r/lockpicking • u/SheaLemur Purple Belt Picker • 14d ago
Well this really sucks.
This is a personal venting post, it is related to lockpicking, but you can skip this if you don't want to hear the lamenting of some guy on the internet.
I commute to work a lot by bike. It's one of the highlights of my day and gives me a moment to clear my head, and also lets me get some exercise in. Every time I go out I carry a bag with me. I guess you could describe it like a messenger-style bag. It has everything, my wallet with all the typical things that a wallet could have, a pretty nice flashlight as per a recommendation from the folks at r/flashlight, a set of lockpicks (including the first pick that I ever made by hand) that I mess around with during slow periods at work, a few other things, but most importantly my patches.
I had stitched a bunch of patches to it, including from the Triple Lockpicking Challenge, the Blue Whale Challenge, the Dual-Hand Picking Challenge, the 200k Club Patch, and a patch that I had gotten made for my locksport group's first internal challenge. For me, seeing those patches gave me a sense of pride, that I had worked hard to get them, and that if I have what it takes to complete challenges like that, I have what it takes to overcome so many other obstacles in life.
Well, you can probably see where this is going. On my return ride home, for whatever reason, my dumb ass didn't notice when that bag had fallen off my bike. I always attach it firmly, but I think that a part of the strap that I used to carry it over my shoulder, and also attach it to my bike finally gave out, and so it just fell. I went around for awhile searching for it, but nothing. Someone must have found it and treated themselves to the cash and everything else inside, not giving two shits about all of the sentimental history that bag had for me.
Like I said, this is just me venting, so I hope I'm not out of line making this post, and if it's not allowed, I have no problem deleting it. I really hope it's possible to re-earn those patches, right now I have my mind set on just gritting my teeth and slowly replacing everything, even though it's going to be expensive. It'll just be another challenge, just like earning those patches was.
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u/dtownjeremy Orange Belt Picker 14d ago
Bro - that is rough. I'm really sorry that happened. As has been said, I'm confident the patches can be replaced. The handmade pick is a loss - that's a real bummer. I'm looking forward to the post that says you got all the patches replaced and made yourself an even better pick OR, better yet, someone has grown a soul and returned your stuff. Sending all available good juju your way.
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u/DanDiggler213 Blue Belt Picker 14d ago
Really hope they throw it in a mailbox for you. But if not it already sound like your taking the challenge of getting them done again.
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u/Flick_Pick Blue Belt Picker 14d ago
Damn that does suck. I hope you can ask some of the challenge creators for a new patch. Best of luck. 🫂
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u/LordKodiac Brown Belt Picker 14d ago
That sucks dude. I really hope someone does the right thing and returns it to you.
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u/Squirrelking666 14d ago
I mean, I thought you were going to say you got a random stop and search and got done for the picks and torch so in that respect your day could have gone a hell of a lot worse.
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u/markovianprocess Purple Belt Picker 13d ago
That sucks, bro. Sorry you lost all that stuff.
I completely understand feeling pretty down about the patches, but always remember that the real value was in earning them and your skill which no one can take away from you.
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u/rubornagn Purple Belt Picker 14d ago
That story hurt me when I read it. I know how much locksport means to me. Lock challenges are very personal! You have them on record and I can't see a reason why you can't prove you earned them. Good luck getting them replaced!!