Commuting - Grocery Shopping on a Bike

I do our weekly food shopping for our family of 3 on my bike. My neighbours think I'm crazy (especially in the snowy months).

Is there anyone else going car free who carries a high volume of groceries on their bike?

I use my panniers plus a large back pack. I put the heavy items in the panniers such as tinned foods and meats. I carry dry pastas, cereals, breads etc in by back pack.

I've been considering a BOB but I'm afraid that if I buy one, it will turn in to the equivilent of a car trunk (boot). When I owned a car it was always full of junk I really didn't need to carry around.

Any ideas?

I use a medium sized soft duffelbag that I bungy across the top of the rear rack that can be used in addition to panniers.

I get by with panniers only, but then again I'm single, no kids, and I shop often.

--J

Originally posted by stokell
I do our weekly food shopping for our family of 3 on my bike. My neighbours think I'm crazy (especially in the snowy months).

Is there anyone else going car free who carries a high volume of groceries on their bike?

I use my panniers plus a large back pack. I put the heavy items in the panniers such as tinned foods and meats. I carry dry pastas, cereals, breads etc in by back pack.

I've been considering a BOB but I'm afraid that if I buy one, it will turn in to the equivilent of a car trunk (boot). When I owned a car it was always full of junk I really didn't need to carry around.

Any ideas?

That's exactly what I do and it has worked for me. I decided not to get the BOB for Grocery shopping since I'd probably just buy stuff that I don't need. Shopping on a bike really can save you money.;)


P.S. Do you ever get people that just stand there and stare at you when you are loading up your bike? I've gotten tired of explaining to people that I CAN get all of this on the bike. :D

I also use my bike for grocery shopping, I use panniers front and rear and my topeak trunk bag, that gives me plenty of room and is as much weight as I want to carry up the hills I ride to get home. If I need more room I just go back to the store again tomorrow.

Lol, this thread brings back some memories. I did all our grocery shopping on bike for a year or so. It really does force you into being a more thoughtful consumer. I began to really enjoy dried goods... beans and grains pastas, no overly packaged products period. We have a shop nearby that sells a lot of bulk goods... which is a great thing for space concerns. I could get 5 days worth of food in my daypack (40 litre) and MUCH more in my extended trip pack. And yes people do look at your like a weirdo when you bag your own groceries in a backpack... but hey, the baggers don't mind... and to the astonishment on the checkout people I always got it all in.

I have a bike trailer i bought to haul my son around in. The back bar for the seat removes leaving a very large area. I once used it to move everything I own other than furniture across town.

And yes people do look at your like a weirdo
I do what I do, I go where I go, I think what I think, for me not for you. If you find humor in what I do and where or how I go, Well good for you, If you find laughter at my expense, good for you again, it just means you are laughing at the expense of one who cares not instead of one whos feeling would be hurt. The last laugh will be mine when gas prices reach $3.00 per gallon and you are paying more to get to the store to get your groceries than you spend on them.

That's the way I feel about that statement.

I have a number of supermarket stores at various altitudes around my house. For "wet goods" like beer and wine, I prefer the ones which are at a higher altitude. You have to think about the potential energy of the groceries as well as their price !!
I do tend to use local shops more than a car shopper would, and integrate my shopping trips into my evening fitness ride, or return commute. Im surprised at just how much stuff car shoppers buy.

I have a large messenger bag, it carries 40+ pounds of groceries with ease - as well as wheels, frames and bodies. All the people that shoot us wierd looks can spend eternity melting off their accumulated body fat in the fires of hell!

http://www.reloadbags.com/

http://www.timbuk2.com/

http://www.chromebags.com/

I don't get to go for groceries very often (I get the wrong stuff!!), but I do use the bike on occasion to go get stuff at Canadian Tire(combination hardware, auto parts, Walmart type of store - if they don't sell it, I don't need it), or at the lumber store. I usually use the panniers, I'm thinking about building a trailer for carting lumber, etc.

I typically use my car for the large shopping days, but do swing by the market on the way home a couple of days per week for those pesky one or two bags worth of odds and ends. I throw them in the Burley trailer (back part if dog is with me).

I make a couple grocery runs a week on the bike. I make a major car trip about every two weeks or so and stock up on a lot of the heavier, non-perishable stuff.
The door checker at Wal Mart has gotten to know me and actually comments when I don't come in on the bike. They haven't reached that level of familiarity at the Kroger yet...Frankly, the parking on the bike is better: since I'm in a healthy minority, I get to lock up right by the door. Heck, I even get to park closer to the store than the folks with the handicapped plates.

Originally posted by stokell
I do our weekly food shopping for our family of 3 on my bike. My neighbours think I'm crazy (especially in the snowy months).

Is there anyone else going car free who carries a high volume of groceries on their bike?

