Me hauling groceries... this already sucks.
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Me hauling groceries... this already sucks.
This sucks because
- It's unstable (I lost the cheese, stopped five feet later and went back to get it)
- It's not spill resistant (I fall over sometimes; what? I can't ride a bike)
- Specific carry capacity/composition (too little, too much, not of certain sizes/densities, etc, and I can lose stuff)
Suggestions?
I'm thinking I'll ditch that basket and find something that can carry milk and eggs and such. I haven't worked out what, though. I wonder how panniers do for carrying groceries; alternately, side baskets:
Looks to me like I could set the bento box horizontally atop this and bungee cord it down. However, it replaces the entire rear rack, and I don't know if that would preclude panniers. Also I'm wondering if panniers would actually be more convenient.
(I quite like these at a glance, but I can't find these exact ones to see if they're waterproof or anything... lots of other good ones I like though)
Some of these don't seem to preclude strapping my Bento Box down to it when I'm carrying it with lunch, or a Thermos lunch pail if I could ever get something like that (forget the post-1980 rectangular crap, dome top is better).
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Keep the basket and throw a net over it. Always have a pair of panniers to use whenever needed.
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I have a Topeak rear basket that I use for errands. I keep a dry bag in it for mail along with a cable lock. When I get groceries I set them on top of or next to that stuff.
I never really thought about it, but I think the dry bag (empty or not) and cable lock cushions and stabilizes the grocery load. I've never had an issue with things bouncing out, but I do take it pretty easy over tracks and such.
I think the net is a good idea too.
I never really thought about it, but I think the dry bag (empty or not) and cable lock cushions and stabilizes the grocery load. I've never had an issue with things bouncing out, but I do take it pretty easy over tracks and such.
I think the net is a good idea too.
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Here is a picture of a beer run. I use folding baskets in the back and a regular basket in the front. I also have panniers mounted on a different bike. I love the cargo nets with the baskets and also use them to hold things to the racks when using the bike with panniers. I have had the big saddle baskets in the past and they are great for tossing things like backpacks in and going.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#5
Devil's Advocate
bluefoxicy, the most economical option would be for you to keep your baskets and invest in a couple of these insulated shopping bags with zipper closures. They only cost about $3 a piece at most markets and of course have the added advantage of keeping that cheese from going all runny in the summer.
If you ever decide to go really hard core though, a cargo or shopping trailer might just fit the bill for you. Won't affect the way your bike handles so maybe you wouldn't fall so much. And you could schlepp a whole lot more too.
If you ever decide to go really hard core though, a cargo or shopping trailer might just fit the bill for you. Won't affect the way your bike handles so maybe you wouldn't fall so much. And you could schlepp a whole lot more too.
#6
You gonna eat that?
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Wald makes bags that fit their folding baskets:
https://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/...ingbasket.html
Banjo Brothers makes panniers (open top "Grocery" model, or closet top "Market") that are great for food shopping:
https://www.banjobrothers.com/products/panniers/
In either case, you bring the bag into the store, load it up, put it back on your bike, and go. Couldn't be simpler.
https://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/...ingbasket.html
Banjo Brothers makes panniers (open top "Grocery" model, or closet top "Market") that are great for food shopping:
https://www.banjobrothers.com/products/panniers/
In either case, you bring the bag into the store, load it up, put it back on your bike, and go. Couldn't be simpler.
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Every weekend Just glad the local market A) can now sell beer and B) carries something I will drink!
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
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Lower centre of gravity is better for stability, so panniers would work better than an over-the-wheel basket. I use a trailer when going grocery shopping, which has an even lower center of gravity, and allows me to haul massive quantities. It also has a cover to keep things from getting wet if it rains.
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A bike is an inverted pendulum, which means a higher center of gravity makes it easier to keep upright when moving, but harder to keep stable when not moving at a particular speed. Below speed, the bicycle is hard to keep up, i.e for track stands.
#13
The Drive Side is Within
Another helpful thing to do is to get the weight as far forward on that basket as you can-- with everything all the way back, you're adding to both instability and the amount of jarring and vibration your cargo undergoes. Keep at it!
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The Pannier thing seems interesting, any thoughts on how much storage is decent? 24L (= 6.3 gal, = 1465 cu in, = 0.847 cu ft) Timbuk2 Tandem panniers:
https://www.rei.com/product/811081/ti...anniers-medium
vs 47L (= 12.4 gal, = 2868 cu in, = 1.65 cu ft) Vaude Roadmaster:
https://www.bikebagshop.com/vaude-roa...rs-p-1118.html
or some other such thing.
The small 24L set doesn't seem to bad, since that's a dozen 2L bottles essentially, which ... is a lot. 47L is a staggering amount of space (I have a 10 gallon brew kettle, that's a lot of storage to carry around!).
EDIT: Hmm, cheaper than Timbuk 2, the Avenir Excursion small (24L)/large (27L) sets...
https://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Excursi...dp/B00165Q4RG/
https://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Excursi...dp/B00165Q4QM/
https://www.rei.com/product/811081/ti...anniers-medium
vs 47L (= 12.4 gal, = 2868 cu in, = 1.65 cu ft) Vaude Roadmaster:
https://www.bikebagshop.com/vaude-roa...rs-p-1118.html
or some other such thing.
The small 24L set doesn't seem to bad, since that's a dozen 2L bottles essentially, which ... is a lot. 47L is a staggering amount of space (I have a 10 gallon brew kettle, that's a lot of storage to carry around!).
EDIT: Hmm, cheaper than Timbuk 2, the Avenir Excursion small (24L)/large (27L) sets...
https://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Excursi...dp/B00165Q4RG/
https://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Excursi...dp/B00165Q4QM/
Last edited by bluefoxicy; 04-23-11 at 08:07 PM.
