I have a standard avenir rack and until recently i had two sunlite grocery getter panniers. The problem I'm having is that I keep knocking the panniers off the rack. Either my heel hits them and I knock them off or I mount them as far back as they go and they bounce off. The hooks on the sunlites are absolutely horrible and don't fit on my rack well. I'm selling the sunlite panniers because I'm sick of having my groceries strewn on the road (twice on my last trip). Are there panniers that hook on better and won't give me heel strike and will fit groceries? Should I get a different set of panniers? A topeak rack and their quick release basket? A Wald basket? A new rack? Thanks for any suggestions.

I use a Topeak MTX trunk bag with the fold down panniers, mounted on a Topeak Explorer rack. Got it as a combo deal on Ebay. It has decent capacity for a one person grocery shopping trip. The store I go to lets me take my bike inside, so I just put the items in the bag as I'm shopping and that way I never buy so much that it won't all fit in my bag. The panniers are about the right size for a gallon of milk plus a few cans of chili or soup, or a box of cereal and a few boxes of mac n cheese. The expandable trunk bag is nice...can fit alot of extra stuff in there. Never had a problem with the bag falling off the rack.

I have that problem sometimes. It takes a little while for your pedal stroke to figure where to lift your heel and how high. I moved the bags all the way back on the rack. and put the little bungie things around my chainstays or the stays above that.

I may end up putting an egg crate on top of my rack and than the bags on the egg crate so the load is higher and away from my feet. I'll let you know how that goes.

There are a couple of options I've found useful. For serious grocery hauling I picked up a huge old steel rack off craigslist. It holds a ton of stuff:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/Gussick/Electra1.jpg

For minor trips I just use the fold-out panniers and the central box of a Topeak MTX. I've got one on my commuter and I love it. They're a little $$ but worth it if you make a lot of trips in and out.

IMO racks + panniers are useless when doing large groceries (4 person family for 7 days). The only times I'll use a backpack or panniers is when I need something we forgot to buy, like getting milk, bread, etc.

I think a trailer is much more convenient.

I have a standard avenir rack and until recently i had two sunlite grocery getter panniers. The problem I'm having is that I keep knocking the panniers off the rack. Either my heel hits them and I knock them off or I mount them as far back as they go and they bounce off. The hooks on the sunlites are absolutely horrible and don't fit on my rack well. I'm selling the sunlite panniers because I'm sick of having my groceries strewn on the road (twice on my last trip). Are there panniers that hook on better and won't give me heel strike and will fit groceries? Should I get a different set of panniers? A topeak rack and their quick release basket? A Wald basket? A new rack? Thanks for any suggestions.

I suggest Ortlieb panniers. They're pricey, but worth every penny: durable, waterproof, go on and come off in literally one second, and fairly roomy. They also come with handy shoulder straps. They quite simply kick ass. As for your heel hitting the panniers, maybe you need a longer rack. I have an extra long rack made by Jandd, and I'm very happy with it, too.

Arkel makes a nice grocery getter pannier as well. It also won't fall off.

Just take more trips, sometimes I have to split a grocery order to 2-3 trips but that is usually good for a few days. I'll hit the grocery store at least once a day. I'm lucky i've got two 'no frills' grocery stores within 5 minutes of my house. If it was longer or I needed to get more stuff onto the bike i'd go for a xtracycle or trailer, even with the cost of those systems they would more than pay for themselves comapred to hauling the stuff by car, just do the math..

Cheers!

IMO racks + panniers are useless when doing large groceries (4 person family for 7 days). The only times I'll use a backpack or panniers is when I need something we forgot to buy, like getting milk, bread, etc.

I think a trailer is much more convenient.

This has been my experience as well. While I do have folding Wald baskets, I only use them for a few items if the trailer is full. With a bike trailer, it's amazing how much you can do with your bike! Last week I biked home with two 28 pound buckets of kitty litter (they were on sale-another way the trailer lets one save money). Yesterday I brought home a case of wine with other groceries. Even when I was single I felt that NOT using a trailer for shopping was silly; having to go to the store every day or two just isn't 'my thing'.

