In 2015, BikeArlington challenged bicyclists to run an errand by bike, carry stuff home, and provide photographic proof. Although the challenge took place several years ago, this helpful guidance and photos of people carrying big loads on bikes still illustrate how useful bikes can be, whether you’re carrying groceries, your commuting backpack, or something even larger. The next time you think you need a car to run an errand, think again!
The BikeArlington team put together a primer on hauling stuff by bike:
Small Loads (one – two grocery bags)
Starting with what you have is always a good bet—and you’ve likely already got a backpack in your closet. A large backpack or messenger bag will handily hold a grocery bag worth of goodies from an impromptu stop at the store on the way home.
Carrying that weight on your shoulders and neck can be uncomfortable for some folks—plus backpacks can create a less-than-fun “sweaty back” situation in the hotter months. So there are a bunch of other carrying solutions to explore!
Other easy options for cargo are to install a front or rear rack on your bike. From there, you can attach a basket or milk crate. Some racks even have built-in, collapsible metal baskets. Baskets are nice because you can drop whatever bag you have right in, whether that’s a hand bag or a shopping bag.
It’s good to have a method for keeping things in the crate or basket as your bike goes over bumps. Reusable grocery bags that close or tie work well– or simply a few bungee cords across the top.
Medium Loads (two – three grocery bags or less)
If you’ve got a large milk crate or a very large bag, you’ll likely be able to manage two grocery bags side by side.
If you’re willing to invest a little bit of money, there are an awesome variety of bike-specific bags now available in the category of “pannier”—which is a fancy word for bike saddle bags. Basically, the bike is carrying the weight for you (Thanks, bike!). There are waterproof sporty versions as well as ones that look like an everyday briefcase or shopping bag. They’re great at keeping the weight off your body and can help heavier loads be more balanced and easier to bike home.
Large Loads (three grocery bags and beyond!)
You can combine a front AND rear rack for double carrying capacity, using the same strategies for small and medium loads. You’ll just want to start slowing when you roll out fully-loaded, making sure your bike is well-balanced.
There are also an ever-changing array of large cargo hauling solutions. These are great if you find yourself moving a lot of things by bike quite often, and certainly enable a car-light lifestyle. The choices we talk about here bump up in price significantly, but can be worth the investment.
One we like a lot here at BikeArlington is the Burley Travoy, which attaches and detaches easily and—major perk—acts like a normal grocery cart when not connected to the bike.
There are also quite a few options for trailers, including flat-beds and box trailers. Flatbeds mean you can move long and wide things, and a box trailer means you have to worry less about securing items to the trailer.
Cargo bikes are another option that we’re seeing more people flock to, and they can be especially great for families. There are also bakefiets or “box bikes” which, true to their name, have a large box in front of the rider, into which you can fit just about anything.
Some hints:
- Bungees are the cargo-carrying bike rider’s best friend. A few of these will enable you to carry way more things than you thought possible.
- Your handlebars help you steer, so hanging a bag with a fair amount of weight across your bars can throw of your balance. Better to store it in your backpack or crate!
- All the cargo gear you buy or acquire for your bike will be rated for weight, so keep that in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
- A small reusable shopping bag with long straps can double as makeshift backpack, so keeping one on hand will have you ready for any impromptu shopping trips.
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