Stuff falling off... just a rant
#26
Mirror slap survivor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 0
From: Sunny Florida
Bikes: Gunnar Sport, Surly Pacer, Access MTB, Ibex Corrida, one day a Simple City
I hit a bump while crossing a 4 lane highway, and watched my big Cateye blinkie bounce off, just as the light changed. It was crushed under the wheels of a truck.
#27
My prescription glasses fell out of my pocket. I was wearing sunglasses at the time and didn't even notice. I went back to where I thought they would be. Sure enuff they were there. Flatter than a pancake! Good thing I had a spare.
#28
curmudgineer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 113
From: Chicago SW burbs
Bikes: 2 many 2 fit here
So far I've only lost two relatively cheap taillights. One of them twice this week - I retrieved it the first time, a little worse for the wear. When it started disintegrating in situ yesterday, I just let it happen. Wasn't worth stopping and going back to pick up the pieces. 
It's diabolical how those clip-on taillights can dislodge themselves from a cargo trunk loop while riding - they take a concerted effort to remove by hand!
My route has some rough railway crossings and potholes that I'd rather not slow down for, so it is a bit of a challenge for non-permanently mounted hardware.
I'm going to start adding permanently mounted rear reflectors to all my bikes, so at least I have some protection if the taillight comes off.

It's diabolical how those clip-on taillights can dislodge themselves from a cargo trunk loop while riding - they take a concerted effort to remove by hand!
My route has some rough railway crossings and potholes that I'd rather not slow down for, so it is a bit of a challenge for non-permanently mounted hardware.

I'm going to start adding permanently mounted rear reflectors to all my bikes, so at least I have some protection if the taillight comes off.
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Bikes: Diamondback Copperhead (hardtail, winter bike), 2014 Giant Rapid 2, 2015 Kona Big Rove ST
Just two days ago I lost my rear light in traffic. Didn't bother getting it back.
Twice I've had a pannier fall off (one a over pothole and the other while hopping a curb). Luckily it wasn't in traffic and the contents were undamaged.
Over the years I've had the following fall off (or dropped) from my bike while riding: a few lights, a few reflectors (usually the ones on pedals), a sports watch (I had attached to my handle bars), a couple water bottles, and a pannier bungee cord bracket.
Twice I've had a pannier fall off (one a over pothole and the other while hopping a curb). Luckily it wasn't in traffic and the contents were undamaged.
Over the years I've had the following fall off (or dropped) from my bike while riding: a few lights, a few reflectors (usually the ones on pedals), a sports watch (I had attached to my handle bars), a couple water bottles, and a pannier bungee cord bracket.
#30
curmudgineer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 113
From: Chicago SW burbs
Bikes: 2 many 2 fit here
I've also jettisoned a pannier, complete with notebook PC (company owned). If there was any damage done to the PC, it was latent, as it continued to function for a couple years more before it needed to be put out to pasture.
#32
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 180
From: south Puget Sound
I have dropped taillights several times. Sometimes from the mount, other times they just pop open and spew batteries all over the place too.
I've resumed riding my bike that has a computer lately and twice in the last week when I park it in the garage at home the computer is twisted in its mount. Not sure when that's happening, if it's moving the back past my kids' into the garage, or during the agony of climbing the last hill.
#33
Banned
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,804
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Bikes: Raleigh Grand Prix, Giant Innova, Nishiki Sebring, Trek 7.5FX
Never dropped anything quite the way you guys have. Anything I've ever lost off of my bike was either a direct result of an accident or theft.
Now I see what keeps the LBS in business. It's the accessories!
Now I see what keeps the LBS in business. It's the accessories!
#34
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,324
Likes: 3
From: UK
A headlight fell off once (poor strap mount) but got caught in the brake and gear cables so I didn't lose it 
Lost some nice sunglasses out of my pocket (should have zipped the pocket - duh!) and turned around to watch a bus run over them!
Apart from that I've been pretty lucky. My dinotte light is quite secure in the rear, I have a screw on dynamo light, and lock blocks for headlights.
Daven

Lost some nice sunglasses out of my pocket (should have zipped the pocket - duh!) and turned around to watch a bus run over them!
Apart from that I've been pretty lucky. My dinotte light is quite secure in the rear, I have a screw on dynamo light, and lock blocks for headlights.
Daven
#35
Senior Member


Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,846
Likes: 20
From: Fort Worth, TX
Bikes: 2006 Specialized Ruby Pro aka "Rhubarb" / and a backup road bike
My water bottles used to escape frequently until I started putting them into the neoprene can koozies.
Blinkies seem to fall off the saddlebag loop more than they should. Also lost one I had installed on the rear rack pannier frame. I consider the cheap blinkies a disposable item and try to ride with more than one. The small one on the back of my helmet is my backup. I will also clip an extra blinkie to a jersey pocket if I have concerns about a battery running down mid-ride. Some of my friends have zip-tied their blinkies to their saddle bag, then just replace the zip-tie when it's time to change the batteries. That also helps with the blinkies rattling themselves apart.
Blinkies seem to fall off the saddlebag loop more than they should. Also lost one I had installed on the rear rack pannier frame. I consider the cheap blinkies a disposable item and try to ride with more than one. The small one on the back of my helmet is my backup. I will also clip an extra blinkie to a jersey pocket if I have concerns about a battery running down mid-ride. Some of my friends have zip-tied their blinkies to their saddle bag, then just replace the zip-tie when it's time to change the batteries. That also helps with the blinkies rattling themselves apart.
#36
Full Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 216
Likes: 37
From: Philadelphia
Bikes: Canyon Roadlite AL, Kinesis Aithein/Campy build
The only thing I've ever lost off the bike was....the two bottom bolts of my rack due to my own inattentiveness to appropriate routine maintenance. That led to an "OMFG card-in-the-spokes on steroids" moment at 25mph on a downhill when the bracket got into the cassette. 
Fortunately, the bracket contacted the cassette ahead of the rotation rather than behind; the alternative might have been....eventful. They must have gone nearly simultaneously. Otherwise, the one loose bracket would have alerted me with its' rattle against the boss.

