Living Car Free - bags bags bags

My current bag collection is pretty good. I have my backpack, which is great for walking days, bus days and traveling. I have a couple tote bags, and they work in a bunch of situations... stuff one in a pannier if I'm doing a huge stock up, use one to haul my knitting, line my bike basket with one... And I have a pair of small panniers, 27L total.

The panniers are a problem. They work well enough on the bike, assuming it isn't raining. But off the bike they're a pain. And because they're small, they kind of push me away from some chores on a bike. A 4 person CSA share won't *quite* fit in them. And I can't fit a 25lb bag of rice in a pannier. My basket compensates for a lot of annoyances, but I keep finding new minor annoyances that won't fit in a pannier.

So I'm curious what everyone else has in their bag of tricks... Tell us about the good points and the bad points.

How big are your panniers? Even with my cheap Sunlites I could squeeze in two gallons of milk per side. For bulkier items I also use my front rack if it won't fit in panniers. Ironically, the most awkward thing I've carried was yesterday: two 700C bicycle rims.

27L total, so call it 13L per side. I can fit 1 gallon of milk per side, and have room to spare, but not a lot. For the average errand, they're plenty of space. Really, even for a lot of not at all average errands... there's just two of us to feed, so too much space leads to overbuying and then wasted food.

I'm actually looking for ideas more than a solution tho. I can get almost any job done between the bags I have... rice fits in my backpack for example.

The whole idea was kind of triggered by looking at how my parents and sister tackle various problems, and how I tackle them. They're dedicated car users, and they just don't have a bag collection, or use it systematically to handle errands and chores. And if you look at various threads, we all have somewhat different approaches to our bags... so it seems like it could be useful to talk about the what and how.

I don't use one myself, but I think a milk crate on the rear rack holds about as much as anything else, dollar for dollar.

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:V5oH_eI6kq0h8M:http://chrisgee.net/bicycles

Depends on the bike...

My Staiger (http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563088904kQEiIF), which is my current grocery getter has folding baskets (http://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/wald582rearfoldingbasket.html) in the rear and a smallish baske (http://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/wald933meshbasket.html)t in the front. My Redline R530 is getting a very large set of Basil Karavan 2 Panniers (http://velo-orange.com/baka2pa.html) in the rear that will stay mounted at all times. They are monsters at over 40 liters. It will also get a medium sized front basket. My Raleigh Superbe (http://2whls3spds.blogspot.com/2008/06/queen-fleet-street-well-my-street.html) has a Carradice Nelson (http://www.carradice.co.uk/saddlebags/nelson-saddlebag.shtml) bag that will swallow a fair amount, I have carried several days worth of groceries in it. Typically it is used to run to the store for miscellaneous items. I also carry the reusable shopping bags that I have purchased from several different sources. Unless it is pouring down rain large bags of dry goods (like rice or pet chow) will be strapped down on the rack.

Aaron:)

And I can't fit a 25lb bag of rice in a pannier.

So I'm curious what everyone else has in their bag of tricks... Tell us about the good points and the bad points.

Hate to admit this, but even if it could fit in my bag, I don't think I would put it there. I might be tempted to split the sack in two and put one on each side. But I wouldn't be taking much else home with me. I think the most I've lugged home is about 35 pounds and that was a struggle since it's mostly uphill from the grocery store.

I have a pair of 40L Axiom LaSalle panniers. They generally hold more than I am willing to lug and clearly more than I am willing to pay for :)

I have a ten gallon waterproof plastic storage box, slightly larger than a milk crate. It's fastened to my rack with a used tire tube (which is looped through holes I drilled in the box). Bought it at a Target store.

what about attaching hooks onto two milk crates and use them on the sides of the rack? that would be rougly 50% more volume I would think than the setup you describe now.

I think the most I've lugged home is about 35 pounds and that was a struggle since it's mostly uphill from the grocery store.)

Current record is about 55lbs, partially due to a flour buying spree. If I decide to go for a front rack, I might be able to top that, but otherwise, I think it's near max for my bike. Thankfully, I'm downhill from all the grocery stores. And really, I think if I go much higher, my knees will really start having words with me.

I think bike buckets might beat out using milk crates on the sides... I know there are buckets wide enough to take a 25lb bag. (sadly, I don't think I have any way to *get* such buckets, because a no pet household of two doesn't use much of anything that is sold that way...)

If I were doing things over, I'd get one of those foofy nylon totes that rolls up to lipstick size. I keep noticing that I don't walk as much because I hate carting around a big canvas tote for errands.

For walking, I use a waterproof day pack, which I use pretty frequently when it's really cold out, because I'm afraid to ride the bike on ice. For the bike, I have Ortlieb panniers, the smallish ones (27L). These work really well for me about 97% of the time; just yesterday I stopped at the store on the way home from work, and in addition to my rain gear/pump/tools/spare tube, which I always carry with me, I carried a six pack of bottled beer, a bottle of fruit juice, some yogurt, a couple of carrots, two pork chops, a pint of half & half, and some coffee. The panniers were a bit crowded, but I could have fit in a little more. I used them for a couple of short, week-long tours this last summer, and they worked well for that, too.

For big loads, I do one of two things:

1. Use the old Army duffle bag in addition to the panniers.
2. Use a trailer. I bought it used to haul a 100 lbs outboard motor a little over a year ago, and haven't used it since. If I had kids, I'd probably get a lot more use out of it.

In my opinion, the small panniers are a good thing. In most cases, I don't really want to haul more on the bike than the panniers can hold.

