Commuting - Lost items while commuting

While I've been biking to work about 3 times a week for the last month. Couple weeks ago I lost my red blinkie while coming home. Yesterday I lost my pager and my watch while going to work, must have fell out of my bag.

blinkie = $17
pager = $50 (work pager)
watch = $120
==========
Total = $187

That seems strange to me. I guess it's common though..

I have found a nice Blackburn frame pump. A nice 16 foot tape measure, a pair of large cutting pliers, needle nose pliers, a ratcheting 10 mm box wrench, some bungee cords. Some cash ($1 bills floating around). Tire changing tools, a few bottles, and a few complete abandonded bikes. If I find your stuff, I'll let you know. :)

Yeah I lost a wrench when I didn't realize my pannier busted a seem. But I've also found stuff, nothing great so far, mostly odd-sized tools I've still yet to use.

i have been commuting for about a year and ain't lost ***** except weight.... zip your bag up and check out your gear before you take off!

i think i learned this trick from my day of mountainbiking where the contents of my camel back emptied along about a five mile stretch of trail (luckily i was able to go back and find it all).

in fact i FOUND a swell screwdriver on the side of the road the other day: SCORE!!!!!

I've lost a blinkie--the damn thing kept popping off its mount and it was just a matter of time, and a 15mm wrench--I have no idea how that got out of my bag.

Luckily, I have not lost anything expensive. I did lose several handkerchiefs which were no big deal. I always try to put my wallet, change, ect in a zip lock bag in my packpack to prevent losing stuff while commutting. I guess if I lost the backpack it would be costly.

I've lost a blinkie--the damn thing kept popping off its mount and it was just a matter of time, and a 15mm wrench--I have no idea how that got out of my bag.

I found a nice short box / open end 15mm wrench at Sears. It fits into a tiny seat pack. Have you seen them?

I have never lost anything that wasn't trashed and already ready to fall off the bike. However, I found something that blew off my old Ford Aerostar van last Summer. The grill that covers the windshield wipers broke and blew off. I picked it up one day and put it in the first garbage bin I could find. The van is old and the wipers don't work, so the grill isn't worth replacing!

So far, knock on wood, I haven't lost anything that I've noticed. But I have found tons of stuff over the years. I have a 3 or 4 mile stretch of road mostly used by contractors and they always lose stuff out of their trucks. Some of the items worth remembering include a Mac Tools socket set, about 10 lbs of brand new nails, pliers, screwdrivers, 12' tape measure, industrial sized dust pans (2 of 'em!) and so many work gloves I don't bother to pick them up anymore.

So far, knock on wood, I haven't lost anything that I've noticed. But I have found tons of stuff over the years. I have a 3 or 4 mile stretch of road mostly used by contractors and they always lose stuff out of their trucks. Some of the items worth remembering include a Mac Tools socket set, about 10 lbs of brand new nails, pliers, screwdrivers, 12' tape measure, industrial sized dust pans (2 of 'em!) and so many work gloves I don't bother to pick them up anymore.

I find plenty of nails and roofing staples from our generous local contractors as well. Unfortunately, they are usually rammed through my tire when I notice them!

Lost a blinky last week. And I didn't lose it, but I got my cellphone soaked carrying it in supposedly waterproof jacket. Once the phone dried out, I had to buy a new battery and that cost me $30.

I've lost blinkies and a bike computer, which I was only using as a watch anyways. Now I strapped an old Timex watch on my handlebars, and I secure my blinkie with one of those black clips from the office. Everything else stays zipped up.

I'm not ready for the 50+ Forum yet, but I do forget to zip up my trunk sometimes. I lost a PAYCHECK once but a motorist caught up and told me. Should have bought her dinner...

Now I get in the habit of double checking...and triple checking!

I mount my taillight on the rear pocket of my jersey. Not as susceptible to bumps there.

A couple of times I've forgotten to zip up the top compartement of my panniers, and when I notice it I stop and get paranoid. What did I bring in this today? Do I have everything?

