Living Car Free - Bread Transportation

So I've been using my bike to do all of my grocery trips recently, but I've had an issue with buying bread. I carry all my groceries in my messenger bag, and it doesn't seem to matter how careful I am with the placement of my bread, but it gets smashed on the way home. I would, of course, rather this not happen, so I'm wondering what I could do to protect my bread that doesn't involve just carrying it in my hands while I ride, which I'd rather not do. Note I also can't really afford to do racks/panniers/baskets right now, though I am saving for these down the line.

Put it on the outside of the bag. Put the bread by itself in a plastic bag,and just tie it to the outside so it hangs on top of the flap. That's what I do to keep chips from getting crushed.

Find a box? There are some that can be folded in some sort of fashion -- or you could get creative and cut up a big box to make a custom sized box to hold your bread. Just break it down when bread is not in it.

buy stronger bread?

Find a box?

+1. I store my bread in a Gladware container to keep it fresh, and I just bring the box to the store with me to keep from squishing my bread on the way home.

Is a backpack OK by you? Put the bread on the top.

I like Dynaryder's suggestion, I will probably try that next chance I get. And if that doesn't work as well for me as I'd like, I'll keep my eye out for a box to put it in for the trip.

Buy crustier bread.

toast it first

I keep my bread in my wallet

I do a similar thing to the "tie it outside" method. My grocery store has a helium tank with balloon string hanging off it. I take a string and loop it through the messenger straps and lash the bread on. I do this with oversize toilet paper packages too.

So I've been using my bike to do all of my grocery trips recently, but I've had an issue with buying bread. I carry all my groceries in my messenger bag, and it doesn't seem to matter how careful I am with the placement of my bread, but it gets smashed on the way home. I would, of course, rather this not happen, so I'm wondering what I could do to protect my bread that doesn't involve just carrying it in my hands while I ride, which I'd rather not do. Note I also can't really afford to do racks/panniers/baskets right now, though I am saving for these down the line.

I did the hang it thing but better than that is a bread machine with a timer so you get fresh bread in the morning when you wake up. So you just carry sacks of flour and jars of yeast from the grocery store.

i use a milk crate on the back of my bike

Buy crustier bread.


buy stronger bread?

Agreed. Buy 'better' bread.

Even better buy flour and yeast which don't mind so much about being squished.

Al

i use a milk crate on the back of my bike
This is more common this year in DC, I notice many women doing it this way.

a piece of cloth, 2 adjustable straps or velcro straps. strap to handlebars between the hoods. don't squish, just enough to keep it there.

and you can buy crustier bread...

Rack, trunk bag and panniers. I put the heavy stuff in the panniers and bread in the trunk bag.

So I've been using my bike to do all of my grocery trips recently, but I've had an issue with buying bread. I carry all my groceries in my messenger bag, and it doesn't seem to matter how careful I am with the placement of my bread, but it gets smashed on the way home. I would, of course, rather this not happen, so I'm wondering what I could do to protect my bread that doesn't involve just carrying it in my hands while I ride, which I'd rather not do. Note I also can't really afford to do racks/panniers/baskets right now, though I am saving for these down the line.

I will post pics of "ugly betty" tonight, my rig $20 rack + $7 file crate (a lil bit larger than a milk crate), f***off to bike fashionists.

Even better buy flour and yeast which don't mind so much about being squished.

+1

Shoe box.
Works great for all sorts of things that don't want to be squished in messenger bags.

+1

I noticed after my post that gwd pointed this out 33 minutes before I did.

I've seen these for $10 http://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/wald3114basket.html

Rack, trunk bag and panniers. I put the heavy stuff in the panniers and bread in the trunk bag.

Did you not see that the OP said he hadn't the budget for such?

If he can't afford those, how can he afford a bread machine?

Bread and eggs always in the trunk bag. Everything else in the panniers.

Couple of possibilities...buy the raw materials and bake your own, buy tougher bread. Pita and tortillas come to mind:roflmao2: Shoe box is a good idea, they also make a bread keepers out of plastic, usually $4 or so in the section where they keep the rubbermaid storage bowls.

Aaron:)

Here is the link to my bike pictures

http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=7106313&postcount=3282

^^^^^That's alot of reflectors.

^^^^^That's a lot of reflectors.

There is not such thing as "too many reflectors" :lol:

part of my daily commute it's in a 8 line state road ( State Road 60 ) in Brandon, FL. Cars usually avg 60+ mph and the "bike lane" its pretty narrow, riding in the sidewalk it's even worst, tons of business that will increase my changes of getting hit 1000%, but to my advantage I always have the sun on my bike in the morning and in the afternoon :thumb: so I know they are seeing something shiny :lol:

buy stronger bread?

That would be my recommendation. A good dense whole grain bread will take a lot of abuse.

When I walked in college, I'd keep bread at the top of me backpack, after packing everything else in. That's what I'll do when biking in the fall.

http://images.containerstore.com/MEDIA/ProductCatalog/87208/BreadDesiDryContainer_l.jpg
You can get a plastic container like this to protect the bread, they are about $15

I did the hang it thing but better than that is a bread machine with a timer so you get fresh bread in the morning when you wake up. So you just carry sacks of flour and jars of yeast from the grocery store.

