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Bringin' home the groceries

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Utility Cycling Want to haul groceries, beer, maybe even your kids? You don't have to live car free to put your bike to use as a workhorse. Here's the place to share and learn about the bicycle as a utility vehicle.

Bringin' home the groceries

Old 05-10-17, 12:05 PM
  #76  
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If I had an excuse to own a cargo bike, I would have one. They're becoming popular in my neighborhood. Some people bring their kids to school on long bikes and bakfietsen and on bikes with a banana seat added for a small passenger.

After moving back to the city in 2013, I made some grocery trips on bike, but it was too much trouble. Manhattan is so dense that shopping by foot turns out to be the most convenient way. Most of us here tend to buy as much as we can carry and go as frequently as we need to. I've learned to enjoy carrying cargo by hand. The nicest part for me is that I'm not using a car. I sold my car after moving back in. My wife drives her car frequently and kept it.
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Old 05-10-17, 02:00 PM
  #77  
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Originally Posted by PatrickGSR94
@kickstart what handlebars are those? Looks like they have more rise than my FSA Metropolis bars on my utility bike, which might suit me better.
They're the largest size of Soma Swallow bars. Basically a slightly wider and long grip version of traditional Northroad bars.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Last edited by kickstart; 05-10-17 at 09:00 PM.
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Old 05-11-17, 07:25 AM
  #78  
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Originally Posted by kickstart
They're the largest size of Soma Swallow bars. Basically a slightly wider and long grip version of traditional Northroad bars.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Well darn, those look nice but I don't care for the smaller clamp area diameter. All my bikes are running 31.8 stems currently.
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Old 05-17-17, 01:16 PM
  #79  
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Originally Posted by Carson Dyle
I'd like to start making grocery runs larger than what I can fit in my backpack. Not sure where to begin. I'm figuring on a pretty standard rear rack, or do I need more of a heavy-duty touring rack?

After that, though, what to use as carriers? I see grocery panniers, collapsible baskets, some other solutions. I worry a little about having bags stolen while I'm in the grocery store. Do you take them inside? Looking for some ideas.
The reason I didn't want baskets is that they aren't meant to be removed easily. So I use a Tout Terrain Mule trailer. It can hold up to 90 lbs. and is fully suspended. When it holds 4 full bags of groceries I can hardly tell it there. The nice thing is you don't have to reconfigure your bike from however it is set up to make a run.
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Old 06-07-17, 01:13 PM
  #80  
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Originally Posted by martin_at_gbc
I use the Maya Cycle trailer. Fits the groceries and I can take the trailer and bag inside when necessary
This trailer is fantastic! Thanks for the pictures! I really want to do more grocery runs on the bike, and this would allow for Costco runs!
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Old 06-09-17, 12:20 PM
  #81  
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I've often taken my panniers into the grocery, and just clipped the hangers to the side of the grocery cart, then I fill the bags as I shop. I then take this arrangement to the register and take the items out to be rung up... and pack them back in as they are accounted for.

When I am done, I am sure I have not bought too many goods to fit the bags and at the same time I know the bags are safe.

This was sometimes looked upon as odd, some 20 years+ ago, but these days with folks bringing in recycled grocery bags, this is no big deal.
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Old 08-19-17, 07:54 AM
  #82  
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Originally Posted by Arcanum
I use Banjo Brothers Market Panniers. They're big and well built.
Those are similar to an older set of Trek grocery panniers I use, I put heavy bottles of water or milk in the Chariot trailer trunk and use the panniers for lighter groceries.
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Old 08-21-17, 03:45 PM
  #83  
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Old 11-22-20, 12:33 PM
  #84  
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LongKayak, how is the market bag better than the storage bag, in your opinion? And is the storage bag the same as the 'tote'? I recently bought a Travoy (2020 version) and it seems the 'storage bag' from the original model is now a separate 'tote bag' sold for about $49. The storage bag that came with my Travoy doesn't have any built in clips or any way to attach to the trailer frame.

I realize this is an old thread (maybe I need to start a new one?), any replies would be appreciated!
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Old 11-22-20, 12:41 PM
  #85  
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The Andersen Royal Shopper Plus looks great! Doesn't look like it's available in the US though, alas. Burley Travoy looks to be similar concept. There are so many cool cycling products in other countries (particularly Europe).
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Old 11-22-20, 12:45 PM
  #86  
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Big, rugged basket/carrier on the front, plus panniers front and rear. A trailer to keep all your groceries in a single bag. Or a cargo bike. Or a cargo bike and trailer. Or a three wheeled big-boxed cargo bike
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Old 11-22-20, 12:53 PM
  #87  
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Front carrier A, Atran Velo Extra Large

Front Carrier B, Atran Velo Retro "Retro Epic"
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Old 11-22-20, 12:58 PM
  #88  
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FWIW here in Portland, OR, a trailer attached to one's bike outside the grocery store would be at risk of being stolen. That's a key reason I bought a Travoy, as it's easy to detach and take into the store to shop. We have a large homeless population, and many of them use anything with wheels to haul stuff (trailers, baby strollers, shopping carts). Same goes for anything on a bike that's easily removeable. I've had to replace two different tail lights that I'd forgotten to take into the store with me and were gone when I came out.

