Big fan of groceries on a bike. Just one thing to take note of: the way you locked that bike is a treat for thieves. You've only locked the wheel. It looks like a quick release so unless you have a security bolt installed, it would take an unskilled thief a few seconds to remove the rear wheel and walk off with the rest of your bike.
Thanks for looking out for a fellow rider, Philip. When I shot the video, I used this technique (www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html) which would require cutting through the rear wheel to remove the lock through the rear triangle. Now I have a chain lock and lock it through the rear wheel and seat tube on the frame. Bike Thieves are the worst!
Agreed. I happen to be in a sweet spot in the Atlanta metro area. There are a lot of places which don't have this bicycle/rec trail infrastructure. Makes me wonder if there was more of it would people start skipping automobile trips and go by bike.
@@AdventuresWithPaul Good to hear, I'm in a similar position in the part of Sydney I'm in that the cycleway network is "reasonable enough" to get you to quite a few local destinations. I'm on a mission to try and swap out more short vehicle trips using my e-bike
@@AdventuresWithPaul where are you? This looks like the big creek greenway. I live in Decatur, but have lived a few different places in the metro atlanta area.
@@JBthePAdashC DING-DING! We have a WINNER! it is the Big Creek Greenway, and that's a great resource stretching from Roswell all the way to Sawnee Mountain in Cumming (well, once they complete the
I just picked up a trek 520 complete with rear pannier bags .Did my first grocery run ,15 miles round trip ..I saved 5 bucks in gas and I took my bike inside with me ,no one said jack ,and I wouldn't care if they did .But yea what happens when gas is unaffordable or the is no gas available .ONLY people with bikes will have transportation.Or even an emp strikes and there's no electricity .Your golden .Thanks for sharing .Now if anyone wants a dedicated cargo bike check out trek 520 ,they have all the attachments for front and rear bags ,easily fitting 100 bucks worth of food These bikes are gear for hills with a load ,and trust me these bikes coast forever effortlessly .
I love it! - Going for the EMP. Total Fallout - yea! I just like it for the adventure. I have the car and all that but going and getting groceries on the bike to me is just so much more adventurous. Glad you're able to fit a TON of groceries in those panniers, too!
@@AdventuresWithPaul A gallon of milk ,tons of groceries ,just in the rear bags alone ,that's without front bags .And I'm 68 years young .Staying active is the key of long life .Although last winter I was trapped by the cold .
i ride all year round in calgary, Ab, Canada. I ride a Yuba Mondo cargo bike and i transported my son, commute to work, grocery shopping and other errands. It can be done even in the snow just takes a little more planning and time.
Very nice - Spent a few days in Calgary 4 years ago. Very nice city. Funny story - walked into MEC and went to check out and pay for my purchases but they wouldn't allow me to buy anything since I didn't have a membership. Anyway, really liked the bicycle infrastructure in the city, and kudos to you for being just that much more car independent. Cheers!
agreed. plus it’s just a lot of fun for me and I get a sense of satisfaction able to accomplish something without the “status quo”. don’t do it this way all the time but even if it’s once a week for a quick trip -BAM! - that one trip less by car :-)
You're completely right. My rhetorical question was probably US-centric. I was trying to show the "other" millions 😀 it's possible and you can live without a car for at least this particular errand. If there are any tips you can provide to encourage people, please do so! - I'd love to see more people make the trip on bicycles. Cheers!
Yeah - I remember the "Yakkity Sax" on the Benny Hill show with those silly hijinks all those years ago and considered it 100% appropriate for packing up. I didn't want to have the video show the whole packing up of groceries and all the time it took, so speed it up and put fun music to it? Sure - and the Benny Hill montage was born
to you for using your bicycle for shopping! I do the same with my recumbent trike and Burley trailer. Wish millions more would do the same. We would have a better world if we collectively did. Keep the dirty side down - appreciate this video!
Yeah, you're absolutely right. My point is (in the US) I feel increasingly pressured to be on one side of an argument or another and wanted to state I'm not against the other side, I'm just for bikes :-). For example, if I'm pro-bike, I must be anti-car. That's not the case. They each have their place - when I need to pick up cargo or transport my bike someplace I can throw it in the back of my GTI and I arrive at my destination. Other times I eschew the automotive transportation altogether and go for the bike. Either way, I'm with you - more cycling infrastructure to use bikes as a sole means of travel and transportation :-D
@@AdventuresWithPaul Ohhh here in Europe I definitely feel the pressure to take a side in an argument that's never really as simple and black and white as suggested. Regarding the bicycle versus car war, I feel privileged to be living in the Netherlands. Here there is a vast well-thought out cycle network. 80% of that network is lanes completely separated from the cars. This way there is hardly any contact between the two, so less irritation, ergo much less of an anti-feeling towards each other.
@@AdventuresWithPaul Unfortunately I too live in the states, where I live both tires would be sliced/knifed after locking this up and walking into the store, just to show me someone was pissed at not having an easy item to steal that day. I can afford a few things like this, I just don't want the hassle of having to repair them or report them stolen, deal with Police and Insurance agents. Sigh.