Xtracycle.

Stopped at the Whole Foods on the way back from a 20 mi. ride. Picked up a weeks worth of groceries to put on one side and a year's worth of rolled oats (50#) to put on the other side. Great thing is I didn't lug around a trailer, I just decided to go and went.

I'm leaning towards the topeak rack and basket. Does anyone have experience with these?

IMO racks + panniers are useless when doing large groceries (4 person family for 7 days). The only times I'll use a backpack or panniers is when I need something we forgot to buy, like getting milk, bread, etc.

I think a trailer is much more convenient.

I guess that's the nice thing about being solo right now. Even when I was buying for more people (living with dad and one brother) I tend to do smaller trips more often. I prefer to stop at the store on the way home from work and get a few meals worth of stuff and some more lasting (beverages, bread) stuff each time, but that's just me. Running that model I used to shop with my mid-sized Timbuk2 bag, now I have Wald folding baskets.

Standard answer... JandD Extreme Expedition rear rack (I think that's what its called). It is designed longer than most racks to give you the heel clearance.

A different rack may help the heel-strike issue. I replaced my first rack with a Jandd Expedition Rack (http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FREXP). Not only does the rack mount a bit further back, but the deck is three inches longer too. I have to remember to load the heavy stuff in the front of the panniers or I can have trouble keeping the front wheel on the ground when climbing.

I've never had issues with my pair of Nashbar Townie Baskets coming off the rack. On bumps I have bounced stuff out of them though.

I use a Sunlite Toploader bag and a big Wald basket on the front.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/lamplightsg/Rockadile/IMG_9804small.jpg

I can usually get nearly a week's worth of groceries for my brother and I with this combo, although I usually end up going every five or six days. We eat a massive amount of food.

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Here is what I've been using to run to the store with. Works for me!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Juggler54/bicycle/th_07Schwinn2004.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Juggler54/bicycle/07Schwinn2004.jpg)
(click to enlarge)

I'm formulating a trailer for it. It's about an 8 mile round trip to the closest grocery store, along a high traffic 4 lane road. It's 10-12 miles, flat terrain, to the next closest store, along a different route.
+1
Now that is a grocery getter. Put the big front basket on it and you are set!

Aaron:)

Here is what I've been using to run to the store with. Works for me!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Juggler54/bicycle/th_07Schwinn2004.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Juggler54/bicycle/07Schwinn2004.jpg)
(click to enlarge)

I'm formulating a trailer for it. It's about an 8 mile round trip to the closest grocery store, along a high traffic 4 lane road. It's 10-12 miles, flat terrain, to the next closest store, along a different route.

That is a nice rig... What kind of bike is that ?... Looking to do something like that myself..

Here is what I've been using to run to the store with. Works for me!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Juggler54/bicycle/th_07Schwinn2004.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Juggler54/bicycle/07Schwinn2004.jpg)
(click to enlarge)

I'm formulating a trailer for it. It's about an 8 mile round trip to the closest grocery store, along a high traffic 4 lane road. It's 10-12 miles, flat terrain, to the next closest store, along a different route.


Did those handlebars come with the bike, or were they swapped? I had a bike (briefly) that looked exactly like that, but with cruiser handlebars that made low-speed handling so awkward that I returned it. I think it was a Schwinn Jaguar. I got it from Target for under $200, and it would've been a great deal if not for those bars.

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Arkel sells their pannier hooks for like $20 a pair, and you can attach them to any brand of pannier. They are rock solid, though probably a little more work to get on and off than the Ortliebs. But it's a cheap way to upgrade panniers you already have.

Juggler what was the base price on the Jaguar? Our local Target doesn't have any. I am looking at springing for the Schwinn Classic 3 (http://schwinnbikes.com/products/bikes_detail.php?id=770) and basketing it up:p I want the red and black one.

