Fifty Plus (50+) - Grocery shopping on my bike

I'm getting the hang of it, and having a blast at the same time. As you can see, I don't even need the store to bag the groceries -- I just take the store's basket out to my bike and load up the panniers. I can fit about one hand-held store basket's worth of stuff on the bike per trip. While this won't eliminate the need to drive occasionally for big stuff, it should allow me to do about 85-90% of my marketing by bike.

It just feels good! :)

http://upload.pbase.com/image/91714274.jpg

Got to admit that this is one of your better ideas and the bike looks the part. All you need now is the BOB trailer and you can go shopping for the new TV.

Generic Oat Rings? :eek:

Are you going to try to make onion juice?

Excellent use of a bike.

I see you have a stem extender on the Cypress. It provides a place to rest your chin.

Looks like you need a kickstand.

Excellent use of a bike.

I see you have a stem extender on the Cypress. It provides a place to rest your chin.

Looks like you need a kickstand.

Yeah, for this use, a kickstand makes a LOT of sense.

I was going to suggest a kickstand but if DG gets used to using one- He will fit one in Ruby and I don't know if he could take the extra weight uphills or in the rain.

Are those carrots for your juicer? Thanks to your inspiration, I've been juicing a la Jack Lalanne every day for the past week.

Are those carrots for your juicer? Thanks to your inspiration, I've been juicing a la Jack Lalanne every day for the past week.

Yep, I brought back 5# of carrots, eight apples, four pears, some celery, and other fruits and veggies. I can go through five pounds of carrots in a week. Woohoo!

Looks like we will soon have to go to the living car free forum to read the exploits of DG.

Cudos for your "green" trip to the grocery store! I hope you got the same kind of self-satisfied feeling as I did the first time I used a bike for transportation/work... that is outside of my paper route as a boy. It's kind of cool to get yourself there, get loaded up, get it all home, and realize the trip was also good for you.

Cudos for your "green" trip to the grocery store! I hope you got the same kind of self-satisfied feeling as I did the first time I used a bike for transportation/work... that is outside of my paper route as a boy. It's kind of cool to get yourself there, get loaded up, get it all home, and realize the trip was also good for you.

That's pretty much exactly how I felt! :)

I'm getting the hang of it, and having a blast at the same time. As you can see, I don't even need the store to bag the groceries -- I just take the store's basket out to my bike and load up the panniers. I can fit about one hand-held store basket's worth of stuff on the bike per trip. While this won't eliminate the need to drive occasionally for big stuff, it should allow me to do about 85-90% of my marketing by bike.

It just feels good! :)

It looks great DG. Especially how you've color coordinated it all in black. You have me thinking that the Hard Rock needs some baskets.

- i have a set of those baskets, and man oh man, are they *heavy*!

- lately i've been using a Nashbar messenger bag... last time i went i carried a small seedless watermelon, six bananas, a quart of tomatoes, four large sweet onions, a quart of jalapenos, six yellow and green squash, and seven naval oranges (along with some cilantro)...

(i leaned a little bit riding home, but made the two-mile trip just fine; it was worth the $7 shopping trip [*much* cheaper groceries at the local farmer's market])

:-)

p.s. good job shopping by bike! Save gas. Get fit. Have fun!™

Well done. That is a good looking set up, and with the rack and afew bungies you could carry even more.

Once you hone your mechanical skills, you can build one of these:

By all means, get a kickstand.

I just switched to one of these -- much, much better than the kind that mounts around the chainstays.

http://www.amazon.com/Greenfield-Stabilizer-Mount-Alloy-Kickstand/dp/B000AOA434/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1200435872&sr=8-2

Once you hone your mechanical skills, you can build one of these:

I wonder if they would allow me to take in inside the grocery store:)

<Sigh> No snow... must be nice to live on Pitcairn Island.

By all means, get a kickstand.

I just switched to one of these -- much, much better than the kind that mounts around the chainstays.

http://www.amazon.com/Greenfield-Stabilizer-Mount-Alloy-Kickstand/dp/B000AOA434/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1200435872&sr=8-2

If nothing else, it makes oiling the chain a breeze.

I'm getting the hang of it, and having a blast at the same time. As you can see, I don't even need the store to bag the groceries -- I just take the store's basket out to my bike and load up the panniers. I can fit about one hand-held store basket's worth of stuff on the bike per trip. While this won't eliminate the need to drive occasionally for big stuff, it should allow me to do about 85-90% of my marketing by bike.

It just feels good! :)


You da man!!!!!!! :)

Now the rest of us need to step up to the plate and be a little greener.
I haven't driven to work yet at all in 2008 and you're right, the independence from
driving the car feels good!

DG, you proved that we can never be a slave to the auto and oil industry. It's encouraging to see someone making headways of the valuable use of the bike. I think I need to do more of that despite the weather conditions here in the midwest.

I keep forgetting there's a Farmer's Market held every Sunday morning not a mile from my place. This Sunday might be a challenge, given the Chargers / Pats AFC Championship game at 10 a.m. PST (and all the football talk beforehand), but there's 51 other weeks!

I keep forgetting there's a Farmer's Market held every Sunday morning not a mile from my place. This Sunday might be a challenge, given the Chargers / Pats AFC Championship game at 10 a.m. PST (and all the football talk beforehand), but there's 51 other weeks!

Is that the one at Marlborough and El Cajon? That used to be a 1 block walk from my apartment.

Is that the one at Marlborough and El Cajon? That used to be a 1 block walk from my apartment.

It's in the parking lot for the DMV.

