, my goodness!" I exclaimed, and quickly picked up the poor creature. "Where is your momma?" I asked. To my utter amazement, it pointed it's head down the path - in the direction of the young family I had seen go by there just an hour before.

"My God!" I thought, "this little turtle is trying to tell me that it is in the care of that young boy." I secured the turtle to the handlebars with a bungee cord where I could see it and keep it safe and sped down the trail.

About four miles down the path, I came across the bicycles of the family. Their bicycles were strewn about beside the path and I could see the family playing near a creek about 300 yards or so away.

Rather than startling them, I wondered if there was not a way I could return this turtle to them in a fun and mysterious way. As God had helped me save this turtle, so did he provide me with the solution as to how to return the turtle to the family.

You see, the mother's windbreaker was draped across her handlebars. Taking this opportunity, I quickly slipped the turtle with all it's vitality into the mother’s pocket and zipped it shut. Then, I mounted my bike and sped away thinking of the delightful reunion when the mother finds the turtle and gives it to the boy.

God works in mysterious and wonderful ways.

Yes, and He must be especially proud of you, Mike!

Job well done! :thumbup:

Say, did you remember to put some turtle food in that pocket?

:eek:

Originally posted by Pete Clark
Yes, and He must be especially proud of you, Mike!

Job well done! :thumbup:

Say, did you remember to put some turtle food in that pocket?

:eek:

I'm thinking momma-san had some finger food for it.

I see that this thread is about a month old since the last post so I guess its time to get it started again. There are alot more of us on here since then.

ever find CDs?
I've found a Louie Armstrong Cd and a Playboy playmate of the year CD. Now that was a find!

I keep forgetting about these little guys.....;) :) :D

Well after 12 years of commuting here is my tally, to the best of my memory
Wallet with $200.00! - no name or id!!, paid for next years(1998) cycle club fee.
$25 cash (notes)
Around $ 30- in 1 and 2 dollar coins ( dont stop for silver coins)
2x 12 inch shifting spanners
1x 8inch shifter
1x 6 inch shifter
1x 4inch shifter
2x small wire cutter pliers
6 assorted pliers
2 mobile phones ( contacted grateful owners)
400 road kills ( just joking, but I work with a guy who picked up a road kill, kangaroo and ate it TRUE)

Will update as the memory returns.

PS anyone got a spare tool box :D

The treasures I usually see on my rides are Black Bears. They sure make my interval times a little quicker.:)

Mike

Well I can't touch Sillystorm's tally, but I found a 12" adjustable wrench and a two dollar (called a toonie) coin the other day.
Oh yeah, almost forgot the tent peg and half a fishing rod.:D

Sillystorm,
We may have a translation problem, mate! What are shifting spanners and shifters in this context? Sounds like possibly what we call adjustable wrenches.
Thanks,
Raymond

Sorry , yes adjustable wrenches are shifters/ shifting spanners.
Adding to my previous tally
2 wallets - 1 including money, both had id so I took both to police station.
One of those mobile phones I found last Saturday, and on Sunday(after last post) the guy came to where I work to pick up the phone and gave me a case of beer!! ( I prefer wine but I couldn't say that):)
2 pair of reasonable sunglasses
several screwdrivers

But most important of all roadside treasures, are the times where I have found myself and solved my problems as I pedalled those roads. Because as good as all those treasures are the ones inside matter the most.;)

Regards to all.

Originally posted by sillystorm
Well after 12 years of commuting here is my tally, to the best of my memory
Wallet with $200.00! - no name or id!!, paid for next years(1998) cycle club fee.
$25 cash (notes)
Around $ 30- in 1 and 2 dollar coins ( dont stop for silver coins)
2x 12 inch shifting spanners
1x 8inch shifter
1x 6 inch shifter
1x 4inch shifter
2x small wire cutter pliers
6 assorted pliers
2 mobile phones ( contacted grateful owners)
400 road kills ( just joking, but I work with a guy who picked up a road kill, kangaroo and ate it TRUE)

Will update as the memory returns.

PS anyone got a spare tool box :D

That's too cool!

I feel pretty lucky to find a quarter, or, for that matter a nickel. Pennies are a dime a dozen, almost literally. I have found a dollar bill a couple of times. Usually, if I find a $20, it's in my own jacket pocket from the previous autumn.

I do have a pair of 6" pliers that I found a long time ago. I cleaned it up and oiled it, and use it still. I also have found several 6" and 10" adjustable wrenches (shifters). People don't seem to hold on to those any better in Missouri and New Jersey than they do in Australia.

I might have a spare tool box in the garage. :D

Jonathan

I once found $30 in notes (with no wallet attached) in the space of two weeks about 10 years ago. I've found bugger all since.

Chris

all i find is small change, busted cd's and trash. every now and then ill score on something cool.

Gee, I wish I could get excited over a pair of bent needlenose pliers, but a motorcycle kick start lever will have to do.

A true OGbf'r zombiethread.

I like finding paper money. It happens from time to time.

Off the top of my head, over the last 6 or 7 years:

100' tape measure (cheap plastic hand wound one but I didn't have one so it was welcome)
pair of long nose pliers
pair of long nose vice grips
5/8 and 9/16 combination wrenches (both found on the same day, 1 mile apart, weird)
1/2" drive 18" breaker bar
5/8" deep well impact socket
A couple of cell phones, both returned to owners within a couple of days.
A wallet with some cash in, handed over (yes, with all contents) to police station - address on ID was > 100 miles away
Nice electrician's screwdriver, fully insulated shaft, name brand made in US one (about $20 new)
Lots of beer cans, probably on the order of 100 to 150 of them.
Probably other junk I'm forgetting now.

I scored some roadside pliers, and I got excited about the find.
Also, a fistfull of zip ties, some leather rigging gloves, webbing strap (which I happened to need then), phone, a CD freebie from a girlie mag (decided to pass on that one, it was in Danish and I'm not too fluent).
I must point out that these were all separate finds. I would get a bit suspicous if I had found all of them in a pile by the roadside.

all i find is small change, busted cd's and trash. every now and then ill score on something cool.

Keep looking.
Some the stuff I have picked up.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/Ontheroad006.jpg