Mysterious bending keys when in pannier!

[joanna]

Ok, this is getting weird now. I've had 7 keys bend when in my pannier - 3 house keys, 1 work key, 3 bike lock keys (1 tubular type, 2 flat), it might be more - lost count now! I always make sure the keys aren't wedged in - and mostly have them attached to the key clip in the outer pocket of my pannier. On Thursday I had them in the outer pocket - nothing else was in there, and in the main compartment of the pannier was only my waterproof.

Very confused, and it's getting expensive having to replace them all the time!!! Below is a pic for the keys that got bent on Thursday. Took the gold one to a locksmith today and even with a clamp he couldn't get it back into shape.£7 for a new one

 

[Gary E]

Wow, spooky!

 

[Gary E]

Either that or a member of your family or a workmate is having a joke at your expense

 

[Rapples]

Do you have suspension on your bike perchance?

 

[Gary E]

Do you have suspension on your bike perchance?

Good thinking. Hope it's nothing that trivial though. I'm quite enjoying the paranormal connotations

 

[joanna]

no suspension - it's a sirrus - was hoping there were going to be others with the same problem - but seems to be just me. Hmmm, not sure what to think of that. Bad luck the first time. 7 times now though, surely that's not right?!

 

[topcat1]

Are you leaning the pannier against the wall? Or is someone leaning their bike againt yours' ?

get an ipod/cellphone, strap/pouch and strap them to your arm.

 

[Gary E]

See! No suspension!!

Moulder and Skully are back in business. do do da da, do do da da (that's the theme from the X Files obviously)

 

[joanna]

I only have the keys in the pannier when I'm cycling - so it's happening then. Yep, will definitely think about getting an ipod strap or something instead, or I guess if I had them in a pocket that would be better. Hopefully won't happen again.

 

[Night Train]

The flat 'Yale' type keys can bend, with a small effort, if there is a deep notch near the handle end but the mortice key takes quite a bit of force to bend.

Are there any marks on the keys? Or on the inside of the pocket where the key would have been pressed against it?

I am thinking a pannier itself would not have the structural integrity to bend a key, especially the two in the photo which seem to have been bent together in the same place, without leaving marks on the fabric.

My CSI head is on now and I want to have access to the keys and the pannier to investigate further.
I don't believe in them but ever experienced a poltergeist in your life?

 

[Gary E]

OK, Nobody panic, I've worked it out......

"I am Vinz, Vinz Clortho, Keymaster of Gozer...Volguus Zildrohoar, Lord of the Seboullia. are you the Gatekeeper?"

No charge for my services

 

[Crackle]

Joanna, got a pic of the pannier? I'm thinking it's swinging into the wheel enough for the spokes to catch it hard, bending your keys but because of the pannier, they get pulled back out. Maybe it's happening several times on the journey, the pannier muffles the noise and for whatever reason, you aren't noticing it happening or you are but not putting two and two together.

 

[Gary E]

After 7 bent keys surely there would be some damage to the spokes though?

 

[joanna]

well, the outer pocket where I had my keys on Thursday is on the outer side of the pannier, so, no where near the wheel. And as I said, they was nothing else in there, and the keys were attached to a clip. Ah well, one of those mysteries I suppose. Just surprised really it hasn't happened to anyone else.Good job really! Thanks for all the replies!

 

[Crackle]

What pannier is it?