Do you have some tips on getting groceries on a bike? Please share them here so others can learn.

@poetic4

Жыл бұрын

Huge hiking bag

@donntrotter

Жыл бұрын

I use a bakfiets but only because I shop for a whole family. I used to do every other day shopping with just my chrome messenger mini.

@inund8

Жыл бұрын

Arkel makes a pannier bag that is also 30 liter shopping bag. Super convenient. They also make the haul it pannier which I use to strap in my milk (I usually get a 4L jug). I've also used to haul packages or my bike tools.

@inund8

Жыл бұрын

OH I don't remember who makes it, but I have an elastic cargo net that lives on my rear rack. It's so convenient for carrying small things, or delicate things like bread.

@hungryhedgehog4201

Жыл бұрын

Got a cargo bike so I just put them in there.

One thing I have to say about this experiment is that the "one week of groceries" is very much a car-dependency issue. Since grocery stores are huge, far away and you tend to minimize the number of times you need to go to the store... Once cities transition to more walkable neighborhoods you usually buy what you need for the day in local grocery stores. And in those cases there's often no reason to have more than a backpack and perhaps a simple luggage rack.

@znail4675

11 ай бұрын

Yes, weekly grocery is a very US concept to avoid car trips. Shopping often isn't a big deal with a bike. But twice a week do work as well if you want to reduce trips as once a week is rather bad for fresh foods. I also found it a bit strange that the obvious backpack wasn't among the options for this video as that is what I use all the time. You can fit a lot of stuff in large backpack.

@sillymesilly

11 ай бұрын

@@znail4675what if a grocery store is 10 miles away?

@znail4675

11 ай бұрын

@@sillymesilly Well, living on the countryside is a choice that comes with some downsides. If you don't have time for that travel, then you should consider moving. By if you have time, then that distance isn't a problem, just get an e-bike. If the only road there is a highway, then I would suggest moving.

@questionableabsanity

11 ай бұрын

I'd be curious to see how the taxi, courier and haulage companies adopt cargo bikes to ship things within cities using rail hubs for intercity connections. i believe they are mostly designed around 150kg max loading which gives you an idea of how many riders you would need to replace a haulage truck, courier van or taxi within the "NO ICE" zones. I am also a little concerned about security of goods being transported by bike rather than in a lockable metal box vehicle. I'm sure these things will be solved though!

@haydenfleetwood3347

11 ай бұрын

I live in Bristol in the uk theres bike lanes and walking lanes, but I still only go to the supermarket for a week at a time lol

I gave up a car 6 years ago! I use a kids bike trailer for groceries shopping and I can fit a shopping cart and a half on to it!!! Don't have worry about stuff falling out!!! I love it!!!

@tconnolly9820

Жыл бұрын

Great! I use a large sized dog trailer for most of my shopping carrying plus I have an actual large cargo trailer and racks, bags and baskets for the bike.

@sinatrabone

Жыл бұрын

That’s actually a genius move. I bought a cargo specific trailer like Tom’s. But now that you mention this… who wouldn’t want a zip-up cover?

@craigiefconcert6493

Жыл бұрын

Yesterday I saw a guy with a little trailer hauling camping gear off of the ferry. Another girl had her camping gear in panniers and must have packed lightly.

@PedalsNPetals

7 ай бұрын

Saving the planet but hurting the economy..it's always a catch 22 😢

@evelyn_eagle

2 ай бұрын

I used a kid trailer too, until my grocery store that was accessible to a trailer closed. I have looked for "better" approaches, but there really is none. The volume is huge, nothing can fall out, is as arodynamic as a trailer can be. The seats, footwell, trunk areas, and occasionally seatbelts, give lots of ways to put stuff in so it can't shift around. The fabric cradles every thing nicely. I've never had any issues getting things in or out. And I have never crushed a loaf of bread or cracked an egg hauling my groceries in the kid trailer.

After shopping by bike, one learns to avoid products that contain a lot of water (you have that at home) and it's better to make multiple, smaller trips. And living closer to a grocery store is a huge privilege that few are afforded.

@buckroger6456

Жыл бұрын

Yup. Smaller trips are the key. I often just use one bag but some times I need to get a fee bulkier items and take my second bag for those runs.

@Skatted

Жыл бұрын

Daily trips to the shops for me in Australia 🦘

@cathiek8028

Жыл бұрын

My grocery store is 7 miles away round-trip and I ride it regularly. I don't think of it as very far but I'm not sure what other people would think.

@wildbikerbill6530

Жыл бұрын

@@cathiek8028 I live in the southeastern USA and have a 6.5 mile round-trip to the grocery store. Similarly, I don't think of it as being very far - maybe 15 minutes to the store, 20 if I'm being slow and/or hit a lot of traffic lights. The entire trip taking under an hour is pretty normal.

@Dobaspl

Жыл бұрын

​@@wildbikerbill6530 In Poland i have some like 5 grocery store around one mile. US have some disadvantages. :D

I like to mix paniers with a front basket for squishy things like bread. I also don't try to fit a weeks worth at a time, since I've got 3 people to feed, one or two days worth at a time works best. Going more often just means more biking!

@lakrids-pibe

Жыл бұрын

I think the most important thing about getting groceries on a bicycle is how easy and convenient it is to drop in and buy a few goceries multiple times a week, when you're passing the local grocery store anyway. It's not a big journey you have to plan out, and you're not forced to look for the shops with big parking lots.

@NickCombs

Жыл бұрын

My solution for bread was to simply buy flour instead. It's an adjustment at first, but a few years later I really don't miss the prebaked loaves. Especially now that I've learned they're considered ultra-processed due to conditioners and preservatives.

@mikebauer9948

Жыл бұрын

@@NickCombs Agreed. I've been baking 80+% of our bread products for the last 5-6 years. Better bread, better (less) ingredients, more flexibility. And no need to contend with squishy loaves on a bike, LOL.

@LoveToday8

Жыл бұрын

How do you feel about a trailer?

@wildbikerbill6530

Жыл бұрын

@@LoveToday8 The drawbacks of a trailer: 1. The extra width - you're unlikely to be able to ride up alongside cars at a traffic light. 2. The extra drag - aerodynamics, or its lack, is a thing! 3. The extra weight - that's a lot of extra weight just for moving groceries. 4. How does it affect the handling of the bike? 5. Do you really want it connected all the time? It better be easy to connect/disconnect. 6. The need for extra space to store the trailer.

The guy at 1:34 passing behind with a bicycle trailer was *chef's kiss*.

I personally love the baskets I use for picking up groceries, because I can take them into the store and they double as my shopping basket. I don’t have to bring or buy any bags then, just my basket and my cargo nets. I also don’t over buy then because I only buy as much as can fit in my baskets.

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

Baskets as a way of staying on budget. I could get behind this.

@geroutathat

8 ай бұрын

This is the best tip. Carry the basket in and use it as your shopping basket

@valerieloskota3094

8 ай бұрын

Can u recommend a rear basket with rack?

@jirehla-ab1671

7 ай бұрын

​@@Shifter_CyclingAre there 2 wheel bikes that have a balancer? And what would be the best alternative to cars in a hot city desert like dubai or riyadh?

@jirehla-ab1671

7 ай бұрын

​@@Shifter_Cyclingdo cargo bikes cargo part can also be closed with a big cover and be locked just like the back of the car?