Even better than buying sweatshop flour and yeast is to buy a few acres of property and sow some wheat, and also cultivate your own little yeast colony. And make the paper for which to wrap your bread in.

You know...if you REALLY cared about biking. (?)

Did you not see that the OP said he hadn't the budget for such?

If he can't afford those, how can he afford a bread machine?

He could always make bread by hand. Y'know, like back before there were bread machines? Although I can see trouble down the road when he asks how to get an oven back to his place on his bike...

I do a similar thing to the "tie it outside" method. My grocery store has a helium tank with balloon string hanging off it. I take a string and loop it through the messenger straps and lash the bread on. I do this with oversize toilet paper packages too.

I was expecting you to say you bought a handful of balloons and made a little 'floating trailer' :lol:

Purchase flat bread.

buy stronger bread?

+1 For crustier bread. Americans eat dough for bread.:lol:

Even better than buying sweatshop flour and yeast is to buy a few acres of property and sow some wheat, and also cultivate your own little yeast colony. And make the paper for which to wrap your bread in.

You know...if you REALLY cared about biking. (?)

Baking bread isn't *that* hard. Flour, water, salt and yeast. That's it. Flatbreads like tortillas are supposed to be even easier (since I'm a damn gringa, I didn't grow up doing tortillas). Most pita is leavened, and I tend to stare at all the shaping and give up and make a "real loaf".

The main trick is learning to slow bread down enough that it fits into your schedule. A 24-36 hour rise cycle works for me. If I needed to do even longer rises, I would be better off going to a sourdough starter. Feed the yeastie beasties every day or so, and then you always have yeast... and they're a bit more flexible than commercial yeastie beasties.

Now if you don't have an oven, it's not a real viable option (some toaster ovens are enough of a real oven that they count). In my oven-less days, I tended to go for pasta instead... which has the side benefit of caring a lot less about being squished :).

Now if you don't have an oven, it's not a real viable option (some toaster ovens are enough of a real oven that they count). In my oven-less days, I tended to go for pasta instead... which has the side benefit of caring a lot less about being squished :).

Pasta makes my blood sugar go up too high.

To elaborate on my +1, I make my own bread using the "no-knead" method made famous by a New York Times article a few years back. (Google "no-knead bread" if you're interested.) It's better than bakery quality and cheaper to make. And I don't have to carry it to and/or fro on my bike.

The main trick is learning to slow bread down enough that it fits into your schedule. A 24-36 hour rise cycle works for me.
I often kneed and rest the dough the night before and then let it prove overnight in the refridgerator for baking in the morning.


If I needed to do even longer rises, I would be better off going to a sourdough starter. Feed the yeastie beasties every day or so, and then you always have yeast... and they're a bit more flexible than commercial yeastie beasties.
Sourdough is great stuff but i have found that not everyone is keen on having to chew their bread!


If you are interested in baking your own bread, my favourite books are: http://www.amazon.com/Dough-Simple-Contemporary-Richard-Bertinet/dp/1904920209/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216805179&sr=8-1 and http://www.amazon.com/Crust-Bread-Your-Teeth-Into/dp/1904920640/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b . The first deals with white, wholemeal, rye and sweet doughs, the second with sourdoughs and 'different' doughs.

Did you not see that the OP said he hadn't the budget for such?

If he can't afford those, how can he afford a bread machine?

If the OP can't afford a rear carrier, it is no wonder he/she is eating squishy Wonder Bread instead of Kaiser rolls or French Bread.

It is no mere coincidence that the French eat strong bread and are a bicycle nation. Which came first, one has to ask...

Better days are coming, Mr. OP. Keep biking. Keep dreaming. Keep saving for that rear carrier and a box to carry bread.

Keep the dream alive.

Handlebar Basket.

It is no mere coincidence that the French eat strong bread and are a bicycle nation. Which came first, one has to ask...


Speaking of the bread the French eat, have you ever tried to transport French bread in a pannier? I always end up with it sticking up out of the pannier. Looks kind of cool, but I always manage to break it in two pieces as I mount the bike. (Don't ask how I manage this...)
:notamused:

Speaking of the bread the French eat, have you ever tried to transport French bread in a pannier? I always end up with it sticking up out of the pannier. Looks kind of cool, but I always manage to break it in two pieces as I mount the bike. (Don't ask how I manage this...)
:notamused:

The proper way to transport a baguette is to perch it atop the brake hoods. Helps if you have non-aero levers. Don't forget to nibble as you ride.

I use a cloth shopping bag to transport bread and big bags of chips. The bag has long handles that I can stretch over the handlebars. It hangs in front of the frame above the front wheel. Don't get any bags with short handles. They won't go over the handlebars as easily as bags with long handles.

I like to buy the 16" pizzas from Wal-Mart. I have a very wide and skinny bag into which the pizza will fit. I use a short rope to tie the handles of the bag to the loop on the top of my back pack. It hangs sideways and brushes the side of my arm but at least I can get it home. It is too big to fit panniers or inside baskets.

Quit your job/school and just start baking bread full time.
NOW.

Did you not see that the OP said he hadn't the budget for such?

If he can't afford those, how can he afford a bread machine?

I paid $5 for my last bread machine from the thrift shop...new in the box. I have seen a couple others there too. If it doesn't have the manual you can usually find one on line somewhere.

Aaron:)