A Stupidly Expensive Lesson Of Stupidity
#27
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I have Ortlieb panniers, and they are the universe's easiest-to-remove panniers. I heard from a friend that a friend of hers got her pannier snatched while waiting at a red light. It can happen! After I heard that story, I ran a bungie through the handles to make removing them slower.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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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.
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#28
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I commuted with front LowRiders for many years. I'd space and not push the panniers down past the "click". Falling off happened. But there is no way a front pannier is falling off and you not knowing! (I worried about the pannier getting tangled with the bike but they have always fallen well clear and never been an issue at any speed.
I carry my wallet and personals on me for a completely different reason. If I am ever separated from my bike, I want them on me! I don't care how safe the bike is. Could make a real difference in hospital choices, especially if I am not conscious. Phone in my pocket means I might be able to get a call out after a crash on a solo ride.
I carry my wallet and personals on me for a completely different reason. If I am ever separated from my bike, I want them on me! I don't care how safe the bike is. Could make a real difference in hospital choices, especially if I am not conscious. Phone in my pocket means I might be able to get a call out after a crash on a solo ride.
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Keep you chin up, Tom.
#30
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Did you ever set up the find-my-phone app?
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#31
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good question, and if it's android and set up with Google you don't even need an app
https://www.google.com/android/find?hl=en&u=0 to locate the phone, at least to the point where the battery is drained, and you can also lock or erase it,
https://www.google.com/android/find?hl=en&u=0 to locate the phone, at least to the point where the battery is drained, and you can also lock or erase it,
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#32
Senior Member
Years ago, I had noticed on my panniers that after or during rides, one of the hooks would always bounce off the rack.
So one year I splurged and got an Arkel with cams that grip onto the back rack. Even then, I would secure it more with a carabiner.
So one year I splurged and got an Arkel with cams that grip onto the back rack. Even then, I would secure it more with a carabiner.
#33
Senior Member
I'd be mad and upset too. I lost my phone a few months ago after I thought I dropped it on a ride. It turned out I dropped it at home and I eventually found it, but it really threw me through a loop as my life is on my phone. I now carry a cheap simple phone on the bike for emergencies.
I've thought about investing in a front mounted bag to put things like keys or phone in.
It's not really losing the stuff I would worry about. If a scumbag finds your keys and ID, then can they work out where you live. Do you then have to change your home locks and quickly cancel the cards so someone doesn't try to use them and if they manage to get into your phone, then what do they get to there. Suddenly you have to change all your account passwords for all the things it might be logged into.
Monetary is secondary. It's what else they can find out. Not fun.
I've thought about investing in a front mounted bag to put things like keys or phone in.
It's not really losing the stuff I would worry about. If a scumbag finds your keys and ID, then can they work out where you live. Do you then have to change your home locks and quickly cancel the cards so someone doesn't try to use them and if they manage to get into your phone, then what do they get to there. Suddenly you have to change all your account passwords for all the things it might be logged into.
Monetary is secondary. It's what else they can find out. Not fun.
#34
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Luckily, my stupidity has only cost me about $22 in the past two years. Both cases, didn't secure items in trunk bag. Pair of gloves merely ran over (deteriorated, not destroyed) and a lost "johnny saddle". Still, lesson learned....
#35
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Steely Dan Sorry to hear about your mishap. Is it possible you DID affix the pannier properly, but a part broke while you rode, or it "bounced off".
So much of my routes are away from heavy traffic, and I only listen to spoken word podcasts in one ear, so I usually hear when I roll over things, or when a tail-light falls off (twice), or my first helmet cam. However, fast heavy traffic is very loud, and I know you ride up between Evanston and the near north side of Chicago. That is a noisy commute, so I can understand why you wouldn't hear a pannier fall.
I think the idea of a bunger either behind or through a handle is a good idea.
So much of my routes are away from heavy traffic, and I only listen to spoken word podcasts in one ear, so I usually hear when I roll over things, or when a tail-light falls off (twice), or my first helmet cam. However, fast heavy traffic is very loud, and I know you ride up between Evanston and the near north side of Chicago. That is a noisy commute, so I can understand why you wouldn't hear a pannier fall.
I think the idea of a bunger either behind or through a handle is a good idea.
Last edited by BobbyG; 03-17-20 at 06:43 AM.
#37
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I have inexplicably dropped my phone on my commute, twice. On both occasions it somehow got out of my messenger bag and fell on the street. On both occasions I noticed its absence as soon as I got off the bike and used the Android feature to see where it was, and on both occasions this allowed me to actually find my phone more or less where it had fallen, though it took a while, and car tires had found it first.