Aaron:)

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I can't remember exactly, it was around $100.00 though. I should add, it is a 7 speed.
Not bad, I noted the 7 speed. There are 3 reasons I am going with the Classic 3...Steel frame, internal gears and decent price. The town where I will be using it is very flat. IIRC there is a total elevation gain of about 65 feet from one end to the other over about 4 miles. Also most of the town is laid out on a grid, perfect for a cruiser type bike.

Aaron:)

Not bad, I noted the 7 speed. There are 3 reasons I am going with the Classic 3...Steel frame, internal gears and decent price. The town where I will be using it is very flat. IIRC there is a total elevation gain of about 65 feet from one end to the other over about 4 miles. Also most of the town is laid out on a grid, perfect for a cruiser type bike.

Aaron:)

Where are you guys buying these ?... I have checked the Xmart web sites, Sears etc and I don't see these bikes listed anywhere... Some interesting bikes on the Schwinn site but I can;t seem to find a place to purchase them... Very frustrating.. I am interested in one like the Classic 3 you are talking about with the steel frame and internal gearing and fenders at a cheap price for a grocery getter etc.. Something I won't miss too much if it get stolen...
Thanks

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Where are you guys buying these ?... I have checked the Xmart web sites, Sears etc and I don't see these bikes listed anywhere... Some interesting bikes on the Schwinn site but I can;t seem to find a place to purchase them... Very frustrating.. I am interested in one like the Classic 3 you are talking about with the steel frame and internal gearing and fenders at a cheap price for a grocery getter etc.. Something I won't miss too much if it get stolen...
Thanks

Tourister,
Where are you located? There are apparently 2 different lines of Schwinns, the ones they sell at the X marts and the ones that are sold thru an LBS. FWIW I have 2 LBSes within about 35 miles of each other that sell Schwinn. One is a combination lawnmower and bike shop, they carry most of Schwinn Cruiser and kids bikes line. The other is a higher end LBS and only carries a few of the Schwinns. I plan to get mine from the lawnmower shop, they carry a lot of the less expensive parts that can be used by utility cyclists. They are also to order anything I ask for, even if it is something they wouldn't normally stock...like the yellow Freddy Fenders:D Also FWIW the list price on the Classic 3 is around $320.

Aaron:)

Tourister,
Where are you located? There are apparently 2 different lines of Schwinns, the ones they sell at the X marts and the ones that are sold thru an LBS. FWIW I have 2 LBSes within about 35 miles of each other that sell Schwinn. One is a combination lawnmower and bike shop, they carry most of Schwinn Cruiser and kids bikes line. The other is a higher end LBS and only carries a few of the Schwinns. I plan to get mine from the lawnmower shop, they carry a lot of the less expensive parts that can be used by utility cyclists. They are also to order anything I ask for, even if it is something they wouldn't normally stock...like the yellow Freddy Fenders:D Also FWIW the list price on the Classic 3 is around $320.

Aaron:)

Thanks for the info... I live on the left coast, Central Valley... We have a local Schwinn dealer but it is a hole in the wall with at best a couple of bikes in it.. I have been staying away from the LBS on this one because the prices seem so much better at the Xmarts...
That price is a bit of a turn off though.. I was looking for a little bit cheaper... I have a Giant Cypress DX that I really like the fit on and rides great... They offer a steel framed ersion of it with cheaper components for 270.00.. Same with there Sedona (ST) Mountain bike...
Which reminds me, have you seen the new Giant Trans Sport and Trans Send.. Also the new Ralieh Detour Delux ? They come with fenders, rack etc... Kind of pricey though...

Here's a bike that is similar to the jaguar at target.com: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_9/602-9164406-5963821?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B000OV7PSU

And another (this seems exactly like the Jaguar, right down to the paint)

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=sc_ri_1/602-9164406-5963821?ie=UTF8&asin=B000A9QAH8

That is a 7 speed right ? I that last one is right in my price range.. Have to add fenders, rack etc and change the handlebars I guess... I checked the store availability on it and it seems the local Target has it in stock... Thanks, I will go take a look first chance I get...