Great video, I use a combination of rear rack with saddlebag panniers and a big front basket. A couple notes I'd add are I found myself shifting towards smaller, more frequent store trips. Every 2-3 days instead of every 1-2 weeks. A related use case is carry-out food. The lack of a secure, horizontal platform with enough area to accommodate typical restaurant take-away containers was a real inconvenience. Enough that having a relatively large and unwieldy basket permanently mounted on the front was worth it for me. Fun suggestion for a future video: best way to carry a couple large pizzas.

I'm always surprised at the amount my panniers can carry. Sometimes I'll look at my shopping trolley and cringe at the thought of trying to squeeze it all in, but it always seems to fit in the end!

@lipp1992

Жыл бұрын

For this reason exactly is why I take my panniers in the store and fill them in the cart so I know if I can take it or not haha.

I have big roll-top panniers and a fun trick I found is that they clip onto the rails of a shopping cart pretty well (on the inside) so you don't have to carry them around and after you buy you can just transfer the stuff directly into the bags as/and after you check-out. I also back the frame bag. A few times when I've been out with no other bags or panniers I've been able to get by.

@codylittlefield7885

Жыл бұрын

OMG I'm going to try this trick!

@Skatted

Жыл бұрын

A packable backpack in your frame bag for emergency shop runs is very handy!

@TorBoy9

Жыл бұрын

Clip your panniers onto the inside of the shopping cart? That's genius.

@andrewseward

Жыл бұрын

I do this too, and if the supermarket does scan-as-you-shop you can pack the panniers as you shop

@SeeNickView

Жыл бұрын

I have trolley bags I extend in my cart to separate groceries as I collect them throughout the store. When it comes to checking out, you already know where to put everything, plus you're using reusable bags. Your idea extends this concept to making things convenient to load on a bike, let alone setting up in a grocery cart. Love the ideas!!

Love the takeaway sentiment here about biking as a practical way of getting around and doing life things! I tend not to buy all that much at once so my panniers are more than up to the job for groceries. Additionally, I am a musician living in Washington, DC, one of the more bikeable cities in the US, and I get to most of my gigs by bike! I have a Burley Travoy trailer which can hold my entire keyboard rig (keyboard, stand, and amp), my bass amp (electric bass on my back), or even my upright bass. One great feature of the Travoy is that it has a universal seatpost clamp, so I use it on bikeshare bikes all the time; other times I haul it with my ebike. It also folds flat and I store it under my bed in my studio apartment. I find it to be a much more enjoyable way of getting to gigs than sitting in traffic like I used to back in Los Angeles!

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

I love seeing musicians carrying their gear on a bike. Thanks for sharing your strategy.

@mikebauer9948

Жыл бұрын

Arkel has an open top bag with support straps to hold vertical things in it. I remember them advertisting it with a guitar case sticking out of it.

My first groceries by bike were done by a couple of old 5kg rice bags pretending to be panniers + a backpack. Its astonishing how little you need to actually carry everything

@steemlenn8797

Жыл бұрын

Hah! Wish I could get 5kg bags of rice here. But it's only 1kg or 500g sizes. I mean, I still need 2 weeks for 1kg as a single, so not really a problem, but the 5kg would be cheaper.

@SpySappingMyKeyboard

Жыл бұрын

@@steemlenn8797 I got them from a wholeseller not a supermarket, so make of that what you will

@bobmirror7164

Жыл бұрын

Big bird seed bags and cat food bags work well with added straps. Two pillow cases, cardboard and straps also work. Smaller plastic trash cans and straps also work. Rapping everything in a tarp and of course straps also works.

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

@@bobmirror7164 Weight , speed and distance. You can carry anything on anything, but it helps to have the right tool. Many consider rapping as music.

@PRH123

Жыл бұрын

I've seen a few people who just use a couple small plastic trash cans as panniers.... in fact a UK company even started making them, with lids of course...

I learned that hauling groceries on a bike really doesn't have to be complicated. I just use a large backpack and a front basket, sometimes have to hang a small bag on a handle. I found out that riding with the haul is acutally much easier on my back than walking with it as the weight is much more spread out (plus it's faster) It's so easy I even do my zero waste groceries (bringing my containers back and forth) by bike!

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

Doing most things on a bike is less complicated than many people think. Thanks for sharing.

@SteffiReitsch

Жыл бұрын

Backpack? Naa man. A load on your back sucks. That's the worst option.

@Alina_Schmidt

Жыл бұрын

@@SteffiReitsch I use a bagpack if not all groceries fit the back basket. It’s less comfortable than just back basket, but it‘s still the easiest since I usually have it with me already.

@SteffiReitsch

Жыл бұрын

@@Alina_Schmidt Naa, still no good. What you need when you go to the grocery store is a BIKE TRAILER. I use my dog trailer. It has a quick disconnect hitch. I can load it up with a bunch of groceries or other suff when I want to haul extra cargo or take my dog with me somewhere. I still have the milk crate as well. Google "Sepnine Large Dog Trailer" and see what I mean. This is the one I have and I highly recommend it. Hauls up to 88 pounds of stuff and it's fairly light. If you're going to be a car free bike person , it's essential to have a good trailer on hand.

I regularly haul ~10 days worth of groceries in a kid trailer and a front bike basket all year round, and I love it. I don’t love the handlebar weight, so I try not to carry much in the front basket, but I barely feel the trailer once I get going. I’m saving up for panniers, I feel like they’d be nicer than the trailer for smaller runs 😅

@MyLifeInDebt

Жыл бұрын

Why are panniers so expensive! I got mine on sale, clearance color (no one wanted the ortlieb purple)

I have a long tail cargo bike with a big front rack that I use for taking kids to school and doing grocery runs. I can carry three grocery bags on the front basket and put 4 more on the back. I use heavy duty reusable grocery backs and loop the handles over the kids seats in the back and they rest perfectly on the running boards. Works great and I still have a little room left for a backpack or small bag if needed. Edit to add: this is for a family of 6!

@Amir-jn5mo

Жыл бұрын

Gigachad shopper

@superfly2449

Жыл бұрын

I usually use the hang-a-plastic-bag-on-the handlebars method, but I live 10 minutes from the store. I go several times a week.

@adogswimming1474

Жыл бұрын

Wow! That's amazing! What general area do you live at?

@BrentDaughertyMe

Жыл бұрын

What kind of bags are big enough to loop over a child seat? Sounds like a great setup.

@gingermany6223

Жыл бұрын

@@BrentDaughertyMe I have the same rear seat set up that EBike Escape has on their Radwagon4: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qIuMy66wgpTZlZM.html so it is a bit easier to loop the grocery bags over the seat backs. They are just standard reusable bags with a flat bottom and sides.

I would have liked to see how these compare to the lowest-tech options: trying to carry it all in a backpack, or the classic shopping bags on the handlebars. Obviously not ideal but I do see a lot of people doing that so it might be useful to see how bad those options really are. Edit: I used to use a backpack, but that wasn't a great solution because it really limited how much I could carry. Switched to panniers and my life is so much better. Not only can I haul way more stuff, the load distribution is vastly improved and it feels way easier to cycle even with heavier loads.

@kytkosaurus

Жыл бұрын

Been there, done that. A good backpack is a usable option for city bike, with upright position, where you can keep your back straight. Not a good one, not a comfortable one, just usable. I would take panniers immediately. The only reason why I do it sometimes is because we have shared bikes here without rear rack and with very small front baskets. If you can't ride your bike in upright position, it's just too uncomfortable to try hauling anything heavier in a backpack. Maybe if you have it downhill all the way from the store, it would be worth it riding up with empty backpack. As for the bags on handlebars, it is possible with light bags and very low speeds, but really not for unexperienced riders. What Tom said about handlebar baskets, that it takes some getting used to and making balancing and steering more difficult, is orders of magnitude more pronounced with bags on the handlebars. With the added complication that they fling around much more, transforming themselves into a pendulum, and ram into the sides of your front wheel. Could be still worth taking the bike with you for the trip to the shop, but I would recommend walking it back with heavy bags carried like this (or hanging from the sides of the frame. Probably beats carrying them, if they are really heavy. (this is something a lot of cyclists underestimate, the bike can be useful tool even in situations, where you cannot ride it.) Of course a handcart would be much better for this, but if you don't have one available or if it's worth it taking the bike for the trip to the shop...