Now I check b4 leaving, and I look behind quickly not too long after leaving. Never lost anything though. *knocks on wood*

I lost my balance at a 4 way stop one time. It was immediately followed by the loss of a little bit of my pride.

I found a wire cutter/stripper one time. Oh and porn. Lots of porn along side the road out in the country.

I lost my cycle computer a couple of months ago. I went to check the time and, hey where's my computer? I turned around to look for it but It was dark. Never did find it. I'm hoping one day I'll ride home and WALAH it will be right in front of me.

Might just be dreaming.

Ray

Last year I lost my wallet & keys in a nighttime storm somewhere on my 17mile ride home through trails & streets. After a night of freaking out I rode to work very slowly the next day and actually found both right next to a couple speed bumps I go over at the beginning of my nighttime commute. Lucky me. I have lost a blinkie or two for good though.

I got very lucky this morning. I have a riding jacket with a pocket in the sleve that I put my keys in (house, office). That pocket wasn't zipped up and the keys were hanging out of the pocket. a few more bounces and they might have been gone. I would have thought that I would have heard them but I'm not going to count on it. whew.

I found a nice short box / open end 15mm wrench at Sears. It fits into a tiny seat pack. Have you seen them?

I know the one of which you speak. This one happened to be in a velcro closed bellows pocket in my shoulder bag underneath the velcro closed main flap. I have no idea what happened.

I would have bought a cute shorty wrench if I didn't need that wrench right away. I went down to the LHS and bought me the last two 15mm box wrenches they had separately for sale. Better quality than the one I lost anyhow, so I guess I won. Right?

My rear light wasn't secured properly and dropped out of its mount. I stopped, looked without luck. It was too dark. What appeared to be a concerned passerby asked what I was looking for. I told him when a car ran it over. Then the smartass said "Oh, there it is!" :mad:

I've found more that I lost. Mostly small tools, but once I found a sledge hammer- that was a good find.

About a month ago I lost my helmet. Took off with it sitting on my rear rack. I turned back and found it, or what was left of it. I needed a new helmet anyway.

I know the one of which you speak. This one happened to be in a velcro closed bellows pocket in my shoulder bag underneath the velcro closed main flap. I have no idea what happened.

I would have bought a cute shorty wrench if I didn't need that wrench right away. I went down to the LHS and bought me the last two 15mm box wrenches they had separately for sale. Better quality than the one I lost anyhow, so I guess I won. Right?

Better quality wrench. OK you won. :)

For the last two summers I've managed to lose my house keys on a quick ride down to the local Borders. Both times I've had to leave my padlocked bike behind and start to walk back home and thankfully both times I've found my keys lying in the road. You'd have thought I'd have learnt by now to zip my pockets up :D

In just under 9 months of commuting though the only thing I've lost is a blinky which must have popped off my seat bag on a rough stretch of road.

Havent lost anything yet. Best thing ive found was some ladys wallet. Had $200 in food stamps and a $20 bill. I took the $20 bill as a refund for her using up my tax dollars being on welfare. I left the food stamps because I have no use for them and wouldnt want to use them anyway. I left the wallet at the office that was next to where I found it.

What the heck, i've lost nothing riding my bike, ever.

Most recently, my bike computer at an overnight stop on a randonnee. I had disengaged the computer in the cradle to preserve the distance reading while I went off to buy food. I forgot about the computer, and it jiggled out. We left the hostel at 1.00am right when a power blackout occurred, so there was no point searching for it.

Near the same place last Easter on a similar randonnee, I lost a Vitorinox pocket knife from a side pocket on my handlebar bag when I turned the bike upside down to fix a puncture.

Five or six years ago when commuting to work, I lost my mobile phone. Couldn't find it anywhere. I retraced my route and found it on a grassy bank that I used as a shortcut to get on to a highway. Phew! I was very poor at the time, the phone was vital for bookings for my business, and I would have been cactus without it.

