Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

What have you found on the ground while riding?

Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

What have you found on the ground while riding?

Old 12-30-20, 11:36 PM
  #1351  
sjanzeir
BF's Resident Dumbass
 
sjanzeir's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Posts: 1,566

Bikes: 1990 Raleigh Flyer (size 21"); 2014 Trek 7.6 FX (size 15"); 2014 Trek 7.6 FX (size 17.5"); 2019 Dahon Mu D9; 2020 Dahon Hemingway D9

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 792 Post(s)
Liked 1,494 Times in 496 Posts


Almost rolled over this little red monster truck just this morning (I'm posting this off to the side of the road right now.) Some kid somewhere must be pretty upset right about now... 😢

Last edited by sjanzeir; 01-08-21 at 02:54 PM.
sjanzeir is offline  
Old 01-08-21, 02:50 PM
  #1352  
Clyde1820
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 1,820

Bikes: 1996 Trek 970 ZX Single Track 2x11

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 614 Post(s)
Liked 564 Times in 428 Posts
What have you found on the ground while riding?
A piece of rope.

Some years ago, while riding along a street I'd been on many thousands of times, a strange smell floated past. A familiar smell. One that took me back 50yrs to my childhood when I used to root around grandpa's garage area. A short length of rope. Nasty, probably in that gutter for years. But it smelled identical to grandpa's garage. That old, awful, somehow comforting mix of oil, dirt, sweat, general crud, weathering, and whatever any number of animals chose to do with the thing. The old memories flashed through my head as I passed it. Took me minutes to find the thing, coming back to search for it. Weird, how certain smells can unleash a cascade of old memories like that.
Clyde1820 is offline  
Old 01-08-21, 11:30 PM
  #1353  
Chuck M 
Happy With My Bikes
 
Chuck M's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,178

Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 877 Post(s)
Liked 2,301 Times in 1,111 Posts
Originally Posted by Clyde1820
Weird, how certain smells can unleash a cascade of old memories like that.
Years ago at work, the coffee makers were in the smoking break room. When the coffee grounds and ashtrays were dumped in the trash, it smelled like my grandmother's kitchen trash and always invoked memories of my grandmother.

Also when I was a teen, my girlfriend worked at a burger joint. When she got off in the evening, I would take her in my car to "the slopes" outside of town. Pickles and onions bring on memories too.
Chuck M is offline  
Likes For Chuck M:
Old 01-09-21, 02:23 AM
  #1354  
Clyde1820
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 1,820

Bikes: 1996 Trek 970 ZX Single Track 2x11

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 614 Post(s)
Liked 564 Times in 428 Posts
Originally Posted by Chuck M
Years ago at work, the coffee makers were in the smoking break room. When the coffee grounds and ashtrays were dumped in the trash, it smelled like my grandmother's kitchen trash and always invoked memories of my grandmother.

Also when I was a teen, my girlfriend worked at a burger joint. When she got off in the evening, I would take her in my car to "the slopes" outside of town. Pickles and onions bring on memories too.
Used to fish off the coast for cod and other types, at depth. Made up my own rigs, with discarded window sash weights and custom lines. Had a dozen old, discarded McDonald's 5gal pickle buckets for the task. Those things never really lost the smell of pickles, even after a few years of fishing. To this day, when I smell that smell, I still get flashes of coastal fishing memories.
Clyde1820 is offline  
Old 01-09-21, 07:12 AM
  #1355  
locolobo13 
Senior Member
 
locolobo13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Phx, AZ
Posts: 2,112

Bikes: Trek Mtn Bike

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 281 Post(s)
Liked 2,624 Times in 944 Posts
Originally Posted by Clyde1820
A piece of rope.

Some years ago, while riding along a street I'd been on many thousands of times, a strange smell floated past. A familiar smell. One that took me back 50yrs to my childhood when I used to root around grandpa's garage area. A short length of rope. Nasty, probably in that gutter for years. But it smelled identical to grandpa's garage. That old, awful, somehow comforting mix of oil, dirt, sweat, general crud, weathering, and whatever any number of animals chose to do with the thing. The old memories flashed through my head as I passed it. Took me minutes to find the thing, coming back to search for it. Weird, how certain smells can unleash a cascade of old memories like that.
In Jr. Hi, in the late 60s, I would walk by a corner gas station. It was a full service station with the bays. The parking lot was littered with cigarette buts. There was a smell of fuel, oil and solvents.