@davidraygun554

Жыл бұрын

I put plastic grocery bags on my handlebars as a very last resort. Even lighter items like breads or yummy coffeecake. The swinging around bothers me more so than the added new weight. It still gets home, but I am not a happy camper until I am eating the coffeecake with my coffee. It could just be me. I don't mind items piled high in the rear secured with a bungee cargo net as it is not distracting.

@spiritsofthesky

Жыл бұрын

Having done both, I wouldn't recommend putting bags on your handle bars. It really messed with my balance and steering, plus I'm always paranoid a bag will rip on the way home. A backpack will work well if you can pack it well. Although we tend to buy bulk items, so I'm more unsteady while riding.

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

Bags on bars is dangerous stupid

@zdeneknovak5276

Жыл бұрын

Your bum hurts more (every kilogram counts). Your saddle gets worn faster. Your back sweats more. Your balance is worse, since the weight is as high as possible on a bike.

The great thing about having a Brompton is that you can use it in ‘trolley mode’, fold it and wheel it around by the handlebar a shop. As the luggage is attached by a block to the frame there is no affect on handling and no need to leave your bike outside.

I do grocery shopping on the regular by bike. You covered a lot of it. I use rack/panniers, and can pretty easily get groceries for the week for family of 3. You have to be choosy about what you buy; dense things are better. But we eat very few things like chips. And drink mainly water so no soda, etc. The only advice I would give is I take my panniers in with me (as they are kinda expensive Ortleibs), and tell the cashier that I don't want bags at all, just put the stuff back in the cart loose. Then I pack the panniers myself at the bike so I can ensure heavy stuff on the bottom and balace the load.

Couple of thoughts from someone who gets groceries on a regular basis using my RAD Power Mini. Go up and down the aisles filling the actual panniers, backpack, plastic bins, etc. you use to transport your grocs home. That way you never overdo it (I still overdo it - see below) and since you'll be loading them up at the checkout, you walk out of the store basically ready to hop on your bike and go. No transfer. Second, buying groceries for a week might work for one person, but not for a family. Instead of one big-ass trip, I have learned to make small trips every few days, as they do in many European cities, or in towns before refrigeration. Food is fresher that way, as well. From a technical standpoint, I bungee a plastic basket/hamper to the rack over my rear wheel, and it comfortably holds two big insulated zippered cloth grocery bags, with the option to put bread and other squishables on top. Nothing goes over the front wheel - can't stand that. A plastic crate costs a fraction of those expensive panniers in the video. I wear a backpack, too, for overflow, since I can't resist a bargain. Yogurt tubs...three for one! Love your channel, btw. Big fan.

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

Filling up your panniers is such a no-brainer that I should have mentioned in this video. Thanks for adding your voice here 👍🏼

@andrewwigglesworth3030

Жыл бұрын

@@Shifter_Cycling As mentioned in in my other post, I use two rear basket panniers (of the type made by Oxford), and I use them as shopping baskets going round the shop. No shop has ever complained as they're just baskets. It means that I never buy too much to fit in them.

@SuperKurvaszad

Жыл бұрын

"Go up and down the aisles filling the actual panniers, backpack, plastic bins" Man, the security will love that!

@andrewwigglesworth3030

Жыл бұрын

@@SuperKurvaszad Mine are two baskets. You can see exactly what's in them, just like a store basket. I take them into the shop empty and empty all their contents for the till. I could see that putting thinks into a pannier or a bag might raise suspicions, but not the baskets that I use.

@NaturallyRC

Жыл бұрын

​@@SuperKurvaszad Could be a function of the city where I live (bags aren't free so everyone brings their own, and grocery security...is that a thing?) but the above is my regular routine at Sobeys, Metro, No Frills, and so far all I've got from staff is friendly conversation around how cool it is that I came by bike (the helmet gives me away). I'll report back, if and when I get side-eye. Cheers.

I am Daly commuting with a roadbike. What works great for me is, for a week worth of groceries I use a trailer similar to yours with a box zmthat fits it. For little things I have a foldable 20l backpack that folds really small inside of a pouch on my saddle. It holds a full basket at the supermarket and I can spontaneously get what I need.

Thank you for creating this video. So many naysayers against improving public infrastructure and micromobility is that they can't do grocery shopping without a vehicle.

I use two Po Campo grocery paniers. Each one holds one full grocery bag and when not in use, they lie flat against wheel. They are easy to take on and off and you can still have a panier bag (for locks, tools, phone) on the top of the rack.

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

I've not tried these, but I've seen them in action and they look like great options. Thanks for sharing!

This winter I went for groceries pretty much exclusively by bike. I use a medium sized folding tote box (the kind from Safeway) fastened to my pannier rack. I also have a small cargo trailer ( not so much for snowy roads). Schwalbe studded winter tyres worked great, I'll bike all year round now!

I'm a 68 year old retiree and have just purchased a Kona Dew Deluxe to do errands including groceries. My solution for groceries is a nice rear rack and a set of Raleigh grocery panniers. They fold up flat when they aren't needed for hauling. They open into mesh square baskets that can perfectly hold two full reusable shopping bags. You can store your grocery bags and bike lock in the folded up panniers. The panniers are a permanent setup on the bike. Cost? 70$ on sale for 50$ at Canadian Tire of all places. BTW, I went with the Kona instead of an electric because I didn't want to deal with battery charging.

Excellent video, as usual. 1. For the light loads up 20 kg/ 44 lbs, panniers and baskets do fine. 2. Heavy loads, like a crate of beer of cat litter, a trailer will do. Great if you already have a E-bike. Maximum load capacity up to 40-45 kg/ 90-100 lbs. But with panniers you can carry up to 65 kg/ 145 lbs. 3. Super heavy loads, a E-Cargo Bike will be excellent. For loads up to 100 kg/ 220 lbs. Yet very expensive.

Thanks for another great video, Tom - really appreciate your work. Glad the bananas survived all those trips! I use a pair of panniers (Ortlieb Back-Rollers) and an old backpack (Brenthaven something or other). Probably 100 litres of capacity total which is enough for a week of groceries for the two of us. The loaded backpack sits on top of the cargo rack, between the panniers, with the backpack straps looped around the seat post. Nice and secure, and less than a minute to attach/detach all three bags. I used to add a bungee cord on top of the backpack for extra security, but found that was overkill for me. I have a few tips: 1. I use the supermarkets’ various “scan and shop” apps on my phone so I can scan items straight into my bags. 2. I clip the panniers to the inside of the supermarket trolley. 3. I get cans and other heavy items first so I can put them at the bottom of the bags. Bread (and bananas!) last. 4. I alternate loading one item into each pannier in turn so I know the weight is being evenly distributed. I leave the backpack empty until the panniers are full, to keep my centre of gravity as low as possible. I know what you mean about it being surprisingly easy to carry things this way. The only dodgy bit for me is mounting and dismounting with the bags on, as the bike is so rear-heavy at that point. I like to step down onto the bike from a kerb when mounting this way, which really helps. When I get home I stop next to the wall of the house for a bit of extra stability. Thanks again - have a great one 😊 PS. The Riese & Mueller looks lush!

