Bike Accessories For Car-Free Grocery Shopping

Car Free Grocery Shopping Accessories

Public Bikes Rear Rack: On my beach cruiser I have chosen to upgrade from my Wald rack to Public's rear rack. The rear rack I chose is Light grey and it compliments my newest cruiser which is banana yellow. I love that it came with a cateye reflector and a trap mechanism that  holds my panniers in place. They even included the hardware that made it possible to secure the rack to my fender bolt. Cost around $60.00 but well worth the extra cost.

Basil Mara 26L Panniers: These panniers I got on ebay for around $30.00  and they are very sturdy. They are not the largest panniers but they do hold a great deal more than other panniers in the same price range. I also love that the bags do not need to zip closed, which allows me to stuff them fat on dry days. They also have bright reflective strips on the back section to add visibility.

Wald 139: The basket mounts to the front handlebars and to the front wheel bolts for extra security. This mounting system allows the basket to hold an amazing 50 pounds. I even hauled a 60 pound bag of cement home from Home Depot in the front basket and it didn't even snap off. The original without wood cost me around $25.00 and the upgrade was $68 on ebay.

Front Rack: I have a dutch bike and it came with a sturdy front rack. I love this rack; it mounts like the Wald basket, and can really carry the weight. I usually set a basket or crate in the front and attach with bungees. A front rack will set you back $40+ dollars.

Folding Grocery Baskets: When we decided to start commuting by bike the folding basket became our friend. The baskets fold up when not in use. This allows us to park in tighter spots unlike the Wald 520 grocery rack that does not fold. You can buy them from several manufactures but we have only purchased Wald's. You can expect to pay $15 to $30 each side.

Warm weather bicycle commuting tips

Seasonal Bicycling Tips

Bicycling  tips for summer commuters.

•  Try to avoid exertion and excessive sweat by slowing down and preparing for a slightly longer commute than usual. Find a pace that minimizes increased body temperature. Arrive at your destination early and give yourself time to cool off. Your body’s response to warm-weather activity is delayed, so it will continue trying to cool itself long after you get off your bike.
• Slather on the sun screen you don't want to end up with cancer.

• Choose neighborhood routes with tree-lined streets and avoid densely packed city streets. The exhaust from large vehicles and buses will make you heat sick. 
•  Stay off roads that have a fresh coat of black asphalt, they are sticky, smelly, and hot. 
• Wear loose-fitting clothes made of thin fabrics. Choose shorts, dresses, and tanks that catch the breeze. For work, bring a change of clothes and change into your fresh clothes at your destination. Leave your backpack at home on hot days, in warm weather, it makes your back sweaty. Bring a pannier, basket or canvas bag with you instead and clip or bungee it to a rack.

• Consider switching helmets and try one that is vented.
• Bring a water bottle or two to stay hydrated. 

• "The risk of heat-related illness dramatically increases when the heat index climbs to 90 degrees or more. So it's important -- especially during heat waves -- to pay attention to the reported heat index, and also to remember that the heat index is even higher when you are standing in full sunshine. WebMD" 

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Our Car-Free Life

Huffy Cranbrook Our First Bike

We gave up driving our car 603 days ago, and we love our new life. It is hard for most people to understand that we actually love not being in a car. It started on September 1st, 2012;  I was getting out of the car at a local home improvement store, and piles of fast food wrappers came tumbling out the door with me. We had realized that we needed a healthier lifestyle before this, but it didn't hit home until that moment. We decided no more fast food. And as luck would have it another idea came: what about biking everywhere close to home? So we went to Walmart and bought bikes. They weren't fancy- just basic single speed bikes with fenders and fat seats. The next day we drove them to work. We have purchased several accessories since  that has made cycling everywhere within our town easier. We purchased front and rear racks, pannier bags,  baskets, horns, European wheel locks, and a bike repair manual. We now are completely car free, we cycle to work, the grocery store, library, and anywhere else we need to be on a daily basis. We love being able to park near the door everywhere. We never have to look for parking spots. We don't worry if we are going to run out of gas in a traffic jam. We love the convenience of never worrying about expensive mechanical problems. We just don't have the worries_ we are happier people. So if you are considering a car free life_GO FOR IT!
Some things to note:
Get fenders or purchase a bike with them they are a worth every penny.
Single speeds might be harder for people in hilly communities, but they are easy to work on yourself.
Look for good racks, we like Wald but have since updated to Public racks.
We purchased wheel locks and use them in combination with a cable (we live in a relatively safe area)

Grocery Shopping By Bike

Front and rear racks

 Have you been considering using your car less and your bike more? Well, we have made that change in our life and we love it. Last year we decided to cut down how much we use our car. Every time we used our car we made poor choices (fast food, general waste). We were neglecting our health, our family time, and always seemed to be in a rush. So, we slowed down. We did not make the choice based on financial reasons; but have seen extra money in our bank accounts at the end of the month.  This post is for the beginner to help out and show what we have learned.

Wald 520 Amazon

GET THE RIGHT GEAR:
Wald makes a rear basket/rack {the 520} that will carry at least two large bags of groceries, and  you can strap a few more to the rack. We have this setup on my moms vintage 1968 Western Flyer bicycle. She likes the weight in the back, so it doesn't interfere with her steering.  This setup is ideal if you will heed our advice and shop frequently as apposed to loading up and forgetting you don't have a trunk.  This is not for the person who wants to take off the basket and only use it occasionally. (This basket is bolted to your bike in several locations to make it secure.)

Linus panniers

Rack and panniers:
Similar to the Wald 520, only not as permanent. There are several great racks on the market; but when shopping for groceries - you need one that can hold the weight; groceries are heavy.
Panniers come in different sizes and materials. We have two kinds, one made by Linus, and one set we purchased on eBay. The Linus set is great for light weight loads but I'm sure they could hold a lot more than we toss in them. Our eBay set is from a Chinese store and we paid around $20.00. Our Chinese panniers have zippers, pockets, reflective tape and hold the weight without flopping about. The Linus set however, can roll up into a neat little bundle.

TIPS:
DO NOT FORGET TO BRING A LOCK, AND USE IT
Shop more frequently. Think Daily or Weekly not Monthly
Plan your trips. If out at night bring lights and reflective gear.
Try to purchase whole foods and purchase less processed foods.
Buy a quality rack we like the Wald 215 they have two colors and a wood version.
Enjoy you new Slow Life and take the time to smell the roses.

Our Dutch Bicycles

Sew Your Own Pet Clothes Upcycle

I found a few patterns while I was shopping at my local fabric store. I inquired at a few big stores like Joann and Hancock to see if they were there too, and they are. The patterns run for about $17.00 US, which is pretty steep, but if you shop at a pattern sale you could score them for a dollar or two, so keep your peepers open. Patterns 2695 and 2755 are from Simplicity, and are for upcycled pet clothes you can search for them online by typing Go Green Simplicity.