CliftonGK1

Having seen enough photos in random threads of rando rigs with all manners of stuffed toys, etc. affixed to luggage or handlebars, I thought it would be fun to get a single photo thread going to showcase everyone's good luck charms/ride companions/totems/mojo or whatever it is that you call that certain something you just need to bring on a ride, even though it may serve no discernable purpose aside from decoration.

What is it?
Where do you keep it during a ride?
What's the story behind your having it?


Mine is a green pencil-topper troll doll with rainbow(ish) hair.
On my old commuter bike (in pic) I kept him duct taped to the stem. I've got 3 bikes now, so I keep him in whichever piece of luggage I'm carrying on a ride.
Back in college, a riding buddy and I bought these silly $0.25 vending machine toys and attached them to our bikes during a late night goof-around ride. We stopped at some take out joint, and they had the vending machines right there in the waiting area. After a month or so, he removed his and I did not; and on our off-road night ride the very next evening he caught a rut with his front wheel, went over the bars and ended up needing 4 stitches in his face. Since then, I refuse to ride without the little guy somewhere on my bike. He's been around since 1991.

bobbycorno

My "mojo"? My bike, of course. Never go riding without it. ;-)

SP
Bend,

Mr. Beanz

I don't but Gina ( SO) does!

Homeyba

Poor Charlie Brown has the same expression on his face that I would have if I had a zip-tie around my neck!

Mr. Beanz

He's got his hand out for a helping hand, don't pay attention to him!

Machka 

I have a plastic black cat. My original black cat accompanied me to Australia in 2004, and several people commended that he looked like Trim, Matthew Flinder's Cat (Matthew Flinders was one of the original explorers of Australia, and charted the coastline). That black cat vanished on the trip back to North America ... so maybe it wanted to stay in Australia.

So I got another one, slightly different, that reminds me of my two most recent real cats (one of whom is still alive). Also a black cat ... a baby panther, I think.

I've also got a whole set of pins on my handlebar bag from places I've been.



BUT these things don't seem to be providing me with any luck these days ... I'm having a terrible time getting into Randonneuring again.

claire

Hey that's a good thread. I noticed on the last PBP that quite a few people did have something special on their bikes, from a drawing from the kids on the recumbent flag pole, to an ipod with special playlist made by the wife for the night time...
I have a little keychain attached to the brake cable by my handlebar with a representation of Buddha. It comes from the Tibetan temple in Eskdalemuir in Scotland on my Land's End -John O'Groats prior to PBP. For me it's just a reminder of the good times I had on that trip and all the great people met on the trip.

USAZorro

Maybe I need to get one. Any suggestions? I'm considering a cap from the brand of Ginger Beer I occasionally partake in - kind of a take-off on the cork that I see some riders have dangling from the back of their saddle - but as I don't drink anything that comes stoppered with a cork...

xtrajack

I have Snoopy doing the WWI flying ace thing:



I also have a beaded lizard that I found on my way into work:

scott L R

I always wear a bead necklace my Daughter made for me.

barturtle

I've got 3 tubes, one folding tire and a large assortment of tools...just in case their good luck fails me, they work just as well as bad luck recovery devices.

Billy Bones

I carry these in the iPod pocket [sans iPod] of the CamelBak:

1. A Zuni Raven fetish. . .'cause sometime I need to be intelligent-smart,
2. A coyote tooth. . .'cause sometimes I need to be clever-devious, and
3. A little bronze bust of Diva Fortuna. . .'cause sometimes I just need the luck only She can provide.

They get packed along on all trips, too.

MerckxMad

I carry a St. Christopher medal from Ghisallo glued to inside of my headtube. Before he was de-sainted, he was the patron saint of travelers/cyclists. I'm not really a religious fellow, but the fact that it came from the cyclist's museum at the top of the Bellagio is enough for me.

CliftonGK1

St. Christopher was never removed from sainthood. His feast day was simply removed from the RC Calendar of saint's day observations.

akohekohe

I think the best ones are in fact the ones you find on the road. There is so much interesting stuff on the road side if you keep your eyes open and aren't in a hurry. I keep things for a while and then when it feels like the right time give them away to someone who needs some luck. I like hand made things like your lizard. They have character.

thebulls

I found "Sir Bikesalot" by the bike path shortly before BMB and he has been on most brevets since. While not successful in warding off all bad luck, I'll never know what bad things he's prevented from happening :-) Here he is on PBP.

Nick

DSCN0321a.jpg

Kamala

I don't know why I didn't think of this last year, but I'm going to mount Kamala to my bike for Livestrong. And I'll probably keep him on there for a good while after that.

claire

Ha! Love that picture with the ham sandwiches ready to be eaten!