Need some advice about managing keys
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Anyway, today was the first day using my padlock method described above. I ended up putting the lock on my cycling shoes because that's the last thing I put on before leaving. So the way it went was: Load all my gear in panniers, change clothes, grab shoes ... uh need to get rid of the lock so find wallet, retrieve key, remove lock. At this point I have keys in one hand and wallet in the other so combine and place in back pocket and go.
Worked great, but time will tell if it is sustainable.
Thanks again for all of the hints.
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"Wallet. Keys. Cellphone."
I say (mentally) that before leaving home or work, via car or bike or foot. Then they always go into the same pants or jersey pockets. On the bike, they're also the things in my jersey pockets even while carrying a backpack or pannier or giant seat bag.
In the locker room at work, I typically take those things out of my pockets first (and put them into my new pockets last). I never, ever put them into my pannier or gym bag or backpack.
I say (mentally) that before leaving home or work, via car or bike or foot. Then they always go into the same pants or jersey pockets. On the bike, they're also the things in my jersey pockets even while carrying a backpack or pannier or giant seat bag.
In the locker room at work, I typically take those things out of my pockets first (and put them into my new pockets last). I never, ever put them into my pannier or gym bag or backpack.
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I used to use a lanyard for my ID at work, then I witnessed a coworker losing his into a shredder he was feeding. Ha!
Anyway, today was the first day using my padlock method described above. I ended up putting the lock on my cycling shoes because that's the last thing I put on before leaving. So the way it went was: Load all my gear in panniers, change clothes, grab shoes ... uh need to get rid of the lock so find wallet, retrieve key, remove lock. At this point I have keys in one hand and wallet in the other so combine and place in back pocket and go.
Worked great, but time will tell if it is sustainable.
Thanks again for all of the hints.
Anyway, today was the first day using my padlock method described above. I ended up putting the lock on my cycling shoes because that's the last thing I put on before leaving. So the way it went was: Load all my gear in panniers, change clothes, grab shoes ... uh need to get rid of the lock so find wallet, retrieve key, remove lock. At this point I have keys in one hand and wallet in the other so combine and place in back pocket and go.
Worked great, but time will tell if it is sustainable.
Thanks again for all of the hints.
And yes, there is also a safety release on the back just in case!
#29
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I carry all my essentials in a 1 gallon clear ziplock. Wallet, keys, phone. glasses. Goes from my pannier to "my " spot on the table at home.
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"Wallet. Keys. Cellphone."
I say (mentally) that before leaving home or work, via car or bike or foot. Then they always go into the same pants or jersey pockets. On the bike, they're also the things in my jersey pockets even while carrying a backpack or pannier or giant seat bag.
...
I say (mentally) that before leaving home or work, via car or bike or foot. Then they always go into the same pants or jersey pockets. On the bike, they're also the things in my jersey pockets even while carrying a backpack or pannier or giant seat bag.
...
Luckily, it was at my desk and it was exactly where I always leave it and pick it up. That afternoon, someone had laid an inner office memo over it.
I have done the mental checklist for years before leaving the house, in the morning. Now, I implement it before heading home also.
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Technique? I just remember to remember to bring my stuff with me before I leave the house or the office, just like I do when I leave the house for reasons other than riding to work. Maybe ween yourself off having your wife help you with the basics.
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Used to have the same problem. Don't like lanyards because they keep getting caught on stuff. Separated my keys on different key rings. One ring has bicycle locks, house key, the second has my work keys. Those rings go on a D ring attached to a belt loop. The rest of the keys go inside my backpack.
My real secret is to have my shorts/pants/pack ready before I go to bed. Pants are on the floor, shirt on my pack, socks on my shoes. No decision making in the morning! All I have to do is dress, shave, grab my pack, check the cat and weather and go.
My real secret is to have my shorts/pants/pack ready before I go to bed. Pants are on the floor, shirt on my pack, socks on my shoes. No decision making in the morning! All I have to do is dress, shave, grab my pack, check the cat and weather and go.
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[After @no motor? has left, scene shifts back to the cats...]
CAT 1: "He's gone. Good. What an idiot, repeating meaningless lists to us..."
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[After @no motor? has left, scene shifts back to the cats...]
CAT 1: "He's gone. Good. What an idiot, repeating meaningless lists to us..."
CAT 2: [Licks paw] "Idiot..."
CAT 1: "I despise him."
[Scene fades...]
CAT 1: "He's gone. Good. What an idiot, repeating meaningless lists to us..."
CAT 2: [Licks paw] "Idiot..."
CAT 1: "I despise him."
[Scene fades...]

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I had to call the security guard in our building just last month to have him go check my desk. I got home and didn't have my wallet. If it was on my desk at work, no problem. If I lost it on the ride home, yikes! Time to start calling to cancel bank and credit cards.