Where I live, in San Antonio Texas, we have surprisingly a lot of greenway trail systems and my house is within a mile of three access points. What we also have is unbearably hot, humid summers that run from March through November making bicycling near impossible unless you are young and in excellent shape or are a sadist. Even when the weather permits, I'm getting older and have medical conditions that prevent me from peddling for more than half a block. On my e-bike this is solved, even in summer I can bike, but e-bikes are not allowed on the bike trails. I've been fighting to change this but there is a mindset that because a bike has motor assist the rider has no ability to safely slow down or control the bike below ramming speed. It's okay for me to be on the roadway with cars capable of going eighty miles an hour, but somehow my bikes ability to get a few miles per hour faster than a jogger puts everyone's life at high risk. Nonsense.
The e-Bike is a tough question i'm sure municipalities are trying to deal with. I'm in favor of pedal-assist on trail because in reality, they aren't going to go much faster than a conditioned cycling athlete on a trail. There are a lot of intricacies around this - how about kids scooters which have no pedal assist and can easily hit 15-18mph? Why are they allowed but not pedal-assist ebikes? And how about those single-wheeled skateboard-like things? They zip along and in and out of walkers but are they allowed? ANd then ultimately, who is going to enforce it all? So is there any way you could hop on the trail and follow all the speed rules and not get caught?
@@AdventuresWithPaul You are a reasonable person. There has to be some rational compromise where all taxpayers of every age , physical condition, and risk aversion get to enjoy the public amenities they've paid for. Speed limits and policing are how we manage roadways, it's not perfect but overall it works. There's no reason to think bike/e-bike speed limits on bike/hike trails would fail. Cement trucks, Hummers, Mini Coopers, and Smart E-cars all share the same roads, Bikes/E-bikes can share paths with joggers and Karens. And right there is the real problem, politics has fouled every discussion and institution we have. If someone or something seems the least bit too far Left or Right then clear thinking leaves the room and is replaced with scorn and cancelation. E-Bikes somehow found themselves the bane of both sides. Our city counsel made changes to City Code several times last year further penalizing E-Bikes, none deserved, none that make any sense. All it takes is one trail-bound Karen to complain about anything and the E-Bike code gets new restrictions. E-Bikes are no longer permitted anywhere on any city-owned parks, trails, paths or municipal land. Not even allowed to be on paved roads in parks! Nothing like being irrationally singled out. On the positive side, I am allowed to be on sidewalks if the traffic is going faster than 45MPH.
I think one has to apply "reasonableness" to the situation. What I think is the root cause to banning the eBikes is the speed/danger they represent (my assumption). Therefore, it's the potential of an incident that the legislation is trying to prevent. The same lawmakers don't feel the potential exists with human-powered bikes. If you take the "e"-advantage away from the eBike it becomes a, you guessed, human-powered bike. What is the difference with you riding your e-Bike with the motor off vs a traditional human-powered bike? It's the same, albeit your eBike now becomes much heavier with the battery and motor that you're moving along. Is there a way you could ride to the path assisted and then turn off the assist once on the path? I think of it this way. A Lamborghini has the potential to do 185mph, but are they restricted from our roadways? No - they are not allowed to drive faster than that. Therefore, they are handicapped to the level of a Toyota Corolla or other small car so the maximum speed you are allowed to drive is posted. I'm not anti-car (or anti-Lamborghini) by any means - I'm more people be people and apply reasonableness to every situation.
I just cruised about 10 miles on my bicycle to pick up Wendy's. My children insisted. Lol when I got home this was the first video suggested by youtube to watch.
Have gone on many a Wendy's frosty run. Although I tend to eat those right in the parking lot and get brain freeze if I'm not too careful. But they're soooo good!
It’s one of my favorite bike things to do! I go at daybreak to beat the Summer heat and most of the distracted drivers. No rack though-my backpack will accept a carry cart worth of food. It’s a riot on a 20 lb. road bike.
Good for you! I didn't realize so many people would watch this. All I wanted to do was show how you can make a daily mundane errand into a bike trip all in one. I try to be car independent at least once a week, and I've gone for groceries many times. Once I even went to donate blood while out on a bike ride - I pumped my pint faster then I ever did before. But that was when I was young :-)
I didn't catch how far your trip to the grocery store was. I love biking to the store too (my trip is 2-3 miles). It gives me purpose and forces me to exercise. It also allows me to buy fresh just what I need for the day (I've actually ridden to the store for the sole purpose of getting a couple of mushrooms for an omelette) without having to load up a ton of groceries and stuff the fridge.
I guess I didn't mention - the round trip is about 10 miles for this store. And you make a good point about going more frequently because you cannot carry a lot of groceries. So you make more frequent trips to pick up a smaller amount rather than 1 trip/week with a huge load. And I have done a run for 1-2 items as well (mine was for bottles of wine, not mushrooms :-))
@@AdventuresWithPaulwoah I live in a rural town outside of Harlingen Texas and after a two hundred meters of the city limit sign it’s farms and fields. It’s 6 mile round trip to the nearest super market.