Fast forward to the 90s. I'm working in a lab using iso-octane as a solvent. The smell of iso-octane always brought back the memory of that parking lot. Still does for that matter.
locolobo13 is offline  
Old 01-09-21, 07:16 AM
  #1356  
locolobo13 
Senior Member
 
locolobo13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Phx, AZ
Posts: 2,112

Bikes: Trek Mtn Bike

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 281 Post(s)
Liked 2,624 Times in 944 Posts
Found this along the Arizona Canal


a bag of brown leafy material. Didn't touch it.
locolobo13 is offline  
Old 01-12-21, 06:51 AM
  #1357  
jpc2001
No Motor Vehicles
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 58

Bikes: '85 Schwinn Super LeTour, '84 Miyata 310, '76 Schwinn Superior

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Liked 65 Times in 15 Posts
On Dec 11th I found myself on the ground. You'd laugh if you saw the pothole that did it -- it looks like nothing, just a tiny dip. I caught it exactly wrong, bobbled the recovery, and tipped over a curb onto the sidewalk.

Yesterday I finally got an x-ray. I had no idea it was broken. That's a tibia. The fracture's kinda faint so I've circled it:



To put a happy ending on this story, I once found a $2 bill while riding too.
jpc2001 is offline  
Old 01-16-21, 07:23 AM
  #1358  
locolobo13 
Senior Member
 
locolobo13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Phx, AZ
Posts: 2,112

Bikes: Trek Mtn Bike

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 281 Post(s)
Liked 2,624 Times in 944 Posts
Under a tree by the Maryland Ave pedestrian bridge over I17 in Phx.


This tree is almost decorated with something.
locolobo13 is offline  
Old 01-16-21, 05:42 PM
  #1359  
Korina
Happy banana slug
 
Korina's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,693

Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930

Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1531 Post(s)
Liked 1,527 Times in 915 Posts
Originally Posted by locolobo13
Found this along the Arizona Canal


a bag of brown leafy material. Didn't touch it.
I spotted one of those a few months ago, right outside the local pot shop. I also let it be; figured either the owner would come back in a panic, or someone would score.
Korina is offline  
Old 03-09-21, 08:32 PM
  #1360  
sjanzeir
BF's Resident Dumbass
 
sjanzeir's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Posts: 1,566

Bikes: 1990 Raleigh Flyer (size 21"); 2014 Trek 7.6 FX (size 15"); 2014 Trek 7.6 FX (size 17.5"); 2019 Dahon Mu D9; 2020 Dahon Hemingway D9

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 792 Post(s)
Liked 1,494 Times in 496 Posts
Well, not exactly on the ground, but...



Found this little beauty stuck inside an outdoor water cooler near our place just after I went out riding around 3 AM Wednesday morning. Ours is her new home now.

Last edited by sjanzeir; 03-11-21 at 02:51 AM.
sjanzeir is offline  
Likes For sjanzeir:
Old 03-09-21, 08:36 PM
  #1361  
Pugs2xLove
Full Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 288
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 92 Post(s)
Liked 89 Times in 66 Posts
Originally Posted by delbiker1
In the past 2 months I have found 2 phones and 2 wallets. One phone was an Iphone 6 and one was an android but I do not remember the brand. One wallet I found just yesterday. The Iphone I still have as it is passcode protected and I keep forgetting to go to an Apple store to see if they can track the owner. The other phone was returned to the women that lost it. The first wallet I was able to contact the person and get it back to them. The one I found yesterday I will put in the mail tomorrow to the owner. I actually found him by a card for his probation officer. I called the officer and they confirmed the address.

Also recently, I have found numerous tools and a saddle bag that was full with a tube, levers and a mini-tool.
Looks like the only thing you haven't found yet is a winning Powerball ticket lol. I found a bike tail light on the trail yesterday.
Pugs2xLove is offline  
Old 03-11-21, 04:02 PM
  #1362  
Shimagnolo
Senior Member
 
Shimagnolo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,080
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3370 Post(s)
Liked 5,490 Times in 2,843 Posts
It would appear some people are unclear on the concept of a "bike path":

Shimagnolo is online now  
Likes For Shimagnolo:
Old 03-11-21, 04:26 PM
  #1363  
AUPedla
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 95
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 38 Post(s)
Liked 78 Times in 32 Posts
Exhibit A - turtle trying to cross the road, I relocated it back to the side of the road
Exhibit B - echidna sunning himself, I didn't have enough plugs to fix my tyre if I rode over him


