I went grocery shopping!

[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!

[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?

[TJ_Relic]

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?

My problem is the velcro is too short to reach or the bars on the rack are too far forward or something. But it goes through this plastic slot thing, and I thought I would buy a slightly longer skinny strap with a buckle to use instead.

[Kano]

I went grocery shopping today!

Haven't done that before, but have been plotting "errand commuting" all season, and slowly putting the old bike into riding condition.

So, today, I put the "kid trailer" on the back of my 25 year old Trek antelope 820, and headed down toward town to

COSTCO!

Costco is about two miles from my house, down hill all the way. You know what that says about my ride home with two gallons of milk, five pounds of peanuts and 9 pounds of assorted cheeses. There was more, what the heck was it? I added it all up, and figured about 35 pounds of groceries. I have not weighed the trailer, nor have I weighed the little chromoly bike.

DH and I figure that I trailed all the weight I've lost in the last year. I trailed it in the granny ring, and total granny gear on the biggest slopes.

BUT, the most exciting part is that I made it! The trailer is probably in need of grease in the wheel hubs, and who knows what else, since it was a garage sale find that we picked up to trail our grandkids around. I should slime its tires, since we have all kinds of things that could help flat them -- I carried a tire pump too.

Figuring out how to put the trailer onto the back of the bike was quite a process -- the gizmo that went on the bike wasn't with the trailer, but elsewhere in the shed.

The tires on the bike are OLD -- original equipment, and they look a bit scary. I think I'd like to get smooth ones, but will start with putting the tires that were on my "comfort beast" when I got it on this one for a while first. I'm trying to avoid making a really big financial investment before I know for sure I'm going to keep up with this "errand commuting" thing. The front brake needs some adjustment. I have to figure out how to do that.

I'm pretty sure DH thought this was a less than stellar idea. I called him this morning and asked when he was heading home from work. Suggested I could meet him somewhere along the way, but we need to do some grocery shopping, so how about I bring the trailer down so we could try a Costco run. He had been talking with a friend about doing that "one of these days" last night. I told him that HE would probably have to bring it back up the hill, and he seemed glad when I later called and asked how the heck do I get this thing attached to the bike? He suggested I give it a few more minutes, then bring the car instead.

I was already at Costco, bike locked up, a bottle of water downed, when he called me from another part of the parking lot to say, don't bring the trailer, bring the car, the wind is nasty. He didn't sound pleased to hear that I was already there, locked to the bike rack, wondering where he is.

After we loaded the trailer, I said I'd give it a try. That I'd probably be pretty slow, but I'd give it a try. I might decide he could tow it up the bigger of the two hills, but I'd give it a try at least up the first. There was a church parking lot where we could have safely swapped.

I was really slow up hills, even for me, but I made it. I thought about stopping part way up the second hill, but realized I'd never get that load going again if I did, and would have to walk the rest of the way (I had told DH that if I had to stop, I would be able to, unlike him, since he has the guy-thing going, and wouldn't stop if it killed him) so I am pretty pleased to be able to say I made it!

I wanted to take the dog for a ride when we got home, to see how he would do, but DH wouldn't hear of that. Apparently, it's just plain stupid to carry dogs along on a walk, or take them for a bike ride in a trailer. We'll sneak out sometime when he's not around. I'd like to be able to take him to his grooming appointments in the trailer rather than in the car. He's not a quiet car passenger, so the trailer might not be an option -- he could turn out to be just too squirrelly!

Oh, and: I'd forgotten what a nice little bike my Trek is! Now I'll REALLY never ride the comfort-beast again...

Karen in Boise

[Melalvai]

Karen, that sounds fun! I remember my first grocery trips, and then the first grocery trips in the rain, and the grocery trips on icy roads...those are some true adventures.

I'm the stronger rider, so I pull the trailer, but when I was new to getting groceries by bike trailer, my husband liked to follow me on his bike. He did that for several weeks before he was comfortable letting me do this by myself. Too bad! He's not a keen cyclist so doesn't ride with me often otherwise.