Ideas for Packing Groceries ... ???

vja4Him

I need some ideas for packing groceries on my Electra Townie. I want to take advantage of every possible space on the bike to put stuff (middle frame, rear, front, sides).

I would really like to add some kind of rear rack that would allow me to carry about four bags of groceries (or more?), then carry another one or two bags in the front and/or middle (?). I would like to try and figure out someway to stop carrying a backpack.

Yesterday, carrying the groceries in my backpack really hurt my back!!! I have a bad back, and so I need some ideas here on what to do ... Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

artaxerxes

I've seen people use bicycle trailers for their groceries. Otherwise you'd probably want pannier bags that expand?

I just use a backpack as my supermarket is on the way home from work.

Biscuiteer

I always got by with a rack and 2 panniers for my shopping... and then got by with only one pannier after my rear wheel ate the other one. I would recommend a rack that has widely spaced rails. e.g. like this, not like this to stop the pannier swinging into the wheel when is oddly loaded. I used bungees to strap any outsize items to the top of the rack.

I stopped using a rucksack after one particularly messy incident where I launched a dozen eggs across the kitchen. :shock:

always_tyred

Sorry - I'm on the wrong thread. I though it would be something to do with bicycle shorts and cut out saddles for some reason.

vja4Him

linoue wrote:

I've seen people use bicycle trailers for their groceries. Otherwise you'd probably want pannier bags that expand?

I just use a backpack as my supermarket is on the way home from work.

Sometimes I feel like a complete idiot ... What is a pannier bag that expands? I've been using my backpack, which is ok for lighter items, but I have several damaged vertabrae, and lately my back has been hurting really bad ....

I really do need to get something to carry my groceries very soon .... I think I'll get a large basket for the front as well.

vja4Him

I've thought about getting a trailer for my Townie, but the roads and sidewalks are so bad around here, I think it might end up being too much of a hassle. I would need a heavy-duty trailer with very large and heavy/wide wheels, and low to the ground, because the roads and sidewalks are very bumpy, with lots of ruts and pot holes everywhere ... !!!

artaxerxes

Sorry I should have said, a pannier bag with flexible sides and not too rigid. Something like this?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Altura_Dryline_32_Panniers/5360029301/

vja4Him

Biscuiteer wrote:

I always got by with a rack and 2 panniers for my shopping... and then got by with only one pannier after my rear wheel ate the other one. I would recommend a rack that has widely spaced rails. e.g. like this, not like this to stop the pannier swinging into the wheel when is oddly loaded. I used bungees to strap any outsize items to the top of the rack.

I stopped using a rucksack after one particularly messy incident where I launched a dozen eggs across the kitchen. :shock:

Oh yeah ... !!! I know exactly what you mean !!! When I got my Mongoose Switchback, I had the second type of rack, with only two rails. My wheel ate the bags, and destroyed my rim!!! The wheel locked up as I was riding up the overpass, in traffic (!), and I hit the pavement pretty hard!!! Don't want to take that risk again .... No thanks!!!

vja4Him

linoue wrote:

Sorry I should have said, a pannier bag with flexible sides and not too rigid. Something like this?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Altura_Dryline_32_Panniers/5360029301/

Very nice!! Would I be able to fit two of those large bags on my Townie? How much would a rack cost? If I remember correctly, converting pounds to American dollars, multiply by 1.5? So, 100 pounds would $150.00 US dollars ... ??? Anybody know the converstion factor?

alfablue

Ortlieb make the best and toughest panniers, they do a specific shopper one, though their Back Roller Classic would do very well (The Touring Store has them for $145/pair). They are all fully waterproof and are the choice of expedition tourists because they are tough, reliable and last for years.

The $/£ conversion is changing daily. I gather bike stuff is generally cheaper in the US than here, anyway, so it may not pay to buy from here. Anyway, a rack will cost anything from $30 to $120, and the pannier bags (if they are good quality) $75 to $200 ...ish.

The Chingford Skinhead

You can get panier racks for the back and also for the front wheels - Mark Beaumont used them for his recent around the world trip (do a search for him on google).

My only problem is I always over estimate how much I can fit in my panniers (back only) and end up having to bungie strap the rest to the back and not taking any sharp corners

redvee

Eggs at the bottom

gtvlusso

vja4Him wrote:

I need some ideas for packing groceries on my Electra Townie. I want to take advantage of every possible space on the bike to put stuff (middle frame, rear, front, sides).

I would really like to add some kind of rear rack that would allow me to carry about four bags of groceries (or more?), then carry another one or two bags in the front and/or middle (?). I would like to try and figure out someway to stop carrying a backpack.

