Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

What have you found on the ground while riding?

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

What have you found on the ground while riding?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-26-15 | 10:54 AM
  #26  
kickstart's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,331
Likes: 12
From: Kent Wa.

Bikes: 2005 Gazelle Golfo, 1935 Raleigh Sport, 1970 Robin Hood sport, 1974 Schwinn Continental, 1984 Ross MTB/porteur, 2013 Flying Piegon path racer, 2014 Gazelle Toer Populair T8

Originally Posted by tjspiel
Not that it's any worse than any other garbage one might find but it ticked me off. I found a spent CO2 cartridge and tube with a hole in it. What a lazy jerk. Couldn't take 30 seconds to shove the tube and cartridge back into his pack or pocket. This was on a MUP so it wasn't a race or anything like that.

But now I have another spare tube.
Found the same plus a used towelette on a local MUT, 50 feet from a garbage can. I want to think they just forgot, but the number of discarded energy bar wrappers I see on a regular basis seem to indicate otherwise.

Unfortunately being active, and health conscious doesn't always equate being conscientious of others.
kickstart is offline  
Reply
Old 07-26-15 | 05:08 PM
  #27  
f4rrest's Avatar
Farmer tan
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,985
Likes: 30
From: Burbank, CA

Bikes: Allez, SuperSix Evo

Shopping carts mostly.
f4rrest is offline  
Reply
Old 07-27-15 | 08:11 AM
  #28  
ItsJustMe's Avatar
Señior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan

Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)

Two new things in the last couple of days. A very nice pair of electrician's pliers and a decent folding knife:

https://goo.gl/photos/rs8ypkcVA7UPbuTy5

https://goo.gl/photos/Qx5rzxgU6n3uzzLS7
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
ItsJustMe is offline  
Reply
Old 07-27-15 | 10:53 AM
  #29  
Shimagnolo's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,102
Likes: 6,009
From: Zang's Spur, CO
This was a new one today: nuts.
Dozens, and dozens of new hex nuts, probably about a 3/8" size, all over the bike lane.
It looked like someone had spilled a box of them.
Shimagnolo is offline  
Reply
Old 07-28-15 | 05:53 AM
  #30  
Todzilla's Avatar
Full Member
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 231
Likes: 1
From: NC

Bikes: Cannondale CAAD 10 5 105, Peugeot PX-10

Copperhead snake sunning himself.

I left it for the next rider, though.
Todzilla is offline  
Reply
Old 07-28-15 | 07:53 AM
  #31  
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 105
From: Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA

Bikes: 2017 Salsa Carbon Mukluk frame built with XT, 2018 Kona Rove NRB build with Sram Apex 1,2008 Salsa El Mariachi, 1986 Centurion Ironman

In the last two weeks I've picked up a beach towel, that I now have hanging in my closet at work for those hot and humid days, and a nice wood claw hammer.
__________________
Don't complain about the weather and cower in fear. It's all good weather. Just different.
revcp is offline  
Reply
Old 07-28-15 | 07:58 AM
  #32  
10 Wheels's Avatar
Galveston County Texas
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind

Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum

Originally Posted by rmfnla
10 Wheels, your amazing photo reminded me that I found a nice hammer way back in college; I still have it...
I save most of the stuff but not this one.

__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"

10 Wheels is offline  
Reply
Old 07-28-15 | 02:36 PM
  #33  
valleyrider's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Shenandoah Valley

Bikes: 2014 Trek Crossrip Elite, *mart Mongoose XR-150

Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
I save most of the stuff but not this one.
That would have fed you and your family for months (I think).
I generally find tools, bungee cords, and flatbed straps. I found a reallly nice pair of needlenose pliers I use all the time. That was the best.
valleyrider is offline  
Reply
Old 07-28-15 | 06:03 PM
  #34  
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 156
Likes: 0

Bikes: 2015 Cannondale CAADX, 1994 Nishiki Performance Equipe

Couple Ipods thus far (cracked), cell phones (cracked), cell batteries, bungee cords, pens & pencils, tools of a wide variety.
DosWheelsBtr is offline  
Reply
Old 07-28-15 | 08:58 PM
  #35  
JanMM's Avatar
rebmeM roineS
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,230
Likes: 363
From: Metro Indy, IN

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer

Originally Posted by Todzilla
Copperhead snake sunning himself.

