What have you found on the ground while riding?
#1502
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 34
Likes: 13
From: Marietta Georgia USA
Bikes: Blue Max Plateau EX, Novara Randonee
A dead body.
Late '80s, west of Miami FL, riding towards the back entrance to the Rinker (Now CSR) cement plant, saw what at first glance looked like a headless scarecrow leaning up against a fencepost and my first thought was, "Damn, that farmer's scarecrow fell down and lost it's head". Then the smell hit me. Trust me, you never want to smell that again.
Late '80s, west of Miami FL, riding towards the back entrance to the Rinker (Now CSR) cement plant, saw what at first glance looked like a headless scarecrow leaning up against a fencepost and my first thought was, "Damn, that farmer's scarecrow fell down and lost it's head". Then the smell hit me. Trust me, you never want to smell that again.
#1503
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 223
From: Canada
Bikes: 2009 Trek 520
Today I found another mobile phone on the shoulder that fell off a vehicle, amazingly undamaged. Dropped it off at a phone shop and they got it back to the owner. If they don't use icloud I bet they are backing up all their photos right now after that scare. The owner contacted me to say they lost it nearly 24 hours earlier and spent some time searching for it.
Same ride I also found a nice USB-C rechargeable Snap-On work lite. Works perfectly but has been heavily used and completely smeared in an amalgam of dirt, metal particles and used motor oil. I noticed the metal particles because it has several strong magnets for attaching the light to metal. It will have to stay with my tools as it smells bad enough I wouldn't want it in my room for extended periods.
Same ride I also found a nice USB-C rechargeable Snap-On work lite. Works perfectly but has been heavily used and completely smeared in an amalgam of dirt, metal particles and used motor oil. I noticed the metal particles because it has several strong magnets for attaching the light to metal. It will have to stay with my tools as it smells bad enough I wouldn't want it in my room for extended periods.
#1504
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,962
Likes: 389
From: NE Indiana
Bikes: 2020 Masi Giramondo 700c; 2013 Lynskey Peloton; 1992 Giant Rincon; 1989 Dawes needs parts; 1985 Trek 660; 1985 Fuji Club; 1984 Schwinn Voyager; 1984 Miyata 612; 1977 Raleigh Competition GS
I found a Gerber knife on the road today, but it was a cheap $20 probably made in China job you can find at Lowes, and then the blade got nicked a small bit when it fell off the vehicle with the blade in the open position, I got most of the nicks off but there is still some roughness in the blade, oh well, toss it in the trash.
#1505
Full Member


Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 264
Likes: 53
From: Russell Township, Ohio, USA
Bikes: 1975 Paris Sport 700, 2007 Dahon Mu P8 (folding bicycle), 1984 Miyata 210, 2024 Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bike
Yesterday I found a pasta maker in really good shape. Is this the type of thing people forget on the top of their car as they drive off?

It was just lying on the side of a state highway, barely onto the grass. The handle was lying nearby.

It was just lying on the side of a state highway, barely onto the grass. The handle was lying nearby.
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If something doesn't ache, I could be trying harder.
If something doesn't ache, I could be trying harder.
#1506
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,962
Likes: 389
From: NE Indiana
Bikes: 2020 Masi Giramondo 700c; 2013 Lynskey Peloton; 1992 Giant Rincon; 1989 Dawes needs parts; 1985 Trek 660; 1985 Fuji Club; 1984 Schwinn Voyager; 1984 Miyata 612; 1977 Raleigh Competition GS
A dead body.
Late '80s, west of Miami FL, riding towards the back entrance to the Rinker (Now CSR) cement plant, saw what at first glance looked like a headless scarecrow leaning up against a fencepost and my first thought was, "Damn, that farmer's scarecrow fell down and lost it's head". Then the smell hit me. Trust me, you never want to smell that again.
Late '80s, west of Miami FL, riding towards the back entrance to the Rinker (Now CSR) cement plant, saw what at first glance looked like a headless scarecrow leaning up against a fencepost and my first thought was, "Damn, that farmer's scarecrow fell down and lost it's head". Then the smell hit me. Trust me, you never want to smell that again.
When I was in college I had two jobs, one of them was managing a 48-unit apartment complex in Glendale CA. One day I was walking down the sidewalk on the ground floor when I saw something weird on the living room window of a particular unit, it looked like a black mess of something, so as I came closer, I discovered they were flies, and then the smell hit me! I didn't touch the door nothing, called the cops. This is sort of funny, in a weird way. The cops were instructing a new recruit how to investigate a crime scene, I gave the key to the recruit, and then I stepped back about 25 feet to reduce the smell, even though I was breathing through my mouth I still could smell it a bit. Anyway, the recruit opens the door and goes in, he's back out in about 15 seconds puking his guts out, all the cops watching from the outside just start busting up laughing. They had placed bets on how long it would take him to come back out! So, then they instruct the recruit to go back in but breathe through his mouth instead. That guy died of natural causes, he had been dead for about 3 days, but he had left his wall heater running so it got hot inside, so he was overly ripe, so ripe that his skin came off when they tried to remove him! The fire department sprayed the place with something, and opened the windows and put in large fans, and that odor was gone the next day! I had to have everything removed, from the unit, and the carpeting removed, it was rented 3 weeks afterwards with no clue that someone died in it.
Those cops told me some wild stories about going to houses where someone died and some of crazy stuff that people did to live in their houses, that neighbors knew nothing about, including multimillion dollar home owners, which was really strange to me.
#1507
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 679
Likes: 148
From: Plano, TX
Bikes: Fahrradmanufaktur Trekking Bike, Lightning Phantom, bikeE AT, Radwagon3, HP Velotechnik Scorpion
4 cooperheads on a stretch of less than a mile. One indulging on her dinner. I guess I need to ride more often during dusk. Wildlife seems to be most active then.