I use my panniers plus a large back pack. I put the heavy items in the panniers such as tinned foods and meats. I carry dry pastas, cereals, breads etc in by back pack.

I've been considering a BOB but I'm afraid that if I buy one, it will turn in to the equivilent of a car trunk (boot). When I owned a car it was always full of junk I really didn't need to carry around.

Any ideas?


I shop for our family of 4 by bike, so I'm guilty too!
At first, I did it with 4 panniers, and noticed I had to be relatively careful in my shopping. Last Winter, I got a children trailer and now use it for shopping. I find there are many advantages to the trailer and almost no disadvantage.

1. I can load much more in the trailer. We have a large surface grocery about 3 km from home, and I find the prices interesting. However, I hate to wait in line for 30 minutes at the cash, and it closes at 9:00 pm weekdays, and 5:00 pm on weekends (Québec law on store hours). With the trailer, I buy all staples and non perishable items from that store... and only go there once per month or once per 2 months. Last weekend, I got approximately 80 kg of stuff in the trailer and 2 large panniers. And I could have had some room left.

2. Once per week or once per 2 weeks, I do a "minor grocery" at a medium-size store that opens late at night. It allows me to go there after the kids are in bed. For basic items like milk and yogurt, prices are similar and I don't wait at the cash. I could use the panniers, but the trailer is easier to pack (1 minute max.).

3. Other items such as bread and vegetables are usually brought at the vegetable store or at the market, at random, using panniers. Except for the meat market (close to church, but far from home and work), all these are close to home.

4. The only drawback of the trailer is in snow. I have a 2-wheel trailer, so there is more drag.


Apart from the "fun factor" (Hey, I'm strange!), I find I park the bike closer to the store and closer to home. My appartment is on the first level, and when I come back from the store I roll the bike and trailer in the kitchen.

As for the trailer, the BOB isn't the best. It's single-wheel design is best for touring -- especially off-road touring. But for heavy payloads, you are much better with a cargo trailer such as the Burley (Nomad?) or with a child trailer. Used child trailers with low mileage can often be found at garage sales and are good for grocery shopping. Their only drawback compared to the cargo trailer is they are less aerodynamic; but unless you shop 20 km away from home, that's a minor inconvenience.

Regards,

Since there are only two of us and we eat out a lot, big grocery shops are uncommon.. Sort of like the French. buy for the day-fresh.. So on my hybrid bike I usually fit most of what I want in its' bag atop the rack and one of those collapsible French grocery panniers, that you can take in the store and use as a grocery bag.. Usually that gets most of what I need. Once I awhile I will fill a large backpack in addition to the bikes' panniers..
And yes, it is always a point of pride when I can do any errand without having to start the car...

Originally posted by Juha
I get by with panniers only, but then again I'm single, no kids, and I shop often.


So do I. OF course, it helps that I live within walking distance of what used to be the biggest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere. Heck, the only time I use the bike for shopping is when I'm in a hurry.

When I take the bike shopping I buy fresh stuff from the smaller, more interesting shops. The car is used every couple of weeks to buy heavy stuff.

The only other people I see doing the same are antique ladies on proper shopping bicycles, or plastic-bags-on-the-handlebars kids.

I also use a combination of panniers and a back pack, works fine. I sometimes will order stuff online from http://www.netgrocer.com http://www.healthy-eating.com or htp://www.drugstore.com There are a few supermarkets here that also deliver. In Rhode Island we still have milk men/(people) like the old days who deliver milk, eggs, etc. In terms of the cargo trailer, I decided that it was a waste of money and time for me. By the time I connected and disconnected it, loaded and unloaded the trailer, I could have done 2 quick trips to the market. I gotta tell ya, there is nothing cooler in the summer time than going for a nice ride and come home with fresh baked bread from the bakery, fresh produce from the local farm stand and a bag of fresh mussels from the fish monger! PEACE!

It wasn't until I went carless that I realized how incredible it is to shop with a bike. Living in an urban environ I have a lot of close places to grab the fresh stuff, ie bananas, oranges, salad fixens. I'll hit Cub or Rainbow for the bigger stuff, even though I save a few cents doing it. One of the Co-ops has a line of bike racks right outside, and it is always full, so just like finding a spot for a car finding a spot for the bike can be fun.

I learned something in a book I read, I can't recall the actual book, although I do think it is "someone's" Bike Book. The author shares about being carless and utalizing not just the bus system in a metropolitian area but taxis as well, stating he and his family still saved money going carless and using taxis. It had me thinking.

I do my best to never do about town errands with the car; unless the shopping needs are too great.. On general principal, I never start the car's motor unless I can't do it any other way..
I do about town errands on my wife's hybrid.. I have one of those side grocery panniers. They carry are fair amount of stuff. If you have items like a gallon of milk, the carrying space is just not enough..

