I don't use grocery bags anymore for the main part of my groceries. I unload shopping cart onto self serve checkout shelf, scan everything and move it to the bagging area, then just put it all back in my cart. Then i go to an area where i'm not blocking anyone and load up the panniers and backpack (usually just the milk goes in backpack). The local giant food store has a bench that has worked nicely as a "load up station". I sometimes grab a quick meal sitting there too, helps me cool down and not shop hungry.

I will use 2 plasticgrocery bags for my rolls, but i avoid it if at all possible. The loaves are OK in a backpack, and i usually only get 2-3, but the packs of rolls are way too bulky (and they smush easily and stay smushed) to try and carry them all in a backpack or pannier. I plan to switch to my re-useable bags next time on, so this past shopping is the last time i use the plastic ones. :)

- Andy

This, but have them hang on the side of the cart so they are inside the cart. I asked if this would be a problem at Trader Joes and they said it allowed me to enter a contest for people who brought their own bags .

Tax breaks for the wealthy Cost More than making up for lousy wages for the low income End ..

I use the self-check lanes. There can be cashiers waiting for customers but I do it myself. The reason is bagging the stuff. Groceries load different for a bike than they do for a Ford truck. I only move them once. I start with the empty bags in the kiddie seat and shop like a "normal" person---groceries in cart. Then, before I check out I put my empty bags on the bagging/weighing part of the check isle. The cashiers all know me and set the "tare" weight on the scale to zero with my bags. Scan and bag as anyone would do. It's just that my stuff goes into the bags I brought instead of the plastic things.

Yea, I do the thing where I put some back in the cart mid-scan if I have a larger list of stuff. Sometimes I only need one of something, like spaghetti, other times I need 5 plus the sauce to go with it. Extra (more than 1-2) jars of sauce go into the backpack as my rack is rated to 55.5 lbs and I don't want too much very heavy stuff so far rearward. My total weight on the rack is usually 35 lbs, well within the green. I've been thinking about seeng if ASI has a front fork that has portaging rack plus fender mounts that work with my stem. I could also get one with disc brake mounts, which would be awesome. We'll see how that goes. Getting the SE Tripel first. :)

- Andy

They aren't gigantic but my ortlieb back rollers surprised me this weekend by fitting my bass trombone cup mute (10x10x14"), bass straight mute, tenor cup (9x9x12") and straight mute, sweatshirt/hat/gloves, and books.

As for groceries, I'm only shopping for one, and I never end up filling both of them.

I bring them into the store, put them in the cart, load the cart, reload the cart at checkout and wheel over to a quiet place to load up my panniers so as not to take up time/space at the register.