LifeNovice1

Going to down to one car in my household. I won't be commuting to work at all. Just need a bike to go to the store and random appointments around town. Before I she'll out $180 for panniers, is there an easier cheaper way?. My bike has a rear rack but maybe I can just get some kind of baskets? Panniers look better for sure but if I could find baskets that are easy to take off that might be a solution.

Most I'd need to carry would be groceries for a family of three of 5-7 days

pdlamb

This question might be answered better if it were posted in Living Car Free, even though you're only talking about car light.

If you're grocery shopping once a week, I'd suggest driving the one car one day a week.

You could try baskets, but even the pannier style baskets only carry about one (20 pound) standard paper grocery bag each.

If I were doing grocery shopping for three people, I'd take a pair of my biggest panniers shopping every 2-3 days. The lid on the panniers keeps things from popping out over the rough roads in my city. And the waterproof panniers means things in paper and cardboard containers don't get soggy on the way home on rainy days.

tyrion

You don't need fancy panniers for grocery runs. These $30 ones will work:

https://www.amazon.com/BV-Panniers-A...d=3403421&th=1

Keep some plastic trash bags in the side pockets in case you get caught in the rain.

You can carry a load much more comfortably in panniers than in a basket on top of the rack.

Calsun

There are very expensive panniers but also very inexpensive ones available. My first set was a pair of U.S. Army surplus shoulder bags that I adapted to clip onto a rear bike rack. At the time there were no panniers available in the USA and eventually I bought a pair from a store in the UK.

Most of the panniers being sold are large enough to hold a "standard" grocery bag which makes it convenient to go from store to bike to home. Good selection on Amazon along with customer reviews.

flangehead

I buy for 3 and make 2-3 grocery runs per week with 2
Basil Bottle Baskets:




Of course, we’re chow hounds.

For bigger loads I use a trailer.

BobbyG

I think a trailer would work best for large grocery runs. Just google "Bikeforums.net groceries trailer"

And you could still add panniers or baskets (Wald folding baskets) for more carrying capacity. (Don't forget about front panniers too.)

kingston 

Kitty litter pannier

ratell

There's also Wald folding baskets
https://waldsports.com/store/rear-ba...olding-basket/

adamrice 

I have used crap grocery panniers (from Nashbar) and expensive grocery panniers (from Jandd). The crap ones, well, crapped out pretty quickly due to cheap construction. In both cases, they were designed to fit exactly one brown paper grocery bag. But if you aren't packing your groceries that way, you don't need to use a grocery pannier and regular Ortliebs or something might be a better choice. Or just a big backpack, depending on how far you're going.

I'm not inclined to use wire baskets, but I've never tried them, so what do I know? My understanding is that they don't hook on, they bolt on, and for the way I use my commuter, I wouldn't want them rattling around the rest of the time.

flangehead

Basil Bottle basket just hangs on rack. You do get metal to metal wear if used a lot. I put sacrificial plastic on the wear points on my rack.

Riveting

And here's a Topeak trunk bag that I've had for the past 7 yrs. that I use for commuting, that has fold out panniers. Though it's probably not great for a "large" 5-7 day grocery shopping, but it does attach/detach from it's proprietary rack (sold separately) in seconds, which could help you to easily and quickly carry the groceries inside.

ClydeClydeson

Baskets are super convenient IMO. My wife's favourite bike has a giant Wald newspaper delivery basket and this can carry my two largest panniers as well as another ten pounds of loose stuff. Baskets that attach to the sides of a rear rack like panniers are also very practical, esp. the folding type.

The disadvantage is that they are generally not easily removed, so your bike is immediately a few kg heavier. Panniers are generally quick mount/release and so you only have the added weight of the rack (>1kg) that stays on the bike.

If you have only one bike and use it for running errands and for recreational riding, then panniers are a better option. If you are planning on having a bike dedicated to carrying groceries and whatnot, and keeping a separate unladen 'recreational' bike then baskets are great.

Sempervee

Here ya go. Locking and Secure. Easily removed with key. I also have a set of Panniers coming from Amazon for an amazing price around $30.

randomgear

I'm a big fan of the Arkel Shopper panniers. I've had a pair for 11 years, each is big enough to hold about one full supermarket hand basket and have a expandable draw-string top that allows it to be filled above the brim with no risk of things falling out when riding home. The cam-lock hooks are extremely solid, even holding when only one is hooked on - I've ridden for a mile or so with a pannier on one hook swaying in the back before I realized it, the heavier the load the harder the cams grip. They are rather spendy, but I've found them well worth it. You may need to get a better rear rack as the rear can rub on the tires if the rack isn't made for larger panniers, and if you have shortish chainstays, you may clip the pannier with your heels, fortunately the cam-locks have adjustable mountings.
https://www.arkel-od.com/shopper-foldable/