Biked to the grocery store

[Halfsees]

Ok, not that big of a deal, but I'm new to biking as an adult and managed to bike the 5 miles there and then back to my closest grocery store that I'd actually like to shop at. Now I just need to outfit my bike with baskets and racks so I can haul something back.

Also, I have a question if anyone knows or has encountered a similar situation: Google maps gave me a route that has a nice shortcut on an aging private road that cuts though multiple properties. I'm not sure about using it in the future, although I'd really like to. Using the private road to bike on the way to the store was fine except having to go around several vehicles that were parked on it. On the way back, I noticed one house had one of those signs people sometimes have that says family and friends welcome but they'll shoot everyone else. I'm not worried about actually getting shot, but I'm not sure if I have a legal right to use the road. I contacted the sheriff's office but they were no help so I'm hoping planning will let me know eventually. If I do have a legal right, would you knock on their door and introduce yourself in the hope that you are granted "friends" status or would you just inform them you are there legally if they ever happen to see you?

[meghan88]

First, good on you.  Happy biking. Knapsacks and panniers can hold a lot of groceries.

Personally, I would knock on their door to make sure I have right of passage.

[hipchick]

I biked to the grocery store for the first time today as well! It was a quick trip to Aldi's and I took a backpack. The hardest part is getting up the hill that is my alley. The second hardest part was not buying more than would fit in my backpack. I also need to look into a basket and/or panniers.

[dandiewind]

The panniers help a TON with grocery getting. I always carry a backpack that stuffs into itself, too, so I can use that just in case I bought more than the panniers can handle.

I just bought one at Target and at my local bike shop, but you can totally make your own panniers, too.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-DIY-Bike-Panniers/

[Halfsees]

Yea! Thanks for replying everyone! I just finally got a rack on the back and this fold up basket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XVZGXYH

I haven't taken it grocey shopping yet, but have determined it can hold a cold bag with two gallons of milk inside, so it should be good for shopping.

I personally wouldn't go with a backpack because I have low tolerance for sweaty back, although it's very effective.

[sovereign]

I biked 30 minutes to the grocery store last weekend.  Fortunately, there are a network of bike paths to get there.  I only picked up a few things and hung the bag over the handlebars.  Another guy was loading groceries in a pannier on his bike.  Guess I should look into getting one.

[GuitarStv]

Panniers are OK for groceries . . . but I find that Wald 582 folding baskets are outstanding for this purpose.  You can fit a large bag of stuff in each basket, and then bungee cord extra on top.  Then add a front rack with some panniers if you want to do four bags of groceries and 10 lbs of potatoes . . .




:P

[Halfsees]

Guitar, I agree about the Wald basket. Now that I am using it I want a second one. Your set up looks quite efficient.

[justaguy]

Good work Sehr!  This forum has encouraged me to ride to the grocery store as well.  A nice 6 mile roundtrip.  I’m trying to use my bike to replace as many trips as possible.  I use my Timbuk2 Pannier’s that I use when I ride in to work.  A nice benefit I’ve found to riding to the grocery store is I buy less unnecessary ‘stuff’ because I don’t have unlimited room. 

[Stubblestache]

I biked to the grocery store for the first time today as well! It was a quick trip to Aldi's and I took a backpack. The hardest part is getting up the hill that is my alley.

That hill will only get easier the more you do it :)

[GuitarStv]

I biked to the grocery store for the first time today as well! It was a quick trip to Aldi's and I took a backpack. The hardest part is getting up the hill that is my alley.

That hill will only get easier the more you do it :)

You'll get faster going up the hill . . . it won't get easier.  :P

[jc4]

Well done!

My wife and I don't have bike's. Instead we tried running to the grocery store: 2.2 miles each way.

I've got a big hiking pack that we loaded all the groceries in. It sure feels weird running with all that weight tho.

[lpstiffler]

I highly recommend a trailer.

A secondhand child's trailer is perfect. Fits a week's worth of groceries with ease and doesn't change the weight distribution of the actual bike. You barely even know its there...

[robertford]

I highly recommend a trailer.

A secondhand child's trailer is perfect. Fits a week's worth of groceries with ease and doesn't change the weight distribution of the actual bike. You barely even know its there...

What trailer, in particular, would you recommend? I'm considering buying a trailer to do the food shopping, but concerned about the size. It's hard to gauge if any are big enough for a weekly food shop without seeing it in person.

[K_in_the_kitchen]

I'm not the person you asked, but as this was a dead thread I thought I would answer.

We have a Burly Nomad trailer -- made for cargo.  If you like to do a big stock up it wouldn't be big enough.

Right before Covid hit I found a decent double child trailer at Goodwill for $15.  We spent another $5 or so on tubes, but we get those cheap.  It carries at least 50% more than the other trailer does.  As a bonus it came with the stroller conversion, so I can take it to the local market on foot.  I find it tiresome to get the bike out, hitch up the trailer, ride 1/2 mile, lock everything up, and then reverse the process.  1/2 mile is too short a distance to make the bike ride worth it.

[robertford]

I'm not the person you asked, but as this was a dead thread I thought I would answer.

We have a Burly Nomad trailer -- made for cargo.  If you like to do a big stock up it wouldn't be big enough.

Right before Covid hit I found a decent double child trailer at Goodwill for $15.  We spent another $5 or so on tubes, but we get those cheap.  It carries at least 50% more than the other trailer does.  As a bonus it came with the stroller conversion, so I can take it to the local market on foot.  I find it tiresome to get the bike out, hitch up the trailer, ride 1/2 mile, lock everything up, and then reverse the process.  1/2 mile is too short a distance to make the bike ride worth it.

That sounds perfect - we do a big weekly shop, two adults and a toddler with a huge appetite, so it would need to carry a lot.

Do you know the name of the child trailer please? It would be great to have something with a triple purpose (stroller, shopping and rides with the aforementioned always-eating-child!)