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#38
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Steely Dan, my condolences. I've pulled a couple of dumber stunts, and been fortunate enough not to suffer for them.
#39
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Not beeing able to keep an eye on the valuables I carry is one of the reasons I and many of my compratiots prefer the front carrier these days.
#41
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I so sorry to hear you lost your pannier and valuables :-(
Last year my rear pannier bounced off my bike while riding from Soho to Brooklyn. I didn't realize until I was back in Brooklyn that it had bounced off and I had no idea where it had happened. The pannier had my wallet and my phone and other valuables. I asked a stranger in a park to borrow their phone to use the "lost my phone" function. They must have seen my desperation and were kind enough to let me use their phone. The app showed a green dot on the corner of Spring and Broadway. I rode faster than I ever have in my life and found my pannier on the side of the Spring st between a sewer grate and a homeless man. Perhaps my ratty old Cannondale pannier wasn't alluring enough to be scooped up. In any case I was very surprised that it sat untouched for over an hour in the middle of Soho. I consider myself very lucky and thankful for the "find my phone" function. I also subsequently purchase a pair of Lone Peak lock on pannier hooks to retrofit my Cannondale panniers. I've been very careful ever since to make sure they are attached properly.
Last year my rear pannier bounced off my bike while riding from Soho to Brooklyn. I didn't realize until I was back in Brooklyn that it had bounced off and I had no idea where it had happened. The pannier had my wallet and my phone and other valuables. I asked a stranger in a park to borrow their phone to use the "lost my phone" function. They must have seen my desperation and were kind enough to let me use their phone. The app showed a green dot on the corner of Spring and Broadway. I rode faster than I ever have in my life and found my pannier on the side of the Spring st between a sewer grate and a homeless man. Perhaps my ratty old Cannondale pannier wasn't alluring enough to be scooped up. In any case I was very surprised that it sat untouched for over an hour in the middle of Soho. I consider myself very lucky and thankful for the "find my phone" function. I also subsequently purchase a pair of Lone Peak lock on pannier hooks to retrofit my Cannondale panniers. I've been very careful ever since to make sure they are attached properly.
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#42
Sierra
Android also allows you to add your contact info to your lock screen under system settings > security > lock screen message in case an honest person finds your lost gear.
#43
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Sorry about that Steely Dan. While I didn't lose as much in terms of value, I can commiserate with another lost pannier story. I was coming down a hill about a mile from home on my commute. I hit a metal plate in a spot with road construction. One of my panniers popped off. I see it sitting in the road but off to the side. By the time I slow down and traffic clears for me to turn around, some dirt bag going the other way (who I just waited to let by) jumps out of his pickup truck, throws my pannier into the back, and speeds away. I watched it all from about 125 feet away. I chased with everything I had back up that hill. Another car who'd seen it all caught up behind me. He rolled down his window and I grabbed on to the stranger's car window like it was a team car. Off we sped together in pursuit. Alas, we lost him. At least it wasn't the pannier with my laptop, phone and wallets, but I was out 1/2 a set of panniers, set of clothes and some bike tools. The bag was on the ground maybe 20 seconds at most!
#44
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Did you also report the phone stolen? Blacklisting the IMEI will turn it into at best a tiny tablet, rather than allowing the person a full-featured phone.
#46
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Sorry about that Steely Dan. While I didn't lose as much in terms of value, I can commiserate with another lost pannier story. I was coming down a hill about a mile from home on my commute. I hit a metal plate in a spot with road construction. One of my panniers popped off. I see it sitting in the road but off to the side. By the time I slow down and traffic clears for me to turn around, some dirt bag going the other way (who I just waited to let by) jumps out of his pickup truck, throws my pannier into the back, and speeds away. I watched it all from about 125 feet away. I chased with everything I had back up that hill. Another car who'd seen it all caught up behind me. He rolled down his window and I grabbed on to the stranger's car window like it was a team car. Off we sped together in pursuit. Alas, we lost him. At least it wasn't the pannier with my laptop, phone and wallets, but I was out 1/2 a set of panniers, set of clothes and some bike tools. The bag was on the ground maybe 20 seconds at most!
Same goes for steely dan. I can't imagine what that was like. I thought I lost my phone recently and it's a horrible feeling especially as a lot of us have so much of our lives in our phones and personal information / accounts, even financial information.