grocery bikes

[Tri Girl]

Mary, your panniers turned out really great!! I loved the slideshow. It provides great details. I'm really impressed!!!

[mary9761]

Thanks Ladies,
I have figured out a few things I might do differently if I make another set. I'll likely cut notches in the lid as well where the rope cleats can be seated and help the lid sit better. I will also try to figure out a way to make the handles useable. Right now I can't get them up over the cleats to be able to carry the pannier when off the bike. I may put the handle above the cleats, but then will need to secure the handle so it doesn't bounce or catch when on the bike. The paint does scuff, but I may try using a sharpy. They also make a black duct tape so the next pair may be covered in duct tape LOL. Get black and international orange and make them striped

[PscyclePath]

I invested in a pair of the Jandd grocery panniers a month or so back that have been giving good service. They hold a paper bag's worth of groceries or other stuff with ease. I don't have a picture of the bike with them mounted yet, but may have to get out and play with the camera soon...

I did approach the problem of packing a 20-lb sack of dog food home from Petsmart... mounted the grocery panniers, strapped the bag over the rear rack, and tucked the ends of the bag into the pannier on either side. A little wobbly at first, but it worked (at least out on the flats, where I live )

I really liked Mary's rig... I've got a couple of empty detergent buckets hanging around, so may have to hit the hardware store and build a set of those, too...

[Blueberry]

I did approach the problem of packing a 20-lb sack of dog food home from Petsmart... mounted the grocery panniers, strapped the bag over the rear rack, and tucked the ends of the bag into the pannier on either side. A little wobbly at first, but it worked (at least out on the flats, where I live )

I've done this too - with cat food. And with extra large pizzas.

CA

[PinkBike]

love that picture of raleighdon's bike with a trailer AND aero-bars!

[mimitabby]

love that picture of raleighdon's bike with a trailer AND aero-bars!

he's ready for ANYTHING!

[Irulan]

I use a retired kid trailer with no modifications. It's a Bell two-seater, with lots of pockets that hold things like loaves of bread perfectly. I have hauled a regular load ( think two adults, two large teen boys) many times, complete with gallons of milk, sacks of potatoes and eggs.

One time I rode to the specialty butcher and got a very nice prime rib roast and picked up a cake from the baker's - the seat belts work great for holding things in.
My usual run is grocery, video store, library which about 2 miles each way. If I add in the post office, bank and lbs it turns into a modertely hilly 7 mile loop. I use either my geared commuter (converted old mtb) or my singlespeed.

Funniesst moment. OK, I get "the look" as in "omg she's got kids in traffic" look a LOT but one time I lost my hitch in the middle of a somewhat busy interserction. Potatoes were rolling everywhere. Several latte-suv moms stopped completely freaking out that somehow my kid was careening through the intersection and I am having to calm people down... it's only groceries, folks... move along now....