Originally posted by stokell

Is there anyone else going car free who carries a high volume of groceries on their bike?



I do not have a rack or pannier bags on my bike as it is primarily outfitted as a mountain bike so I wear a backpack. I can generally carry about 30-40 lbs in this pack so it's pretty good but I try to break my shopping into two weekly visits.

The knapsack that I have has a mesh back that seperates the back of the pack from my back so there is actually a 2 inch space between the load and my back so it really doesn't pull down on my shoulders or hurt my back that much.

Justen

Yeah, I do my shopping by bike. Since I'm shopping for one it isn't much trouble. Although I did have to push the bike home last weekend when I realized I only had one bungee w/ which to afix the case of beer to the rack. After two drops (no breakage) I gave up on riding and walked it home.

The best thing I have done is to subscribe to an organic produce delivery service. I get a tub of fresh, local (when possible), organic fruits and veggies dropped off at my house once a week. Not only does that reduce the number of shopping trips, but it means that when I poke around the kitchen wondering what I have to eat, the answer is always something healthy.

Another option I want to look into is bike buckets. Square plastic 5 gallon buckets that are fit w/ hardware to mount on a bicycle rack. I borrowed a pair from a friend and their rigid sides and capacity made them ideal for trips to the grocers.

I use the Jandd grocery (http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FGBP) pannier. They're great! When they ask you if you want paper or plastic, you just hand them the pannier. They're shaped exactly like a paper bag too though, for a perfect fit.

I also use a Burley Flatbed (http://www.burley.com/products/trailers/default.aspx?p=Flatbed&i=5) . I like it a lot, but I'm disappointed that the bed itself is a canvas tarp. I plan to reinforce it with expanded metal (http://www.marcospecialtysteel.com/expandedmetal.htm)

Originally posted by cranky
I use the Jandd grocery (http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FGBP) pannier. They're great! When they ask you if you want paper or plastic, you just hand them the pannier. They're shaped exactly like a paper bag too though, for a perfect fit.


Odd you should mention this. The ones I ordered several weeks ago came in today. I can't wait to try them out!.

what i use to get food home...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42/Trx1/cartproto1.jpg
or for heavier loads
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42/Trx1/rockintrailer.jpg

That's exactly what I do and it has worked for me. I decided not to get the BOB for Grocery shopping since I'd probably just buy stuff that I don't need. Shopping on a bike really can save you money.;)


P.S. Do you ever get people that just stand there and stare at you when you are loading up your bike? I've gotten tired of explaining to people that I CAN get all of this on the bike. :D

That's funny! It reminds me of being so entertained, by watching all of those circus clowns climb into that little Volkswagen! :roflmao2:

- Slim :)

PS.

I could just them crowding all about you, just watching...being amazed with wonderment!

I havent tried doing all my shopping by bike, but I've done a lot of quick runs to the store to pick up some things. Two panniers, clip them to the inside of the shopping cart and fill them as you shop. That way you know when you're full.

I get by with panniers only, but then again I'm single, no kids, and I shop often.

--J

Same for me. For the OP, look into the Surly Big Dummy. You might actually get some good use out of it.

Panniers front and back,then strap big bulky things to the rack if need be.I get fresh fruit and veggies every 3-4 days on the way home from work.

Trailers are not like the trunk on your car.....I'm guessing that people that own and use trailers might notice if there's an extra 10-20 pounds of clutter in them....:)

I grocery shop on my bike all the time.

Often (couple times a week) I stop on my way home from work and get milk/eggs/some random thing we need. I just put that in my backpack.

Most Saturdays, I put two of the children in the trailer, and ride up to the guy we buy vegetables from; it's a CSA like deal, and we get 20 pounds of vegetables; I put those in the trailer behind the children.

Sometimes, I go to the grocery store--usually with one child and the trailer--but my wife does the regular grocery shopping.

I do our weekly food shopping for our family of 3 on my bike. My neighbours think I'm crazy (especially in the snowy months).

Is there anyone else going car free who carries a high volume of groceries on their bike?

I use my panniers plus a large back pack. I put the heavy items in the panniers such as tinned foods and meats. I carry dry pastas, cereals, breads etc in by back pack.

I've been considering a BOB but I'm afraid that if I buy one, it will turn in to the equivilent of a car trunk (boot). When I owned a car it was always full of junk I really didn't need to carry around.

Any ideas?

I see either a big dummy or an xtracycle in your future. :D I use a Schwinn Town & Country trike myself. For the really big shopping days I mount up an old burley delite kiddie trailer to it and really scare the bluehairs as I make my run in traffic. :roflmao2:

I use my trailer in the non snowy months and it has a 100 litre tote and more room up front and on top so will carry more groceries than I care to pull and in the winter use my extra-bike which can carry six full sized panniers although I usually make due with 2 sets of touring bags and also have a lot of room on the top deck.

