I went grocery shopping!

[Becky]

Congrats on the shopping trip!

I have to ask though: did you leave your panniers on your bike or take them inside? Did you lock the bike? I'm still trying to figure out the logistical details of bike shopping. There's so much nice stuff (panniers, lights, etc.) on my commuter that I get nervous about locking it outside the supermarket. I keep telling DH that I need a cheap single speed for running errands

[Geonz]

Welp, you didn't think I could let this just lie out there... can't fnd my grocery picture right now but here's another example.

I like taking bags in with me (welp, of course, then I don't have the paper or plastic thing either ) - I don't like leaving things out that could be taken, even though it doesn't happen that much around here (once you're off campus.

[OakLeaf]

I am certain if we had a car, the temptation would be greater, to stock up way more different junk foods.

OTOH, it's a lot easier to justify that late-night cookie run when it's on the biccyle...

[obie]

Add me to the list of those who love shopping on the bike! I especially love it when it's farmers market shopping and there are rhubarb stalks and greens tumbling out.

[spotlightmama]

Transporting groceries by bike, does for me, make me abit more conscious of food choices and purchases while I'm wandering around in store since there just is less transportation space is to get the food home. If I'm climbing hills with grocery weight, then I wanna make sure it ain't just a junk stone candyweight that I'm luggin' home...except if it's for a party.

You're totally right - it definitely helped me stop from any impulse buying. As soon as I picked up something off the list, I had to ask, "Do I really want to carry this home?" lol But Oakleaf has a good point...because I promptly used the butter to make peanut butter cookies. Cookies have become quite a motivating factor for riding lately!

Congrats on the shopping trip!

I have to ask though: did you leave your panniers on your bike or take them inside? Did you lock the bike? I'm still trying to figure out the logistical details of bike shopping. There's so much nice stuff (panniers, lights, etc.) on my commuter that I get nervous about locking it outside the supermarket. I keep telling DH that I need a cheap single speed for running errands

I did lock my bike up, but I left the panniers on. I was torn on whether or not to take them in, but they would have been sort of a pain to take off and I didn't anticipate taking too long. I was nervous that someone would take my bike, but I figured that I can't just be held back from running errands by that fear (but believe me, I shopped fast, lol). But this is the main reason I haven't taken my trailer...I'm not sure what to do with it when I go inside. I suppose I could take it in and use it as a cart...

And I am SO jealous of that Xtracycle - I am dying for one. But after the money I've spent on two bikes and the requisite accessories - It'll be a while, lol

[obie]

It's funny - because of the subject matter, when I saw your tagline at the bottom (MS 150 Cycle to the Shore) I read it as "Cycle to the Store" and was thinking "wow, that's a long way to ride in order to get to a store!"

My rule of thumb for shopping is to carry one of the shopping baskets rather than a shopping cart. When it gets to heavy to lug around, then I know I have enough

[Becky]

I did lock my bike up, but I left the panniers on. I was torn on whether or not to take them in, but they would have been sort of a pain to take off and I didn't anticipate taking too long. I was nervous that someone would take my bike, but I figured that I can't just be held back from running errands by that fear (but believe me, I shopped fast, lol). But this is the main reason I haven't taken my trailer...I'm not sure what to do with it when I go inside. I suppose I could take it in and use it as a cart...

You make a good point about not letting fear hold us back, and one that I need to take to heart. After all, it's just stuff. My panniers, like yours, are a royal pain to put on and take off. I think that I will try to modify the pannier attachments to make them easy-on, easy-off- suggestions are welcome!

I was actually considering that it might be easier to shop with the trailer and just use a long cable along with my U-lock to secure everything. I can easily roll the drysak up to carry it inside, and maybe even use it as a bag for my goodies!

DH and I did scope out another grocery store last night- not one that we usually shop at, but one that would be easier to get to by bike. I might give it a try next week.

[Melalvai]

When I use a pannier on errands I take it inside with me, but it goes on & off easily.

My trailer, I leave attached to the bike. At the grocery store I go to that is fine. I've often thought as I am locking up my bike but not the trailer that I'm glad I don't live in one of those places where the trailer would be gone, because mine is also easy-on-easy-off. I suppose I'd run a cable lock through a tire or something in those places.

[spotlightmama]

It's funny - because of the subject matter, when I saw your tagline at the bottom (MS 150 Cycle to the Shore) I read it as "Cycle to the Store" and was thinking "wow, that's a long way to ride in order to get to a store!"

lol - that would be quite a trip!!