I left it for the next rider, though.
Did next rider get snakebite flat??
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
JanMM is offline  
Reply
Old 07-29-15 | 09:08 PM
  #36  
devianb's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 872
Likes: 34
From: Central Illinois

Bikes: 2008 Dawes Haymaker 20XX Leader LD515 TotoCycling Road Bike

Since I ride through residential areas I see a lot of "Free" items by the curb like chairs, sofas, pieces of wood. Nothing that I can take with me.
devianb is offline  
Reply
Old 07-30-15 | 09:23 AM
  #37  
RubeRad's Avatar
Keepin it Wheel
10 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,964
Likes: 5,232
From: San Diego

Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus

Lots of stuff all the time, like everybody else, gloves, bungees, tools. Once there were hundreds of zipties, I gathered up a few handfuls and still have a large stock. I've found a couple smashed phones, but a few weeks ago I found an iPod in the gutter of a residential street, working, on, playing Fleetwood Mac, and having no password. I was able to get into the settings and find a gmail address and make contact and return it.

This Tuesday was a good day, on the same ride I found a "locking C-clamp", a Snap-On hinged 8mm socket, and a roll of white electrical tape.
RubeRad is offline  
Reply
Old 07-30-15 | 09:58 AM
  #38  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)

Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR

Originally Posted by devianb
Since I ride through residential areas I see a lot of "Free" items by the curb like chairs, sofas, pieces of wood. Nothing that I can take with me.
Ditto, but I'm kicking myself for not going back with the mini-van to see if I could fit the basketball goal that was on the curb for 3 days.
mgw4jc is offline  
Reply
Old 07-31-15 | 02:04 PM
  #39  
Member
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Mostly peoples garbage and roadkill. A few years ago I spotted a black canvas sunglass case on the shoulder, in it was a pair of expensive Oakleys with several replacement lenses. Brought it to the police station. They listed in local paper as designer sunglasses, would give back to owner with proof of ownership or if could ID make and style. No one claimed them, so they were mine. They are now my favorite shades to wear when riding. Like the different lens tint and color options for varying conditions.
Onuris is offline  
Reply
Old 07-31-15 | 02:51 PM
  #40  
ItsJustMe's Avatar
Señior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan

Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)

New Tigers player shirt and a brand new hat this week.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
ItsJustMe is offline  
Reply
Old 07-31-15 | 04:10 PM
  #41  
Tundra_Man's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,690
Likes: 431
From: Sioux Falls, SD

Bikes: '81 Panasonic Sport, '02 Giant Boulder SE, '08 Felt S32, '10 Diamondback Insight RS, '10 Windsor Clockwork, '15 Kestrel Evoke 3.0, '19 Salsa Mukluk

Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
New Tigers player shirt and a brand new hat this week.
If you were really unlucky you would have found two Tigers shirts.

Signed,
A Loyal Twins Fan
Tundra_Man is offline  
Reply
Old 07-31-15 | 04:30 PM
  #42  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 1
From: SF Bay Area

Bikes: 2012 Specialized Sirrus

The only thing I have found on my commutes is a pedometer. I once saw a new soccer ball floating in a ditch, but the ditch water was really dirty and the ball was too far. Besides, I hoped that the kid who lost it would come back and get it - I always hated losing cricket balls when I was a kid.
treadtread is offline  
Reply
Old 08-02-15 | 09:11 PM
  #43  
1242Vintage's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 895
Likes: 0
From: No. CA
My commute passes right by a storage locker place. Have found many tools, knives, flashlights down the road. Best find was a full bag of fishing gear, poles, lures, hardware, and a craft beer in a can! Hauled it all home on top of my commuter backpack. There was an old fishing license and for several weeks I tried to contact the guy. Apparently he packed up and left town, with most of his stuff!
1242Vintage is offline  
Reply
Old 08-17-15 | 03:09 PM
  #44  
cyccommute's Avatar
Mad bike riding scientist
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,155
Likes: 6,211
From: Denver, CO

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

A kitten.

