noglider 

Towing a trailer is amazingly easy. Often, I don't feel it at all. This is what I used when I lived in the suburbs. Easy to ride and easy to load and unload. They sell for a lot when new but much less when used. Suburban drivers seemed to think I had a little kid in it, so they drove around me carefully. I've towed well over 100 lbs without much trouble.

Artkansas 

I use a pair of SunLite Grocery Getter panniers on a Jandd rack. Each one holds a regular grocery bag. They're big enough for me.

noglider 

One thing that might help is a change of mindset, if you're currently shopping by car. You may not be able to carry as much on the bike as you can in a car, but if you're close enough to ride, it might be justified to make more frequent trips to the store. We moved (back) to NYC two years ago, and it took a while to get used to. Generally, people buy two bags of groceries. Often, we carry them home on foot.

cvskates

Issues: It will change your life. I can't say enough good things about this trailer. Even my wife, who originally balked at the price got on board.

Tows like a dream, far better than my Bob Yak (although they're not really designed to do the same thing), corners great (but I don't race when I'm getting groceries ).

One of the places we get groceries is only 2 blocks away, so I find i walk with it as much as I ride my bike with it.

Upper Bag: Burley Travoy Upper Market Trailer Bag - REI.com
Lower Bag: Burley Travoy Lower Market Trailer Bag - REI.com

Leisesturm

That was kind of uncalled for. You did ask. Don't knock anyone's truth until you have tried it. Trailers rock (and roll)!

Carson Dyle

Sorry if you were offended. I appreciate the ideas, including the ideas of using a trailer. The more the merrier, but I have no need or desire to ever use a trailer.

wahoonc

Look on Amazon...

If you have a good LBS (Local Bike Shop) they should be able to order them for you. FWIW Burley doesn't discount stuff. There are 4 different bags available. Large Shopping, Small Shopping, Upper Transit, Lower Transit. My trailer came with a bag, I believe it is the Large Shopping bag. It is used to store the trailer in when it is collapsed.

Aaron

LongKayak

The storage bag can be used, but IMO the actual lower market bag is superior for that purpose.

PatrickGSR94

I wanted to get groceries by bike. I knew that a week's worth of groceries without an actual cargo bike was out of the question, so I rigged up a box and platform on our InStep child trailer. It works awesome. A grocery trip is 8 miles round trip for me, and I do it without much trouble. Only thing is that I have to block out 2 full hours on a weekend day to be able to grocery shop by bike, which can be a hassle if we have a particularly busy weekend.

I typically ride to Aldi, get some stuff, then go across the street to Walmart and get some more stuff, then go home.

wahoonc

Good job!

I'm jealous... my closest Aldi's is close to 14 miles away. I bet you could increase your capacity a bit by going to two slightly smaller containers mounted sideways.

Aaron

canklecat

I'd considered some Wald folding baskets but wanted to make it as easy as possible to remove excess weight since I have only one bike and didn't want to tote empty baskets for exercise and pleasure rides.

For now I'm using what I already had around - a rolling insulated bag that bungees easily to the rear rack. That usually holds a week's worth, or three typical plastic or paper sacks. So far, so good, after three or four weekly trips the past month. The metal rack that supports the rolling bag and telescoping handle fit almost perfectly across the Blackburn rack. The only improvement I need is some new bungee cords - the old cords had already lost their snap and are badly frayed already.

Occasionally I need just a bit more and strap a smaller insulated bag over the handlebar. It works but it's awkward and slow. So I'm considering a quick release Wald front basket since the QR and basket both attach and detach easily. Good enough to hold a smallish insulated bag with some ice cream, yoghurt, etc.

PatrickGSR94

haha, already tried it last year and the aero drag was tremendous in comparison. Felt like I had a full load even when the boxes were empty. The box I use now is taller but narrower.

noglider 

I went shopping at work and put the groceries in my backpack. I took the subway to my evening rehearsal. Then I rode Citi Bike (NYC's bike share) home, 4.4 miles. I had at least 20 pounds of groceries. I managed, but it was not pleasant. I should have put some of them in the bike's basket. I didn't think of it at the time.

wahoonc

Interesting... I guess my travel speeds aren't fast enough for me to notice the aerodynamic inefficiencies.

Aaron

PatrickGSR94

Neither are mine - grocery trips average 9-10 MPH for a little over 8 miles. But I could still feel the difference. And any day where I was heading into the wind with the double box setup, it was way worse.

