Grocery Getting?
 

Does anyone use their single speed/fixed gear as a grocery getter? I don't have rear rack mounts so I am trying to see what some of the options are.

backpacks. very trendy right now.

front rack from Cetma? www.cetmaracks.com

triple bag groceries, loop left triple handles onto one shoulder, loop the other triple handles onto the other shoulder, ride like you got a backpack on. win.

I use mine for groceries all the time. I use a backpack though, nothing fancy, and also limits the amount of groceries I can buy :(

The image of this in my head makes me laugh

I can fit about 7 bags of groceries in my chrome bag. i use the largest one they have. It can make for a hard ride home depending on if i'm getting 2 gallons of milk and a lot of frozen fruits and such.

Axiom makes a rear rack that holds 50kg and does not require mounts on the frame.

Old Man Mountain makes racks for bikes without eyelets. They clamp onto the seat stays and are VERY strong.

http://www.oldmanmountain.com/

I recommend the Sherpa.

Portland Design Works just came out with a front basket that mounts only onto the handlebars and comes with a waterproof bag. The basket's recommended weight limit is 12 pounds (which is significantly less than a frame-mounted rack/basket) but it might work, depending on your shopping habits.

that's expensive. would be worth it if it was less than $50.

I do. My Seagull messenger bag holds alot. But sometimes I might make two trips for a lighter load. I don't live too far away from the grocery.

not on a SSFG but i've gotten groceries without a bike rack.. just use my backpack. couldn't hold a lot though, and i had to open a few boxed items and ditch the wasteful packaging to make everything fit

http://site.safetycycle.com/detailed...lack-black.jpg

?

Between my messenger bag, timbuk2 tandem panniers, and a PDW payload rack, I can bring home a pretty substantial grocery haul without much trouble.

The only thing I have issues bringing home are the giant diet green teas I'm addicted to. Everything else in the backpack. I don't make making a few 'mini trips' on the bike over the course of a week vs one big trip in the vehicle

I use a backpack~
http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pub...DNrSnLnDOM_adw

Get a backpack if you want to carry food. You're going to smoosh your food if you wear a messenger bag.

Wait, what? Aside from a hardshell backpack, how does any backpack provide better protection for food. If anything, most messenger bags are more cavernous and open than backpacks. I don't see any significant difference between the ability of the two to carry food. Just wear whichever style suits you better.

Just get a backpack. Hint: compatible with all types of drivetrain.

i do.

i use a backpack, which conveniently fits one grocery store basket's worth of food. it works out just fine but groceries must be packed carefully.

Wald racks and baskets seem to presume that you don't have eyelets.

Have you tried carrying a lot of food in a messenger bag? Every backpack I have ever owned has been more "cavernous" than the Chrome I use now and the Timbuk2 (which sucked, btw, YMMV) I used to use. Closing a messenger bag to keep its contents from spilling out without compressing what is inside is difficult.

For a backpack, put the heavy stuff and boxes on the bottom, and your delicates (bread, eggs, etc) on top. If you don't jam pack your pack full, you won't squish the bread or whatever unless you fall over on it.

Also, that 20 mile Cranksgiving I did would have been significantly easier on my back/shoulder if I had a two straps instead of one.

I actually get quite a few groceries with just my messenger. Never had anything remotely smashed (even bread). I just loosen the compression straps and lengthen the buckle straps as far as they need to go to just cover the food without letting anything fall out. It's worked perfectly with my Crumpler and my Timbuk2. Otherwise, the same rules apply as with a backpack. I can vouch that it works, and messenger bags, for me, are much more comfy. But, like I said, you should just use whichever suits you better. I understand most people are more comfortable with backpacks. I just think messengers are more versatile. When mine isn't getting groceries, it's carried things like cases of water, wheel sets, laptops, camera tripods, and lots of other things that are tough to fit in a backpack.

I also buy groceries with my messenger bag now, but only because I feel really cool when I wear my bag.

I can fit about two weeks worth of groceries for two people in my Chrome Warsaw. It isn't the most pleasant thing in the world to get home with it that full, but it's definitely doable and more comfortable than any single-strap bag would be.