Oh one other thing, does it have a steel frame ?...

Tourister,
It is kind of hard to tell from the pictures if that is an aluminum or steel frame. I think it is aluminum. I don't mind paying LBS prices. Usually you get what you pay for, in service and quality. I don't know how much difference there is between the Schwinn at Xmart and the one at the LBS. I haven't seen them side by side. But Xmart seems to sell more Aluminum framed bikes than steel. I prefer steel. Walmart lists a 3 speed mens beach cruiser (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3596787) for $119 by the time you hunt down and get fenders installed you are going to be getting close to the LBS price. FWIW my LBS/Mower shop is going to throw the baskets in for free:D That is worth about $70 and the Classic 3 comes with fenders. A set of fenders installed is in the neighborhood of $50-60. Plus I get a free 30 day check up (not that I will use it, I do all of my own work) Also by purchasing from a LBS I am helping keep a local business person in business, not sending the money off to support a large corp somewhere else, but that is a personal choice and view.

Aaron:)

brother get an extracycle. get a bike DESIGNED to haul stuff. Its kinda like buying a car that doesn't have any room in it, or a trunk. It just makes life more difficult if your peice of technology (car or bike) does not have storage space!!

When I got my xtracycle my life changed! SERIOUSLY!!!!!

There exist, in principle, tasks for which a trailer is more suited than an xtracycle. Hauling groceries is NOT one of those tasks! The xtracycle truly shines at this application. The proverbial 50 Lb sack of dogfood? Still room for at least four and possibly six full grocery bags. And unlike the trailer, you don't forget it when you leave for work, or decide after work that you wish you had brought it.

Within days you're used to the new handling characteristics, and that's that. Now you have a new bike that just happens to have room for a passenger and a full shopping cart of groceries, that weighs a measely 10 lb more than your old bike did. You're getting more room on the street, people are staring at your fly ride and asking you about it, and you never have to think about what you want to bring or what you might be picking up, you just do it. PLUS it works with normal bags, so no need for specialized panniers. I toss my camelbak in a freeloader and just go.

The proverbial 50 Lb sack of dogfood? Still room for at least four and possibly six full grocery bags.
Groceries here is more 8 to 10 bags.

I'd love an xtracycle myself but I can't afford it. Carrying a girl on the back of my bike is still probably the reason #1 I'll get one someday. :D

I was having this problem with my SunLite panniers. The way I solved it was to cut a rubberband for each hook from an old innertube. Place a rubberband over a hook. Place the hook on the rack. Run the rubberband under, around and over the rack frame. Place the rubberband back over the top of the hook. Viola, no more self-detaching panniers.:)

In my experience, this seems to be more of a problem if the panniers only have a light load in them.

Groceries here is more 8 to 10 bags.

I'd love an xtracycle myself but I can't afford it. Carrying a girl on the back of my bike is still probably the reason #1 I'll get one someday. :D

8 to 10 bags can be done with Wideloaders and some extra strapping.

The affordability question is real enough for many people; I'd have a hard time justifying it ATM if I didn't have one already. I encourage you to save up! Imagine having brakes on all the wheels of your grocery getter during the Quebec winter.

I have looked at xtracycle and it remains a semi viable option to me. But just the xtra cycle costs more than my entire planned cruiser setup. The other issue remains, you will need a suitable bike to mount it to. The one I have that I considered going xtra cycle with, is marginal at best. (700c wheels, vertical dropouts, aluminum frame) So it may have to wait until I can spring for a the whole assembly, bike included. I really like the ones based on the Breezer...love them internal hubs!