I've lost the odd tool or two, and a complete Topeak saddebag -- the sort with the tool kit in top and another pocket underneath. I left it lying on a wall after locking up my bike and removing thievable stuff from it.

I think I'm ahead so far.
Lost:
a few nuts & bolts & 1 fender stay, 2 blinkie lights, a new Zefal Frame pump & a $423.00 dividend check.
Found:
A Swiss army knife, a 15 mm box end wrench, a small crescent wrench, a screwdriver, $14.00 folded up 2X, 2 fender stays & that $423.00 dividend check when I retraced my commute route. (it was laying in a grass planter strip about 1 foot from the curb, just a mile from work, still in its envelope with the deposit slip) Don

that $423.00 dividend check when I retraced my commute route. (it was laying in a grass planter strip about 1 foot from the curb, just a mile from work, still in its envelope with the deposit slip) Don

Don't you just love that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach and the body tremble when you realise the loss? Not. But the relief of finding it again can put a smile on your face for the rest of the day!

(Had a recent, similar, non-cycling experience with a wallet with $1000 cash in it, left on a counter in a post office).

I had my sunglasses on the front of my shirt last week and they fell off in the middle of the road. A very nice lady waved at me, then ran and grabbed the glasses before they could get run over. She gave them back to me and wouldn't accept anything in return.

I lost a blinkie last week on my commute to work in a single track section of woods. I found it the next day blinkiing it's little heart away. Somewhat chilled and lonely and so glad to see me.

I found one of those things jewelers use to look at diamonds, i think its spell lupe.

While I've been biking to work about 3 times a week for the last month. Couple weeks ago I lost my red blinkie while coming home. Yesterday I lost my pager and my watch while going to work, must have fell out of my bag.

blinkie = $17
pager = $50 (work pager)
watch = $120
==========
Total = $187
I have lost blinkies too. Maybe you have a broken zipper, one that pops open? I learned how to fix worn zippers a few days ago from this web site (http://www.whitemountain.com.au/links_gear_repair_zipper_maintenance.html). It took 5 minutes to get all my zippers tightened up, and I haven't dropped anything out of my backpack since. Makes life waaay easier :)

I found one of those things jewelers use to look at diamonds, i think its spell lupe.

Too bad you didn't find the 8 carat diamond that was also with the "lupe".

Lost my garage door opener once. I had it in the little pocket on the back of my timbuktu bag that's behind the zippered change-pocket. The bag was stuffed pretty full and somehow it worked its way out of the pocket and hit the street right as I was passing the exit to an offramp while crossing over a freeway overpass. Slowed down to go back and retrieve it, but it was too late. It got run-over.

Worst part was I wasn't carrying my keys, 'cause I use the opener to get in and out of the house in the morning, so I was locked out.

My Mom wasn't too happy to have to drive 15 mi. with a spare key (My parents live nearby and have a key to my house.) to come and let me in...

Other than that I've not lost much except for the occasional blinkie, and my temper now and then.

-Trevor

I've lost a couple of cable locks that fell out of the crappy Specialized lock carrying clips.

I've lost a couple of cable locks that fell out of the crappy Specialized lock carrying clips.
I don't like U-lock carriers. None of the ones I've ever used held it securely enough. The worst ones allowed the lock to wobble all over the place. Anyone know of a good one?

U-lock on your hip.

http://www.pacdesigns.com/other.htm

I am very lucky, the things I drop I find the next day. However, I have passed up a lot of items that other cyclist have lost thinking that they like me might be looking for it on the way back. Around here some of the on ramps to the bike paths have gravel that make it a bit bumpy and barricades that you have to pickup or slide your bike under. On the streets if you drop it you lost it.
I have 2 velcro straps and taped velcro around the pump where I attached the 2 velcro straps.
I made velcro tabs on the zippers to look them in closed. I zip lock the tools and smaller items. I know that I still will drop something.

well, on a very bad day i lost a crank. ( it fell off) Luckily i was able to find it, and attempt to put it on a pocket, to look halfway normal to bystanders.