Yesterday, carrying the groceries in my backpack really hurt my back!!! I have a bad back, and so I need some ideas here on what to do ... Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Just pay Tesco the damn fiver and have your food delivered - order online!

vja4Him

alfablue wrote:

Ortlieb make the best and toughest panniers, they do a specific shopper one, though their Back Roller Classic would do very well (The Touring Store has them for $145/pair). They are all fully waterproof and are the choice of expedition tourists because they are tough, reliable and last for years.

The $/£ conversion is changing daily. I gather bike stuff is generally cheaper in the US than here, anyway, so it may not pay to buy from here. Anyway, a rack will cost anything from $30 to $120, and the pannier bags (if they are good quality) $75 to $200 ...ish.

I like the Trunkitlarge!!! Does anyone else us this type of pack? Seems like it would be easy to remove from the bike, and just leave the rack ....

vja4Him

Does anyone use the Snapit? Is there a specific basket made to fit the Snapit tightly? Not sure just how durable a plastic tub would be though ...

The TrunkitLarge looks like a much better way to go, especially for long-time use with grocery shopping ...

Tailend Charlie

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

My only problem is I always over estimate how much I can fit in my panniers (back only) and end up having to bungie strap the rest to the back and not taking any sharp corners

My daily commute takes me past Tesco's, and consequently i often get a call from home along the lines of "On your way back, could you just get...." and the opportunity for several extra kilos to lug back up the hill. Its good power training i am told :roll:

So I clip the panniers to the supermarket trolly, this cuts the space available and reminds me how much room i have to carry stuff back in.

otherwise the only answer is one of these

The Chingford Skinhead

Tailend Charlie wrote:

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

My only problem is I always over estimate how much I can fit in my panniers (back only) and end up having to bungie strap the rest to the back and not taking any sharp corners

My daily commute takes me past Tesco's, and consequently i often get a call from home along the lines of "On your way back, could you just get...." and the opportunity for several extra kilos to lug back up the hill. Its good power training i am told :roll:

So I clip the panniers to the supermarket trolly, this cuts the space available and reminds me how much room i have to carry stuff back in.

otherwise the only answer is one of these

A sound idea - thanks. I also use the plastic carrier handle stretched over the seat to rest on the panniers routine - though it often find I have to hook my leg over the handlebars rather than the rear wheel to mount the bike :roll:

Sleeptech

Have been scratching my head myself recently as to best way to get shopping home after work as my two panniers are full (one with work stuff - the other with bike lock / multitools etc & other shopping unfriendly objects).

Came across these as possible solutions though neither are quite right (second is toooooo big) but the idea could work? My only concern is having too much weight up high esp in gusty winds with a block sided container on my rack...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Lockable-bicycle-trunk/
http://www.osaurus.us/~dm/bike-trunk/

lost_in_thought

Hmmmmmmm they're interesting! I like the metal army box one... and my pannier rack has holes on the top that you could use to bolt something to it rather than cable ties...

Craft day!

vja4Him

Hey, I really like the BobYak!! That might be something I will invest in down the road ... For now I'm looking at either wire baskets for the rear, or if I have enough to invest, heavy-duty rear panniers ....

The only place I could put the BobYak is in our living room, and we don't have much space left, with three bicycles already in our living room. No place to secure outside, and protect from the rain.

Tailend Charlie wrote:

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

My only problem is I always over estimate how much I can fit in my panniers (back only) and end up having to bungie strap the rest to the back and not taking any sharp corners

My daily commute takes me past Tesco's, and consequently i often get a call from home along the lines of "On your way back, could you just get...." and the opportunity for several extra kilos to lug back up the hill. Its good power training i am told :roll:

So I clip the panniers to the supermarket trolly, this cuts the space available and reminds me how much room i have to carry stuff back in.

otherwise the only answer is one of these

vja4Him

Sleeptech wrote:

Have been scratching my head myself recently as to best way to get shopping home after work as my two panniers are full (one with work stuff - the other with bike lock / multitools etc & other shopping unfriendly objects).

Came across these as possible solutions though neither are quite right (second is toooooo big) but the idea could work? My only concern is having too much weight up high esp in gusty winds with a block sided container on my rack...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Lockable-bicycle-trunk/
http://www.osaurus.us/~dm/bike-trunk/

I just asked my neighbor if she would be up to helping me build a flatbed for my Electra Townie ... That looks like a great idea .... Not sure about the plastic tub though ... Seems like the tubs would wear out quickly, crack from the weather ... Maybe some kind of crate would be stronger ... ???

AndyManc

I've overfilled my panniers with food shopping a few times , it's not fun when you try and turn left and your bike will have none of it and continues to carry on in a straight line :?