It wasn't just the aero drag, it was also the additional weight. Single box just works better in a longitudinal position, if you get a box that's large enough for your needs.

On the weeks we get toilet paper I always end up tie-strapping it down on top of the box lid. Looks pretty funny rolling with TP strapped on top.

Doug64

Why?

I use panniers 80% of the time for groceries, but there are 4 panniers, my wife's and mine.


Trailers are good for a lot of things

wahoonc

Makes sense

My speeds are probably 6-7mph average. I have quite a few rolling hills to contend with, and I typically ride an upright IGH. Yeah the TP on the rack gets them every time. Especially when you walk out with it and walk up to the bike. I have had an audience more than once watching me load all my groceries up on the bike.

Aaron

Harhir

I used trailers when I still lived in Germany. Here is the US I use my Ortliebs Backrollers. Bought them in 93 and they are still holding up. The nice thing is that you can swap them between bikes which have a rack. But I also have a 80s Gazelle which I equipped with the Wald baskets. But I was not aware how small they are compared to the Ortlieb. Plus the Ortlieb provide protection against the rain.
I have been thinking about a trailer but I don't know yet what model. I like the Burley Travoy but with bags this trailer is really pricey. Much more than I want to spend.
My mom in Germany has one of these.
Amazon.com : Veelar Bicycle Cargo Trailer & Hand Wagon Shopping/Utility Trailer 70 Liter Capacity-20315 : Cargo Carrier Bike Trailers : Sports & Outdoors
The fun part is, that you can unhook it and use it as a shopping cart. I even still have the ball hitch on my bike from the time when i still lived there.
But any other trailer with removable baskets might do as well. But I am not sure yet really need one.

Barchettaman

This is on a fairly racy CX bike, and a superlightweight Tubus Flay rack. Those things are surprisingly tough!

noglider 

@Harhir, trailers are expensive when new but are often quite inexpensive on the used market. I've bought a few at rummage sales and on craigslist. Check out google alerts if you don't know about them. You can set up search terms such as "bike trailer site:newyork.craigslist.org" and then learn when there is a new listing. This is how I got my current two trailers. I paid $60 and $90 for them respectively. If I had waited, I could have paid less. Both of them are kiddie trailers. I've removed the backs and sides so they are flatbeds now. One is steel and has 16" wheels. It collapses very small. The other is aluminum and has 20" wheels.

Harhir

Yes I thought about that too. One can find cheap kids trailers and convert them. We have had one years ago which we gave away to friends. But it was a Burley D'light and I thought this trailer was too good to rip it apart while my friends could use it for their little daughter.
But I am checking Craigslist occasionally. Right now my panniers work great for most of the shopping I am doing by bike.

tramptrade 

I use my home-brew panniers for light grocery shops or my trailer for bigger loads.

Fstop

I use an Axiom Journey rack (~$40 and rated for 150 pounds) with a pannier for smaller grocery loads, and a trailer for larger loads. I leave the pannier on my utility bike 100% of the time, just in case I want to pick something up as I'm out and about.

If you're into DIYing, I absolutely love my bucket pannier - converted from a kitty litter bucket via a kit sold by the city of Portland (https://www.portlandoregon.gov/trans...article/181468). It holds a bunch (gallon of milk + more, whole heaps of papers, etc.), is super sturdy, has a solid lid (so light things don't go blowing away), and it's waterproof. Here's my utility bike with rack and bucket pannier:


@Harhir: Here's a walkthrough of how I converted a kids bike trailer into a cargo trailer (How to convert a child bike trailer into a cargo trailer: an illustrated guide | Marc Perkins Photography still using that same trailer two years later, and I just hauled 90 pounds of groceries home in it a few days ago:


Chalk me up as being in the @noglider camp on trailers; I was worried how it would feel riding with one initially, but after just a single trip I completely fell in love with it. It's opened possibilities for far more utility cycling than I could do otherwise.

Lovespicyfood

WOW, those are nice! I was thinking collapsible baskets on my rear rack but these are tempting and not terribly expensive...

DMC707

i got mine for 30 bucks from Craigslist - the fabric is in shabby shape, but i had been planning on making a plywood deck for it like some of you gents have done
Why am i not posting pics? I still havent started using it yet sadly. I live in an area where the suburbs start to end and the small acreages/hobby farms begin and the roads are not very bike friendly during commuting hours