Another reason I got the Travoy is to be able to haul cases of mineral water or wine, as well as large bags of dog food. Seemed silly to pop into the car and drive less than a mile to pick up those things. That was my rationale/excuse anyway! And with my REI member dividend it was almost 'free' :-)
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Old 11-22-20, 01:07 PM
  #89  
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Surly has an impressive trailer - their "Bill" trailer:






https://surlybikes.com/parts/cargo#trailer

Perhaps a bit big to bring into a shop, though.
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Old 11-23-20, 03:03 PM
  #90  
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Originally Posted by lwylie
LongKayak, how is the market bag better than the storage bag, in your opinion? And is the storage bag the same as the 'tote'? I recently bought a Travoy (2020 version) and it seems the 'storage bag' from the original model is now a separate 'tote bag' sold for about $49. The storage bag that came with my Travoy doesn't have any built in clips or any way to attach to the trailer frame.

I realize this is an old thread (maybe I need to start a new one?), any replies would be appreciated!
Wow! This really is an old thread!
The market bag is better formed and slightly smaller. On the older travoy, when using the tote bag it would rub against the wheels; the market bag did not. I suspect the newer versions with the wheel guards, this problem no longer exists.
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Old 11-24-20, 02:53 AM
  #91  
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Originally Posted by CargoDane
Surly has an impressive trailer - their "Bill" trailer:






https://surlybikes.com/parts/cargo#trailer

Perhaps a bit big to bring into a shop, though.
With an equally impressive price tag. LOL

Cheers
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Old 11-30-20, 03:46 PM
  #92  
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Originally Posted by lwylie
FWIW here in Portland, OR, a trailer attached to one's bike outside the grocery store would be at risk of being stolen.
Well, of course it would! That's why I lock my Bob Yak AND the bike that pulls it to the locking stanchion with the same U-Lock. If I can't arrange the attached trailer so that I can use the same lock on the same pole, I detach the trailer and bring it next to the bike so that that can be accomplished. 10 years doing it this way, 5 of them in Hillsboro, the more recent five, right Downtown near the Lloyd District. A Travoy isn't a bad product but it is awfully un-aerodynamic. Today with 20mph headwind would have been no fun, I think. But good on you for finding a solution that still involves using the bike.
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Old 12-01-20, 01:37 AM
  #93  
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Leisesturm, maybe we'll cross paths in Portland, as I live in NE myself :-) I'll keep a lookout for a bike with a BoB Yak locked up outside. Bob Yaks are cool (seen them often when touring), but don't have room for one in my living room next to my bike. One of these days I'll get around to making a bike shed. The Travoy takes up a lot less room. And aerodynamics aren't my primary concern when biking around town doing errands.

Another appeal of the Travoy is it can function as part of my Bike Friday "travel system".... small enough to take when I travel by plane (in theory anyway, haven't tried it yet). About once a year I fly out of state to attend to my rental property. It's in a city where going places by car is really a hassle. As is shlepping stuff by public transportation. Yet while there I often need to get and transport bulky home improvement supplies. On my last trip I found myself thinking "gee, if only I had my bike and a trailer!". So that was another motivation (excuse) to get the Travoy. Now I'm eager to take it and my Bike Friday on my next out of town trip.
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Old 12-03-20, 07:53 PM
  #94  
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The rack that came with my bicycle is fairly low quality. An aluminum thing that uses twisted-plate supports. Good enough for shopping, though. I keep my Wald pannier baskets, as well as a third basket, permanently attached to it and just remove the whole thing when I want to use the bicycle for something else. It's only four bolts to undo. I also have a couple of wire baskets on the front/rear racks of another bicycle, which has a lower capacity over-all, but are necessary for various tasks that the Wald pannier baskets aren't suitable for, such as plates of takeout food.

As for how I shop with them, I just simply put my groceries directly into the baskets. I keep regular re-useable shopping bags folded up until after checkout. Also have one insulated bag for stuff that needs to be kept cold. After checkout, I find a place in the store where I can organize/balance my load. After it's all packed, I wheel out the door, get on and ride home. BTW, a bicycle is much easier to steer while shopping than a shopping cart is.

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