Some tools.

A fly rod case with a St. Croix rod, a 2 wt Loomis rod (I still have that one) and 2 reels with line.

A bicycle. Found the owner through a local shop by the serial number. He'd biffed his head and couldn't remember where he had left his bicycle.

Four naked teenagers do the wild thing along a mountain bike trail. As I startled them and one of them yelled the common word for fornication. My response? "Looks like."
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!





cyccommute is offline  
Reply
Old 08-17-15 | 03:44 PM
  #45  
the_freewheeler's Avatar
The Freewheeler
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
From: ATL/CHI

Bikes: '37 Iver Johnson Racer, '44 BSA Airborne, '45 Swiss Militarvelo, '92 Fat City Slim Chance, '97 Pinarello Monviso, '03 Giant TCR Composite, '12 Bianchi Super Pista, '15 Humble CX

wallet (returned it and the guy gave me all of the money in it - $20), bell front light and knog blinder rear light
the_freewheeler is offline  
Reply
Old 08-17-15 | 08:28 PM
  #46  
f4rrest's Avatar
Farmer tan
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,985
Likes: 30
From: Burbank, CA

Bikes: Allez, SuperSix Evo

A pair of toilets. 1 pink, 1 white.


... and a stuffed Sponge Bob
<--- see avatar.
f4rrest is offline  
Reply
Old 08-17-15 | 08:49 PM
  #47  
ZippyThePinhead's Avatar
Slacker
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 7
From: North Orange County, in Southern California

Bikes: 1987 Trek 560 Pro, 1983 SR Semi Pro, 2010 Motobecane Le Champion Titanium, 2011 Trek Fuel EX8

There was another recent thread where a forum member found a handgun: Found this on my ride this morning
ZippyThePinhead is offline  
Reply
Old 08-18-15 | 02:46 AM
  #48  
Beer and nachos today!
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Treaty Seven

Bikes: Schwinn Peloton, Schwinn Prelude SS, Specialized Sequoia

Originally Posted by trailmix
Riding through a really nice neighborhood yesterday when I came across this. There was something inside (no, I didn't open it) because when I moved it with my foot to get a picture I could tell that it was not just an empty box. You asked.
I think it's safe to say trailmix has not only won this thread, but all subsequent threads involving weird road finds.

I don't come across much. A 2-pound bag of rubber bands, unopened, and a remote control for a concrete truck are the best finds so far.
illdoittomorrow is offline  
Reply
Old 08-18-15 | 12:46 PM
  #49  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: NW Montana

Bikes: '02 Kona Lava Dome, '15 Origami Crane8... the rest are top secret :)

2 days ago I found some needle-nose pliers. Very small, spring-loaded, and a Mac Tool brand (lifetime warranty!) Today I'm working on replacing some single-pane window glass, and they'll be ideal for working with the glazier points. My luck don't usually run in the "good" range, so it's been a good week. Taking my rear wheel to my LBS to get fixed - broke a spoke. So, gained a tool, spending some money - it's a wash.

I do find more stuff walking, but for every one thing I can salvage, there's 99 things I scrap/recycle. Peeps sure do jettison a lot of stuff, whether on purpose or not.
Lil Bear is offline  
Reply
Old 08-18-15 | 12:57 PM
  #50  
rhm's Avatar
rhm
multimodal commuter
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
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...

Most recent find, one morning last month, was a driver's license and a lot of business cards, all from different businesses; on the backs of which the owner (well, the loser, technically) of the license had written all his bank account numbers, email addresses, user names, passwords, etc. Including his cell phone number, labeled "my cell phone number." I called it. He answered. I mailed it all back to him. On the way home I found a bunch more of his stuff, including old B&W photos of family members. I sent him another envelope.

A week later I got a check for $50 in the mail, with "thanks" written on it. "You're welcome!" I thought, as I deposited it.
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
rhm is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.