Being car free, I just have quite a few backpacks and take the appropriate one with me for the chore. I have one pannier which converts to a pack pack but seldom use it, as it's kind of small for serius use. For groceries, what doesn't fit into my backpack often gets boxed and bungied onto the back rack.

Almost never leave home without a pack pack or waist pack of some kind.

Almost never leave home without a pack pack or waist pack of some kind.

I never leave home without at least one pannier, even if I'm on a pleasure ride. Last week I went for a ride in the country with my Sunday ride partner. As we pulled into the end of our ride (time to turn around), we noticed an apple tree...sitting right in the middle of the town square with tons of apples and even more on the ground...

Depends on the bike...

My Staiger (http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563088904kQEiIF), which is my current grocery getter has folding baskets (http://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/wald582rearfoldingbasket.html) in the rear and a smallish baske (http://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/wald933meshbasket.html)t in the front. My Redline R530 is getting a very large set of Basil Karavan 2 Panniers (http://velo-orange.com/baka2pa.html) in the rear that will stay mounted at all times. They are monsters at over 40 liters. It will also get a medium sized front basket. My Raleigh Superbe (http://2whls3spds.blogspot.com/2008/06/queen-fleet-street-well-my-street.html) has a Carradice Nelson (http://www.carradice.co.uk/saddlebags/nelson-saddlebag.shtml) bag that will swallow a fair amount, I have carried several days worth of groceries in it. Typically it is used to run to the store for miscellaneous items. I also carry the reusable shopping bags that I have purchased from several different sources. Unless it is pouring down rain large bags of dry goods (like rice or pet chow) will be strapped down on the rack.

Aaron:)


Just added two pair of Ortlieb Rollers to my collection:innocent: From what I gather they also make an adapter (http://www.ortliebusa.com/CartGenie/prod-75.htm) that will allow you to use one as a back pack. I bought them for my Expedition bike that is still undergoing rehab. But that doesn't mean they can't be used on one of my others.

Aaron:)

I have a pair of Halfords panniers, 20L a side, which I use for grocery shopping. I'm considering a rack bag, or maybe a crate bungeed to the rack to increase capacity, or perhaps a bar bag to even out the weight a bit.

I prefer not to carry heavy loads on my back, but I do have a selection of backpacks from my scouting days, mostly designed for walking and too tall for cycling. My favourite rucksack is a 20L Pearl Izumi, very comfortable with waist and chest straps, very tough - nearly ten years old and still in excellent condition, used for all kinds of things, and apparently no longer available.

I'm going to check on these waterproof packs from Moosejaw (http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/product_SealLine-Boundary-Pack_10030443_10208_10000001_-1_), originally designed for canoeing:

http://s7ondemand1.scene7.com/is/image/MoosejawMB/10030443x1010913_zm?$product325$


anybody ever try these?

I'm going to check on these waterproof packs from Moosejaw (http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/product_SealLine-Boundary-Pack_10030443_10208_10000001_-1_), originally designed for canoeing:
anybody ever try these?

Look like a standard dry bag. Work great for keeping stuff good and dry in inclement weather. If you close them properly they will actually float. The Ortliebs I bought are of a similar design and you can get a large pair for about $125 on sale at REI right now.

Aaron:)

http://media.rei.com/media/ss/28618747-a856-4e1b-8935-67957a93b873.jpg

WalMart's got dry bags I saw a few months ago.

When I shop for groceries, I bring along a nice big hemp tote I bought at Goodwill that carries the same volume as my grocery pannier and a daypack. The daypack I got for free when a neigbor was giving it away with a bike. This set-up is quite comfortable, and it carries all I would ordinarily buy for weekly shopping. Sometimes I'll add the milk crate to the top of the pannier rack with a bungee cord. Problem is, it's a bit high up.

My bike has a basket on the front that can hold a small bag of groceries, or more typically a small backpack with essentials like my wallet, jacket, keys, and a book. On the rear rack I'll carry REI 'Round Town Panniers (http://www.rei.com/product/733820) when I'm going grocery shopping or errand running. They fold up flat and they are light, not at all noticeable when I ride. I have a couple of random single panniers I bought on sale but I don't like either of them. I'll probably donate them to Goodwill to cut the clutter in my tiny apartment, and odds are a couple of backpacks I don't use will join them. I've ridden with a backpack on but I don't find it very comfortable.

I have grocery-panniers and I really love them. They hold tons, and they fold up when you're not using them.

In winter we get rain, so I have plastic bags permanently attached. I'll try to get a pic of that soon. I pull the bag up around it, fold the flaps like i'm wrapping a birthday present, and duct tape them. Then the tops, I twist and put under the spring-clip on my rack. It's really easy to deal with, and doesn't cost, like 50% of the cost of the panniers like the store-bought rain covers do. :rolleyes:

Angela

I don't use one myself, but I think a milk crate on the rear rack holds about as much as anything else, dollar for dollar.

Ghetto box is what I call it and they are great I use one when I might have to leave my bike unattanded and carry loads. Also works great as self draining cooler:thumb:. But, they are a little cumbersome to get on and off the bike. Grocery Panniers for everything else, if raining tie up with recycled plastic grovery bags or trash bags.

Look like a standard dry bag. Work great for keeping stuff good and dry in inclement weather. If you close them properly they will actually float. The Ortliebs I bought are of a similar design and you can get a large pair for about $125 on sale at REI right now.


I've used dry bags for canoeing, but I never saw one that was also an efficient backpack before.