Forget Something?

Rick Proctor

 

I’ve experienced situations of not having something with me on a bike ride – and I’ll bet you have too.  Part of being human is to occasionally forget something, although this thought alone doesn’t ease the self-disgust when I discover my water bottle, jacket, sunglasses, or whatever is missing because I forgot to bring it.  I knew this problem would only get worse with time unless I had a system of reminders to keep myself on track.  Through years of trial and error I’ve developed a simple process to use when preparing for a bike ride that helps me be successful in keeping my bicyclist act together, and it just might work for you too.

Start with the obvious – the bike.  Tires, chain, and batteries on bikes need frequent servicing.  This could be done the evening before the ride to save time in the morning.

Check the weather forecast, then review the riding paraphernalia appropriate for the expected weather.  Be sure to either wear it or set on a dedicated-and-impossible-to-overlook location the evening before the ride.  Do it by body parts from head to toe considering everything that will be needed for the head, arms, hands, upper body, lower body, and feet.

Ensure adequate provisions are considered for money, water, food, sunscreen, etc.  Put this stuff on the bike or in the dedicated-and-impossible-to-overlook location. 

In the morning, be sure to fill the water bottles with fresh water (or other beverage) then immediately put them on the bike or in the car.  I’ve gone off and left filled water bottles by the kitchen sink.  Don’t forget to take the stuff from the dedicated-and-impossible-to-overlook location.  I’ve learned the hard way to never set anything on a car roof, bumper, or fender to avoid driving away and losing something that way.

A paper or electronic checklist could be used to track all this stuff, with the risk of appearing nerdish.  I’ve found the simple process works well enough as long as I’m consistent with it.  I prefer to take the time to do it right because I know rushing to get ready leads to shortcuts – the usual source of forgetting something.

Finding ways to do stuff successfully carries over to other activities.  People tend to respect  those who are successful and welcome them into social networks.  Bicycling is more than a hobby activity with benefits that extend well beyond the ride.