Mary9761- you've inspired me

[shellkay1212]

I can't wait to make some of these! I will be moving in a couple of weeks to 'the city'. It will enable me to commute to work, the store, the theatre, the mall, and even to see family. Heck, with these I can even ride to family dinners. I could put ice in these if I have to take a dish to a family carry in! I can't wait!

[Tri Girl]

I could put ice in these

Oooooo... I hadn't thought about that. Good one! I can put ice in them and use them for picnics in the summer time (I'm thinking cold beer on ice to bring to summer games/gatherings). Hmmm... you're making me think of many other ways to use them that I hadn't thought of.


And, yes, Mary is definitely inspiring in many ways to lots of us. I wish I could be like her in quite a few ways for sure!!!

[shellkay1212]

Heck, yes! I will make all kinds of new friends in my new neighborhood!

[mary9761]

ah geez you guys.. you're embarrassing me... I'm not trying to be inspirational, I'm just a fat and sassy, metal head grandma who decided to hop on a bike one day.

back to the panniers, one of the sites I found talked about getting some material (they said at Lowes) like is in the refridgerated bags that can be used as a liner to keep cold items cold for a time. I'd imagine it would work for hot items too going to your family dinners. I didn't know where to look exactly the day I was at Lowes getting some other stuff and didn't have the extra to get it anyways. Of course for that matter, I found a cloth grocery bag sized cold bag at Walmart today in the freezer section for $1.50 that will fit right down in one of the panniers.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Good job, TriGirl!
I like them in red.

[Tuckervill]

Tri-girl, that's not the same bike you had in July, is it?

That means you have TWO Frankenbikes! I like it!

Karen

[pardes]

I'm sooooo glad they are RED!

Clever, innovative, recycling in action, and it DOES NOT look like a Frankenbike! I think it's almost lovely.

Please give us a detailed report on the amount of groceries they will hold. I'm sure it will be impressive.

[Tri Girl]

Tri-girl, that's not the same bike you had in July, is it?

Karen, it's a different frankenbike. I still have the other, but it sits on my trainer permenently now. It's the "I don't want to go outside for a ride" bike. This new one is my dedicated touring/grocery/errand bike. I LOVE her!

I went shopping on Saturday and almost bought too much stuff. Granted, I'm the master packer who leaves no space empty, but even I had to cram to get it all in.
Here's what fit inside:
large box of cereal
half gallon milk
2 liter of soda
small jar of jelly
3 large canned goods
2 boxes of brownie mix
box of instant oatmeal
cheese
1 large carton of OJ
flour tortillas
2 pears
1 apple
3 bananas
2 library books (from my errand before the grocery store)

On top of the rack I had the large 3 box bundle of Kleenex bungeed to the rack and boxes.
It was a lot of stuff that fit inside, but I almost over-did it. I didn't take them inside the store because the paint fumes were still REALLY strong. Next time I'll take them in and pack them as I go to make sure I don't have too much stuff.