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My favorites for general shopping, including groceries, are REI's grocery panniers. I also have a set of the big-box-store Schwinn panniers that I use when I'm out riding and *might* pick something up. These are also good for stashing layers as the layers come off.
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one word----Xtracycle.
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I'd really recommend looking at a "market" type pannier, instead of a touring type, if you really want something easy to use for daily utility cycling. (They are usually cheaper, too.)
Ecovelo has some good posts on this:
https://www.ecovelo.info/2010/06/18/t...s-best-friend/
https://www.ecovelo.info/2009/08/05/b...arket-pannier/
Most models are square-ish, to better accommodate the shape of grocery bags and boxes that things cone in, and many fold up to stay out of the way when not in use. They are also very easy handle off the bike when loaded - they have top handles, shoulder straps, etc. Touring panniers can be very rounded, which is inefficient to load with groceries. and are optimized to keep stuff secure and dry on long tours, so they may not work so well with a loaf of bread sticking out the top!
As far as capacity, the best way to visiualize it is that market panniers/baskets are usually sized to hold a standard brown paper grocery bag. That is the conventional "unit" of measurement The "# of 2-liter bottles" method can be deceiving...
Ecovelo has some good posts on this:
https://www.ecovelo.info/2010/06/18/t...s-best-friend/
https://www.ecovelo.info/2009/08/05/b...arket-pannier/
Most models are square-ish, to better accommodate the shape of grocery bags and boxes that things cone in, and many fold up to stay out of the way when not in use. They are also very easy handle off the bike when loaded - they have top handles, shoulder straps, etc. Touring panniers can be very rounded, which is inefficient to load with groceries. and are optimized to keep stuff secure and dry on long tours, so they may not work so well with a loaf of bread sticking out the top!
As far as capacity, the best way to visiualize it is that market panniers/baskets are usually sized to hold a standard brown paper grocery bag. That is the conventional "unit" of measurement The "# of 2-liter bottles" method can be deceiving...
The Pannier thing seems interesting, any thoughts on how much storage is decent? 24L (= 6.3 gal, = 1465 cu in, = 0.847 cu ft) Timbuk2 Tandem panniers:
https://www.rei.com/product/811081/ti...anniers-medium
vs 47L (= 12.4 gal, = 2868 cu in, = 1.65 cu ft) Vaude Roadmaster:
https://www.bikebagshop.com/vaude-roa...rs-p-1118.html
or some other such thing.
The small 24L set doesn't seem to bad, since that's a dozen 2L bottles essentially, which ... is a lot. 47L is a staggering amount of space (I have a 10 gallon brew kettle, that's a lot of storage to carry around!).
EDIT: Hmm, cheaper than Timbuk 2, the Avenir Excursion small (24L)/large (27L) sets...
https://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Excursi...dp/B00165Q4RG/
https://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Excursi...dp/B00165Q4QM/
https://www.rei.com/product/811081/ti...anniers-medium
vs 47L (= 12.4 gal, = 2868 cu in, = 1.65 cu ft) Vaude Roadmaster:
https://www.bikebagshop.com/vaude-roa...rs-p-1118.html
or some other such thing.
The small 24L set doesn't seem to bad, since that's a dozen 2L bottles essentially, which ... is a lot. 47L is a staggering amount of space (I have a 10 gallon brew kettle, that's a lot of storage to carry around!).
EDIT: Hmm, cheaper than Timbuk 2, the Avenir Excursion small (24L)/large (27L) sets...
https://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Excursi...dp/B00165Q4RG/
https://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Excursi...dp/B00165Q4QM/
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Hmm, also I need to figure out a way to lock the things, and lock them to my bike... otherwise hobos will steal my groceries. (Hobos are a real problem here; but while you can blame people for stealing food when they're hungry, you can't really expect any better. I mean come on, they're poor and starving! I've had 'em follow me into the store and try to get me to shop for them!)
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Me hauling groceries
42Kg, 58KM round trip. You will get the hang of it. Keep trying, keep smiling
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Yet another vote for a net. I use one with my rear basket for grocery shopping on way home from work.
It just rocks. I keep it wound around my seatpost when not in use. Saved the day so many times.
It just rocks. I keep it wound around my seatpost when not in use. Saved the day so many times.
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Your other problem is that there's no protection from the rain for your groceries. If you don't care about that then the cargo net suggester earlier would do the trick.
I've tried a lot of things over the years and personally I prefer front & rear panniers, and if that's insufficient capacity I hook up one of my trailers. If you keep an eye on ebay you'll pick up panniers pretty cheaply.
I've tried a lot of things over the years and personally I prefer front & rear panniers, and if that's insufficient capacity I hook up one of my trailers. If you keep an eye on ebay you'll pick up panniers pretty cheaply.
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I hope you didn't forget anything.
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I've never lost anything out the top of my cheap folding grocery pannier, and have had much larger cargoes, and much smaller ones as well. Your basket is at the top of the "pendulum" where the bike sways back and forth as you pedal or change direction.... you need to get your load down lower, or move it to the front, or strap it in and hope for the best. Folding panniers, either cloth or wire, would work a lot better than a basket on top.
Wald's rigid wire panniers would let you rent out your bike to moving companies.
Wald's rigid wire panniers would let you rent out your bike to moving companies.
#25
Newbie
I stabilize loads in a rear basket by putting them in a daypack, & use the pack's compression straps to anchor it if necessary. Wire basket easier to lash to than mesh, of course.
For loads big enough to fill both pack and basket, one can use the pack in place of a cargo net - fill the basket, then strap the pack on on top:
For loads big enough to fill both pack and basket, one can use the pack in place of a cargo net - fill the basket, then strap the pack on on top: