Biking to places other than work?

[BBsw]

There is a Farmer's Market right on my route home. Plus there are a couple of major grocery stores very close to my home.

I was just wondering if any of you ride to the grocery store or shopping? Where else do you ride?

[Tri Girl]

I grocery shop on my bike and do other errands (library, pharmacy, Goodwill, etc). For most errands, I use one or two panniers. For the grocery shopping I used the panniers (small trip), or the big flatbed trailer that I recently converted (big trips).
In the summer it's so hot that I find myself going to the car more often (counter productive- I know), but it's soooo hot and humid that sometimes I just can't bear to get on my bike and get even more sweaty. When I do that, I save for lots of trips all at once.

[mimitabby]

Oh, i'm so glad you asked. Where i live, traffic is SO HORRIBLE that i pretty much hate to drive anymore (not to mention the gas thing)
I ride to the market, i ride to the library; i ride to 3 different supermarkets.
I ride to my mother's house (11 miles south as the crow flies) I ride to the art store.
I am fortunate that i have an older pannier that works for groceries and stuff.
Of course, i don't buy gallons of olive oil or cat litter when i'm biking; but there is a lot of stuff i can carry easily

Go for it! it's really been fun. ( I confess that my last library acquisition was a smaller book, i was thinking about my hill climb home )

[GLC1968]

We bike all over the place right now. Out to dinner, grocery store, pet store, bank, etc. We currently live where all these things are only about 2-5 miles away, so it's easy.

Our new house is near nothing but farms. I'm guessing that most of the errands we'll likely do by bike once we move are the ones where we can hit the places on the way home from work. We'll see.

[sfa]

I live in a good location for biking to get places, so I bike regularly to the library, my kids' schools, the drug store, the playground at the state park and the Girl Scouts meeting place. If I went to the farmer's market, I'd ride there (but it's only open while I'm at work. Phooey.). If we ever ate at restaurants, I'd ride there. About the only place I don't go is the grocery store--it's in a fairly scary area and I wouldn't trust my bike to stay in one piece if I left it outside of the store.

Sarah

[Adventure Girl]

I bike to the gym. It just seems so WRONG to drive a car to the gym to take a spin class!:confused:

I've been riding my bike to this gym for about 10 years. Until this year, I would say that my bike was alone in the bike rack about 95% of the time. I live in a town that is not very bike-friendly, and people just don't ride.

In the last 6 months or so, I have noticed that about 50% of the time that I go, there is at least one other bike in the rack. But I've never seen more than 3 bikes there at a time, so biking to my gym is still not very popular!

[Crankin]

Since I am not working now, I make it a habit to ride to the library, natural food store, bike shop, and to local restaurants for lunch at least once or twice a week. I don't do major grocery shopping on my bike, though. At this time of year, I do visit the local farmers to buy produce while it is fresh.
I also ride to the gym, when I am going to do weights, core, or yoga stuff. Usually, my bike is the only one there. It's about 16 miles round trip, so I count it as a regular ride, and on my heavy hybrid bike, with a pannier.

[BBsw]

This is really neat! I can see myself stopping off at the farmer's market on the way home but for other grocery shopping, I don't know. All kinds of possibilities.

[OakLeaf]

I don't have a real job :p

"Up north" I've ridden to the dentist as I mentioned before. I'm still getting up my courage to ride to the gym/work. I don't have cargo carrying capacity - and I'm not sure groceries would survive the very hilly and bumpy 15 miles - so the grocery store is pretty much out.

"Down south" I ride pretty much everywhere. I've got decent sized saddlebags on my commuter, and it's less than two miles to the grocery store. Gym, church, out to eat, post office, bank, grocery shopping. Farmer's market such as it is - although I usually skip that because it's pretty pathetic :(

[singletrackmind]

Good ol' BOB trailer.

Everywhere.

[obie]

I am on the edge of a major city - I ride for just about all errands including work errands and meetings. My exceptions are Friday/Saturday nights (potential for crazy drivers) and things like Costco (which is only a twice/year trip anyway).

When I moved here ten years ago, I had no money and no car and it was a 20-25 minute walk to the nearest subway stop (there were buses for rainy days but they weren't as frequent). So I evolved into figuring out things for the bike. Even silly things, like only carrying a grocery store basket (instead of a shopping cart) because once the basket was too heavy, I wouldn't be able to fit things on the bike! I also have bar ends on my commuting bike - very useful for tying bags of produce from the farmers market, or hanging 1/2 gallon jugs of milk.

Oh - and I try not to do too many errands at once. I can lock up my bike only so many times before getting "errand fatigue" and getting cranky. I'm sure it would be even worse in a car, but I wouldn't know! Thankfully that's a novelty :)

[Tuckervill]

My son and DIL moved to a small town, and bought a house close to the town square. I fixed her up with a bike and baby trailer and she rides around town everywhere (not to the major thoroughfares, because she is concentrating on organic food and doesn't need to go anywhere but the farmer's market). She's picked doctors and dentists within biking distance. Her 3 yo son goes, too.

She's even getting a reputation. She had to walk into the bank and leave her bike outside because the ATM wasn't working. The teller asked her if she was that "gal who rides her bike everywhere?" That's too cute. She's about 6 weeks pregnant now, so I'm hoping she doesn't have any complications and can keep riding--and feels up to it--all the way through. (She had major complications last time and spent 10 weeks in the hospital.)

I bought her a Bell Citi commuting helmet. I hope she's wearing it.

Karen

[redrhodie]

My favorite place to ride to is the beach. It's $10 if you drive, but free on a bike! I carry a towel and sheet to lay on, a lock and sunscreen. That's all we need.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

I like to ride everywhere I can. I try and commute to work twice a week and where ever else I can- grocery store, etc. I love taking off early on Sat. morning and hitting the 'honor system' farm stands because they just loaded them up early in the morning. I also like to ride early in the morning because no one is on the roads and I can go and explore the narrow town streets without worrying about getting doored or ran over by someone looking at the ocean.

I just got those cool Wald wire baskets for my bike but I got sick and haven't taken it on a proper maiden voyage. Sigh....

I finally had someone ask my why I ride my bike so much...did I get a DUI? I said no, I'm saving my cash for gas to take my mountain bike to the dirt. I don't think they really got it.

[bikerHen]

Good ol' BOB trailer.

Everywhere.

+1 for the BOB trailer. My DH says I spend more time with Bob than with him. :D bikerHen

[Tuckervill]

If you don't need the weight capacity of a real BOB Yak, Nashbar has their BOB-like trailer on sale now for $99 (half off). It only holds 45 lbs., though.

Karen

[Melalvai]

I bike to work, the grocery store, doctor's office, daughter's school, lunch with husband, any trip that is by myself. Sometimes I bike and meet my family at our destination, for example my daughter's swim meet, a restaurant, etc. If I'm going to be hauling something I prefer to bike because I get such a kick out of it. I'll be picking up my daughter's new mattress next week and I've made arrangements to borrow a friend's bikes-at-work trailer for it! Mine isn't big enough.

[BBsw]

I was surfing around yesterday and found a kit (http://www.wicycle.com/cargo_diy_kit_bicycle_trailer.php) with a 75# weight capacity. Of course, it conveniently leaves out the tubes and for an extra $$$ you can buy them. Might as well by a ready-made trailer.

I love Nashbar, I will check that out.

[shootingstar]

We don't have a car. That already should indicate how much we bike for pleasure, fitness and out of necessity for transportation.

So yes, commuting home at least 1-2 evenings is stopping by for a few groceries or having a restaurant meal or picnic in park with sweetie who cycles to and waits for me at my bike locker.

It actually feels abit strange to me ..to be NOT biking and walking along carrying a pile of groceries homeward.

Most of our vacation trips during non-snowy seasons, include cycling.

[eclectic]

I finally took the plunge and have done some commuting. My PT summer job is 6 miles from home and has a bike trail all the way. I have ridden it and loved it but the job is at a golf course and it is too hard to tote golf clubs so I can head to the driving range after work :p

I do ride my bike for errands, however, I have gone to the bank drive thru, the Post Office drive thru and I have a "Wicked Witch of the West" basket on the back that will hold a large size "green" grocery bag which I take into the store - anything that will fit in the bag I can take home.

A little funny aside - my DBF was on an out of town business trip, he walked to the bank and went to the drive thru - the teller refused to serve him because he wasn't in a car. He was told he had to go inside. Unfortunately the inside lobby was closed (as he already knew). After much fast talking on his part and deliberation on the tellers part she finally served him through the drive thru window. Without naming places it happened in an ocean front far Western warm state :D

[Geonz]

Pretty much everywhere I go, I ride :)

WHen you have an Xtracycle it's easy.

[IFjane]

I bike to our bike rides, does that count?


Mimi - is that your painting of Lance in his birthday suit? If so, where's the rest of it?? :eek::D

[tulip]

Thoughts?

[Blueberry]

tulip-

I have and love the bike revolution trailer (made by a company related to Friday). It's a rubbermaid tote. It has 2 wheels - I always worried about the stability of a bob (never tried it, though). You're welcome to play with mine next time you're down this way...

