seedsbelize2

When I was building the Ironman last week, I found it takes recessed brakes. While going through EVERY possible ziploc of odds and sods, looking for the proper nuts, I stumbled across the small collection of crank dust covers. I had been looking for these for more than five years, knowing they were around somewhere.
That is all.

SJX426 

One of the fun things having a stash and being old. New discoveries every time!

repechage

My surprises are when I bought a "lot" of parts, made the buy decision regarding an obscure part.
One time being some Campagnolo pre-CPSC brake caliper QR levers, which soon after someone contacted me and asked if I was interested in selling them...
This before ebay cloaked buyers. I replied to them that was Precisely why I bought the lot.
years later I encounter misc. parts that I now have but did not mentally catalog.

rccardr 

Today found a stash of forgotten tire levers acquired when bikes were purchased with saddle bags.
Count ‘em…twelve!

billytwosheds 

I have a black needle bearing headset...somewhere...in the boxes.

Good on ya for finding a long-sought stash item.

phtomita

I replaced the inner ring of Shimano 600 crank from 42 to 38 last year.
I am sure didn't sell it and off course didn't throw it away, but couldn't find for some month or more.
Then, the other day was looking some tubes and it was there it was, at the bottom of the box.

SJX426 

There is a reason I hang stuff up!

P1040015 on Flickr

nlerner

I increasingly seem to find things that I have no memory of acquiring in the first place. Those are nice little surprises.

pastorbobnlnh 

I retired in September, and we purchased a home on the GA coast for the cooler months. I've had on hold the rebuilding of my Lotus Super Pro Aero with mostly DA AX gear for about the past three years. All the parts were removed for cleaning and the pivot points lubed long ago, and carefully packed away in a properly labeled plastic storage bin--- except the chrome fork and the wheels, which would not fit.

(As purchased prior to disassembly)

When, we moved to GA in October, I was careful to pack the Lotus frame, the plastic parts bin, the wheel set, several different pairs of tubular tires, and the fork (to which I had taped the chrome frame pump) in our cargo trailer. While the parts bin was easy packing, and I made a rack from which to hang the frame and wheelset, the fork kept flummoxing me for a safe and secure packing spot. Eventually I determined a great spot--- and then forgot in what I placed it!

I discovered it was missing when I started rebuilding after the move south. I looked everywhere, in everything, under everything, but with no luck. I was worried sick and was eventually convinced I had left it in storage in NH.

We flew back to NH the beginning of November, and the next morning I searched again--- with no luck! Now I was convinced I had thrown it away!

We began driving our van back to GA a week later. We had lots of places to stop and people to visit so the trip took more than a week.

On the last leg of the trip, about 1-2 hours from arrival, the hidden location dawned on me! I had stashed it securely in the long plastic bin holding the rolls of Christmas wrapping paper! When we arrived, I went immediately to the wrapping paper bin--- and there it was, happy as a bug in a rug!

Kabuki12

I’m glad you found it , Bob. I have done the very same thing. I took three medium sized boxes of parts to our bike cooperative here in Ventura , most of the stuff was never going to see any of my present builds. I thought I had inadvertently put some of my Campy smalls in there because I was looking for some brake adjusters that I had in a Ziplok bag, a couple that Jim Merz made for me were in there as well. An hour in the attic and viola it appeared. A box of little jewels that I had stashed for future builds. I needed them as I am presently building three bikes! Joe

xiaoman1 

Good Idea...if you have enough wall to hang stuff on.
Best, Ben

oneclick 

It's amazing what you find when you are looking for something else.

Maohaus

Just yesterday I uncovered a shoe box with a bunch of items I salvaged back in the early 80's - Not the least of which was a handful of original TREK brass head badges from the original TREK factory!!

unworthy1

can I hire any of you "lucky stuff finders" to locate all the stuff I KNOW I put someplace, but now...
You'd need to have psychic skills, of course, but could be a nice side-gig.

markwesti

Finding stuff you forgot you had is good . Buying stuff you need and then finding it when you get home makes the BOC happy .

squirtdad

and it looks pretty....I pretty much just recall I have something and search......if I can''t find it, I then think about who I might have helped with a part (still don't remember where the Avocet touring went)

SJX426 

Like some, I don't remember every purchase. I use to, including price and location and often from whom.
The lesson learned this last year or so is to check the stash before purchase. I now have more Superbe Pro RDs, last gen, then desired! Now that I have them, it is hard to let go because my options have increased!
Sort of a hoarder mentality, but you never know what might show up or how your perspective or preferences might change.

seedsbelize2

Similarly, I broke down and bought a 1 1/4" spade bit for a woodworking project, after searching for the adjustable bit for over a week.

sincos

Somehow found this in a drawer with a bunch of photo stuff. That's where it went!

canklecat

...where the heck did all this Shimano 600 Tricolor stuff come from...

...and that hub... what the heck was that from...

...do nonfunctional wheels breed in dark closets?

bwilli88 

I have a hybrid I am building again for my wife that I had loaned to a young kid. He was into popping wheelies and brinneled the headset. I knew I had a new 1 1\8 headset somewhere. looked for a week for that new headset, no luck. Looking for a bottom bracket piece I found that headset only to find I had already used the fork crown and bottom bearing from it on the previous build. 😫ugh.