Living Car Free - What do you do with Panniers and seat at the grocery store?

I leave the seat attached (and it's a nice Brooks B17), but I don't have a quick release seat clamp. I know it takes only seconds with an allen key, but I just lock my bike in a very high traffic public area (right by the door) and don't worry about it. I will take anything valuable (like my camera) out of the handlebar bag and put it in my pocket.

Choosing a safe and highly visible location to lock up your bike is key if you don't want someone to mess with it.

My pannier is an Arkel Utility Bag, so it goes into the store with me and gets filled with groceries! It has a shoulder strap for easy carrying and holds a lot.

I think the fold-up baskets are also a nifty way to go. Then you can just put the reusable grocery bags into them (I believe someone already recommended this).

Sean

I leave the seat on the bike; if you're worried about it being stolen, replace the quick release with a regular bolt. As for the panniers, I bring them inside with me, and load them up at the register. (Mine have shoulder straps.)

+1

If you are really worried about the seat, you can slip a piece of bicycle chain thru the seat rails and through the frame (about 14-16 inches worth of chain). It is easy to do with a chain tool. I bring my panniers into stores.

I took a bike inside a couple of times and found it very cumbersome. I'd far prefer to lock it, thank you very much.

What I do with my QR components and panniers depends on the neighbourhood. If I am in a suburbish part of town, I just leave them on and lock the frame - there aren't enough bikes there for pro bike thieves, and I doubt anyone else is going to steal a wheel or a saddle. There I'm more worried about bored teenaged vandals - but locking does little to prevent vandalism.

If I'm downtown, anything that can be removed from the bike without tools either gets taken with me or locked with a cable.

If you are really worried about the seat, you can slip a piece of bicycle chain thru the seat rails and through the frame (about 14-16 inches worth of chain). It is easy to do with a chain tool. I bring my panniers into stores.

That's a great idea! I'm gonna do that.

I have had a number of bikes stolen, but not a seat.

I don't worry about it b/c my seat post and seat are not worth much, so in the unlikely event that they are taken, I'll take my lumps. I leave my computer on too (it only cost $13, anyway), but generally remove the lights.

As for the panniers and so on, I get a cart, and put them in the cart. I have routinely carted 50 pounds of groceries on my bike (the handling gets a bit wierd, so I slow down a bit) between my panniers and a backpack.

I don't worry about it b/c my seat post and seat are not worth much, so in the unlikely event that they are taken, I'll take my lumps. I leave my computer on too (it only cost $13, anyway), but generally remove the lights.


Your lumps? Getting home without a saddle is a near sexual experience! I hope you're carrying some lube when you get your saddle stolen. :D

I had a computer display stolen once. It was a pointless crime, since the display wouldn't do the thief any good. I think he took it just to be mean.

Your lumps? Getting home without a saddle is a near sexual experience! I hope you're carrying some lube when you get your saddle stolen. :D

I had a computer display stolen once. It was a pointless crime, since the display wouldn't do the thief any good. I think he took it just to be mean.


LOL those are not lumps I would like to get! I've been taking that particular risk for years (not locking up a QR seatpost), so far sucessfully. Man, am I jinxed now :eek: