Sunday, September 16, 2012

This is how I roll...

...when I shop, that is.

Friday was SUCH a gorgeous day.
This is Beatrix loaded down after work and a quickish stop at my favorite boutique, a.k.a Target. In addition to my lunch bag, the basket holds a bag of miscellaneous groceries, the bike lock, and a bottle of water. Pannier is holding a few more groceries, the neon gloves shown in my last post, my personal effects, junk mail, and the sweater I wore at work. Strapped to the rack are two Lego Monster Hunter sets.

Accessories and bicycles aren't the only items to which I'm addicted.

Sorry about the cat butt. I didn't realize that Margie photobombed me.
This is Beatrix loaded down after a  not-so quick trip to Safeway. The basket holds a 6lb bag of cat food, a 1/2 gallon of milk, a box of trash bags, and a bunch of bananas. The pannier is full of frozen lunches, fruits & veggies, and some other groceries. Strapped to the rack is a 14lb container of cat litter. I never thought I'd be so grateful for the rat trap thingies integrated into the rack, but they have been SO helpful for unconventional loads. The double bungee from Public has been a fantastic tool as well. Also? While I had to brace the front tire to keep the front end from swinging around while loading up the bike, the double kickstand kept Bea balanced and upright. I am SO happy with that purchase. Oh, and the little bag attached to the "wrong" side of the handlebar is my Po Campo wristlet which, thanks to its novel strap system, kept my wallet, phone, and keys safely contained to and from the store (although, it was in the basket on the outbound trip...)

Cat litter was one of those items I didn't think I'd be able to haul on a bike. And, to be perfectly honest, I did carry the smallest container but I couldn't remember the rack's weight limit. (It's 55lbs according to the Public website.) Next up, the 21lb container! And then landscaping goods! One of these days I might even get up to a Christmas tree. Muahahaha!

If loving monster Legos is wrong, I don't want to be right.

6 comments:

  1. I SOOOOOO wanted to get a Christmas tree last year by bicycle. Trying to figure out the logistics of it all gave me a headache though, so ultimately I gave up. I may give it a try this year though... just because. :O)

    Glad you're getting such great use out of Beatrix. I'm sure she enjoys it, too!

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    1. I think it'll be a while before I get up to hauling a real tree. Cats + real tree = disaster waiting to happen especially since Margie loves to climb and Oreo loves to chew just about anything he can get his mouth around.

      The new saddle has DEFINITELY improved Bea's ride quality and I enjoy riding her much more now. (Plus, I really need to clean Lily before I ride her again. Gotta do that this week since the Backroads ride is next Sunday. Eek!)

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    2. I'm glad the saddle change helped. I always think it's amazing what the right saddle or even, at times, a small adjustment to a saddle can do.

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  2. That's impressive! I've managed to carry quite a big with my bike grocery bag, but I know I could do so much more. I just bought a bike crate from my friend's dad's company (http://www.etsy.com/listing/97115911/bicycle-crate-or-basket-reclaimed-sapele) for farmers' market runs, but I haven't had the chance to try it out yet.

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    1. That bike crate is gorgeous! Do you bungee it through the bottom slats? I can't see how it attaches.

      I have an Avenir shopping bag (which REI no longer carries, unfortunately) attached to my hybrid, but the Public's rack bars are too wide to attach that bag.

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    2. I thought about using bungies, but I'm afraid of them slipping and catching in my tires. My friend suggested putting a screw through the bottom and putting a bolt on top to hold it in place. One reason I haven't used it yet is because I haven't quite figured out how to attach it.

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