Well, a Bike plays an important role in your daily life. You can use it for many purposes and carrying the groceries on your bike is one of them. So, it depends on you how you can include cycling in your life such as for carrying groceries. In this post we are going to explore How to carry Groceries on a bike
For this purpose, firstly you will decide the best method to carry the groceries on your bike. Typically, there are several methods of carrying groceries by bike; and some of these are the following:
Top methods to carry Groceries on a bike
- A handlebar basket
- The Pannier method
- The crate method
- The trailer method
- The Saddle bags
- A backpack method
Before following these methods, some factors may occur during your ride for carrying groceries by your bike. These are the following:
How fast will you ride during bustling traffic?
Can you ride on a tricky or flat track?
These factors can easily impact your ride. So firstly, you will decide which technique will be helpful while carrying the groceries on your bike.
Some common ways of carrying groceries:
Need for backpack:
All of you must have a backpack, especially if you are going to school. That backpack can be fine for a short time, after that you can buy the best one if it will be a regular method for carrying your groceries.
Buying a backpack can be helpful for you if you are living in an area where extreme weather conditions exist, especially on a rainy day, a waterproof backpack must be needed. Generally, backpacks are also best for the small volume of groceries and on difficult hard terrains.
After having a backpack firstly, you will adjust your backpack high on your back then you can fill it gradually by the sequence. Because it’s not possible to carry a lot of groceries in your backpack.
A handlebar basket:
In this method, you will attach a hand handle basket to your bicycle. Usually, a bicycle basket is a basket that can be mounted on a bicycle for carrying a short volume of groceries. This hand handle basket works best if you can fit the items according to their shapes in it.
But sometimes this basket is not appropriate if you have large volume shapes of boxes like a cereal box as it can take up all the space in your basket.
So, in this method first you will decide for which kind of grocery items your basket will be big enough. Well, we can say that a hand handle basket is good for a short volume of groceries. You cannot use it in rainy weather and also in tricky terrain.
The Pannier method:
A pannier is similar to a storage basket, bag, or container usually attached to the sides of a bicycle or typically hangs over both sides of the bicycle down toward the wheel.
Usually, Panniers are designed in all shapes and sizes so you can use them for carrying heavy grocery items. Panniers are typically more expensive because they are often designed largely in size, waterproof, sturdy, and removable.
So having two panniers on your bicycle is worth it because you can carry a large number of your grocery items on it. Because a single pannier can cause imbalance for your bike.
Make sure before using the pannier bag that you place more delicate products like dairy products at the top of your pannier bag. Usually, bike Pannier is smaller and lighter in weight so you can access them easily while cycling. They are simple to use and best for tricky terrain, that is why you can easily achieve a long journey even on tricky terrain.
Bike panniers are available in two different types and both of these services are different. These types are the following:
- The Rear Rack
- The Front Rack
The Crate method:
If you have a large front and back rack then this method can be used for carrying groceries by strapping them to a crate. You can attach it to the rack through a zip knot or to a rope. A crate is a storage container that you can typically use for large grocery items.
Attach your bicycle to Saddle bag:
You can also attach a saddle bag to your bicycle, for carrying the groceries. Saddle bags are typically available in different shapes and sizes. Usually, saddle bags are more flexible and long-lasting than others. So, you can use them according to your needs.
Typically, saddlebags are not suitable for heavy grocery items especially if you are biking through tricky terrain because they usually need a closer or zip at its top by which all the grocery items can be protected. Saddle bags are beneficial for a medium range of groceries and also while riding on plain terrain.
THE TRAILER METHOD:
A Bike trailer is typically a frame without a motor that is attached to a hitch system for transporting by bicycle. So hitch system can easily attach to your bicycle including mountain bicycles, E-bikes, and road bikes.
Well, it is not weird to use a bike trailer for carrying groceries for a month. So, if You have a child trailer at your home you can use it for carrying heavier groceries because this method is much more appropriate than hanging the bags to the handles of your bicycle.
So, bike trailers are perfect for carrying a large number of groceries but they are not best for tricky terrain. Typically bike trailers are harder to ride on tricky terrain but an experienced person can ride on them.
Conclusion on How to carry Groceries on a bike:
As there are many methods for carrying groceries like the use of a backpack, Saddle bags, the crate method, A handlebar basket, and the trailer method but each method has its pros and cons that we have discussed above. So you will follow some tips for finding which method is best for carrying the groceries on your bike and these are the following:
What kind of traffic will you face during your travel? Are you riding through tricky or plain terrain?
Are you living in a town with busy traffic? How much space will you have for riding?
To follow all these tips, you have to take recommendations before riding from other expert bike commuters because they know well about the terrain and how to manage load according to a different method.
we hope we were able to fulfill your query about How to carry Groceries on a bike. please head over to blog section of bikedestiny.com to explore the world of biking.