After 5 hours of filming I no longer trust that chicken.

@donntrotter

Жыл бұрын

My dude I thought the same thing hahahaha

@katherandefy

Жыл бұрын

Freezer insulated bag … also it’s Canada and it is not hot there. Especially in Alberta. Cold still.

@lianegayler4009

Жыл бұрын

@@katherandefy 31 degrees in Edmonton today, and we're north of Calgary :)

@SeanNicholsEh

Жыл бұрын

@@lianegayler4009 For sure! I'm in Calgary where Shifter is and it's 26 today. But that's also only been the case for the last 5 or so days; and my guess (based on the look of the buds on the trees, the amount of snow on the ground in the shady areas, etc.) is that this was filmed a few weeks ago, back when it was a good deal cooler.

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

Nobody who has ever seen or even Googled "Food Safety" and "Chicken", will ever trust a chicken again.

I bought a Burley Coho bike trailer for shopping in the summer here. Between that and bike panniers, I've never struggled to get groceries home. And the Coho is single wheel so it tracks behind the bike better than a 2 wheel trailer. Just added the optional rack to it so I can add panniers to the trailer. Super handy and could also be used for a bike packing trip with how rugged it is.

@sinatrabone

Жыл бұрын

Nice! I do the same, but with my Burley Flatbed trailer. I went with the high capacity, slightly cheaper option, and it’s awesome. But I do wonder how the CoHo would compare. I’m sure the singletrack feeling is fantastic.

I use a used milk crate as a basket, and a dutch-style front rack. I usually use the front rack for attaching a backpack or any odd objects (compost bin, etc.). Works great!

@mielimedina3146

11 ай бұрын

Nice, I’ve also been using a milk crate in the back for my grocery shopping, and since I live about 4 blocks away from the store, I can go pretty often and not have to buy so much at a time! I can fit a surprising amount in that little thing!

I pop my panniers onto the grocery cart, so when I'm packing them, they are supported by the cart just like they would be on my bike. And I have to agree; electric is a game changer! This was my first winter car-free. Now sure I'm on Vancouver Island, so rain is probably the biggest deal in the winter (only 6 or 7 snow days this year), but I would go out for coffee, pop round the store, and head home to cook. Worked really well--easier than I expected to transition.

@mikebauer9948

Жыл бұрын

exactly. they come in with you, and easier to pack off the bike after checkout at the register.

@G60syncro

Жыл бұрын

I'm with you with the rain deal!! This year in southern Quebec we had it good this winter, for the most part... A few weekends we had rain after the first snowfall, but during the week there were no big deal breaker days where it's just shit weather to get to work. Most of this winter was actually just cold enough to keep thing frozen and dry but never mad cold... except that one friday of -44* and part of the weekent too!! Other than that, it was nice!! When it snows, no problem!! I'll take the powdered rain anytime over the real stuff regardless of ambient temperature!! If it rains in the morning, I'll drive to work for convenience. If they call for rain during the day but it's nice when I leave, then I don't care how sloppy I am when I get back home!!

@blortmeister

Жыл бұрын

@@G60syncro I live on the Wet Coast, so some rain is inevitable and expected. But there were only a few really brutal days this winter. I used to live in Oilberta on a farm, so cycling was mostly out of the question. But I did know some cyclists who would be out in the snow at -30 on their commute. I think their example has made it easier for me to put up with very bad weather. Thankfully I live in a fifteen minute town, so I'm never out too long.

Great info! Thanks! For what it's worth, here's how I've been grocery shopping with my (all human-powered) bike: a simple back basket with bungee cords. I have a bike trailer, too, but only use it for really heavy, bulky stuff. Panniers are a no-go because of the theft factor and having to haul them on and off. Back to baskets. Important thing is that the basket has open spaces to thread the bungee cords through. For fragile items like bananas and eggs, I thread the straps of a bag(s) (double-bag plastic bags if you still have those where you live) through the open spaces on the basket and let them dangle out the basket sides and back (above the wheel, of course). For large loads, you learn pretty quickly how to creatively stack and then fasten things down with bungee cords. (Note: make sure your rear wheel can handle the extra weight.) I don't use a front basket for the same reason as in the video. For rainy/snowy days, I just bring a big garbage bag or two and line the basket bottom and bungee a garbage bag over the top of the groceries. (Another note: before loading your bike, find a place to lean it against. I usually use an outside wall of the grocery store, near the bike racks.) And voila! One memorable trip was when I used to have a set of double metal baskets on the back and happily brought home a real 5 foot Christmas tree, balanced and bugeed over the double baskets. The looks I got! :) Happy riding, everyone!

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

panniers can clip on shopping cart

@cathiek8028

Жыл бұрын

@@whazzat8015 Thanks, although I can't leave the panniers on my bike, even on my porch, in my 'hood, and I like just having the basket always there. No one's tried to take the basket yet (although I did have my pedals stolen once.) ;)

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

@@cathiek8028 Pedals? LOL/ouch. I throw the Brommie into the cart, if I use it, or the panniers if I take a big bike. I do "euro" shopping, small, frequent, just not up to Costco. But I could.

I have a collapsible basket attached to my rear pannier rack, so I simply put the whole grocery bag into the basket after shopping. The basket added a little weight to the bike but it is handy to use.

I use Burley Travoy Cargo trailer for my grocery shopping. The trailer also works as a shopping cart!

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

If you don't mind the Travoy's tendency to flip over when towed.

To me the best combo is the rear basket plus a backpack. Keeps the weight off your handlebars and can haul a good amount. Maybe keep a kid hauler style trailer that is weather resistant for when you need to haul things in the rain or bigger items.

I can answer the questions of why the cargo trailer feels so much more different than on the bike. It all has to do with momentum and inertia, when the groceries are on your bike, they have a high initial inertia (tou=moment of inertia x angular acceleration) to overcome but once youre moving its linear momentum (rho = mass x velocity vector) encourages continued movement. On the bike alone theres only 1 system to calculate for these parameters, the bike. However with the cargo trailer it now has a separate system of inertia and momentum, and when on the hill has a seperate donward gravatational pull vector acting as another form of inertia to overcome. Thats why it feels so unwieldy for the same weight. Great video, ive been doing all of my grocery shopping on bike since stumbling onto toyr channel, its so much better that doing it by car

​I have the 30L @twowheelgear pannier backpack and once used it to bring home our Christmas goodies (from the workplace) with room to spare. It's a well-made bag and doing well after a few years now

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

Great to hear. I think I've hauled Christmas gifts with it as well 😆

I use a pannier that converts into a backpack. First I thought of it more as a gimmick that one would rarely use, but I find it quite useful actually. I fill it up at checkout, so I don't have to reorganize. I then carry it as backpack to the bike, which is way easier than carrying a pannier, and on the bike I find heavy panniers much more convenient than a heavy backpack. I also have to walk a bit from where my bike is parked to my house, so this part is also much more practical :)

For small-medium trips I use a pair of Banjo Bros grocery panniers in the rear with a Soma Porteur rack in the front. My insulated grocery bag fits perfectly in the pannier and large bulky items can go on the front rack. For larger trips I use a Schwinn Porter bike trailer. Similar dimensions to the IKEA, but with fabric sides and an included cargo net. Besides groceries, I’ve gone to the pet store and picked up large bags of cat food and litter. I’ll be getting an electric cargo bike very soon, likely the R+M that you showcased here. That will let me venture to a much denser area and make the return trip up a big hill.

