brianinc-ville

By "fixed," you mean "rigid" or "non-suspension" frame, not "fixed-gear," right? In that case, it's yes to fenders and rear rack, no to chainguard. Unless you have the bike set up with a single chainring in front, in which case you can have a hockey-stick chainguard. For a chainguard that totally encloses the chain (like the Hebie Chainglider above), you'll need either a single-speed or an internally-geared hub.

sayn3ver

sorry yes, that is correct.
a rigid mountain bike frame.

I suppose that makes sense with the chain guard, I suppose I wasn't thinking.

3alarmer 

...I used this for a long time.


Much modified Raleigh Sports.


But lately, I find myself using something like this more. It allows for a slightly quicker ride, so I can take it out along the bike trail, do some distance, and still stop on the way home to collect some few items we've run low on, buy a fresh loaf of bread, etc.





The only drawback is if you are worried about theft while you're inside the store, as problematic in your area. I carry a couple of U-locks, which kind of slows me down on the longer ride. But your initial surmise is correct, almost any bicycle can be adapted toward errands and grocery shopping.

ever1ast15

Hi. I use my e-bike with a Burley Travoy trailer tagging along behind to get groceries. Works great for 3-4 bags of stuff.

milliebarnes

I highly recommend a City Bike. I just bought a Bianchi Venezia Dama and it rides like a dream and yet is quite a workhorse. I have Wahl collapsible baskets on the back rack and it is perfect for grovbery shopping. Many people add a front basket but I am very small and hate the way it feels. I have recently sold my car and am not getting another one so this is working out really well.

mirfi

I fold up the pedals when I walk through the store. The rear basket can hold an 18 pack of eggs, the front a gallon of milk in a cooler bag.


My 'Shopper'

jaxy357

Cool Bike Forums sticker!

sunburst

Here’s my mule.

Duragrouch

Right there buddy, exactly. My 20" Dahon with front and rear panniers is my (daily? can't think of the right word... EDIT: Townie). Can hold 4 bags worth in the panniers, 1 hung off the center aero bar, and 2 slung off the handlebar ends if necessary, usually not. Lower center of gravity than taller bike. Double crank for low gears with a heavy load. Never left outside with bike theft, always wheel through store. Trailer would be too wide for that.

plumberroy

Since I live in an area with several colleges, 2 major. Bikes aren't as cheap as other areas. A rigid mountain bike with more road friendly tires is a good start . Just be aware that you can get as much as a decent new bike in one when you start modifying it. I remodeled a 95 Univega mountain bike last year into a cruise around bike . To take when we go day trips etc. I ended up having $500 in it. . A set of panniers and it would work for your needs.

Duragrouch

Nearly any bike can be equipped with racks. However, if shorter wheelbase (road racer, folder, etc.), heel clearance for rear panniers is critical. For my Dahon 20" wheel folder, I had to search for a rack that holds the panniers aft of the rear axle centerline, and that was 2015. Now, rear racks seem to have fallen out of favor, so selection is even less, my rack is no longer made. Notably, some rear rack designs come with separate lower sections, allowing the rack to be centered over the rear axle, or lowers that curve forward, putting the rack further aft. Mine is so far back and the rear rack stay braze-ons so low, that I needed extra-super-long rack stays, only a couple companies make them to sell separate. But there are no stability issues at all, with the panniers behind the rear axle, even heavily loaded.

flangehead

That’s what I use:


Pulling a flatbed kiddie trailer for large loads.


I use wire baskets for routine loads.

axelwik

I use a BoB Yak one-wheel trailer for groceries and some errands. If it's hilly and a heavy load it goes behind my e-bike; if not, then a regular bike.

Duragrouch

I towed an original B.O.B. behind a long wheelbase recumbent on a tour on mostly flat land. It was mostly stable, but on high speed descents, I had to keep a firm hand on the steering and make very gentle corrections, as large steering inputs could cause a dangerous sway. I believe this is because the pivot point on a B.O.B. is behind the rear wheel, in the same way that auto trailers will induce sway, whereas a fifth wheel trailer (pivot at towing vehicle axle center), does not sway. Same for bike trailers with a hitch near the rear axle center. Also, the load on a B.O.B. is all well forward of the trailer tire, so that weight is oscillating counter direction to bike steering. When I got back from the tour, I tried out the B.O.B. with same payload hooked up to my Cannondale racer, which had the stiffest frame Bicycling magazine had ever tested, and it was even worse, even at low speeds it felt unstable, might have been due to the much shorter wheelbase, but also perhaps because a conventional bike I can rock from side to side when I accelerate from a start, whereas on the LWB 'bent, that never happens, the bike is always "flat", no rocking. I have to think that most people's experiences are better, as the trailers sold fine. I haven't used my B.O.B. since that couple-week tour many years ago. Also because a bike so equipped is impossible to negotiate stairs, and ridiculously so when towed by a LWB recumbent. Would be different if I had a garage to just roll the whole rig into. Even an elevator would not solve that problem. I'm strictly a panniers guy now.

axelwik

I'm towing it behind a heavy bike so haven't had any problems, but I can feel it pushing the rear around a bit when hauling more than about 50 pounds. Here in Albuquerque there are a lot of bollards guarding the bike trails and bridges, so good to be narrow. Low and light is the key I think - and put the heavy stuff in the back near the rear of the trailer.

Duragrouch

Yes, exactly right, rear loading better, lowers the polar moment of inertia.

1989Pre 

I have the Massload racks (front and rear in summer, with my rigid front fork) and Lynx bags. The Lynx are inexpensive, but require backpack covers to be used in the rain. The m80 is good at everything it does, touring, shopping, trails, road and utility.


One right pannier bag hook not in place on rack.

Bikerdrummer

I’m car free. This is how I grocery shop. Each pannier fits a full size grocery bag, I have a bag or basket for the top of rack, and backpack if needed.

1989Pre 

If I'm not getting a lot of stuff at the stores, and the temperature is over 40F, I take the Rudge. If O.P. has not got long distances to go, then he owes it to himself to get a British 3-speed. The ride.., and the total experience is different from any other kind of bike.

Aubergine 

My vélotaf was an old Carbolite Peugeot. Like just about everyone here recommends, it is an inexpensive steel bike that I could bang around. But as frequently happens it was so much fun to ride I wound up improving it . . . The end result was a bit over the top but I really enjoyed shopping with it. I finally denuded the frame (so I could save the good bits) and passed the frame on to Bike Works. I still loved the bike but ran out of storage space.