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Grocery Bike
For awhile after my concussion I lost my driver's license and so did all of my traveling and grocery shopping on a Schwinn Voyager. I mounted a rack and that wasn't very successful since grocery bags fall apart. Then I got a handlebar bag of the little old lady kind that was like heavy screen metal. The Chinese were selling something similar made out of bamboo that looked like wood. As long as you weren't carrying a load this worked out. Now I see that you can get something seminar to fit on the rear rack.
I tried saddlebags but my heels kept hitting them and the bike would rock around. I don't remember how I handled the long distance touring but everything must have been tied down pretty tightly. In any case, after I got my license back I sold the grocery bike off. The good point about it was that it didn't look worth stealing and so I could park it in front of a store and just put a lock through the wheels. Now that I'm trying to sell off a large part of my inventory I'm thinking of getting another grocery bike. I'll have some room for it. The store furthest away from me is next to the drug store I use and that is only a mile and a half away. The store I use most often is only half a mile away. I am now thinking that it is rather silly to be driving to a store that close. The problem is - do you continue to use a bike for shopping after the immediate idea that driving there is dumb? Some of you probably have some experience with this - what is your take? |
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#2
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Grocery Bike
On Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 6:05:03 PM UTC-5, wrote:
For awhile after my concussion I lost my driver's license and so did all of my traveling and grocery shopping on a Schwinn Voyager. I mounted a rack and that wasn't very successful since grocery bags fall apart. Then I got a handlebar bag of the little old lady kind that was like heavy screen metal. The Chinese were selling something similar made out of bamboo that looked like wood. As long as you weren't carrying a load this worked out. Now I see that you can get something seminar to fit on the rear rack. I tried saddlebags but my heels kept hitting them and the bike would rock around. I don't remember how I handled the long distance touring but everything must have been tied down pretty tightly. In any case, after I got my license back I sold the grocery bike off. The good point about it was that it didn't look worth stealing and so I could park it in front of a store and just put a lock through the wheels. Now that I'm trying to sell off a large part of my inventory I'm thinking of getting another grocery bike. I'll have some room for it. The store furthest away from me is next to the drug store I use and that is only a mile and a half away. The store I use most often is only half a mile away. I am now thinking that it is rather silly to be driving to a store that close. The problem is - do you continue to use a bike for shopping after the immediate idea that driving there is dumb? Some of you probably have some experience with this - what is your take? I use my bicycle for 99% of my shopping. I have 56 liters capacity panniers on t he rear rack and they do NOT get hit by my heels. I also have a front rack and panniers I can use if I'm doing major grocery shopping. I once mounted a pair of homemade flat metal J-hooks on another bike so that I could bring home a 4 feet by 8 feet sheet of Melamine from the hardware store a mile from home. Granted I had to walk the bike home with that on it. LOL I figure that the more shopping I can do by bicycle the better it is for my health. Plus I keep in practice for loading the bicycle for touring trips. There are neat wire folding baskets you can get for rear racks on bicycles. Example: https://www.amazon.com/Axiom-Folding.../dp/B001DMXGY6 They work quite well. I prefer my panniers because they have a lower center of gravity and I modified the locking hooks so I can get the pannier off easily even in -0F temperatures. Good luck and cheers |
#3
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Grocery Bike
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#5
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Grocery Bike
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#6
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Grocery Bike
On 2019-01-29 15:05, wrote:
For awhile after my concussion I lost my driver's license and so did all of my traveling and grocery shopping on a Schwinn Voyager. I mounted a rack and that wasn't very successful since grocery bags fall apart. Then I got a handlebar bag of the little old lady kind that was like heavy screen metal. The Chinese were selling something similar made out of bamboo that looked like wood. As long as you weren't carrying a load this worked out. Now I see that you can get something seminar to fit on the rear rack. I tried saddlebags but my heels kept hitting them and the bike would rock around. I don't remember how I handled the long distance touring but everything must have been tied down pretty tightly. In any case, after I got my license back I sold the grocery bike off. The good point about it was that it didn't look worth stealing and so I could park it in front of a store and just put a lock through the wheels. Now that I'm trying to sell off a large part of my inventory I'm thinking of getting another grocery bike. I'll have some room for it. The store furthest away from me is next to the drug store I use and that is only a mile and a half away. The store I use most often is only half a mile away. I am now thinking that it is rather silly to be driving to a store that close. The problem is - do you continue to use a bike for shopping after the immediate idea that driving there is dumb? Some of you probably have some experience with this - what is your take? I use my bike whenever I can. Even if that means a few miles of riding in the dark like Monday night. My car gets way less miles per year that the two bikes (each). For your prupose I'd get a trailer like the others suggested. A local cycling friend bought a kids trailer. They can often be found cheaply on garage sales when a couple's kids have outgrown them. Lot of space for groceries in there. Maybe some stores even allow you to use it as a shopping cart so you don't need an extra lock for the trailer. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ |
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Grocery Bike
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#8
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Grocery Bike
On Tue, 29 Jan 2019 15:05:01 -0800, sltom992 wrote:
I tried saddlebags but my heels kept hitting them and the bike would rock around. I don't remember how I handled the long distance touring but everything must have been tied down pretty tightly. There are racks and racks, and panniers and panniers, and what combo work on one bike, may not work on another. It has taken decades for me to build up a mass load carrying combo with full rear panniers. You need a rear rack that will allow you to move the pannier aft/back and thus not clip your heels when bulging. on a "racing"/shortened frame this can lead to a light nose and so you realise the advantage of front panniers. As always, your panniers should fit your needs and there is no point in fitting panniers that are great for long distance self contained touring, when you just want a ride to the shops to buy milk and bread. As I make my own panniers from light canvas. I've been able to make small and medium saddlebags and large rear panniers to suit needs. My current ride is a 1988 MTB fitted with rear racks front and back, so I have the capacity to fit four reart panniers for the shopping, boosted by whatever duffle bags I can strap on top. Everyday use has just a pair of saddle bags of 4L capacity. Another workable alternative for larger/extra loads, is what is commonly known as a bob-style, but AFAIK, was around in the early 1900 in England in a flat bed design. Caveat, IME, you'll fit more on a bicycle than on these. Now that I'm trying to sell off a large part of my inventory I'm thinking of getting another grocery bike. I'll have some room for it. The store furthest away from me is next to the drug store I use and that is only a mile and a half away. The store I use most often is only half a mile away. You'll also say a lot of money in running the car. More if you can get rid of it entirely. For what we spent a new basic model car, we could have purchased three top of the line electric cargo bikes. given what we use it for, this would have been a good idea with the occassional car- hire when we need to go very long distances. FWIW I am now thinking that it is rather silly to be driving to a store that close. Should be healthier and save "gym membership" if you are one of those who do so. The problem is - do you continue to use a bike for shopping after the immediate idea that driving there is dumb? Some of you probably have some experience with this - what is your take? The only reason we didn't use the bike was periods of bad health. Or when we needed the cargo van for very heavy loads like bags of cement, or 8 meter lenghts of steel or sheet of ply, etc. YMMV, but many times, going somewhere around town was faster on bicycle than fighting traffic congestion through town. |
#9
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Grocery Bike
I am fortunate to have a grocery store only 3/4 mile from my house. So I walk for groceries. Home Depot and Target are 2 miles. I sometimes ride to them and carry the goods home in a backpack. Small goods. Not 8 foot 2x4s or 4x8 sheets of plywood. I relegate my loaded touring bike and four panniers and handlebar bag to only loaded touring. Not carrying groceries. Even though it would work splendidly for that purpose.
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#10
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Grocery Bike
On Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 6:05:03 PM UTC-5, wrote:
For awhile after my concussion I lost my driver's license and so did all of my traveling and grocery shopping on a Schwinn Voyager. I mounted a rack and that wasn't very successful since grocery bags fall apart. Then I got a handlebar bag of the little old lady kind that was like heavy screen metal. The Chinese were selling something similar made out of bamboo that looked like wood. As long as you weren't carrying a load this worked out. Now I see that you can get something seminar to fit on the rear rack. I tried saddlebags but my heels kept hitting them and the bike would rock around. I don't remember how I handled the long distance touring but everything must have been tied down pretty tightly. In any case, after I got my license back I sold the grocery bike off. The good point about it was that it didn't look worth stealing and so I could park it in front of a store and just put a lock through the wheels. Now that I'm trying to sell off a large part of my inventory I'm thinking of getting another grocery bike. I'll have some room for it. The store furthest away from me is next to the drug store I use and that is only a mile and a half away. The store I use most often is only half a mile away. I am now thinking that it is rather silly to be driving to a store that close. The problem is - do you continue to use a bike for shopping after the immediate idea that driving there is dumb? Some of you probably have some experience with this - what is your take? Oh, one hing I forgot to mention that I found with a two wheel trailer and that is that it's a lot harder to pedal uphill with the one I have than it is with the same weight on the bicycle. One really needs to weigh the pros and cons of a trailer for THEIR needs if they are considering getting a trailer; and that includes the weight of the empty trailer too plus the storage of the same when it's not in use at home. Cheers |
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