Great video! Missing a mention of the huge advantage of baskets, panniers/bags and even the trailer: you can take them inside the store, fill them up right there in the store and carry them all the way into you kitchen (maybe not the trailer). No need for buying bags in the store and repacking stuff.

For a good amount groceries I use the Burley Travoy. It attaches to the seat post (I think they have an adapter for attaching it to a rear basket too) and with the upper and lower baskets is rated to haul 60lbs. With a quick flip of the latch it can be disconnected and taken in the store and used as a shopping cart.

I attached a pine wood crate on my rear rack and have loved it for how low of barrier for entry it is and how easy it is to modify. I almost exclusively use it to buy groceries, and I either use two reusable bags that can fit in the crate side to side, or one larger bag that fits with room to spare. I spend vary little time fiddling with loading up the bike, the bags just go straight in and off I go. I don't have a net, but I've never had anything fall out.

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

Amazing. This sounds like a slightly stepped-up version of the venerable milk crate. Glad it’s working 👍🏼

Since I started to take my bike to the supermarket - I actually found myself more disciplined when it comes to groceries since I have to take into consideration the weight/size since I'm taking it home. No unexpected purchases. Admittedly I'm going to the supermarket more often but I'm able to pick fresh produce/fruits and not worry about wastage too much.

I've got a really low cost pair of grocery panniers. They're a soft open top style, go one and off in half a second really easy, fold when not in use, and easily hold a week's worth for me. Anything that doesn't fit I can bungee to the rack. The rack itself is one of those with a quick swap rack system, and I'll put a basket on it for day to day stuff.

One simple solution to that "bouncing out of the trailer/basket" issue is bags. As long as every thing fits in a bag, either standard grocery bags or those cloth bags you shouldn't have an issue. You can tie them shut, or I like to run a strap/bungee cord across the basket and loop the handles of the bags with the cord. It holds them all together and down so things generally can't fall out.

Great video! When my kids were small we bought a two kid Burley trailer. Now that they're riding on their own we use the trailer for groceries: 50kg at at time!

Great video! I use a pannier for my daily commute and a trailer for larger or heavier things.

@47f0

Жыл бұрын

Ditto - except my pannier is a Wald 582 folding basket. Not as sexy, but any panniers I can afford, I end up spending my time patching seams.

I use a trailer that doubles as a stroller, so i just use it in store as my cart. I enjoy that I can use a cooler bag in the trailer, mostly do Costco trips with it.

@een_schildpad

Жыл бұрын

This is what I've done as well!! 🎉 Great combo because you don't have to worry about people stealing your trailer and it can carry a TON of groceries :⁠-⁠)

You missed the Burley Travoy trailer- I like it because I can use it as my shopping cart in the store too. And it folds down for easy storage. Combined with a couple of panniers, makes for lots of cargo capacity.

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

Flips like a remodeler on HGTV. Wouldn't carry anything that you wouldn't want to drag.Gotta tow it real slow and watch out for any pavement irregularities. Very stashable.

The IKEA bike was recalled, which is why we don’t have ours anymore. Belt drive and SRAM 2 speed automatic hub was interesting though! I even did a common mod to delay the shift to a higher cadence.

@inund8

Жыл бұрын

I heard it was recalled along with the trailer. Any idea why? I never had the bike, but I just kept my trailer.

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

@@inund8 Belt issues. Conti belt on 2spd SRAM with rear coaster brake. Several users reported instances of the belt snapping, causing the bike’s rear wheel to lock up suddenly. The belt tension could loosen over time, causing it to slip or snap. Belts are generally low maintenance, but require attention to tension. Slipped belt probably was jamming rear wheel either at crank or seat stay. Seemed to be a nice and inexpensive bike.

You mentioned that frame-mounted front racks are hard to find in north america. This is true, but I imported one from dutch bike bits. It ended up being around 60 USD with shipping, which was very similar in price to the fork/wheel mounted front racks I was looking at that were available locally. It did take like a month to get here though.

The burley trailer that is more vertical seems like a good middle ground, you can detatch it and roll it in with you and use it as your shopping basket/cart/trolley.

A clip on basket works for a few days shopping. It can be taken instore loading as you select items. For a weeks shopping or more my Ikea pannier works. I put a shoulder strap on it so it goes instore for loading. For heavy duty or large shopping items I take the Burley Travoy trailer. It can be unclipped and used as a shopping cart instore so you just have to clip the loaded trailer back on your bike when you're ready to ride. All are great when you shop in multiple shops or one supermarket.

There's a video on FB of a guy who made a folding two-by-four that sticks out the back of his bike. He unfolds it straight back and hangs grocery bags on it. The video shows him barely able to control the bike and yet there are people in the comments saying that this is a good idea for narrow paths. I stupidly got sucked into the comments. I finally gave up -- told the people to try it, take pictures, and get back to me. I almost thought Tom was reacting to this video.

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

Pretty lousy weight distribution. High, waggy, unbalanced, tippy.

@MrTwostring

Жыл бұрын

@@whazzat8015 Exactly - and yet people are advocating for it in the comments - saying it's good for narrow paths. Like falling over would be good for a narrow path.

I have a Dutch style bike. I put around 5kg on the front rack held with flat bungie cords On the rear I have quick release Ortlieb panniers which I load in the shop with about 15kg. Panniers bring the centre of gravity down making the bike more stable. This setup is adequate for beer and groceries. Please, please get yourself a camera clamp. One day you may need to grab the handlebars quickly and risk damaging yourself or the camera.

I was 12 when i got a plastic milk crate and used hose clamps to "bolt it" down. I was the guy we through stuff into and road! Totally agree about front baskets cant be too big as the weight is annoying. Great video!

I have a trailer I made from "stuff" that can carry a months worth of food. And I make to panniers from Costco laundry soap containers (the square ones) that can hold a full shopping bag each. I carry two "fold up" panniers that I use for small shopping trips. Last week I carried home (3 miles) five 3/4"x 10ft PVC pipes. Easy Pezy.

One thing to mention about baskets and trailers is that your items might get covered in road spray from the tires when it's wet. In regards to why the trailer takes more work is because you have added two tires which doubles the rolling resistance. Twice the amount of friction and probably 1.5 times the moving mass inertia to overcome.

@cathiek8028

Жыл бұрын

I have fenders on both wheels and my trailer came with a waterproof cover so that all works out okay.

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

Fenders certainly help reduce spray, but this is a good point. That’s why a trailer with more of a box might be a better option than my irrationality beloved IKEA trailer.

@cathiek8028

Жыл бұрын

@@Shifter_Cycling Your IKEA trailer is the bomb.

@714mattman

Жыл бұрын

I would add to this comment that it is not just the extra wheels that makes a trailer feel more of a drag. I would expect that a trailer weighs much more that panniers or baskets attached to the bike.

@47f0

Жыл бұрын

My bike and I mass a bit over 200 lbs. 1.5*200 = 300 lbs? Where are you buying your trailers?

I have a rear rack with a collapsible Wald basket on each side, and they're perfect, re-usable bags like the ones you used fit right into them, and when I'm not using them, they fold up out of the way. I prefer to use insulated bags with a zipper, which helps keep rain/snow out of my groceries if the weather is inclement, and keeps things cold if you have a longer way to ride. I usually clip a cargo net over the whole thing, which is very helpful if something is on the rack as well. Packing the bags can be tricky, it's easy to pack one side heavier than the other, and also easy to pack the bag in a way that causes it to bulge and not fit into the baskets, but it just takes a little fiddling once I'm outside the store. My biggest problem with this is that the rack does not have a mounting spot for my rear light, so it's mounted on the seat tube instead, and a full load tends to obscure the light 😬

@geoffreyhoney122

Жыл бұрын

Heya. I had the rear light problem too. I zip tied my super bright Bontrager Flare R to the back of my helmet. Always with me. Always on.

