Gerryattrick

Went for a ride this morning and it started raining about 7 miles from home so stopped in an underpass to put a waterproof top on. Rode home and went to take my rucksack off - and it wasn't there, I'd left it in the underpass. Got in the car and was back there about 40 mins after I'd left it there but it was gone.

All in all about £400 of stuff including my glasses, mobile phone, house/car keys, and some bike tools. It's not so much the cost but the inconvenience of sorting the phone out, getting new glasses and keys. My network provider says the phone had been switched off so whoever found it had no intention of contacting my home number.

It was by quite a rough part of the City so I'll never see it again. Never mind, you live and learn, hopefully

bruce19

That really sucks. Wish there was something positive I could say. I know how bad that feels. OTOH...you lost some objects but whoever decided to profit from your loss lost their soul a long time ago. At least you don't have to live their life.

curly666

Did kind of the same thing once, stopped to take off wind breaker, took the keys out of my pocket and left them on a park bench. Didn't realize I left them there until I went to my car.

Checked with local police station and 3 kids had found them and turned them in, had extra car key tucked in wallet and was able to get to station to get them. Had lots of keys, 2 key fobs for the cars and numerous bike lock keys that couldn't be replaced.

Was able to find out who found the keys and got the kids a gift certificate for local pizza place to thank them. So you might want to check to see if yours have been turned in, good luck.

BobbyG

You are not an idiot. The fact that you carry rain gear shows that. You were faced with a non-standard event, a disruption to your routine. It's hard to remember everything. You will devise a method to avoid the same oversight in the future.

overthehillmedi

Like hang the rucksack off the handlebars?

Gerryattrick

I could go back to having a saddle bag, but I feel comfortable with a rucksack and I hate cycling shirts with rear pockets stuffed full.

On the subject of honesty, there are always some locations where you don't want to lose stuff. OTOH a few years ago when travelling near a town called Mystic in South Dakota we met an 85 year old who was still working his own gold mine. He showed us around the mine and invited us into his home for coffee. About 30 mins after we left my friend realised he'd left his very expensive camera outside the mine. We doubled back and started looking around with no luck, and when we got back to the car there was a family waiting for us. They'd found the camera and had been driving round looking for us (recognised us by looking on the camera).


That certainly left a good impression, unlike today.

To cap it all I've just looked at my insurance docs and I'm not covered for the loss. A very expensive bike ride.

CrankyFranky

It was an expensive mistake - but not worth beating yourself up over and over for - it's so easy to do what you did. You got out and rode: you can not be an idiot.
Let it pass.

eja_ bottecchia

100+

OP, do you have insurance for any of the lost items?

Gerryattrick

Not covered on my insurance policy, my fault trying to cut insurance costs. I've already bought a new phone, now off to get new keys and glasses. Fitted a small saddlebag on bike that will take tools etc.

eja_ bottecchia

We are all trying to shave cuts here and there. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

The important part is that you are OK.

CHEERS.

qcpmsame 

Gerry, you ain't an idiot, we all have our forgetful moments and expensive lessons learned from mistakes. Write it off as one for the bad guys, as my High School track and X-country coach always said. Besides beating up on yourself is counterproductive for riding time.

Bill

NOS88

"The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Biker395 

Idiot? I suppose this is a bad time to mention I brushed my teeth with Preparation H last weekend. Oy.

Only the dead don't make mistakes. Forgive yourself as you would anyone else you love.

Retired2013

Do not be so hard on yourself. Stuff like this is frustrating! The only one that does not make mistakes - is the one who does not every do anything. Hope everything is working itself out.

JanMM

If I would have done that, my wallet with credit cards and drivers license would likely have been part of the deal.

John_V 

Don't beat yourself up over this one incident. I think if all of us in this 50+ forum would post some of the things that have happened to us over the years, your incident would start to look pretty good to you. Just another live and learn situation.

leob1

It could have been worse, you just lost 'things'. And you never know, you might just get it back. Did you have a name, address, phone no in the bag?

Riding with my wife a few years back, we go to the top of a long hill and stopped to rest. A while later, off we go, down the other side. At the bottom of that hill she realises she doesn't have her helmet. So Back UP the hill to find it. It's not there. WTF? It turns out she never had it on when we started the ride.

rumrunn6

you have my condolences

Gerryattrick

No ID at all in the bag, luckily, otherwise I'd have to change the house and car locks. If they wanted to contact me they would have used my phone to ring my wife's number.

You're right it's only stuff, and on the bright side I've got a more modern phone.

trackhub

Everyone "does stupid" once in awhile. Don't feel so bad. At least you took matters up immediately, and got straightened out.

longbeachgary

What's a rucksack?

Artkansas 

Been close by, done something similar.

Gerryattrick

Another name for backpack.

slorollin

It is a bag in which to put your ruck.

JamesRL

First day of a really long tour 25 years back. It had rained, then I discover part of my route was under construction, and I got a little muddy (despite two rear panniers and a rack bag, handlebar bag). Later in the day it rained again, and it was very heavy downpour which washed me clean, but was hard to ride through. I was tired by the end, and I wasn't sure which turn to make to get to my uncle's place, so I stopped at a diner. This was before cell phones. I took my wallet out of my front bag and went into the diner to use the payphone, and left my wallet on top of it.

I didn't discover that till the next day. Luckily someone turned it in, and I picked it up on my way out.


You have to take into account the fact that after a big ride, you are tired, and not thinking clearly.