Eric F 

I've never forgotten my helmet, but forgetting shoes has been an issue more than a couple of times.

fooferdoggie 

I almost rode off without my wife on the tandem.

GlennR

I once got a block away and thought my head felt a bit cool. I quickly realized that I left my helmet on the workbench so I turned around.

Now i've gotten miles away before realizing I left my water bottles behind.

gringomojado

In Holland this is a common occurrence!

gm

jaxgtr

Yep, my wife and I drove 2 hours to meet up with some friends and go for a ride and be bother though each other grabbed them. Luckily the route was on a really quiet mup and we survived, but I never felt comfortable the entire time.

rsbob 

Have left the house without gloves a few times and once drove the bike to meet up with a friend and oh no! Forgot Look clipped cycling shoes. Argh

Seattle Forrest

When it's raining at sea level in Seattle, it's snowing up in the mountains. Crazy but 25F and solid water coming out of the sky is easier to stay comfortable in than 40F and liquid water everywhere. And cross country skiing is great cross training.

SoSmellyAir

This is not riding weather; it is skiing weather.

SoSmellyAir

I have never forgotten my entire bike but once or twice I left my front wheel in my garage after struggling to get the rest of my bike inside my car.

indyfabz

During the third day of a long tour I got off a ferry in WA and left my CamelBak hanging on a fence post. Got about 3 miles before I realized it. Had to turn back to get it. Talk about being pissed.

rumrunn6

come East my friend, where we do both

Bald Paul

Once, on my motorcycle, in a state where helmet use was mandatory. I must have driven past half a dozen police officers, and not a single one noticed. It was weird.

I have shown up for a large group bicycle charity ride, only to discover that I had left my cycling shoes at home.

rumrunn6

turning into ever forget anything thread ... the OP must be feeling pretty good by now

once forgot my favorite jacket & I really needed an outer shell. no way I was gonna ride that chilly day w/ just a base & mid layer altho I strongly considered it. but I would later be hit by snow squalls & hail, so yeah, I needed it. really annoyed at myself for not having anything else anywhere in my car. since I was more than 2 hrs from home, I had no choice but to find an EMS & buy an expensive new thin water resistant jacket for $150. I do like it tho, so ...

blacknbluebikes 

Which configuration was faster?

big chainring 

Years ago I forgot to bring my helmet to a race. Of course I discover this minutes before my race starts. I'm franticly looking around to borrow a helmet. And who comes to my rescue, Chicago's very own Big Al Stern. Back in the day Big Al rode with a Kucharick leather helmet. Probably a decade old and on this hot summer day loaded with sweat, and Big Al could sweat....seemingly always had a drip of sweat hanging off the tip of his nose. He offered and I took it. It was pretty disgusting but hey, I got to race

sfrider 

Twice. First time was right after leaving and I went back for it, the second time it wasn't worth the bother to turn around. I just don't have enough accidents for one helmetless ride to be a statistically significant risk, but I wouldn't make it a long-term habit to ride helmetless.

mattcalifornia

LOL - I just did this last week! I drove 90 minutes to do my first XC MTB/gravel race. Forgot my shoes. Had to ride the race in my running shoes with clipless pedals. It pretty much sucked.

rumrunn6

not sure I got it right, but would be interesting to start a thread of "when did you ever bail on a ride". I'm sure I can think of 2 myself

Seattle Forrest

There's a rumor that you can tame cyclists and get them to pull you. 😉

fooferdoggie 

ya that was a big bail. but it was a workout ride and we were a bit tired so maybe for the best.

rousseau

That happened to me once. I didn't lose my head over it, I just finished the ride and vowed to be more vigilant next time.

TiHabanero

Yep, this morning I forgot my shoes, went back and got them. Half way to meet up I realized I forgot the helmet. Normally I'd just go ride, but as I was riding with a buddy I turned around and fetched the helmet.

Leinster

I did a mtb ride to the top of a mountain, and used my water bottle as a prop to take a pic of the bike at the summit. Half way down I realised I’d left the bottle at the top. I did not go back to get it.

I once drove to a family group ride where I brought my bike, the trailer, the twins (<2yrs at the time) and started unloading to find I had left the connector bar for the trailer at home. Frantic call to my wife, who arrived just as the 4th wave was preparing to depart. Her; “oh, is that the route you’re doing! If I’d known, I would’ve brought my own bike…”

I left my helmet at work on Friday. My commute is only about 5 blocks, so I was halfway home before I remembered not only had I left my helmet there, I had done the same thing Thursday, too. I swear I’ll bring it home tomorrow.

mschwett 

I forget one of the 6 items I bring once in perhaps 8 rides: mask, keys/key card, helmet, heart rate strap, credit card, tail light blinkie. only the helmet or heart rate strap justifies turning back. riding without a helmet feels SO NICE…

PeteHski

I’ve never forgotten my helmet. But I have forgotten gloves, HRM, mini-pump and best of all I once drove an hour to the trailhead and discovered that I’d left my bike rack key at home. So couldn’t unlock my bike from the rack!