ETA - of course, I'm now considering making my old mountain bike into an xtra. Not that I need one. They're just really cool:) I'm sure I could justify it somehow:)

My problem is always what to do with stuff when running multiple errands - you really can't leave it on the bike, and taking it into the (other) stores seems risky...

CA

[tulip]

Thanks, CA, I hadn't heard of the Bike Revolution trailers before. I like that they are rain-proof and lockable. Once I get settled into the house, I think I would like to get some sort of trailer for groceries.

I may be down your way in a few weeks. I'll let you know.

[emily_in_nc]

My problem is always what to do with stuff when running multiple errands - you really can't leave it on the bike, and taking it into the (other) stores seems risky...

What we do is always ride together to do errands (DH and I), which are pretty much limited to post office, farmer's market, and food co-op (everything else is too far away), and one of us always stays outside and guards the bikes (and the loot!) It's not quite as much fun not being able to go in together, but it avoids having to lock up the bike or deal with the "stuff" issue.

Unfortunately, we haven't done any "errand rides" this year yet -- just too busy with our puppy, DH's baseball schedule, and gardens. Hopefully soon.

Emily

[Blueberry]

Thanks, CA, I hadn't heard of the Bike Revolution trailers before. I like that they are rain-proof and lockable. Once I get settled into the house, I think I would like to get some sort of trailer for groceries.

I may be down your way in a few weeks. I'll let you know.

Cool:)

I haven't figured out how to lock it yet - haven't been able to find a lock to fit. But, DH did bike back from PetSmart with cat food (20lbs), dog food (40 lbs) and cat litter ~10 lbs. Handled just fine:)

Emily- We usually do that, but I've running some errands on my own. It's kind of a drag to have to ride home and then ride back out to another store....

CA

[FlyingScot]

I just today ordered a Croozer cargo trailer!!!! There is a large shopping plaza just 2 miles from me (bike path the whole way there) with 3 grocery stores, a Home Depot and pretty much everything else in between. I've been going to the store nearly every day but I can only get what fits in a backpack so if I need charcoal or soda it has to be the car for now. I was heading off to HD one day and my neighbor asked me to pick up a 12 ft length of 2x4 lumber. I seriously tried to figure out how to do it!!! Of course he was joking. Now if only I could reduce my 125 mile, one way,commute!

[tulip]

I just today ordered a Croozer cargo trailer!!!! There is a large shopping plaza just 2 miles from me (bike path the whole way there) with 3 grocery stores, a Home Depot and pretty much everything else in between. I've been going to the store nearly every day but I can only get what fits in a backpack so if I need charcoal or soda it has to be the car for now. I was heading off to HD one day and my neighbor asked me to pick up a 12 ft length of 2x4 lumber. I seriously tried to figure out how to do it!!! Of course he was joking. Now if only I could reduce my 125 mile, one way,commute!

I like the looks of that!

[mupedalpusher]

I love my Carry Freedom trailer, it's a flatbed. You can strap nearly anything to it. I typically carry a really large plastic tub for hauling stuff. I like the fact that it comes apart incredibly easy and I can store it in my office or at home. Many of the other trailers don't have this feature.

[sfa]

I just today ordered a Croozer cargo trailer!!!! There is a large shopping plaza just 2 miles from me (bike path the whole way there) with 3 grocery stores, a Home Depot and pretty much everything else in between. I've been going to the store nearly every day but I can only get what fits in a backpack so if I need charcoal or soda it has to be the car for now. I was heading off to HD one day and my neighbor asked me to pick up a 12 ft length of 2x4 lumber. I seriously tried to figure out how to do it!!! Of course he was joking. Now if only I could reduce my 125 mile, one way,commute!

A surfboard rack would do it :http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RBKA2K

No. maybe not--it only will carry up to ten feet in length.

Sarah

[Melalvai]

I just today ordered a Croozer cargo trailer!!!! There is a large shopping plaza just 2 miles from me (bike path the whole way there) with 3 grocery stores, a Home Depot and pretty much everything else in between. I've been going to the store nearly every day but I can only get what fits in a backpack so if I need charcoal or soda it has to be the car for now. I was heading off to HD one day and my neighbor asked me to pick up a 12 ft length of 2x4 lumber. I seriously tried to figure out how to do it!!! Of course he was joking. Now if only I could reduce my 125 mile, one way,commute!
A bikes at work trailer. They're 12 foot. http://www.bikesatwork.com/

[boy in a kilt]

I have this fantasy about an xtracycle. SGTiger has promised me one when I get back from Iraq. My boss discourages me from riding to work because, as he says, "You never know when you'll need to go pick up a pump or something."

I want to go to our pump supplier, pick up a pump and strap it to the Xtracycle, along with as much other crap as I can put on there. Then I want him to feast his eyes on it.

