TransitBiker

So, it went extremely well!!!!



What you do not see is the gallon of milk in the backpack that is on my back in this photo.

Yes, i have full access to bags even with crate tied on. To remove bags, i need crate to come off.

Used some laundry line (plastic), works VERY well!!!!

Yes, the bags are on backwards, i didnt check when i put them on, but i will in the future, because they really need to be facing the right way for multiple reasons.

I weighed myself before and after holding everything the bike was carrying plus helmet & clothes. Normally i have bread too.

The N360 performed amazingly, and took what was once the most demanding ride i can come up with (grocery run) and made it FUN... i didnt think that was even possible.

What i did not carry was any bread aside from those 2 packs of bagels in the crate. The store i buy my bread at opens at 7 weekdays, this was 4 am. I've been trying to time my grocery trip so after 24 hour store i stop at other store after it opens, but i was anxious to test this out when traffic was minimal.

- Andy

acidfast7

Gotta say that I'm not so excited by the milk crate.

Would've went with a narrow box bike instead!

I'm eyeing one of these guys:

https://www.nihola.com/products/family.html

spivonious

Time to get a trailer!

alimaysports

Woah! You definitely got your bike kitted out with all of that storage.

I hope you don't have to do a big shop any time soon

TransitBiker

I specifically got 2 milk crates (free) for grocery runs. It ties on and can be easily removed.

Eh, i don't need a trailer for groceries, but i do want to get one to add services like cross-town moving and bulk delivery. With a trailer i will probably also need to put some weight on the rear tire for traction, so i might put together something to do that from curb finds (the crates were curb finds).

Oh, well i have to go out and get my bread now and do a few other things. 5 8-packs of potato buns and 3 loaves of honey wheat!

I gotta go soon too, there is severe weather predicted for PM today!

- Andy

enigmaT120

It looks like you have plenty of weight on your rear tire! You would have been having fun keeping the front wheel on the ground, climbing a steep hill. That's a good load. My Fargo would wiggle hands-off if I loaded it like that. I would have to put on my front racks for best handling, I think. I just wonder if my legs would be up to it.

Darth Lefty 

I had a similar milk crate and also had to jam it up against the seat. If I were doing it over I'd find a soda crate, which has lower sides, and you can slide it up to the lip of the rack.

TransitBiker

It's not up against the seat, has about a 2 inch gap. I like the higher sides, no need to strap anything down.

Ideally I'd like to get a rectangular crate, as they have much more space, and I can mount them sideways as to keep weight over the rack & not leveraged against the anchor ties.

- Andy

exile

Are you shopping for you or a family? with the panniers and milk crate on my bike I usually had enough room to buy groceries for the week when shopping for myself. For my bike I put reflective tape over the logos to help with visibility. I never was able to attach a light to it correctly.

gregjones

Looks good to go!!!

I spent all day on the Fuji, I took the road stuff off and it's now full MTB for store trips like yours is. I had to put a front basket on to keep a more secure feel to the front end. I put a 2 ltr of something up there and it makes all the difference in my comfort level.

Your bags look further forward than my folding baskets in the back. Mine are had to be further back than I'd really like to prevent heel strike. You might have enough weight between the axles to keep the front down.

I don't need a trailer for store trips either, but am considering one to haul trash off to the dumpsters and bet stuff like propane tanks for the grille filled.

Enjoy!! You've got a nice set-up.

NormanF

Clarijs makes a huge 46 L pannier -92 L worth of them would be enough to swallow all the groceries you want to bring home and then some.

wolfchild

I think you have too much weight on the rear of your bike. You need to spread the load more evenly between the front and rear. Get yourself a front rack and put some panniers on the front...I use a messenger bag for shopping but my bikes also have front rack so that the weight is spread more evenly.
I really hope your rear wheels are strong and tensioned properly, preferably with 36 spokes.

TransitBiker

Well, remember not all of that weight is groceries, it's phone, clothing, helmet etc etc. Plus the milk was on my back.

Plus, these are built for exactly this. I appreciate the input though!

I was never at risk of lifting the front wheel, my position has my weight partly on the handlebars. I did think about that before i set off from the store, then when i was near some grass i tried to lift off & i couldn't.

Keep in mind i used to carry this all in 2 backpacks on my old bike, which was not fun.

The bags are set in the fore rack frame triangle. This gives it a more secure attachment. If i move them back (the bottom mount slides) or out in rear triangle the built up part of the welding on the rack can interfere with it sitting flush & the clip can hit the vertical piece's weld. These are trek bags and a bike from a industry competitor, i'm kinda lucky they mount at all. But they work so i'll keep 'em!

- Andy