Luckily, it was at my desk and it was exactly where I always leave it and pick it up. That afternoon, someone had laid an inner office memo over it.
I have done the mental checklist for years before leaving the house, in the morning. Now, I implement it before heading home also.
Luckily, it was at my desk and it was exactly where I always leave it and pick it up. That afternoon, someone had laid an inner office memo over it.
I have done the mental checklist for years before leaving the house, in the morning. Now, I implement it before heading home also.
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What greater challenge do you face over, say, walking to work? And what happens when the wife is not home and you have to make a run to the store for a gallon of milk? Do you sometimes forget your keys and wallet?
If you are the forgetful sort, leave a spare house key at work and with a neighbor or business near home.
If you are the forgetful sort, leave a spare house key at work and with a neighbor or business near home.
#38
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I had a similar issue and like you I stash my bike in my office. I don't need keys during the day and rarely need my wallet. My solution is to drop my keys and wallet in my trunk bag as soon as I get inside. If I need my wallet during the day for something I can just grab it.
Keys for home are easy, I went with a keyless entry at home and will never go back to a key lock. Put a keypad on two house doors and my garage's man door.
My issue now is taking my lights off to recharge them at my desk and forgetting to remount them before I leave. Mounted a USB charging dock on top of my desk instead of using my CPU's ports. Been a couple weeks and so far so good.
Keys for home are easy, I went with a keyless entry at home and will never go back to a key lock. Put a keypad on two house doors and my garage's man door.
My issue now is taking my lights off to recharge them at my desk and forgetting to remount them before I leave. Mounted a USB charging dock on top of my desk instead of using my CPU's ports. Been a couple weeks and so far so good.
#39
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An idea occurred to me, and I'm thinking of using it. Make a box with compartments where each compartment is intended for exactly one item. Mark the compartments: keys, wallet, whatever. When unpacking upon arrival, make sure you fill all of the compartments up unless you didn't bring one of the items. When getting ready to leave, make sure you take out each item.
One thing that has helped me a lot in recent months is to unpack every bag fully upon arriving at home or work. I'm trying to get control of my things, since I tend to live in too much clutter. I keep asking myself two questions:
1. Can I see everything I need to see? In other words, among the things that I need to grab, are they all visible?
2. Of all the things I do see, do I need to see them? In other words, there might be stuff I can put away, out of sight, and I should do that.
One thing that has helped me a lot in recent months is to unpack every bag fully upon arriving at home or work. I'm trying to get control of my things, since I tend to live in too much clutter. I keep asking myself two questions:
1. Can I see everything I need to see? In other words, among the things that I need to grab, are they all visible?
2. Of all the things I do see, do I need to see them? In other words, there might be stuff I can put away, out of sight, and I should do that.
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“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.
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What greater challenge do you face over, say, walking to work? And what happens when the wife is not home and you have to make a run to the store for a gallon of milk? Do you sometimes forget your keys and wallet?
If you are the forgetful sort, leave a spare house key at work and with a neighbor or business near home.
If you are the forgetful sort, leave a spare house key at work and with a neighbor or business near home.
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Whatevs. Good luck. Maybe direct your recall efforts elsewhere.
Yours truly,
Someone who for years did a bike-train-bike commute to a different state, had to use a key card and regular key to access his office, had to also carry his train pass, didn't have anyone to help him and never once had a problem with leaving things behind and/or getting locked out.
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I had a similar issue and like you I stash my bike in my office. I don't need keys during the day and rarely need my wallet. My solution is to drop my keys and wallet in my trunk bag as soon as I get inside. If I need my wallet during the day for something I can just grab it.
Keys for home are easy, I went with a keyless entry at home and will never go back to a key lock. Put a keypad on two house doors and my garage's man door.
My issue now is taking my lights off to recharge them at my desk and forgetting to remount them before I leave. Mounted a USB charging dock on top of my desk instead of using my CPU's ports. Been a couple weeks and so far so good.
Keys for home are easy, I went with a keyless entry at home and will never go back to a key lock. Put a keypad on two house doors and my garage's man door.
My issue now is taking my lights off to recharge them at my desk and forgetting to remount them before I leave. Mounted a USB charging dock on top of my desk instead of using my CPU's ports. Been a couple weeks and so far so good.
An idea occurred to me, and I'm thinking of using it. Make a box with compartments where each compartment is intended for exactly one item. Mark the compartments: keys, wallet, whatever. When unpacking upon arrival, make sure you fill all of the compartments up unless you didn't bring one of the items. When getting ready to leave, make sure you take out each item.
One thing that has helped me a lot in recent months is to unpack every bag fully upon arriving at home or work. I'm trying to get control of my things, since I tend to live in too much clutter. I keep asking myself two questions:
1. Can I see everything I need to see? In other words, among the things that I need to grab, are they all visible?
2. Of all the things I do see, do I need to see them? In other words, there might be stuff I can put away, out of sight, and I should do that.