@47f0

Жыл бұрын

I've ridden for years with at least one Wald 582 - indispensable, and the knockoffs absolutely do not compare. But I've also used a trailer for about six years. It's there when I want it, and the rest of the time I've got my normal bike.

I love shopping for groceries on my Brompton! The frame mounted front bags/baskets balance so well that it almost feels more balanced under load, and there are some great rear-rack solutions. I love shopping in small enough trips that just fill my front basket, so I can use my bike folded through the store as a trolley.

I live in the US, but have visited Calgary several times. Gotta say it’s one of my favorite cities. Several of these scenes make me feel like Jose Monkey… “I bet I could find that!” But the biking content is what keeps me watching. I need to kit up a bike for shopping.

I've got an old bent detachable wire basket on the front of my skip find beater bike, a set of £15 Wilko panniers on the rear rack and sometimes a homemade wooden box on top of those (mostly for shipping plants around). Amazing what this can shift.

@saynotop2w

Жыл бұрын

I used to hang dish racks I found in dumpsters with zip-ties for bike basket lol. Having to be thrifty means creativity.

When i use my bike to go to town to get groceries I generally load up the panniers. A trailer might be in my future. BTW: it was entertaining watching you ride around a Canadian Netherlands... for me to get to town it's 20km with 100m of climbing- each way. 😂

@tconnolly9820

Жыл бұрын

20km with a loaded trailer with 30-50kg load and hills is pretty ambitious ride. That's your workout for the day taken care of!

@fatbikejamie

Жыл бұрын

@@tconnolly9820 it's the price i pay to avoid the city. I'd live further away, but here on PEI you can only go so far before you find more people... or water. 🤣

When I lived car-free for 2 years, I used a pair of folding Swagman metal baskets on the back of my bike for grocery shopping. Each would hold a full grocery bag, and when not needed, they fold down to about an inch wide. Since they go on either side of the rear wheel, the center of gravity stays low. A couple of bungee chords kept everything from falling out. Worked great!

We use a Burley flatbed trailer with a plastic tote from Home Depot bungeed to it. It works great and has enough capacity for a family of three for a week. I also use it for going to the pet store to get cat litter/food and other errands. I think it weighs 14lbs and has a 100lb capacity. I just put it up on end and lean it against a wall when not in use. It takes up very little room. Highly recommend!

#GoWithUncleRogerFTW! Oh, utility biking is pretty cool too! I do 80% of my grocery shopping by bike; rear panniers, plus a trailer for the big trips (usu. groceries combined with another stop or two). Thanks for the practical comparisons!

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

Fuyay Bakfiet only for rich boy with momma money. 15K ?

I use panniers for groceries most of the time i love using a bakfiest(box bike) but i do not own one i think for larger trips a trailer is a good option although all this is coming from a teen who doesn't do the shopping, just quick trips to the store.

I'm using rear basket for years and love it. It doesn't get dirty. You put in things in a fraction of a second. No fiddling around. I carried lots of things even when my small business was in high gear. The only reason I use panniers is when leaving town for multiple days.

I live alone and grocery shop with my folding Brompton and a backpack. When folded into its shopping cart mode, I can immediately know when I've reached my limit, as I can bring my bike into the stores. I always shop with a list but try to accommodate impulse items with a smaller shopping bag that I hang from the handlebar. I also always keep an assortment of bungie cords and a net in my basket for further flexibility. Although I have a Burley Travoy, I find it cumbersome unless I plan to purchase large/heavy/bulky items like cases of cat food and litter. I like the trailer, but unless the shopping carts at the store have a lower shelf, it will not fit into the shopping cart with the bike and I cannot manage the bike in its shopping cart mode and carry the trailer. I've learned by trial and error which stores are both bike and trailer accessible. My front basket attaches to the frame, not the handlear, ad has a 20 lb. limit. I've also learned that I have to be careful that whatever I put in it doesn't interfere with the handlebars. I load my basket and backpack the same as the baggers at the store - big, stable items on the bottom with fragile items on top. If I could not bring my bike into the store and did not have a trailer, I think I'd make a list before heading to the store and envision where I would carry the items. Flexibility is key and I would recommend carrying a small shopping bag to hang off the handlebar if needed.

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

The Brompton in shopping-cart mode is 🔥

I bought a trailer of the same style as yours, but with the sides protected by stretched canvas and a protective cover (Homcom brand, aka Aosom). An absolute necessity in the streets of Montréal full of craters if I don't want to lose all my groceries along the way...

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

Amazing, thanks for sharing

Would love to see one that shows your entire trip to a home improvement big box and hauling some "typical" goods. Similar to +1/-2 but with the payload

I have a Doggyride trailer that's sometimes a little awkward to load with large items because of how it opens with zipper flaps, but has been great to have every so often for hauling things (I've done comparable weight to a large dog in pet supplies). It folds up rather compact and the wheels easily pop off, and I can just keep it behind my bikes on their wall rack. Unfortunately I was never able to get my dog over his anxiety about riding in it to take him places that are too far to walk but not far enough to make renting a car share worthwhile. My one gripe is that the mount to the bike uses a spring, so especially when you're climbing a hill or carrying a significant weight it stretches and springs back on each pedal stroke, making the weight feel more cumbersome. For grocery trips, I have an insulated backpack, and just need to be mindful of how much I purchase - not much of an issue when it's only a few km to the store though. Specifically for shopping, I've seen some really simple tote pannier bags that would be easy to load up at the checkout and just clip onto your rack after. They also look basic enough that i would be less concerned about just leaving them on the bike most of the time, since someone is less likely to steal them (and can see that there isn't anything in them worth trying to take).

Love your channel! No nonsense and so not obnoxious. Keep up the amazing work.

I really like your content hope your channel is going to get bigger and bigger.

I have been using my bicycle to haul 3 weeks of groceries in one trip for over 12 years. I became fed up with the cost of owning a car, so I fired it and hired a bicycle. It worked much better than I thought it would.I tried a couple of different panniers until I came across the one I still use today, though, on my second one. The first one lasted over 5 years. It is ArcEnCiel brand for the second one, and the first one was Roswheel. They both look the same to me. I had to get over the ugly green colour and huge logos. I have a trailer that looks like yours. I tried hard to find one like yours as it would have matched my white bicycle so nicely. Oh well, black goes with everything. I could probably get over a month's worth of groceries in it, but I don't use it much as it is always a pain to attach it to the hitch, and the worst part is finding secured place to park and lock it without blocking people's way. It's hard enough with just a bicycle, let alone adding a caboose. I bought an E-bike last year. I had to either have the E-bike come with a touring type back rack or none, and I will buy my own. The Biktrix I bought came with a back rack that works well with the huge panniers. Now, I only need to keep track of volume and not so much about weight. I also use a bungee cargo net for items piled on the flat part of the rack. The straps and buckles are not long enough if the pannier is filled up all the way. I use 2 mini bungee cords to make the connection. The buckles never broke even with the tightest connections. Those are my details of grocery shopping for over 12+ years.

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

Amazing to see your evolution. Thanks for sharing.

