Did errands on my bike!

[Jo-n-NY]

Congratulations, JoAnn, that is very cool! My only worry would be about my bike being stolen being locked up that way -- I very rarely let mine out of my sight. But very good for you for doing the one-car thing. We've found that as long as we're flexible and open-minded, it works great for us. Helps that DH is retired (and an avid cyclist) and that I have access to a bus line to get to work, not every day but at least 2-3 times per week. And work at home one day a week. Our gas budget has gone way, way down, even with the increase in prices at the pump.

Thanks Emily. I have been wanting to do this for the longest time. I chose to lock it on the street lamp post as it is on a town street in front of stores. We felt it was safer there than under the train tressle where there are bike racks but also where kids hang out with there skateboards. My mtn bike is not worth more than a few hundred and should anything happen it would be a loss but not as big of a loss than my road bike. That will also mark the end of my commuting. So hopefully this will work into the fall season.

[TrekTheKaty]

You guys are enablers. There's murmur of a new road bike for me in our house. I'll ask the LBS if I can trade in my bike on a carbon fiber frame and a grocery store bike. (i love embarrassing my husband in front of serious cyclists. It's a little hobby of mine).

[Geonz]

It comes down to perceiving obstacles as challenges to be overcome, instead of reasons not to try. A grocery run.... can't remember why the aerobed is included...

[luv2climb]

I am "car-lite". That means I only use my truck if I absolutely have to or I want to take my road bike up in the hills to do some climbing. I have three adult trikes that I use for all errands and grocery shopping. Here's one of them, parked appropriately considering the lack of a bike rack:



Here's my "Sherman Tank" Gomier 6-speed trike towing my new Worksman Port-O-Trike home from the LBS on a rainy day:


one adult trike towing another one by kittyz202, on Flickr

I also put my Trek 7000 hybrid in the back of my truck so I can go riding when I take it to a shop to have any work done.

[Koronin]

I keep wondering if I can even fit a bike rack on the back of my road bike. It's a 47cm men's Trek 2000 series with 650 tires/wheels. I'm just not sure I can squeeze one in. The seat has to be at the lowest possible spot for me also. The adult trike idea is one I did not know existed and I may want to check out in the future. Although grocery shopping or even picking up something I forgot isn't really an extra trip since I'm either working in or driving by a grocery store on a weekly basis for my jobs. But it would be nice to have the option if I would need it.

[TrekTheKaty]

OOOHHHHH! I want a trike really bad! I found on one the internet and DH "forbade" me to buy it. He should know better

PS. Love the parking sign in the pic

And towing a trike with a trike--that's hilarious!

[luv2climb]

OOOHHHHH! I want a trike really bad! I found on one the internet and DH "forbade" me to buy it. He should know better

PS. Love the parking sign in the pic

And towing a trike with a trike--that's hilarious!

Yeah, especially considering how the trike will pay for itself in gas, maintenance, parking, and insurance costs saved by not driving as much

I got a kick out of that sign too Funny how they have a parking space for low-emission vehicles, but no bike rack? BTW, nobody pays attention to that sign anyway. I see regular cars parked there all the time.

The towing was fun until I got home and discovered that I had worn all the paint off the part of the Worksman's front fork where it contacted the basket on the trike I was riding. A visit to the LBS the next day and a quick application of touch-up paint by me fixed that problem. They know I work on my own bikes so they just handed me the paint bottle and let me take it home with me. I did the touch-up job and returned it to them on the red Torker trike so I could let the paint dry on the Worksman.

Forgot to mention that I always bring my reuseable grocery bags when shopping so I don't have to use the plastic bags from the store. Some stores give you a 5 cent credit for every bag you bring that they fill up.

[shootingstar]

Imagine, cycling for groceries..becoming chic.

No, actually I don't think about it as a different/ atypical activity /way of doing things. How can I? I've been cycling for /with groceries for past 18 yrs. on a regular basis. Again to me, it's like brushing my teeth or vacuuming, necessary for me and brainless solution. Every time I choose to live somewhere ...can I bike to the grocery store /walk? Not even taking the transit is any option for me anymore for grocery shopping or going to the bank...that is too inconvenient because I'm subject to someone else's schedule.

Just lock your bike before hopping into the store. So far..have been lucky after all these years.

[Koronin]

I wish the grocery stores here did the 5 cents credit for the resuable bags, but they don't. The closest one that I know of that does is about a 45 minute drive away. I do try to remember the reusable bags. Although it was easier before I moved (a year ago) and I had a place for everything. Hopefully now I'll be able to get everything a place again and it will be easier to remember those.

[TrekTheKaty]

DH just informed me I don't have to trade in my road bike on the new one--I could add a rack with those foldable baskets. I'd planned to do that to my hybrid, but came home to my BIL driving away with it on the back of his camper And it's a triple--Zoom, Zoom!

That reminds me--I need kleenex and sausage!

My grocery store doesn't give discounts for bringing your own bags--but I had to pay for the bags! However, Whole Foods give me 10 cents or donate to charity. I always donate and the cashiers are very knowledgeable about the current charity--this month is the Wild Bird Sanctuary in South County.