There is a limit, I've bought a trailer and I'm also thinking about home delivery too.

vja4Him

AndyManc wrote:

I've overfilled my panniers with food shopping a few times , it's not fun when you try and turn left and your bike will have none of it and continues to carry on in a straight line :?

There is a limit, I've bought a trailer and I'm also thinking about home delivery too.

Does anyone have their groceries delivered to your home? What does it cost for the delivery?

artaxerxes

In the UK all the major supermarkets do home delivery, about £5 for a delivery or free if you spend more than £50 I think. You'll have to find out if the supermarkets in the US do grocery deliveries, but here's a link I found


http://mashable.com/2008/06/05/online-grocery-shopping/

AndyManc

vja4Him wrote:

AndyManc wrote:

I've overfilled my panniers with food shopping a few times , it's not fun when you try and turn left and your bike will have none of it and continues to carry on in a straight line :?

There is a limit, I've bought a trailer and I'm also thinking about home delivery too.

Does anyone have their groceries delivered to your home? What does it cost for the delivery?

Iceland ( I know, it's not a great shop ) will deliver free if you spend over £25 .

Check each shops own website for delivery charges.

Cunobelin

May seem silly, but "bulk shopping" is a modern phenomenon.

You don't "need" to get it all in one go. I find that a few items from the grocer, the butcher or the local supermarket is doable with an ordinary pair of panniers on the way home....

Small and frequent!

AndyManc

Cunobelin wrote:

May seem silly, but "bulk shopping" is a modern phenomenon.

You don't "need" to get it all in one go. I find that a few items from the grocer, the butcher or the local supermarket is doable with an ordinary pair of panniers on the way home....

Small and frequent!

Doesn't seem silly at all.

You're correct, the car + supermarket has destroyed many of our friendly local shops.

I shopped once a week but now I'm reliant on my bike only, I shop 3 or 4 times a week, either on the way home from work or locally.

I'd like to see all supermarkets be forced to charge a fee to customers to use their car parks which in turn should help promote the revival of local shopping which will promote community cohesion.

Just a theory I have :roll:

vja4Him

linoue wrote:

In the UK all the major supermarkets do home delivery, about £5 for a delivery or free if you spend more than £50 I think. You'll have to find out if the supermarkets in the US do grocery deliveries, but here's a link I found


http://mashable.com/2008/06/05/online-grocery-shopping/

I just called all of the major grocery stores (Save-Mart, Food 4 Less, Cost Less, Richland, Safeway, Raleys)

and none of them do home grocery delivery, and they don't know anyone who does. One store would get the groceries for you, but you have to drive up to the store to pick them up. Since I've gone green, that won't do!!

vja4Him

AndyManc wrote:

Cunobelin wrote:

May seem silly, but "bulk shopping" is a modern phenomenon.

You don't "need" to get it all in one go. I find that a few items from the grocer, the butcher or the local supermarket is doable with an ordinary pair of panniers on the way home....

Small and frequent!

Doesn't seem silly at all.

You're correct, the car + supermarket has destroyed many of our friendly local shops.

I shopped once a week but now I'm reliant on my bike only, I shop 3 or 4 times a week, either on the way home from work or locally.

I'd like to see all supermarkets be forced to charge a fee to customers to use their car parks which in turn should help promote the revival of local shopping which will promote community cohesion.

Just a theory I have :roll:

Yeah, would be nice if the local markets could lower their prices, and I'd shop there more. But when I have a choice of paying $6.00 for one gallon milk, or riding my bicycle 1.5 miles and paying only $2.15, I'll do the pedal work to save .... I buy a 5 pound block of cheese for only $16.00, as opposed to $4.00-5.00 a pound, depending on the store.

None of thte small markets have low-sodium bread, so I have to pedal to the larger grocery stores to get that speciality item. And none of the local stores have non-fat milk! Wonder why .... ???

English-rider

vja4Him wrote:

Does anyone have their groceries delivered to your home? What does it cost for the delivery?

You can't get food for a family into the panniers that's for sure! I use online grocery deliveries in Kent (near Tonbridge, UK) - have tried a few of them and all much the same. Probably favour Tesco over Ocado and Sainsburys. The only thing to watch for is the delivery costs. They vary from free (not many) to £10 and more on Bank Holidays. My biggest issue is that they can vary during the same day - which seems a bit of a con. I use http://www.onlinegrocerystore.co.uk/onl ... veries.htm to see who is offering the cheapest delivery prices.

Mind you - still cheaper to get it delivered than own a car.

Sleeptech

For the shoppaholics among you....
http://www.xtracycle.com

Love the idea but quite steep - Think i'd prefer something like this to towing a trailer behind me.