Ideas for Packing Groceries ... ???

vja4Him said:

I need some ideas for packing groceries on my Electra Townie. I want to take advantage of every possible space on the bike to put stuff (middle frame, rear, front, sides).

I would really like to add some kind of rear rack that would allow me to carry about four bags of groceries (or more?), then carry another one or two bags in the front and/or middle (?). I would like to try and figure out someway to stop carrying a backpack.

Yesterday, carrying the groceries in my backpack really hurt my back!!! I have a bad back, and so I need some ideas here on what to do ... Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

-- Riding4Life

My suggestion would be to get wagon like people use to take their small children or pets riding with them. Click on the link below to see what I am referring to. It is a link for Bike Nashbar and if you are in the US, you can buy it from them. It is on sale right now!

nashbar.comprofile.cfmOpen ↗

See -
http://www.cyclingforums.com/t466945.html

Do this instead ! -
http://www.cyclingforums.com/t360121.html

The idea of a kiddy carrier wagon is excellent. When my kids were young, I had a rear facing cannondale model and it was excellent for carrying stuff as well as kids, often at the same time. Of course the newer forward facing ones would work great too.

One good thing is that you might be able to find one for cheap as parents get rid of them when their kids grow up. I think I actually gave ours away just to get it out of the garage.

Of course you can buy a new one or even a trailer designed for carrying stuff that is used by tourers.

I used to see a very neat rear rack around here, but not for a while. It hung on both sides of the rear wheel and instead of holding panniers, it was the size and shape to hold a rectangular bucket on each side - the kind of bucket you see in feed or natural food stores, probably about 3-5 gallons. They have sealed lids. Makes it easy to carry your stuff to and from the bike, and is weather proof. If you can find that, it would be great.

The fundamental problem in most inner cities is that you just don't want to park your expensive trailer outside while you go in shopping, and you certainly can't leave anything in it while you do.

Use the alternate hitch on the Burley Trailer, and when you lock the trailer remove the removable wheel and lock it with your U-Lock.

Put valuables in a Jandd Commuter Pannier and Lock it shut with a combo lock like this --
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2259706

Otherwise, people will steal stuff left in the Burley, - they stole $11 worth of groceries from me! You gotta take it out with you at a stop!

Go retro!bunchobikes.com1955Cycletruck.htmOpen ↗

http://www.cobbworks.com/

http://www.bicycletouring101.com/BikeDIYPanniers.htm

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22bucket+panniers%22&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

The Nashbar Townie. I had one about ten years ago. They held a lot of stuff and left the top part of the rack for more storage. Anything more than that and you are better off with a trailer.

See link.
[url="http://bike-nashbar.amazonwebstore.com/Nashbar-Townie-Basket/M/B0009S6SOK.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle"][u]bike-nashbar.amazonwebstore.comB0009S6SOK.htmOpen ↗[/u][/url]


Then again, if you look at the old pics from China, people practically carried their whole house on those old bikes. Get a straw hat and carry it all on your head.