Fortunately, the bracket contacted the cassette ahead of the rotation rather than behind; the alternative might have been....eventful. They must have gone nearly simultaneously. Otherwise, the one loose bracket would have alerted me with its' rattle against the boss.
#38
The only thing I've ever lost off the bike was....the two bottom bolts of my rack due to my own inattentiveness to appropriate routine maintenance. That led to an "OMFG card-in-the-spokes on steroids" moment at 25mph on a downhill when the bracket got into the cassette. 
Fortunately, the bracket contacted the cassette ahead of the rotation rather than behind; the alternative might have been....eventful. They must have gone nearly simultaneously. Otherwise, the one loose bracket would have alerted me with its' rattle against the boss.

Fortunately, the bracket contacted the cassette ahead of the rotation rather than behind; the alternative might have been....eventful. They must have gone nearly simultaneously. Otherwise, the one loose bracket would have alerted me with its' rattle against the boss.
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
#39
Couple of years ago I was leaving a rest area on the local rail trail as two 14-15 year old bmx'ers pulled in. Just started to pedal when I hear this "Hey you, come back." I at first thought they were mocking me or wanted to cause trouble, but I looked back and see this kid come running up to me with something in his hand....MY WALLET. Fell out some how and as the kid was standing there, I opened it to check the cash (had over $100) and kid says, "It's all there mister." I said, "I know it is, except for this," and handed him a twenty. Thanked him again and rode off feeling good about my fellow man and upset for being so stupid for almost losing my wallet.
#40
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 125
My daughter had this problem with her Sigma. I put a very thin strip of tape around the circular part on the back of the computer that twists into the mount. It creates a firmer connection, and you can't see it. Hasn't fallen off again (yet). Granted she's only ridden a few hundred miles since I put the tape on. I imagine if you take your computer off a lot you might have to replace the tape often.
#41
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 600
Likes: 1
From: New Hampshire
Bikes: A slate grey mountain bike & a grey road bike
So far just a rear blinky has fallen off, but I did miss the bottle cage once after I took a drink and my water bottle went rolling down the street.
#44
Ah, you reminded me of something which means I fudged a little when I said nothing falls off. I found a really nice blinkie on the road, clipped it on my rear rack and used it for about a week before it fell off. Basic reasoning should have informed me that it was prone to falling off 
I tend to go my own way on these things. Just a strip of tape around the computer's mount, and tape or zipties on blinkies and they never fall off. My patch/tool kit is strapped on with inner tube rubber and velcro fasteners. It isn't pretty but it's out of the way and won't fall off.

I tend to go my own way on these things. Just a strip of tape around the computer's mount, and tape or zipties on blinkies and they never fall off. My patch/tool kit is strapped on with inner tube rubber and velcro fasteners. It isn't pretty but it's out of the way and won't fall off.
#45
Thread Starter
Fat Guy Rolling
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy
In the past week I've had my cata strada cadence (wired) computer come loose in it's mount 3 times. Hasn't fallen off (yet), but I'll look down and notice that my mph is 0.0 and it's not recording distance travelled and slide it back into place. Don't know if I've taken it off too many times and have now worn down the mount or what, but it's a pain when my whole ride doesn't get measured.
#46
I on the other hand, had lots of issues with a wireless sigma one (interference giving weird readings, no readings, stopped working randomly). Maybe I'll just use electrical tape (black so not as noticeable, stick it there, but removable when I want to change batteries) to stick it more permanently to the mount and stop taking it in with me when I stop anywhere - because who's really going to steal the head unit to a $30 computer.
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
#47
I accidentally left the lid of my trunk bag unzipped one morning, and less than a mile from home I jumped a curb and my heavy lock & chain ejected into the mud. Fortunately nothing else escaped, but I had to rearrange the bag's other contents to keep them from getting filthy.
#48
Senior Member


Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, CA
Bikes: Lynskey R230 DA DI2 ENVE 3.4 SES, 6KU Fixie, Cheap Aluminum Slapstick Trainer only bike
Cateye Strada wireless came off once. Heard it... wasn't sure what it was... found out what I lost about mile and half later. Loop back, grabbed it on the bike path, rushed to train barely to make it in time.
Dropping on to me on the other hand most recently was 2 inch thick tree branch on my head... glad my helmet covered me nicely. I was wondering what were the chances of that happening as well as it landing on my helmet not on my back, hand, etc... (Road bike so I stretch out quite a bit)
Dropping on to me on the other hand most recently was 2 inch thick tree branch on my head... glad my helmet covered me nicely. I was wondering what were the chances of that happening as well as it landing on my helmet not on my back, hand, etc... (Road bike so I stretch out quite a bit)
#49
Thread Starter
Fat Guy Rolling
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy
I on the other hand, had lots of issues with a wireless sigma one (interference giving weird readings, no readings, stopped working randomly). Maybe I'll just use electrical tape (black so not as noticeable, stick it there, but removable when I want to change batteries) to stick it more permanently to the mount and stop taking it in with me when I stop anywhere - because who's really going to steal the head unit to a $30 computer.
#50
Yeah, that's why I switched to wired on my current one. Guess the first one was on a really good sale for a reason.
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),