Then i lost a pedal ( found that too, but still hard to find in underbrush)

I lost my derailer (i overshifted, and it went right into the spokes) it was gone forever.

I have also lost my nice thermal fleece sweater, I put it on top of my rack truck while i was waiting for a friend, and when he showed up he wanted to race, and it was serveral miles before i realized it had blown off.

Havent lost anything yet. Best thing ive found was some ladys wallet. Had $200 in food stamps and a $20 bill. I took the $20 bill as a refund for her using up my tax dollars being on welfare. I left the food stamps because I have no use for them and wouldnt want to use them anyway. I left the wallet at the office that was next to where I found it.

Nice going, you bloody thief. Did you ever consider you may have taken money for a child's medicine or part of someone's rent? May the wheel of karma turn and you lose your bike to another thief.

Paul

dee-vee, I hope you never find yourself in unfortunate circumstances.

By the way, for living in such a low density community I will be expecting a tax reimbursement from you. If you own an automobile or you or your descendents have ever attended public school at any level, I will have to upwardly adjust your dollar contributions to my tax relief fund. I reserve the right, upon further consideration, to append additional refundable items to the prior list. Your compliance in this matter is appreciated.

Lost my kershaw and a pair of gloves so far...about 130 dollars worth of stuff :(

I have lost some blinkers, a u lock, a handkerchief, a sunglasses mirror. ~$70 But I have found a set of car keys in the middle of no ware they have been there for weeks, a reflector, lots of license plates (happen to collect thought, like keys and coins), coins nothing special, also by Park St. on the bike path I found a swipe card with key, had to move them off the road, the key ring was sharp, hope soon found those before it snowed, well I mostlikely will find them again, just hopefully not because of a flat tire.
Geek

I lost my house and car keys when they apparently bounced out of my seat bag, which I had idiotically left unzipped. Luckily I did not lose my Alien and tire tools/patch kit.

I haven't lost anything permanently. A few times, my rear blinkie fell off, but I heard it happen each time and was able to recover it. Another time, I lost one of my ankle cuffs on the way to work; the cuff wasn't quite big enough to fasten over my raingear, and fell off without my knowing it. I rode home the exact route that I took to work, in case I could see it on the side of the road, and I found it in the parking lot of my apartment.

I've made a couple of neat finds, though. One day on my way home, I noticed one of those reacher/grabbers, picked it up and strapped it to my rack. Another time, on the way to work, I rode by a bucket. I didn't mess with it then, but on my way home, it was still there - no one had picked it up or run over it. Since I was walking my bike on the sidewalk right beside it, it was fairly easy for me to pick up and take home.

I found one of those things jewelers use to look at diamonds, i think its spell lupe.

Loupe.

I haven't lost anything yet, but I've had a blinkie that keeps falling off. It is only a matter of time. I was thinking of getting one of these (http://www.outinstyle.com/page/ois/PROD/LawEnforcementClothing/NITEIZE-NAB03) to dangle from the bag instead. They're selling them cheap at Lowes.

Loupe.

I haven't lost anything yet, but I've had a blinkie that keeps falling off. It is only a matter of time. I was thinking of getting one of these (http://www.outinstyle.com/page/ois/PROD/LawEnforcementClothing/NITEIZE-NAB03) to dangle from the bag instead. They're selling them cheap at Lowes.

It will certainly help a little. But it's not very effective.
If you are about to buy something, you might want to read this and save yourself some trouble and a few bucks.

Scroll down to post #30

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=68186&page=2&pp=25&highlight=Cat+eye+light

well, I've never lost anything but I found a pair of oakleys that I still where today....I'm always on the lookout for a wells fargo money bag :D :D .





~kern~

where the contents of my camel back emptied along about a five mile stretch of trail (luckily i was able to go back and find it all).

I'm not sure if this was a camelbak water pack, but if so, that's pretty funny. I'm sure the contents of your camelbak water pack were none the worse for the wear after having dropped on the ground.