Aaron:)

Hook and elastic mounts are totally unsuited to serious use and you should avoid them wherever possible. I made do with a cheap set for several years but 10 years ago I invested in some Carradice panniers. These have a Rixen and Kaul quick-release locking mount, a bit similar to Ortleib. This system is far quicker and cleaner to mount and remove and will never bounce off, ever.
Carradice, along with Ortleib are probably the best designed bags you can get for daily use.
The panniers have a large single cavity with one external picket and a generous expansion collar and flap lid for overloading. The canvas is very tough and doesnt flap in the wind but is not heavy. The correx stiffening board is far more practical than various specially moulded bits that heavier bags use. They have a shape designed to give you more heel clearance.

My other luggage system, for carrying small bags of cement, is a piece of 1/4" plywood wired across the rack. I lay the bag on the plank and secure it in place with inner tubes. It rides pretty well and I think the high centre of gravity aids balance.

My other luggage system, for carrying small bags of cement, is a piece of 1/4" plywood wired across the rack. I lay the bag on the plank and secure it in place with inner tubes. It rides pretty well and I think the high centre of gravity aids balance.

I believe I'd be far more inclined to use a trailer to haul cement. Perhaps more than one small bag? How much weight are we looking at here?

I would probably use a trailer if I had one and had room to store one.
It was a 25kg bag so just about liftable. The bike handled better than when I carried 2 12kg bags of plaster in each pannier. The high centre of gravity makes a big difference.

I would probably use a trailer if I had one and had room to store one.
It was a 25kg bag so just about liftable. The bike handled better than when I carried 2 12kg bags of plaster in each pannier. The high centre of gravity makes a big difference.

Quite a few trailers are collapsible. <shrug> I'm presuming a small flat and no shed?

The Burley Flatbed is light and takes up very little space.

I may be in the wrong forum, but I want to ask you about keeping your bicycle safe and sound while your shopping for groceries. First and formost in the city, is keeping my bike. I may spend an hour in the store shopping and I want my bike to be there when I come out, or at least the stuff I have on it.

I would like to have bike cages. At least 3 to 6 cages could take up 1 parking space in the lot. I am trying to develop the idea, and I would like some of you to help me with your ideas on this.

I feel more people would go shopping on their bike if they knew it would be safe.

Please tell me what you think.

Have a great day!

Cages can be/are expensive in the eyes of most store owners and I think you may be fighting an uphill battle to get them. The one store I currently shop at doesn't have bike racks and really doesn't have anywhere out side of the parking lot to put them.:rolleyes: I lock my bike to the side of the cart corral that is under the front canopy of the store near the entrance. I lock with a Kyrpto cable and a Ulock. The cart corral that I lock to is made up of weld steel pipes set in concrete.

Let us know how you make out...

Aaron:)

Thanks Aaron for the reply to the question.

This bike cage idea is a costly problem for sure.

I have seen other fellow bicycle store commuters lock up their bikes to the carts in my area.

But, I still think I can get the city and store owners to help with this some how.

If I could get an investor to donate the materials to build them then I would offer them to the stores for a fraction of the cost.

We need to stop driving cars some how.

Thanks Aaron

Please forum, help me out here, there has to be a way to make my city, bicycle safe.

Have a great day!

Bike cages, no but a bike corral maybe 40' x 20' within 10' tall chain link fence might be doable. Toss in a few bike racks and a security cam...

You would have to come up with a viable way of dispensing a key access to users.

You know I am thinking along the lines of something similar to dog pens. 3 of them 2ft wide, 8ft long and 6ft tall. Each cage would have it's own locking set up. BYOL-- bring your own lock.

The cages should be long enough to accept the trailer too. If some of you might help with the measurements of your bike and trailer together, I would appreciate it. I am going to solve my grocery woes some how and help the rest of my community too.

I believe a 6ft by 8ft cage would be cost effective for most stores in my area. It could be made out of PVC and chain link fenceing. 4 other bikes could be tied to the corners outside the cage too. A total of 7 bikes per hour or two, which means business for the store. How can you not want more business and help the environment.

What do you think?

Sounds expensive once again... Bring your own lock might not work either... People could just leave there lock on it to reserve it for themselves.... Guess you could go around every night and cut the locks of the empty ones :-)