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Not driving a stick but riding one.
Not driving a stick but riding one.
#1508
Senior Member


Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,509
Likes: 997
Man a first a skunk started crossing the bike path as we were going past at 18mph. he turned around and his tailed was raised and it was like Oh s*it but no spray. maybe use to that. but its the first I have seen round those parts. lots of homeless around there. we did smell some skunk coming back so maybe someone got blasted but it was not as strong as it would have been if it was on the path.
#1510
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,962
Likes: 389
From: NE Indiana
Bikes: 2020 Masi Giramondo 700c; 2013 Lynskey Peloton; 1992 Giant Rincon; 1989 Dawes needs parts; 1985 Trek 660; 1985 Fuji Club; 1984 Schwinn Voyager; 1984 Miyata 612; 1977 Raleigh Competition GS
#1513
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)
#1514
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,341
Likes: 3,530
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Scene 1, int. Hardware store
Dad: Hey, guy ahead of us in line, what is this?
Guy: it’s a square.
Dad: 3yo, what is this?
3yo: E a triangle!
Dad: Hey, guy ahead of us in line, what is this?
Guy: it’s a square.
Dad: 3yo, what is this?
3yo: E a triangle!
#1515
Full Member


Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 264
Likes: 53
From: Russell Township, Ohio, USA
Bikes: 1975 Paris Sport 700, 2007 Dahon Mu P8 (folding bicycle), 1984 Miyata 210, 2024 Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bike
One after another, I found five (5) Craftsman sockets lying against the curb, spread over about an 80 foot stretch. Not a complete set, but now somebody is short a few.

They were all still shiny chrome with no rust, so they cannot have been lying there for very long.

They were all still shiny chrome with no rust, so they cannot have been lying there for very long.
__________________
If something doesn't ache, I could be trying harder.
If something doesn't ache, I could be trying harder.
#1516
Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 785
Likes: 780
From: San Clemente
Bikes: 87 Bianchi X4, 95 Bianchi Ti Mega Tube, 06 Alan Carbon Cross X33, 74 Galmozzi Super Competizione, 64 Bianchi Specialissima.
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?
#1517
Keepin it Wheel




Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,966
Likes: 5,242
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
#1518
Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 785
Likes: 780
From: San Clemente
Bikes: 87 Bianchi X4, 95 Bianchi Ti Mega Tube, 06 Alan Carbon Cross X33, 74 Galmozzi Super Competizione, 64 Bianchi Specialissima.
Sorry. It's just every time I come here and look at the new posts I've seen this pop up for likely the last year maybe longer. I always thought to myself what I just posted and "moved" on. I finally just had to express what I've been think for so long.
#1520
Senior Member



Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,041
Likes: 798
From: in a house
Bikes: Specialized Aethos, Specialized Diverge Comp E5 and 2025 Spesh Tarmac SL8 Expert
A few days ago I found an assortment of solderless connectors spread across the road. The container was nearby but had been run over more than once and was unuseable.
What's real funny is I had just been thinking, a day or so ago, about buying some for a project I have to do...
Fortuitous lol.
I stopped and spent the next ten minutes or so filling a jersey pocket with the connectors.
Likely cost maybe $20. Well worth the 10 minutes.
What's real funny is I had just been thinking, a day or so ago, about buying some for a project I have to do...
Fortuitous lol.
I stopped and spent the next ten minutes or so filling a jersey pocket with the connectors.
Likely cost maybe $20. Well worth the 10 minutes.
#1521
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 212
Bikes: Mongoose Crossway, Bianchi Grizzly, Cannondale F700,
#1522
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 212
Bikes: Mongoose Crossway, Bianchi Grizzly, Cannondale F700,
I was on the NCR two weeks ago and there was a poop bag drop warning from a dog walker. Dog wanted to follow the woman's husband and child and she was having a hard time getting him to go back the 30 feet with her to grab the poop bag land mine. Two people almost stepped in it going the same direction walking. I was cycling from the other direction so I was lucky........
Last edited by StarBiker; 09-17-22 at 10:05 AM.
#1523
Keepin it Wheel




Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,966
Likes: 5,242
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
I imagine, since it can't be pleasant to be taking a nice walk while holding a bag with a warm turd in it, some people leave them on the side of the road and pick them up on the way back
#1524
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,341
Likes: 3,530
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
oh man, that is sad
__________________
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."




