indyfabz

Thanks. I tour and commute with SPD pedals and have honestly never seen SPD cleats used in a non-recessed fashion.

Cougrrcj

Yet another reason I ride in my 25 year old Specialized touring shoes / toe clips / straps. I don't have to take the shoes off when I'm off the bike.

Commuting - I ride in my work shoes with toe clips / straps.

locolobo13 

Many years ago I drove my Mother's Buick to the store. Leaving I unlocked the door with her key, but the ignition wouldn't start. After 5 min of cursing and trying to figure out what was wrong I realized this wasn't my Mother's car. It was 2 spaces over! Same make, model, year and color.

OP I'm sorry your last big ride was messed up. But I'm glad that in the end you found the shoes.

GeneO 

Me too.
Maybe the thief had some Cinderella moment.

.

big chainring 

Something with women and shoes.

No way in H E double toothpicks that was happenstance.

Rowan

This, this and this.

Take 'em off and put them under your arm. Or stuff them in the back pockets of your jersey. Or do the double shift -- your girlfriend watches the bike and gear while you get lunch, then you do the same while she gets hers.

CrowSeph

Agree!

Milton Keynes

I was thinking the exact same thing. No way would I leave my shoes outside.

On a similar note, I was on a recent group ride to a restaurant, we all brought our water bottles in and the servers gladly refilled them... however I declined until the server had already refilled the totally identical bottles others at my table had. I just didn't want her to mix them up with someone else's. Perhaps I should put my name on the bottom of my bottles or something.

Milton Keynes

Likely just a luggage thief. Think about how easy it would be, just walk up to the baggage carousel among 100 other people and just grab a bag and take off with it. Easier to do when it's a bag you've seen go around a couple times, less chance someone else running up to you and claiming it. And it's a theft which could be done in front of a crowd of people and nobody would think twice about it, they'd just think the thief is getting his luggage.

Camilo

Even given the person's response, I think it's likely she was totally clueless as to the mistake. I know a lot of cyclists who are virtually unaware of the equipment they use, other than general color. Some don't even know the brand of frame, the type of componentry, the tires, wheels, etc. It doesn't surprise me that someone could mistake one generally black (or gray, or whatever) shoe for another.

I'm not saying this is common, just that I know people who are that, or virtually that, clueless about their equipment. And it's not a sexist comment. I know both sexes that just ride the things and won't even change a tire themselves. No problem, as long as they ride (and don't take someone else's stuff!)

I've seen it a lot with XC skis - like someone else above mentioned, even with non-compatible bindings. Certainly with poles.

shipwreck

Not the carousel, but on the exit ramp were people wait for their gate checked carry on luggage right by the plane. So this guy was on the flight. I figured that it was about the same thing though. Most people who fly a lot just ignore other people, and someone could pull their bag right by them on the ramp without noticing it.

Fastfingaz

I think I saw that commercial on tv,,,,,

Pauley L

Modern day version:

Local family, dad and mom known for drinking too much. Leave restaurant to get into their new Lexus to drive a mile home. Kids in back. Dad can't start the car. Electronic key fob deal. Wife and husband yelling at each other. He has her pull out the manual. She reads the instructions. Still trying to start the car.

Kid from the back. "I thought our new car was black, not dark blue."

shipwreck

I've seen it with tools on construction sites, automotive shops, yard tools. Coat closets at partys are a good place to lose a nice jacket to someone without a clue. At the last ride I did, my bike was in a rack, and a man in full sponsored kit and a bike that was at least three grand just mindlessly leaned it against my old one, tangling his brake levers under my saddle and ramming his pedal into my front spokes then just wandering away. He was one of the fastest riders, but one who probably has a mechanic do all adjustments and a salesman tell him what he needs.
About the only thing I dont see this behavior in is ultralight backpacking. Everyone knows their own gear, cause they agonize over it so much. Probably sky divers know their own stuff as well, at least I would hope so!

exmechanic89

Nothing you can do except hope it doesnt happen again OP. The suggestions of the police and arrest are completely ridiculous. Trust me, the police arent going arrest someone for 'accidently' taking the wrong shoes, whether it was really an accident or not. In fact I would be surprised if they would even send an officer over to answer the complaint. Shoplifting and petty theft get virtually a zero response these days.

Stratocaster

Oh, I don't think the OP wanted her arrested for theft. I think it was for her crappy attitude after being called out.

spdracr39

What happened to the health department regulations " no shirt no shoes no service ?"

Milton Keynes

The fact that he just walked up the ramp without a bag suggests he didn't have one to begin with, and was just looking for something to steal. If someone had honestly grabbed the wrong bag, they'd say "Sorry" and turn around to look for their actual bag.

Milton Keynes

I would hope a skydiver wouldn't absentmindedly grab a backpack thinking it's a parachute.

jefnvk

I can't imagine going on an organized ride where I was expected to take off my shoes at a rest stop. Seems incredibly odd. Set up tables outside if it is that big of a concern.

I'd agree. Just because someone responds in a hostile manner, does not mean the crime was intentional. Imagine what your reaction would be if someone out of the blue walked up and accused you of stealing their shoes. Would you be cool, calm, collected, and respond by immediately looking at your shoes?

My buddy saw someone grab his coat at a bar a few years back. He went over and confronted the (fairly inebriated) guy. As expected, the guy argued it was his coat. The buddy told him put your hand in the right pocket, there is a knife in there. The guy pulled out the knife. Still insisted it was his coat. Told him to stick his hand in the left pocket, there are two snowmobile spark plugs. Sure enough, there were. But nope, still his coat. Told him to look for a paper in the inside pocket. Guy finds it, goes "Oh, I guess it is your coat" and hands it back.

While I am sure there is plenty of luggage theft, I'm guessing the far larger share is grabbing things by accident. I had my backpack taken once, while I was at the desk filling out the forms the person walked up with it apologizing to the agent that they grabbed the wrong bag and only noticed it when they went to the bathroom to change clothes, and wondering if their bag was there (it was).

caadasaurus

Agreed, I don't see any need in getting cops involved. Even the event director thought it was an extremely unusual situation (which they haven't seen in 14 years of holding the event), but there's no proving whether it was intentional or not.

She got the shoes back, so all is good! In my eyes, whether intentional or not, it's simply careless not to just double check, especially given the difference she must've felt with the shoes. Granted, we should've just kept our equipment with us. I'd say most of the frustration was just from the fact that we didn't get to finish the ride .

TheLibrarian

Pretty sure my ski poles are not my original ones but mine weren't there so i took the closest similar ones.

Nachoman

It's a slippery slope. Think of that poor guy at the end of the day who ends up with no poles.

TimothyH

"No shirt, no shoes, no service, no profit"

<--restauranteur looking the other way

morfeeis

That's why you buy a liquid yellow JCW Mini Cooper, we never have that problem...

as for the shoes, i seriously doubt that a woman would want to put her feet in someone else's shoes, i think it was just an honest mistake. i also think that after hours in a rescue truck you tempers may have been a bit high (which i understand).