cooker

How do you handle the groceries in that case - do you just carry them in bags, or with a backpack, or have some kind of cart?

Ty0604

I bring a backpack and several reusable bags. I've used my suitcase a few times. Works great. Portland has banned plastic bags and all they have are cheap paper bags which rip easily.

cooker

How about something like this?
https://www.google.ca/search?q=bundl...Hf13B9gQsAQIGg

Ty0604

Pretty much the same as my suitcase. I don't like clutter so I'm okay using my suitcase for traveling and groceries instead of having two similar items for separate jobs.

Rowan

A progress report on the project, probably better described by pictures:

The first picture shows the bike at a rideable stage. There are a few detail things to be done, including braze-ons for cables to the rear derailleur and brake, and for the trailer hitch. The only new parts on the bike are in the two Topeak racks, but even they have been "stolen" from other bikes in our collection, so with all the parts including the tyres and wheels coming from my bits-and-pieces bins, the direct out-of-pocket expenses have been nil.

The second picture is of the strut I made from an old steel MTB handlebar. The brazing is not particularly good, and seeing I haven't done any of that for around 20 years, I am happy so far. I am not sure the seat stays will actually handle the load, but if they don't, I have another couple of similar frames that can be built up and a full-length strut to the BB installed.

And the third is of the bike being ridden. Surprisingly, at least to me, the bike handles really well, particularly at low speed. The picture was taken from a video that Machka took, and I was doing tight figure-of-eight manouevres in the car-space area.

I have some things to do with the gearing -- I am using a cheap rear derailleur, and with the slack in the long cabling as it has been set-up, shifting is a bit hit and miss. I may need to braze on a rear derailleur hanger so I can get proper line-up compared with the cheap drop-out hanger set-up.

I also need a new front derailleur, because the one on there now is really a bottom-pull one, and the original bike was set up for top pull.

Once everything is properly set-up, I will test it with a load or two, then if it's successful, strip it and paint it.

1989Pre 

Nice choice of cycling shoes, Rowan. Very practical.

wphamilton

That's pretty awesome. Is there much bouncing - it looks like there'd be a lot of leverage normal to the seat stay so I wonder if you've considered completing the triangle, the blue or purple:

I-Like-To-Bike

I agree; comfortable, light weight, good ventilation! Same kind as I wear for the 4 or 5 months when the temperature can be counted on to remain above 60°F. while riding. When I was commuting to work, I would keep work shoes at the work site; now sandals 24/7 for those warm 4 or 5 month/year.

CliffordK

The closest grocery store is about 4 miles from home (also a good post office there).

However, the grocery store I most frequently go to is about 7 miles from home in the opposite direction (better selection, cheaper prices), and I can do most of my shopping within 10 to 15 miles from home.

Rollfast

Far enough.

Rowan

I have considered the downward strut, but won't be installing it at this stage. I want to experiment with it and as I said, if the seatstays aren't up to it under heavy load, I have another couple of frames to play with. One of the reasons I haven't gone to the BB with a strut is that it gets somewhat tight/messy down there because the front derailleur cage is already only a matter of millimetres above the right seat stay.

There wasn't any bounce that was obvious. I think the long wheelbase helps dampen out the gutter crossings.

fietsbob

Big Box or the Pricy Organic laden Co op?

Kroger owned Chain is across a Bridge , Albertson's owned chain is at the east end of town ..

Places where they can both have Really Big Parking lots and their own Petrol stations..

wphamilton

Optically, the top strut would be more effective anyway.

52telecaster

Igoabout a half mile to a locally owned grocery and about 3 miles to an aldi.

Diesel_NY

? doesnt everyone go to a deli

blue192

For me Metro is about a 5 min walk, Loblaws about one km. But since I want to bike I go to another Metro location about 5km away, just because.

steve0257

HyVee just over a mile and a Kwik Trip two blocks. Living by myself I don't buy that much at a time so a bike with baskets works fine.

exdraghunt

It's about two blocks to the nearest grocery store. But that store is a PCC (health-food, all organic, free-trade, ect.) While very convenient, it's also way too expensive for daily shopping.

Any other grocery stores are at least a mile away, some up very large or steep hills. The Fred Meyer I visit isn't the closest, but it's right on a major bike trail so no hills to climb between me and the store.

IceFox

Two kilometar to supermarket, and 100 meters to small store

badmother

Is this bike still on the road? I was thinking when reading about strut lenght to decide BB height that when I have made bikes like this I found that gearing/chainline is the real problem so BB height ended up where it had to be to get a proper chainline.

If this bike is mainly for shopping you may want to do what I ended up doing- using a IGH instead of the regular der setup. maybe also you could set it up with a single chainring up front.

I ended up deciding that with a DIY longtailbike a 3 by something gearing was not worth the hassle.

We rode Dogbike2 for several years and hauled a lot of groceries too:

https://flic.kr/p/FZXjGA

Rowan

The bike is still in progress as far as the build is concerned. I have been distracted by randonnees

The strut length was crucial to getting both BB height and chainline. On the test rides, things seem to have worked out quite well from both points of view. The triple is quite important to me, simply because of the terrain where I live; it's hilly.

I still have a few things left to do such as brazing a trailer hitch point on to a chainstay, and fitting a decent front derailleur. After that, it will all be stripped down and painted... a winter-time project here.

CliffordK

It looks like a fun cargo bike build.

I built my own a couple of years ago. It ended up as quite a beast, but heavy. It turns out, I prefer towing a trailer to riding the cargo bike. So, the beast only comes out when I need to tow the HEAVY trailer.

I opted to design a direct pull behind hitch.

However, the Bike Friday uses a piece of air hose and coupler for the hitch. Male end brazed on the bike (nut and coupler), female on the trailer. It works well.

==========

As far as distance to the grocery store. As an update. The close one (5 miles) is closed for new management/renovation. So, it is back too 8 to 10 miles each way to the closest grocery store. I generally like the further store better anyway, but I suppose I should go to the local one more once it re-opens. Don't want too lose it. Hopefully it will be better and cheaper.

Robert C

In the town where I work, there is a Kroger about 2 miles away from my apartment.

KD5NRH

HEB, Big Lots and Dollar General, 1 mile
WalMart, 2 miles

Bigger location draw of HEB is that it's nearly all a gentle downhill coming home, and all residential streets and university sidewalks except for crossing one moderate feeder and a busy 4-lane, whereas WalMart involves a moderate climb each way and riding at least a quarter mile on a 4 or 5 lane.

cooker

Do you have lights at the crossings?