I do my shopping the same way. I use the Nashbar Townie Baskets (their version of grocery panniers) instead. They're easier to move from bike to bike.

I too have found the store's handbasket is just about right for loading the panniers without overflow. But there are times when a sale can't be passed up.

To increase my load-carrying capacity, I always carry a bungee or two. Then I can slip the handles of a plastic grocery bag over the saddle and down the seatpost, resting the bag on either the rack or one of the baskets. Then I use the bungee to secure it so it won't flop forward over bumps or when I stop. This is important to keep the bag out of the pedals and spokes. Don't ask me how I learned this.

Also, Delta makes a nice little bike rack sized cargo net. It comes in handy every now and again.

Another thing: I try to keep the load balanced, but it's not always possible. In those cases I make the left side heavier. I always put my left foot down at stops, leading with my right when I start. Makes the startup wobble easier to manage.

Edit: Oh, and I see you've already figured out the gallon of milk goes towards the wheel, braced in with other stuff.

Several have mentioned bungees, and I do have about a half dozen short (2 feet?) bungee cords at my disposal. I should put one or two or three in the panniers so I could press them into business if needed. Thanks for the reminder.

[QUOTE=Digital Gee; I can fit about one hand-held store basket's worth of stuff on the bike per trip. While this won't eliminate the need to drive occasionally for big stuff, it should allow me to do about 85-90% of my marketing by bike. QUOTE]






For the big stuff. :D



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2238/2058171205_d33aca0599.jpg

I use a back pack for the most part, and for fragile items like eggs & chips, I string the "handles" of the plastic grocery sack between my thumb shifters.
BTW, I always keep a folded up plastic grocery sack in my back pocket for an emergency seat cover in case I get caught in the rain. It's also handy for carrying small items you pick up when not expecting to. Such as my LBS which DOESN'T carry sacks for your purchases!

You need a Big Dummy (http://www.surlybikes.com/bigdummy.html).

Generic Oat Rings? :eek:

Sugar / honey in those Oat Rings. Beware.:eek:

However, well done. Al Gore would be proud of you although Al could use a little more exercise and reduce his, uhem, carbon foot print.:D

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/al_gore7.jpg

-- I just take the store's basket out to my bike and load up the panniers. I can fit about one hand-held store basket's worth of stuff on the bike per trip.

I am having a "why didn't I think of that?" moment! All this time I just always went through that 'paper or plastic' routine, then patiently go out to my velomobile and wedge contents in every crevice, under- or between- the seat and the sides; then use the empty bags to keep things from jiggling.

Then when I get home I have more garbage bags than I need. I didn't think I would have embarrasing 'duhhh' moments at 55! Thanks for this comment.

countersTrike

I tried grocery shopping on my bike but boy, what an embarrassing fall when I didn't unclip quick enough in the checkout line!

You can save quite a bit of money shopping for groceries by bicycle. Just load up and zip out the front doors - Most of those security officers are too out of shape to run down a bike.

You can save quite a bit of money shopping for groceries by bicycle. Just load up and zip out the front doors - Most of those security officers are too out of shape to run down a bike.


I tried grocery shopping on my bike but boy, what an embarrassing fall when I didn't unclip quick enough in the checkout line!


I find yelling, "On your left, Paisan!" while riding my bike down the Italian food aisle evokes all kinds of hostility. :(

I find yelling, "On your left, Paisan!" while riding my bike down the Italian food aisle evokes all kinds of hostility. :(

ride on the right in the asian foods aisle!

ride on the right in the asian foods aisle!

I'm not touching that line with a pole of any length! :eek:

I'm not touching that line with a pole of any length! :eek:

That would be found in the sausage aisle. (Mmmmm--sausage....)

That would be found in the sausage aisle. (Mmmmm--sausage....)

Which reminds me of a funny (?) story. I was riding up the Ojai bike path from Ventura during the Tour of California last year. I had two bananas sticking out of the rear pockets of my jersey. As a group of women cyclists passed me, one of them said, "Are those bananas in your jersey, or are you just glad to see us?!!?"

You had to be there... :)

You need a Big Dummy (http://www.surlybikes.com/bigdummy.html).

...or one of the Extracycle coversion kits

I am having a "why didn't I think of that?" moment! All this time I just always went through that 'paper or plastic' routine, then patiently go out to my velomobile and wedge contents in every crevice, under- or between- the seat and the sides; then use the empty bags to keep things from jiggling. Then when I get home I have more garbage bags than I need.

We have been taking our own bags for years, and it is now becoming quite common here as the chains are promoting it. Cloth bags hold a lot and there is no need to double-bag. I also like the Whole Foods paper bags, the ones with the carry handles. They fit nicely in the bike baskets and are taller, so you can carry more stuff.

We have been taking our own bags for years, and it is now becoming quite common here as the chains are promoting it. Cloth bags hold a lot and there is no need to double-bag. I also like the Whole Foods paper bags, the ones with the carry handles. They fit nicely in the bike baskets and are taller, so you can carry more stuff.

Yeah, I bought cloth bags from my store...they have this cool snap up design so they fold into nothing. Then I have grocery panniers that they fit into, which are like your baskets. My only problem is that since it's so cold out, I usually have at least one pannier filled with extra clothing, a camera, repair stuff, things I've bought elsewhere, so I can only get one bag of food at a time.

However, with the cloth bags, you can get the height you need to actually bring a whole bag home. I like doing this in the winter, because I don't have to hurry home for the frozen foods!

I don't find any difference whether I'm carrying one or two panniers. In fact, in my avatar, I'm going hands-free with one pannier packed with about 5 bottles of water/gatorade and tools!!!