Ride foiled by missing gear

[Ana]

I had my ride planned out and was excited to get outside so I got dressed and began collecting my gear.

But I could not find my gloves! I became obsessed with my search but only in vain. I looked everywhere several times.

I think I'll purchase another pair while I try to find them because riding without gloves is uncomfortable due to the handlebar vibration. Are your rides sometimes thwarted by missing equipment or gear? I am feeling extremely frustrated.

[OakLeaf]

I bought a cheap mesh backpack (mesh is great since I can throw stuff in there while it's still a little sweaty, and it will dry without getting gross) and all my cycling gear lives in it. That way I always know where everything is, and if I'm driving to a ride, I can just pick up the backpack and know that I have everything I need.

There are still times when I've forgotten to wash a jersey and have to fish a stinky one out of the laundry though... Luckily I have a pair of shorts that I really don't like, that I can fall back on if everything else is dirty.

Anyway, sorry you didn't get to ride. It was a beautiful day in Ohio.

[Owlie]

My gloves live in my helmet or in a drawer when not being used. I did buy myself a second pair of gloves just in case--I rarely lose things, but if I do, they're usually gone for good.

My rides are thwarted by work, or if not by work, a problem with my bike that I do not have the knowledge to fix.

[Ana]

I do have a box designated to cycling stuff. I keep all of my supplies and tools in it. Usually, everything is together...it doesn't help that I have moved since I can last remember when I used my gloves (or if I still have them). Customarily, my gloves are put in my cycling box or in my helmet

[shootingstar]

Know the feeling. I haven't missed a ride yet, but have occasionally stomped around home trying to find temporarily misplaced gloves, headband or glasses.

Which is not a total problem since I do have a 2nd set somewhere, either brand new or more grotty set. Worst thing is not finding my keys or wallet ..I do this temporarily ...and waste half hr. or so finding the misplaced keys or wallet.

I do have a box where all sorts of little cycling gear is stuffed but it does not solve the problem of a thinking cyclist-to-be wandering around with her possessions at home.

[maryellen]

Had to laugh at this. Last Monday, my ride was delayed 15-20 minutes as I couldn't find a pair of gloves. I have three pairs and I couldn't find one pair! I finally realized I put them all in a new place in a handy box so I wouldn't have difficulty finding them. Hope I don't experience that mental glitch again . . . at least not with cycling gloves.

[Owlie]

Know the feeling. I haven't missed a ride yet, but have occasionally stomped around home trying to find temporarily misplaced gloves, headband or glasses.

Which is not a total problem since I do have a 2nd set somewhere, either brand new or more grotty set. Worst thing is not finding my keys or wallet ..I do this temporarily ...and waste half hr. or so finding the misplaced keys or wallet.

I do have a box where all sorts of little cycling gear is stuffed but it does not solve the problem of a thinking cyclist-to-be wandering around with her possessions at home.

THAT is what delays my rides (or my going to class, or...) I am constantly setting my wallet and keys (they're attached) down somewhere in my room and forgetting where I put them.
And why is that if you decide "I'm going to put X here so I don't lose it", you don't see it again?
Ana, your avatar is adorable.

[tzvia]

In the summer I would drive somewhere cool (like the beach, because I am a heat-wimp) wearing sandals, and then pull out the shoes and OH NO! No socks. So now I keep two pairs of socks in my cycling bag just in case. With everything in one place I now have gone one year without forgetting/loosing anything, which is quite a trick for me. Normally I'm so dense I don't know I don't have something that I need till I'm 30 miles from home so my bike bag is my portable brain. It's not bad in a way, because I'm not stressing over the missing stuff that I don't know I don't have, but at the moment I need it I feel like such a putz.

[spindizzy]

But I could not find my gloves! I became obsessed with my search but only in vain. I looked everywhere several times.

I am so there with you! Went out to ride last week - same thing happened. I usually keep all my gear in a bag in the car. My gloves no where to be found. I found my leather gloves..and wore those. Not very breatheable - but they cut the wind. And I figure no-one could really see...

Went out again today - and I still haven't found them....I really need to get another pair before someone finds out about my obsession with leather dress gloves and bike gear....

[deeaimond]

same here, i currently have one missing glove...

fortunately i have 3 pairs of the same gloves

I used to think i was strange. If i realise i can't find something I will be really upset until it is found, or it has been established to have been stolen, borrowed or damaged. I just NEED to know where it is. of course if it is damaged I'll be upset but not in the oh-my-god-i-cannot-do-anything-else-until-this-is-found way...looks like i'm not the only one.

[azfiddle]

I mentioned this on another thread last week, but losing a pair of gloves led to a serendipitous stroke of good luck.

I left my gloves in a Burger King bathroom when I changed after a ride (we had driven an hour to the starting point so I didn't want to wear my cycling clothes home). When my DH and I went to replace them next day, he won a $250 gift card to the bike store from the big promotion event they were having. I got my new gloves and a pair for cooler weather and stow them in one of those re-useable shopping bags, along with my helmet, mirror, shoes and a couple of emergency snacks.

[andtckrtoo]

In the summer I would drive somewhere cool (like the beach, because I am a heat-wimp) wearing sandals, and then pull out the shoes and OH NO! No socks. So now I keep two pairs of socks in my cycling bag just in case. With everything in one place I now have gone one year without forgetting/loosing anything, which is quite a trick for me. Normally I'm so dense I don't know I don't have something that I need till I'm 30 miles from home so my bike bag is my portable brain. It's not bad in a way, because I'm not stressing over the missing stuff that I don't know I don't have, but at the moment I need it I feel like such a putz.

We drove up the mountain nearby to a mountain biking trail. We got there, got unloaded and the bikes checked, only to realize I had forgotten my bike SHOES! So yeah, I've done this, too. Now for events, or anything that requires travel by car, I pack the night before and put everything into the car. :P

[Ana]

Wow, thanks for sharing. I feel a lot better now

I really want to get out there and ride since the weather is "warming up" (i.e. high of 63 between 2:00pm-5:00pm instead of a high of 49 F).

[Biciclista]

it's really fun when you leave your front wheel at home.

[OakLeaf]

it's really fun when you leave your front wheel at home.

Wheelie!