What have you found on the ground while riding?
#1126
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
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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...
I did not; but it was a pretty public place in Manhattan, around 6:15 AM. If someone got hit, they'd been taken away hours earlier. No, I think someone must have dropped this. It didn't occur to me at the time, but in retrospect the someone who dropped it may have been a thief who had just stolen the saddle off a bike.
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#1130
In the last two days, I've noticed what appears to be a beat-up quarter at the same intersection. I'm tempted to pick it up, but don't want to be the doofus that falls off my bike going after 25 cents. If it's still there tomorrow, I might have to investigate.
#1131
Happy banana slug

Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,561
Likes: 2,509
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
Just be aware, I've seen coins deliberately glued to the pavement.
#1133
#1134
#1136
The dropped

Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 2,182
Likes: 1,055
From: Columbus, OH
Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1969 Raleigh Superbe, 1986 Miyata Nine : 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold), 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
#1137
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 152
Likes: 14
Yeah, I remember a long time ago somebody talking about doing that in a mall.
Btw, found a set of keys today on the curb of a 4 lane road somewhat out of the way. Had a Chevy keyless keyfob that got separated from the set a few feet away. Saw some tags as I went by so I stopped thinking maybe they’d help find the owner. Turns out it was a YMCA membership with just a number on it. I called and they gave me the owners info so I called her and she came and picked them up. She was very grateful. Said her husband forgot them on top of a car and they fell off at some point.
Btw, found a set of keys today on the curb of a 4 lane road somewhat out of the way. Had a Chevy keyless keyfob that got separated from the set a few feet away. Saw some tags as I went by so I stopped thinking maybe they’d help find the owner. Turns out it was a YMCA membership with just a number on it. I called and they gave me the owners info so I called her and she came and picked them up. She was very grateful. Said her husband forgot them on top of a car and they fell off at some point.
#1138
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,691
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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
Just found a pair of scissors laying in the middle of the left turn lane on a busy road. I left them there because 1) I didn't need a pair of scissors, and 2) I didn't have a quick place to stash them and the light was about to turn green.
#1139
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
I lost count of how many dead rats I saw yesterday! Yuck! This city has a problem.
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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.
#1141
Keepin it Wheel




Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,965
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From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
I remember once being on a long group ride, we had ridden north through Camp Pendleton, and were continuing north on the old 101 -- formerly a highway or even a freeway, but now a giant concrete MUP. I had fallen behind the group, run out of water and was flagging in energy. I found a couple Clif Shot Bloks on the ground that somebody had probably fumbled while trying to get them out of the package while riding. I stopped for them, dusted them off, and ate them. They were glorious!
#1142
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 809
Likes: 809
From: Walnut Creek, CA
Bikes: 1969 Peugeot PX10, 1992 Della Santa, Linus Roadster 8
While locking up at the library this morning I spotted a knife on the ground. What you might call a clip point folder. Not knowing what else to do but determined to get it safely away from the homeless contingent that lives around there, I put it inside my bag and presented it at the librarians desk. She was quite startled but I calmed her down. I went about my business of librarying. I hope I didn’t cause too much commotion.
#1143
I'm the anecdote.
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 1,177
From: S.E. Texas
Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco
While locking up at the library this morning I spotted a knife on the ground. What you might call a clip point folder. Not knowing what else to do but determined to get it safely away from the homeless contingent that lives around there, I put it inside my bag and presented it at the librarians desk. She was quite startled but I calmed her down. I went about my business of librarying. I hope I didn’t cause too much commotion.
I carry one every day and use it for opening boxes, cutting straps or rope, trimming plastics/rubber, even cutting zip ties if needed. I've even cut up food with it on occasion (wash it first).
One time I drove through about 200 feet of thin rope that came undone from a truck in front of me on the highway. We both pulled over and I cut my car free. If that happened on my bike, I'd do the same thing if needed.
I really need to sharpen my knife tonight. It goes dull real fast cutting through thick cardboard.
#1144
The dropped

Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 2,182
Likes: 1,055
From: Columbus, OH
Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1969 Raleigh Superbe, 1986 Miyata Nine : 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold), 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
If it was in good shape, I would have probably kept it. Pocket knives or clip on knives are beyond useful.
I carry one every day and use it for opening boxes, cutting straps or rope, trimming plastics/rubber, even cutting zip ties if needed. I've even cut up food with it on occasion (wash it first).
One time I drove through about 200 feet of thin rope that came undone from a truck in front of me on the highway. We both pulled over and I cut my car free. If that happened on my bike, I'd do the same thing if needed.
I really need to sharpen my knife tonight. It goes dull real fast cutting through thick cardboard.
I carry one every day and use it for opening boxes, cutting straps or rope, trimming plastics/rubber, even cutting zip ties if needed. I've even cut up food with it on occasion (wash it first).
One time I drove through about 200 feet of thin rope that came undone from a truck in front of me on the highway. We both pulled over and I cut my car free. If that happened on my bike, I'd do the same thing if needed.
I really need to sharpen my knife tonight. It goes dull real fast cutting through thick cardboard.
.If you aren't already sharpening a double bevel, you're robbing your blade's edge of strength. The thicker profile resists deformation better. Thinner profiles cut better earlier, and lose their hone quickly.
Last edited by Unca_Sam; 09-13-19 at 03:07 PM.
#1146
Happy banana slug

Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,561
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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
Today was heavy on wildlife; on the way out of town I saw a red-tailed hawk sitting on phone wires, and passed it relatively closely. Then there was the snake; the third dead young garter snake I've seen this year. I followed a scratch on the highway shoulder for over a half mile, like a machine had a rock jammed in it, just not sure what kind of machine. Got off the highway and onto the trail, where I saw a freshly killed coyote on the shoulder. I'd never seen a coyote before in the 21 years I've lived here. Stopped on the trail and ate handfuls of ripe blackberries; yum.
All in all, an interesting commute.
All in all, an interesting commute.
#1148
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 809
Likes: 809
From: Walnut Creek, CA
Bikes: 1969 Peugeot PX10, 1992 Della Santa, Linus Roadster 8
Sorry, I didn’t get a picture. Unfortunately our library has become a homeless hangout. In the morning thay hang out and then rush in when it opens and grab a computer to sit at until thay get kicked out. The bike rack I mentioned was already decorated by a bike trailer full of something. My description was not that great, the only thing I know about knives is from watching “Forged in Fire”. Think of something black with a four inch blade opened and some buttons to do something. My thought was to get it out of there. So I stuck it in my bag and went inside. I did think about taking it across the street to the police station but that might have raised more complications than I wanted.
Sometime we should talk about being taken for a homeless person because I was riding a bike.
Sometime we should talk about being taken for a homeless person because I was riding a bike.
#1149
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 152
Likes: 14
Found a stack of business and membership cards held together with a binder clip. Rode down the road a little ways to a nearby Verizon store. Called USAA and gave them the name and member number on the card, left my info, and told them I’d leave the bundle with the Verizon store manager.
#1150
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 457
Likes: 85
From: Sacramento, CA
Bikes: 2017 Surly Cross-Check. 2020 Specialized Turbo Vado 3.0, 2002 GT Dyno Roadster, 2002 Rans Stratus, 2020 Giant Fathom 2, 2011 Trek Pure Sport
hypodermic needles and human excrement. Also an encampment that keeps growing with a bunch of butchered bicycles, abandoned Jump bikes
but on the positive side...
lots of wildlife: turkeys, squirrels (sadly, some squished by bikes) , deer, coyotes, quail, rattlesnakes, king snakes, turtles, tortoises, waterfowl, birds of prey, lizards...
but on the positive side...
lots of wildlife: turkeys, squirrels (sadly, some squished by bikes) , deer, coyotes, quail, rattlesnakes, king snakes, turtles, tortoises, waterfowl, birds of prey, lizards...
Last edited by restlessswind; 09-17-19 at 04:55 PM.







