What have you found on the ground while riding?
#226
Senior Member
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From: Nanaimo, BC
Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo
#228
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,123
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Bikes: 29er commuter/tourer, 26er commuter/tourer, folding mixed-mode commuter
A Kershaw Onion series knife
A cheap generic knife
$20 bill
bag of cannabis
A package of ZipLoc bags (found on tour, a couple hours after I realized that I needed to stop and pick up some ZipLoc bags at the next resupply stop)
Many lifetime warranty wrenches, though never 8 mm or 15 mm
Pliers
A card wallet (returned to owner)
A SuperFlash bike light, with Eneloops, that had fallen off my own bike a few hour earlier
The screw that fastens a fender stay to a (SKS) fender in the parking lot of my apartment complex about a week after losing such a screw
A cheap generic knife
$20 bill
bag of cannabis
A package of ZipLoc bags (found on tour, a couple hours after I realized that I needed to stop and pick up some ZipLoc bags at the next resupply stop)
Many lifetime warranty wrenches, though never 8 mm or 15 mm
Pliers
A card wallet (returned to owner)
A SuperFlash bike light, with Eneloops, that had fallen off my own bike a few hour earlier
The screw that fastens a fender stay to a (SKS) fender in the parking lot of my apartment complex about a week after losing such a screw
#229
Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 42
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Duct tape, blindfold, restraints, handkerchief, and chloroform. No wait,v that's my trunk.
Just kidding, obviously.
I found a purse. Stopped at the next bench and called. Luckily all of her money and belongings were still there. She and her husband offered a reward but took friendship instead. We've been friends for over three years now.
Just kidding, obviously.
I found a purse. Stopped at the next bench and called. Luckily all of her money and belongings were still there. She and her husband offered a reward but took friendship instead. We've been friends for over three years now.
#230
On a one day organized bike tour 16 years ago, I found a single woman close to my age. We soon found out we had much in common.
I asked her out, she accepted. Our 13th anniversary is coming up next month.
Other lesser finds include a tool kit, brand new from the look of it, about 20 years ago on the Trans Canada west of Calgary.
On a bike tour along the north shore of Lake Erie in 1999, during tomato harvest season, lots of juicy red tomatoes that had fallen off the trucks on their way to the processing plant in Leamington. Most would be split open, but some would not, so I collected as many as I could and put them to good use.
I asked her out, she accepted. Our 13th anniversary is coming up next month.
Other lesser finds include a tool kit, brand new from the look of it, about 20 years ago on the Trans Canada west of Calgary.
On a bike tour along the north shore of Lake Erie in 1999, during tomato harvest season, lots of juicy red tomatoes that had fallen off the trucks on their way to the processing plant in Leamington. Most would be split open, but some would not, so I collected as many as I could and put them to good use.
#233
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
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From: 961' 42.28° N, 83.78° W (A2)
Bikes: Mongoose Selous, Trek DS
#234
#235
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 385
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From: Endicott, NY
Bikes: Electra Loft 7i, Fuji Crosstown 2.5, Gravity Liberty FB, Schwinn Voyageur
I finally saw something that was worthy of stopping for!

It's 15mm. I replaced the cheapo 15mm stamped wrench I've been carrying with my new find.
It's 15mm. I replaced the cheapo 15mm stamped wrench I've been carrying with my new find.
#236
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
From: Houston,Texas
Bikes: Bianchi Via Nirone 7
Once I found a white parakeet at rest on the ground. I thought to catch him with my hat, but looked at him too long, and he recovered and flew away. Another time on a leisure ride(not commuting) I found a tarantula. I caught him in my gear tube and had a little fun with him at my sons' church youth group before letting him go. And air. Lots of AIR !
#237
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,341
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From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Saw someone else's bar plug today! Didn't stop.
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Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
#238
Full Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 474
Likes: 9
I came across a woman's purse with its contents strewn across the bike lane one morning on my way to work. It had some important stuff sitting nearby, like a car key, driver's license, prescription meds, etc. I scooped the stuff back into the purse, stuffed the purse into my pannier, and continued on to work where I turned it over to the police officer who was there that day (we always have a local cop on-site for security). He told me later that he was able to get in touch with the purse's owner, and that she came by to pick it up.
#239
Keepin it Wheel