One thing that has helped me a lot in recent months is to unpack every bag fully upon arriving at home or work. I'm trying to get control of my things, since I tend to live in too much clutter. I keep asking myself two questions:
1. Can I see everything I need to see? In other words, among the things that I need to grab, are they all visible?
2. Of all the things I do see, do I need to see them? In other words, there might be stuff I can put away, out of sight, and I should do that.
#43
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To get into my office I first need my ID card for access though the outside door. Then I need a key to get into my office suite. This same key unlocks my private office. When I leave my house in the morning, my wife helps me with a pre-ride check to ensure I have my keys and wallet (with ID card). This check works well as long as I remember to bring keys and wallet home with me the day before. The problem is that occasionally I fail to do this and, since I arrive earlier than everybody else I have to wait around for up to 30 minutes to get in. I shower and change when I get in and thus transfer keys and wallet to my working clothes. When I change to go home, I try to maintain a routine of checking/assuring that I transfer keys and wallet back to my cycling clothes, but sometimes I get distracted by a phone call or a coworker with the result that either or both items are left in my office.
Driving commuters have an easy reminder. I would, too, if I locked my bike up outside; however I keep my bike in my office during the day and don't really feel like carrying around a U-lock to force myself to remember. I was thinking about a putting a smaller padlock on some part of my bike (like a pedal). The idea is that I would have to use a key on my ring to remove this lock before I could ride home.
I'm interested in hearing about any techniques that other commuters have found to work effectively.
Thanks much.
Driving commuters have an easy reminder. I would, too, if I locked my bike up outside; however I keep my bike in my office during the day and don't really feel like carrying around a U-lock to force myself to remember. I was thinking about a putting a smaller padlock on some part of my bike (like a pedal). The idea is that I would have to use a key on my ring to remove this lock before I could ride home.
I'm interested in hearing about any techniques that other commuters have found to work effectively.
Thanks much.
#44
Two H's!!! TWO!!!!!
Did anyone bring up the "testicles, spectacles, wallet and watch" joke yet? 
I do what a couple of other posters: before leaving anywhere (home, work, coffee shop), namely recite wallet, keys, cell phone, and check to ensure I have those items with/on me. I figure if I ever forget a lunch bag or something, it's not a big deal, but those 3 I wouldn't want to lose. I also check for them periodically throughout the day, to make sure I haven't left them in a lunch room or a picnic table somewhere.
It works very well for those three items, but I have forgotten my security pass twice in the last year, since I'm new to carrying that, and the wallet-keys-cell routine doesn't cover it.

I do what a couple of other posters: before leaving anywhere (home, work, coffee shop), namely recite wallet, keys, cell phone, and check to ensure I have those items with/on me. I figure if I ever forget a lunch bag or something, it's not a big deal, but those 3 I wouldn't want to lose. I also check for them periodically throughout the day, to make sure I haven't left them in a lunch room or a picnic table somewhere.
It works very well for those three items, but I have forgotten my security pass twice in the last year, since I'm new to carrying that, and the wallet-keys-cell routine doesn't cover it.

#45
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Speaking of wallets, I scanned everything in my wallet and saved the images to a cloud service so I can read all my cards if I forget or lose my wallet.
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“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.
#46
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That's a good idea.
That I will never get around to.
That I will never get around to.
#47
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I don't know, I could live for days or even weeks without any official ID, and I never carry all my credit cards anyway, so I could work around not having the "carry" credit card for a while. The only concern being whether it's lost/stolen, or simply hiding.
So, for me it's only a question of keys, and as I posted earlier, the critical one is attached to my commuter.
So, for me it's only a question of keys, and as I posted earlier, the critical one is attached to my commuter.
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#48
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I got the solution.
I had the same issue and it's very easy. I ride to work everyday 8 mile one way. I have key card to get in building and bike like keys and locker keys. If i would lose them it would be a disaster. I use paracord lanyards that I made. One swt for work keys red. And one with all keys and doubles one another lanyard blue. Designate a pocket on pack and or saddle bag that works for you and repeat daily till it's habbit. Key card and keys should be easy to access. The secret I found is to be organized but not to organized that you drive yourself crazy. Routine and bringing order to the choas of the prep for each ride is your best friend. Once it's routine the better off and less time you spend worrying where everything is. Hope this helps
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I have the same problem. My keys go from the pannier to the door lock and then back to the pannier. They don't temporarily go on the counter top, the desk, the kitchen table or anywhere else. Pannier-> lock-> pannier. KISS Keep It Simple, Silly.
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I ride with a backpack and have my keys and proximity card attached to a carabiner which itself is hooked onto a backpack strap. Except for actually using the keys, the carabiner never comes off of my backpack. On the off chance that I actually do forget my keys, I stashed spare office and u lock keys in a place at work which is accessible without said keys.
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