[tulip]

With the Bikes At Work trailer, I can hook up my kayak (um, well, when I get one)! I live very close to the river. Cool!

[FlyingScot]

I got my Croozer trailer today!!!! Man that was fast. Unfortunately it got damaged in shipping (thanks Fed-Ex) but I did at least get a chance to look at it in person and it's really terrific. Easy to set up, sturdy and it can be converted to a handcart so I can take it into the grocery store and use it for a shopping cart. No worries about locking it up. It has a quick-release hitch so no need for tools. Fed-Ex (should be Fed-Up Express if you ask me) is picking up the damaged one tomorrow and I should have the new one by Friday. Oh and I got a new job today!!!!! Yeah me! Sorry, I'm a little giddy.

[cyclingmama]

I bike to the gym. Its 2.5 miles on heavy-traffic roads, 3.8 on back roads. It takes me about 12 minutes as opposed to 4 in the car. As a previous poster noted, it just seems wrong to hop in the car and drive to the gym to exercise. On the weekends there are always a few other bikes in the bike rack, but at 5:30am I'm always the only one.

I really want to get a trailer and try grocery shopping by bike, but I usually take one of the kids with me to the grocery store. I would bike to many more places if not for the kids (ages 2 and 5). I know I can put them in the trailer, but to go just about anywhere from my house you have to travel a major road with high speed traffic. The shoulders are wide and usually clean, and I feel totally safe riding that road myself, but the thought of riding that road with the kids just makes me waaaayyy too nervous.

[tulip]

I got my Croozer trailer ...it can be converted to a handcart so I can take it into the grocery store and use it for a shopping cart.

Could you use it like a wheelbarrow in the garden? I'd love to minimize the things I have to buy once I get my house, and if this can double as a garden cart, I'm definitely getting one.

[FlyingScot]

Could you use it like a wheelbarrow in the garden? I'd love to minimize the things I have to buy once I get my house, and if this can double as a garden cart, I'm definitely getting one.

I think you could use it for plants and stuff but I wouldn't haul dirt. The sides are a cloth material that may not hold up well to the weight of things like dirt and mulch. It does, however, easily fold down into about a 6 inch deep package that would fit under a bed (just for reference). Otherwise I think you could do just about anything with this thing.

[FlyingScot]

Got my first trailer, first ride to the grocery store...first time HIT BY CAR! Idiot wasn't looking as he turned into the driveway of the shopping center and plastered me. Bike flipped, trailer flipped but somehow by the grace of God I landed on my feet. I pretty much knew it was going to happen so I managed to uncleat really fast. My new trailer is scraped but no other damage, bike landed in the grass and I don't have a mark on me. The jerk just blew his horn and kept on going. Of course I had feminine protection product boxes strewn all over the place and my sushi fell apart but otherwise all is well and it hasn't scared me off yet. BTW the Croozer is a sweet little trailer. I got lots of questions about it (took it into the store and used it as a cart). It tracks really well and you hardly feel it at all...well okay when it's sailing through the air you kind of notice it!!!

[sgtiger]

:eek::eek::eek:

FlyingScot, I'm glad you're okay. Some people!:mad: Did anyone get his license?

[Blueberry]

Wow! Scary. VERY glad you're OK. Seriously - report that. At least the cops can be on the look out. Did he hit hard enough to have damages on the car? Might make him easier to find. GRRRR...

[FlyingScot]

Unfortunately I was too stunned to get even the make of the car much less the license plate. What's worse not one person in the approximately 12 cars who sat there and witnessed it so much as rolled down their window to see if I was okay. I'm pretty much disgusted with humans right now. But I'm very happy that the damage to my equipment was minimal. I thought about a police report but honestly I have no info to give them other than it was a silver sedan so I'm afraid I'm going to be laughed out the door. I am going to call the city tomorrow to see if they can add another crosswalk at this very busy intersection to allow better access to the bike path I was trying to get to. Our city law requires us to ride on a path if it is adjacent to the street and we can be ticketed if we ride in the street, yet they don't provide adequate safe access. It's probably a losing battle but worth a try I think.

[tulip]

I vote for filing a police report anyways. It may not result in catching the guy, but it could strengthen the argument for improvements to that area.

[mci021]

I was just wondering if any of you ride to the grocery store or shopping? Where else do you ride?

Going to the farmers market on Saturday mornings is a favorite bad habit of mine. So many fresh baked goods... so little time. *sigh*

I also go to the library, Trader Joes, you name it. The only downside is that I can only buy what will fit in my bag and really, that's not even a downside. I'm restricted to the essentials, which means the soda and potato chips stay on the store shelf.