Joined: Aug 2011
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From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
#240
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
[MENTION=401540]Chris Bamford[/MENTION], I hope you're healing well. That looks terribly painful.
A couple of weeks ago, I found a big hi-vis safety vest, the kind road crews wear. It's very dirty, so I'll wash it. I'm not sure I'll ever use it, but I'll keep it for a while. If I don't use it, whom should I give it to?
A couple of weeks ago, I found a big hi-vis safety vest, the kind road crews wear. It's very dirty, so I'll wash it. I'm not sure I'll ever use it, but I'll keep it for a while. If I don't use it, whom should I give it to?
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#242
Happy banana slug

Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 26L, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mostly I find trash; bits of plastic sheeting, bits of plastic tubs, stuff that falls off the back of a pickup. Last month I found what was probably a large piece of glass that took out my tire, and an hour and 1/4 mile later, $20. I never find money. Last week I found a pair of young goslings being harassed by a raven; did what I could, which turned out not to be much; I wish them luck.
A couple years ago I had a spate of finding wallets and an iPhone; all were eventually reunited with their owners.
I gotta move where you guys are, you have all the good stuff!
A couple years ago I had a spate of finding wallets and an iPhone; all were eventually reunited with their owners.
I gotta move where you guys are, you have all the good stuff!
#243
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
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Bikes: 29er commuter/tourer, 26er commuter/tourer, folding mixed-mode commuter
#244
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 87
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From: Edmonton, AB Canada
Bikes: 2021 Scott Speedster, 2001 Giant MTB
@Chris Bamford, I hope you're healing well. That looks terribly painful.
The critter's handler (owner's father) was surprisingly good about it — very apologetic, took my address and came by the next day with an envelope of $100 cash for dressings etc. and a $200 gift card for a nice local eatery.
#245
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,240
Likes: 6,497
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
[MENTION=401540]Chris Bamford[/MENTION], sometimes dog owners are good that way. A neighbor's dog attacked my dog unprovoked, and the neighbor apologized, paid the vet bill, and made sure it could never happen again. I also learned he and his wife are interesting people, so some good came of it.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#246
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Today I found a left side crank arm with a pedal attached. Looks like it fell of a CitiBike.
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#247
Senior Member


Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Berkeley, CA
Bikes: 72 Cilo Pacer, 72 Gitane GT, 72 Peugeot PX10, 73 Speedwell Ti,l, 75 Peugeot PR-10L, 80 Colnago Super, 81 Zinn, 85 ALAN Cross, 85 De Rosa Pro, 86 Look 753, 86 Look KG86, 89 Parkpre Team, 90 Parkpre Team MTB, 90 Merlin
As I was riding home on my commute a few months ago, I heard a faint metallic sound. I almost kept going but decided I'd check what it was judt in case I'd dropped something. Sure enough, under a parked car, I found the end cap to my vintage Lyotard pedal which had just fallen off. Glad I turned around (those little buggers are expensive!) but now I've got a bit of OCD about faint metallic noises while I'm riding.
On another occassion, I found the smashed end of silca pump which had obviously been run over by a car or two. Fortunately, the Campagnolo pump head was still there!
On another occassion, I found the smashed end of silca pump which had obviously been run over by a car or two. Fortunately, the Campagnolo pump head was still there!
#248
Proud hobo biker
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 804
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From: Schertz - New Braunfels area
Bikes: 2019 Surly Ogre, 2016 Giant Anyroad 2, Lightspeed Roadrunner trike, SE Tripel (in process)
A wallet, a few cell phones, an Ipod touch, a $20 bill, several wrenches and sockets, bungee cords, giant toy sunglasses, and a collapsible police baton.
EDIT - Never realized how many people lose tools along the road till I read through this thread.
EDIT - Never realized how many people lose tools along the road till I read through this thread.
Last edited by jimmie65; 04-29-16 at 05:21 PM.
#249
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: USA
Bikes: 84 Pinarello Trevisio, 86 Guerciotti SLX, 96 Specialized Stumpjumper, 2010 Surly Cross Check, 88 Centurion Prestige, 73 Raleigh Sports, GT Force, Bridgestone MB4
Yesterday on my return city commute, I found an 18v Bosch impact screwdriver. It was obviously kicked to the side by a car tire and the battery was cracked, but it still worked. It got me to wondering. As cyclists, we have a pretty good view of the road, I'll bet people have found some interesting things lying in the street.
What are some of the things you have found while riding?
What are some of the things you have found while riding?





Congratulations!!