I've got bike packing panniers for trips, but grocery bag panniers are my daily ones. I used Jandd Mountaineering grocery panniers for decades. They were very durable, but have drawbacks. I got Canadian brand Arkel grocery bags recently. $150 a bag, but honestly, I think they're worth it. They're the best grocery bag panniers I've ever found. So many great features! Quick and solid attach/release mechanism. Handles to carry the bags and shoulder straps. Attachments for clip on lights. Reflective Velcro straps to close/open the bags that are placed to visible in either open/close position. Optional rain covers. Tops extend for added room and they cinch closed for rain, keeping things in. Hidden interior pocket for storage (I keep my rain covers in em).

Thanks for this video. Very helpful. I use two baskets that hang off my rack and a cargo net. I have been thinking of getting a trailer for larger grocery trips.

I used to use panniers for groceries but I switched to a basket with an insulated bag (sort of similar to what food delivery drivers use). I live in a tropical country so it’s quite a challenge to bring frozen goods home. I also added a net with hooks to cover the basket for a little security

I've been using my bike for grocery shopping for the last 3 years and not going back to driving. It takes me 25 minutes total to shop, from the time I leave my apartment to rolling my bike into my kitchen to unload my groceries. One thing I changed was my thought process on how much I should buy. People typically grocery shop once a week, because they are thinking about the gas they are burning to get to the grocery store, so people tend to hoard food because there is a sale or something and want to spend less on the cost of driving there. This is what leads to food waste. I grocery shop twice a week and buy what I need for the next 3 - 4 days. I have a single speed bike and use one Ortlieb 40 liter pannier. Also I use the cart corale for bike parking but that's another story.😂

I have some cool single tracks I can ride on my to and from the grocery store, so I take a backpack and my mountain bike. Yeah, my groceries are a little roughed up if I send it on the way home, but worth it!!

Fantastic. Thanks for highlighting this and for all the videos you're creating.

i mean i basically carry all of my food with bicycle but i do it two times a week so i don't need a special bike or trailer to do it. all i need is one cheap basket.

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

Love it. Thank you for sharing!

@een_schildpad

Жыл бұрын

More frequency was key for us as well. While it was technically possible for me to carry $400 some in groceries for our family of 5 for the week in one trip on the long tail cargo bike, it certainly wasn't as convenient or pleasant as just doing 2 grocery runs in a week. And honestly, I usually look forward to it anyway since it's another excuse to get out of the house on a quick bike trip :-)

I think trailer style is best for any significant amount of groceries/goods. One with closed sides and a rain resistant top can also be used in any weather. It's just as easy to load than a car, which is not the case with panniers. It's not as expensive as a cargo bike and fits more than the paniers and baskets. You just need a second lock for it and a spot for it, which I imagine being rather easy for any living situation. It's footprint is really small when it's being put it its side with the hook pointing upwards Because it's a bit harder to pedal with one, it pairs well with any electric bike. In my case I'm going to replace my car with a folding electric bike which I can take for free on trains and busses and a cargo trailer for when I need it.

@tconnolly9820

Жыл бұрын

I intentionally got a large sized dog trailer for the reason it's completely covered and enclosed. Work's great. Many others are using double child trailers similarly. Good luck with the folding e-bike.

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

1) you have to ride in the street 2) G-d help anyone else on your sidewalks, otherwise, assuming you even have decent sidewalks.

@tconnolly9820

Жыл бұрын

@@whazzat8015 If you are replying to me, I do ride on the roads and streets almost everywhere. I'm in Ireland, not America if that makes a difference?

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

@@tconnolly9820 Yes yes and yes. while the Irish and those guys across the water are pretty civilized in the way they respect cyclists, here they are considered road hazards. See Coal rolling. See our wretched pedestrian/cyclist injury stats. I got that y'all have roads put in by the Romans, but they are better cared for than here, and folks more respect the team sport that is safety.

@Knackebrot

Жыл бұрын

@@tconnolly9820 Thanks!

In getting back into biking to do RAGBRAI in 2022, we used a rack and pannier set. I say we because it was a tandem, and my brother was the stoker. We pre-packed the bike to find out how to carry all our stuff for a day's ride. Using RAGBRAI as a test lab, the karaoke guys used a trailer to lug their battery/amp/speaker setup, and lots of people had single/dual kid trailers. If you want to really feel what's it like to carry a lot of cargo, another human being on the bike with you gives an instant appreciation for mass/weight that you can't control. I'd vote for the trailer any time.

Thanks so much for these videos. There's a lot out there of getting a bike but not going into the detailed logistics of it.

We need a carbon fiber bike trailer...use boxes with the trailer...I put a rack w/MIK system on both front and back of my mtb, that I don't use as a mtb anyways, it's a freak bike now...

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

😆

@a1white

Жыл бұрын

Love how you can just adapt a bike this way. Do trails one day, the next get your groceries home.

I recycled an old Instep child trailer into a cargo trailer, which works great. I use it for my weekly grocery shopping. You are correct, though... you can feel it pull you back a bit when going up hills.

My personal philosophy is that, with a bike, it makes more sense to make many trips per week with smaller loads. I only break out my double Day -Tripper bags when I run out of everything at once.

If you have a Brompton folding bike, you can fold it, take it inside and push it around in “cart mode” using the front 23 litre Borough bag to put your stuff in. On the other hand, Bromptons fold so small that you can just put it in a regular shopping cart as you shop.

@cthambrecht

Жыл бұрын

I saw a couple doing just that at my suburban grocery store. I rarely see bikes near the store, let alone 2 Bromptons. I had to compliment them

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

Great idea, but Bromies don't really roll well, despite all the mods. fortunately they carry easily.

"A week's worth of groceries" That's the problem with people's thinking. I usually shop with only a backpack. The key is choosing a store that's near your home or workplace so you can go there every day to buy some stuff but not too many. Work smarter, not harder!

@thaddeusbarrick8432

Ай бұрын

What if the nearest store is 35 miles away

Nice to show people how quick and easy this is. In London UK, I get my weekly shopping home (easily), from the shops in a couple of classic durable Ortlieb backrollers (had them for years). Don’t even need plastic carrier bags, just load them up at the checkout drop them on the panniers and I’m home a few minutes later. Far quicker than driving.

I bought an Ikea bike trailer for big shoping trips in Copenhagen. I also have an irrational fondness for it🤔.

I imagine that even when Tom is not making a video he still always bikes with the selfie stick pointed at him. It’s just how he rides.

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

I console myself by saying that, when I finally get run over by somebody in a Ford F-150 talking on a cellphone, at least I’ll have video evidence.

@craigiefconcert6493

Жыл бұрын

@@Shifter_Cycling too bad the video evidence still won’t mean any significant penalty for the driver, even if they were reckless, especially with ICBC who have somehow taken away the right to sue drivers. Somebody needs to test that in the Supreme Court. Class action perhaps.

Not a physicist, but an engineer and f1 fan. Aside from the extra weight and rotational inertia of the wheels of the bike trailer, the reason it's harder to ride is that, unlike baskets and panniers, the weight of the groceries doesn't go to the rear wheel. The rear wheel is the "powered" one on a bicycle, so the trailer leads to more tire slip (thus less efficiency) than the alternatives.

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

Yes! And, as another commenter pointed out, the trailer has more drag because it has wheels of its own. Thank you!

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

Rather like riding two bikes at once, for weight alone.