You make a good point about not letting fear hold us back, and one that I need to take to heart. After all, it's just stuff. My panniers, like yours, are a royal pain to put on and take off. I think that I will try to modify the pannier attachments to make them easy-on, easy-off- suggestions are welcome!

I was actually considering that it might be easier to shop with the trailer and just use a long cable along with my U-lock to secure everything. I can easily roll the drysak up to carry it inside, and maybe even use it as a bag for my goodies!

DH and I did scope out another grocery store last night- not one that we usually shop at, but one that would be easier to get to by bike. I might give it a try next week.

It is just stuff. Go for it - I promise you'll be glad you did!

[shootingstar]

I do unhook and carry my panniers around. Yea, a bit of a pain but I've done it for so many years now.

We tend to make several mini trips to different food shopping places during the week. Grocery shopping is seldom in 1 singular bike trip. Since each of us are on our bikes often during the week, we each take the initiative while rolling along homeward, to buy some food.

In retrospect, now I realize that we don't even draw up grocery shopping lists in advance..since it's shopping for just 2. So our cycling grocery shopping trips and efforts very rarely duplicate too much of same food or buying the "wrong" food.

[Melalvai]

I do unhook and carry my panniers around. Yea, a bit of a pain but I've done it for so many years now.

So much of what I do related to my bike is so routine now I don't even notice. Like locking & unlocking, takes me just seconds, and it's just part of the ride. But when I started, it seemed like it took forever!

I guess anything is like that. Even getting in & out of the car, I could take a long time doing stuff like buckling the kid in her carseat, stashing my bag and/or purse and/or whatever else somewhere--oops, not on the kid--finding my sunglasses, running back in for this that and the other that we forgot, turning around at the first stopsign to run back for something else forgotten.

She's almost a teen now and this isn't quite the ordeal it used to be...still, my point is we get used to these little things that were such a pain.

[TJ_Relic]

I did lock my bike up, but I left the panniers on. I was torn on whether or not to take them in, but they would have been sort of a pain to take off and I didn't anticipate taking too long.

I just got the Basil Panniers and I'm really uneasy about the velcro straps at the bottom and the other straps at the top. The velcro ones also don't line up well with the bars on my rack, so it is all weird. What the heck is going on there? I was thinking about putting some sort of plastic buckle. Any ideas?

[spotlightmama]

I just got the Basil Panniers and I'm really uneasy about the velcro straps at the bottom and the other straps at the top. The velcro ones also don't line up well with the bars on my rack, so it is all weird. What the heck is going on there? I was thinking about putting some sort of plastic buckle. Any ideas?

The velcro straps on mine are so weird and I completely do not understand them. But I just wrap it around the sides of my rack and have had no problem I went shopping again today and got even more heavy stuff and it was fine.

Where would you put a plastic buckle?

[Geonz]

So much of what I do related to my bike is so routine now I don't even notice. Like locking & unlocking, takes me just seconds, and it's just part of the ride. But when I started, it seemed like it took forever!

I guess anything is like that. Even getting in & out of the car, I could take a long time doing stuff like buckling the kid in her carseat, stashing my bag and/or purse and/or whatever else somewhere--oops, not on the kid--finding my sunglasses, running back in for this that and the other that we forgot, turning around at the first stopsign to run back for something else forgotten.

She's almost a teen now and this isn't quite the ordeal it used to be...still, my point is we get used to these little things that were such a pain.

that is somethign I realized when I drove a car after cycling for weeks... I had to *think* about things that had been routine (like parking or finding my floggin' keys, because the physical routine is different). I realized that a lot of the excuses people have for why they "can't" use a bicycle more ... because "it's so inconvenient to......" ... simply totally stop being inconvenient because they are routine. However, if you'd told me taht, I don't know if I would have believed you.

[shootingstar]

that is somethign I realized when I drove a car after cycling for weeks... I had to *think* about things that had been routine (like parking or finding my floggin' keys, because the physical routine is different). I realized that a lot of the excuses people have for why they "can't" use a bicycle more ... because "it's so inconvenient to......" ... simply totally stop being inconvenient because they are routine.

When I am in someone else's car for a lengthy period of time, which is not often..it does feel abit luxurious to me . But as soon as they spend time trying to find parking, that's when I realize ..for the shorter trips to the store, restaurant...it must be a big pain in the butt ..just dealing with the parking..particularily in a big populated city. I think to myself: I could have parked my bike 15 min. ago (for free) instead of this circle game to find parking...