We are a family of 3 and my daughters also help out and can carry panniers / groceries on their bicycles.

26"wheel surly LHT. wide milk crate on back, panniers on front. Milk crate is more convenient than rear panniers for the short ride to the store and back. If I want to carry more I can put panniers on rear under crate( I had lower rails brazed on Tubus Cargo). I use 2' or so bungies to hold panniers close to rack. Less sway. I had a Kona Ute which could carry a lot but I just didn't like how it rode. I've got an extracycle trailer if I want to carry more but I stop off at the store on the way home so most big shopping trips are less than four grocery bags worth.

My Pannier goes on the check-out scanner/conveyor first, then the stuff,
so I have my groceries loaded in that bag and get a $.05 credit
for not using the paper/plastic store bag.
the other empty bags are left in the cart, so when bag #1 is full,
they, start packing the next one, and got another Nickel , off my groceries, bill.

I have the folding wald baskets on my rear rack. They are HEAVY but since it's a Raleigh Sports, I don't realy care. It's great to be able to just unfold them and tos in two full grocery bags on my way home.

I havent tried doing all my shopping by bike, but I've done a lot of quick runs to the store to pick up some things. Two panniers, clip them to the inside of the shopping cart and fill them as you shop. That way you know when you're full.

I do the same thing, use the bags in the cart so I know I'm not overloading myself. I have a car, but don't use it unless I absolutely have to, and you don't need it at the grocery.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ITBwySl6Sco/TYuBDSsGWaI/AAAAAAAABX4/9lYt58rald8/s320/IMG_0539.JPG
http://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2011/03/sackville-shopping-sacks.html

Marc

Do any of you take your bike into grocery stores?

I like ortlieb back rollers for grocery getting. If you have a little too much you can leave the top open and it really expands the amount of carry capacity.

Haven't been using these lately though as I live within walking distance of 4 grocery stores, which has its advantages and disadvantages.


http://gallery.me.com/aaronshort1/100057/IMG_5898/web.jpg?ver=12938264730001


http://gallery.me.com/aaronshort1/100057/IMG_5901/web.jpg?ver=12938264900001

Do any of you take your bike into grocery stores?

No way. I think it is kind of jackass to roll your bike around the grocery store.

I have leaned it up against the counter in a corner market though, after asking if it was OK. Only do this if I don't have my lock.

I use anywhere from one to four panniers and shop every day or so. If I need frozen or refrigerated stuff, I line one large pannier with an insulated bag. I'm lucky, with lots of choices within a five-minute ride from here: supermarkets, bakery, deli, Asian market, cheese shop, wine stores, produce mart, seasonal farm stand and health-food stores, so bike shopping is pretty easy. Only have to use the car for occasional stocking up on heavy, bulky items, like giant bags of dog food and wild-bird seed.

When I went car-free I got a trailer (Cycletote cargo trailer), and have found that I use it much less than I had thought that I would. For groceries, I tend to shop a little bit every day. Rather than going to a supermarket with a long list, I am more likely to stop by a fruit stand and buy some veg, then stop at a middle eastern market and get some olives and pita. Most shopping trips use panniers, and I often bring the panniers into the store with me and load groceries directly into the bags. My bags hook nicely to the sides of a shopping basket, which also helps to keep me from buying more than I can carry.

I do our weekly food shopping for our family of 3 on my bike. My neighbours think I'm crazy (especially in the snowy months).

Is there anyone else going car free who carries a high volume of groceries on their bike?

I use my panniers plus a large back pack. I put the heavy items in the panniers such as tinned foods and meats. I carry dry pastas, cereals, breads etc in by back pack.

I've been considering a BOB but I'm afraid that if I buy one, it will turn in to the equivilent of a car trunk (boot). When I owned a car it was always full of junk I really didn't need to carry around.

Any ideas?

I use a combination of a Yakima Big Tow trailer (I only use it when I go shopping grocery or otherwise) and pannier and top bags. Other then my CamelBak I don't like to carry anything on my back when I'm riding. Between the bags and the trailer I can carry just all my grocery's easily enough. It also doesn't help that I live a block or so from the grocery store that I go to.

That's exactly what I do and it has worked for me. I decided not to get the BOB for Grocery shopping since I'd probably just buy stuff that I don't need. Shopping on a bike really can save you money.;)


P.S. Do you ever get people that just stand there and stare at you when you are loading up your bike? I've gotten tired of explaining to people that I CAN get all of this on the bike. :D

I haven't had that happen, what I have had happen is people asking how am going to get all of that stuff home on a bike.