@47f0

Жыл бұрын

Nope. Tire slip??? Seriously? Are we looking for 1/10 of a second Tour de France tuning tweaks, or getting a watermelon? In practical use, I do not notice my trailer except a slight hit in acceleration (and in physics, hills are acceleration). What I don't notice with a trailer as opposed to loading down the bike with full baskets and panniers is all the lateral effects you get - even good racks give you some butt-wiggle when loaded, and that bike-mounted mass is soooo much more noticeable than the trivial amount of side forces you get when maneuvering with a trailer. Put fifty pounds on your front basket and luggage rack, and all that mass above your axles will be felt. Rolling resistance is a very small component in bike drag - most of your effort is expended in shoving air molecules out of the way. The trailer does add aero-drag, but really nothing compared to my upright riding position. And do you really think those baskets and panniers enhance your drag coefficient? Sounds like a lot of arm-chair HP calculator theory - and not much time actually riding with a trailer.

@whazzat8015

Жыл бұрын

@@47f0 Road Trailer guys say that just standing near a trailer lowers your IQ by 20 points. Balanced loading and awareness of how the handling and braking are affected seem to vanish from the mind. A lot of bike trailer have the same issues. Rear trailer loading (as demonstrated in the video), lifts the bike's rear, which is even more of a problem with nose dive on braking. Not huge , but where it matters, not a good thing. The weight, and fishtailing are the bigger issues. and lateral forces consume traction that may be needed elsewhere. (See Keith Code: traction circle). By the time a trailered rig has aero problems, they have a lot more things to be concerned about.

@47f0

Жыл бұрын

@@whazzat8015 - 20 IQ points? I'm okay with that - still leaves me 30 points ahead of anyone who thinks you can stuff 1/4 hog and a banana into panniers and baskets and not have any effect on handling. Unless you're packing anvils on your trailer, there's very little tongue loading that is going to be so out of whack as to affect rear axle loading of the bike to any noticeable degree. Most bike cargo trailers have the axles about 60% back on the bed - being tongue-light is just not an issue I've encountered. But if I ever find myself MotoGP racing back from Costco with my trailer, I'll keep Keith Code's highly applicable and relevant racing advice in mind.

My mom always did this to get food for our family of 5. Weekly trip to the Aldi. Double panier + 2 bags that hang from the handle bars. Just happy she never fell thinking about it now, but happy with all the food she got us that way! Except for Aldi's "fritessaus", that stuff's just nasty

Thanks Tom! Love your videos

We've just had a related topic like this on Twitter. But car-centric/privileged people are saying what about they're month's worth of groceries. 😂

@jaysonvilleza3901

Жыл бұрын

I can't join the live chat via app. Huhu.

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

I understand stocking up on essentials, so maybe it's time for me to update my video on taking a cargo bike to Costco. But do people really only get groceries once a month?!

@davidraygun554

Жыл бұрын

You could easily get a month's or more worth of groceries in that super nice cargo bike. I love those, but it's too pricey for me, even the cheaper models. The once a month grocery haul could still be done for much less cost. An E-bike really helps here. Shopping panniers with a bike trailer and front basket optional. Easy peasy.

@tconnolly9820

Жыл бұрын

I presume this is the American (and perhaps Canadian too?) thing of buying bulk cheaper or special offers or coupons which aren't really a thing in Europe? But you can't buy things that are perishable or can't be frozen like fresh vegetables or milk to last a month so they'll still have to shop for those weekly!

@jaysonvilleza3901

Жыл бұрын

​@@Shifter_Cycling those who do monthly supply runs are the car-centric people who loves to haul them one time big time - an excuse to use their SUVs and pickup trucks on urban settings. We are discussing with them that weekly is more efficient especially on bikes. We like getting our stocks fresh so we do weekly. Haha.

Why even buy only once in a week? Doesn't make much sense. This way you probably mostly buy frozen or industrial food. But let's be honest: you will always reach a limit on a bike, even on a cargo bike. The solution: don't buy once a week..

@Ep1o

Жыл бұрын

Because the infrastructure in the US is so incredibly bad the closest store is prob a 20-40 minute drive, and people would rather buy a weeks worth once than go there every day or every other day. I don't even take my bike to go shopping I live in a rock throw range to a market.

@SomeGuyWhoPlaysGames333

Жыл бұрын

@@Ep1o This is Canada, and for most Americans, a grocery store is like 10 minute drive (which is still bad, but not 20-40 minutes)

@Shifter_Cycling

Жыл бұрын

Of course this is a better way to shop, but I know very few people in Canada who shop this way. Check out the other comment about people who shop once a month!

@aphextwin5712

Жыл бұрын

Most vegetables and fruits easily last a week to 10 days (in the fridge). Exceptions are salad leaves and bananas but you can easily go a few days without them. Ditto for things like eggs and milk products.

@a1white

Жыл бұрын

Fruit/ veg/ dairy normally keeps a week. If you have a busy life it’s not always convenient to go every few days. I go a couple of miles down the road on my bike once a week and load up my panniers. Job done in under an hour.

brompton bikes are great for this. it's a shopping cart when folded up with the easy wheels, and the 28L roll-top bag can carry as much as those panniers easily. the rear rack can carry something as big as a case of beer or 24pack of soda cans.

What a wonderful topic for urban cycling and so well done Tom!! I bike year round here in Hamilton and you are so right. Any day that you can be out on the bike is a good day! I especially like shopping for two, for the week, because of the challenge. I have and love my Burley trailer (great capacity 2+ bushels easily) but awkward to get up and attached (have to lock it as well). Love panniers but use them mostly for touring. Don't want to get the ripped off. My sweet spot go to for ease and capacity is not in your video, but I picked it up from our eldest when they went to Uni in Guelph: an old milk crate zip tied to a back rack. I throw in 3 or four cloth handled bags that I can tie to the hard plastic handles of the crate: both sides and the back and it's like having 3 extra instant attachable panniers in addition to the crate's capacity! Even the outrigging balances neatly. Cheaper than baskets, even, and super light weight and stuff won't pop out because I have tied the handles of all the cloth shopping bags. No one will steal a zip tied milk crate or cloth reusable shopping bags! You are right on about not feeling the weight when it's actually ON the bike. If our family was not grown up (i.e. still young kids) I would buy that cool Riese &Mueller! Thanks for this inspiring video and I will check out 2WheelGear! So great to have a channel thatis not about racing but is about practical bike riding! I love what you produce!

I used to regularly bike back with ~100 to ~200 lbs of groceries from Haymarket downtown Boston to where I lived about 15 miles away. I had a chest freezer that I would fill for later as you could get killer deals there - one time last fall I got fresh Salmon for ~$2/lb - that load wound up being about 180 pounds (not all salmon ofc though) - I measured it after. All just panniers and the like. That's pushing it for not having a trailer or cargo bike but honestly it was fine - like he says once you get going you don't notice nearly as much difference as you'd think. I used some cooler backpacks I bought from Walmart that cost $50 each and that I converted to panniers for about $20 more. One thing I recommend - I got a Topeak expandable bike rack bag and an expandable backpack as a gift, and I really like the expandability for big trips in particular because then if I got overzealous it gave me a stopping point when I'd have to expand a bag. If you just have giant bags or the like, it's easier to get more stuff than you have room for before you realize and its too late. The expandable bags give a stopping point and some emergency storage.

@tconnolly9820

Жыл бұрын

You had 180lbs or 80kg on your bike??? Just on the back rack and a backpack???? That's really quite amazing if true. I've pulled a trailer that weighs 13kg with over 70kg in it and that's a pretty substantial load. I have to say I'm really astounded at those weights!

@hngldr

Жыл бұрын

@@tconnolly9820 yup! Big back panniers, medium front panniers, expandable trunk bag on top of back panniers/rear rack, big bikepacking triangle bag, stuff strapped to pizza front rack above front panniers, expandable backpack, and a partridge in a pear tree lol