AUPedla is offline  
Likes For AUPedla:
Old 03-12-21, 07:55 AM
  #1364  
locolobo13 
Senior Member
 
locolobo13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Phx, AZ
Posts: 2,112

Bikes: Trek Mtn Bike

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 281 Post(s)
Liked 2,624 Times in 944 Posts
Originally Posted by Shimagnolo
It would appear some people are unclear on the concept of a "bike path":

This is becoming common on MUPs in the Phoenix area. Especially at underpasses.
locolobo13 is offline  
Old 03-12-21, 08:00 AM
  #1365  
Shimagnolo
Senior Member
 
Shimagnolo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,080
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3370 Post(s)
Liked 5,490 Times in 2,843 Posts
Originally Posted by locolobo13
This is becoming common on MUPs in the Phoenix area. Especially at underpasses.
Well, the really stupid thing is that just 1/4 mile away is a grove of bushy trees they could have put the tent behind, which would make it almost unnoticeable from the bike path. I have seen multiple tents back there in past years.
Shimagnolo is online now  
Old 03-12-21, 08:24 AM
  #1366  
10 Wheels
Galveston County Texas
 
10 Wheels's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,221

Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1349 Post(s)
Liked 1,243 Times in 621 Posts
Some of the items
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"

10 Wheels is offline  
Likes For 10 Wheels:
Old 03-14-21, 04:57 PM
  #1367  
JacobLee 
Total Scrounge
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 884

Bikes: 71 International 72 Super Course 83 Gap

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 327 Post(s)
Liked 924 Times in 310 Posts
Noticed all of these shiny cylinders laying in the street and remembered that a big dump truck broke down up the street from me a few days ago.



Roller bearings. It must’ve blew a driveline bearing or something. I wonder how many of these ended up in car tires?

JacobLee is offline  
Old 03-14-21, 09:48 PM
  #1368  
Unca_Sam
The dropped
 
Unca_Sam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,144

Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times in 696 Posts
Originally Posted by JacobLee
Noticed all of these shiny cylinders laying in the street and remembered that a big dump truck broke down up the street from me a few days ago.



Roller bearings. It must’ve blew a driveline bearing or something. I wonder how many of these ended up in car tires?

That's a fancy magnet!
Unca_Sam is offline  
Old 03-15-21, 05:55 PM
  #1369  
Gresp15C
Senior Member
 
Gresp15C's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,893
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1062 Post(s)
Liked 665 Times in 421 Posts
Brand new innertube. Presta cap was still on so it must be new.
Gresp15C is offline  
Old 03-15-21, 06:34 PM
  #1370  
JacobLee 
Total Scrounge
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 884

Bikes: 71 International 72 Super Course 83 Gap

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 327 Post(s)
Liked 924 Times in 310 Posts
Originally Posted by Unca_Sam
That's a fancy magnet!
That’s my jobsite cleanup magnet. Love it.
JacobLee is offline  
Old 03-15-21, 07:10 PM
  #1371  
myemptymind
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Pasadena CA
Posts: 80

Bikes: BMC Alpenchallenge

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 13 Posts
myemptymind is offline  
Likes For myemptymind:
Old 03-17-21, 10:44 PM
  #1372  
ToledoTom
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Posts: 10

Bikes: 1998 GT Windstream adapted for touring

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by fietsbob
$20 bill
Did that $20 bill have a picture of Andrew Jackson on it? If so that's mine, please contact me so you can return it.

Thank you.
ToledoTom is offline  
Likes For ToledoTom:
Old 03-18-21, 12:41 PM
  #1373  
Notso_fastLane
Senior Member
 
Notso_fastLane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Layton, UT
Posts: 1,606

Bikes: 2011 Bent TW Elegance 2014 Carbon Strada Velomobile

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 626 Post(s)
Liked 701 Times in 418 Posts
Originally Posted by myemptymind
Is that a 10mm? Those always go missing.
Notso_fastLane is offline  
Old 03-18-21, 01:12 PM
  #1374  
myemptymind
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Pasadena CA
Posts: 80

Bikes: BMC Alpenchallenge

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 13 Posts
Originally Posted by Notso_fastLane
Is that a 10mm? Those always go missing.
this one’s a 7/16
myemptymind is offline  
Old 03-18-21, 03:58 PM
  #1375  
Bluesfrog
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 163
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times in 18 Posts
I have found myself on the ground, wrenches, sockets, pliers, and other small tools. Some other things like tarp straps and chains that were useful but a real burden to carry home sometimes. Be Well, Bluesfrog.
Bluesfrog is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.