I do the same. Hop on the bike for something as small as a loaf of bread. Why bother driving, closest grocery to me is about 2km, less than 10 minutes away, good exercise and feel good after
It's fun for me. I try to go carless at least once a week. Now with a hybrid work schedule I find it's a 3x/week thing I leave my VW GTI in the garage. I've even done trips to REI to pick up items or just to surf the clearance rack to see if there's any deals there. I guess having experience touring I'm no stranger to walking into grocery stores, hotels, shops with road grime and miles under my belt that day.
Maybe it's the high price of fuel but this video is getting more views than every before. Glad you enjoyed it. I like creating the vids for two reasons (1) if other people find it interesting, it's something to help them enjoy the trip/adventure vicariously, and (2) it gives me something to document my trip I can look back on when I'm no longer about to do these things. Cheers!
That's a tailfin rack. I participated in a kickstarter campaign a few years ago. It was pricey but a solid choice. Tailfin still makes racks at www.tailfin.cc. I went over to their site and it looks like they updated their design to make a flat connector bar to the seat post which allows for placing items on the top. Mine is the original with the hoop and the side bags. The rack attaches to the bike in about 1min and gives me much more carrying options for making the bike utilitarian instead of just recreational.
That's a great video Paul. It demonstrates how beneficial even a little bit of infrastructure can be to facilitating utility trips by 🚲 bike. Every trip like this one helps reduce traffic congestion & is beneficial even to those driving. You also demonstrate how a bike can be a utilitarian vehicle and is not just for recreation. That's such a paradigm shift for SO many people around here. Anyway great job 👏!
Thanks, Tom. I can't believe with all the trips I've shot THIS is the video with the most views. Shows that people are at least curious about it. While the greenway is there really for recreation, it's infrastructure that can definitely be used for utility. Even if people hopped on the bikes and pedaled off to a restaurant, coffee shop, etc, that's one less trip by car. I'm not anti-car but I'm definitely PRO-bike :-) Cheers!
I got the same comment from a guy when locking up my bike. In the past two yrs I have l toured self supported 3,500km. It’s a Old Garry Fisher. Has never let me down and plan I riding for yrs to come. Love to Pedal
True. It doesn't matter if they find value in what I ride or not. I just like providing commentary as if you're riding along with me - sometimes it's tough to "find things to talk about" and other times, such as this one, other people write the script for you. I'd rather lock it up to ensure it's there when I leave the store than to chance it. Ironically, the value of the bike is probably more than the value of the guy's bike who made the comment (or he doesn't have a bike and is just passing judgement).
I loved watching your ride in this video, I cannot drive a car due to disability but some days my vision allows me to ride a bicycle. I wanted to remind folks that you can also get one of those bike wagons you often see kids riding in that connects to the back of the bike for larger grocery shops.
Yes - absolutely right. I kept this one to only what I could fit in panniers, but a trailer is a great option if you're doing a HUGE shopping trip. Like Costco :-D
I used to have 1 of those my kid loved it, until it got stolen. Now I have a fairly large cooler bag on my bikerack, use it for UberEats if you can believe it.
Thanks - I believe the bike is more than "just" a recreational vehicle. I tried to show how it's completely useful as a tool to pick up groceries in this video. It may be my own personal crusade but I try to go at least one day during the weekend car-free (sometimes both).
I will watch all of this later but I'll say that for myself, just having a good backpack for hauling a reasonable amount of groceries has been all I've had for the best of it and all I plan on using. Racks seem to be unneeded and add weight for the non-grocery rides. I guess that means technically I'd have to make more round trips to the supermarket, but that's OK. So far my record for bicycle only supermarket runs is around five weeks. That time was only stopped, funny enough, because I was dropping off a bike to a bike shop for some bike mechanic attention and I had some things to get at the store at the same time! I did have a '96 Volkswagen GTI for many years. Great car, very fast too, but the parts costs were unexpectedly high. Now I drive a 2012 Toyota truck.
I have a Motobecane 400 HT and Topeak MT DX bags that will hold a 12 pack on my trip to Kroger. Trying to find someone that can set it up for a mid-motor and make it electric
I have a Rock Bros pannier with foldout saddle bags which can fit a medium shop. Once a month I do a car run for large items like detergent, bulk rice etc.
Nice! I originally posted this because I didn't see many people (at least in my area) getting groceries on bikes - now there are thousands of hits on this one video alone. Well done John and everyone!
the rear rack is a tailfin rack. I acquired that as part of a kickstarter campaign. The company did well and they are selling version 2 of their rack systems. bags are waterproof and large enough for a good bit of carry.
They were part of a kickstarter campaign for a company called Tailfin. I thought it would be very versatile taking on/off of multiple bikes so I supported the campaign, and they delivered. I found they are still in business at www.tailfin.cc/ and it looks as though they changed the rack design so it's flatter on top, which may actually be a bit more versatile even than mine. But back to the original, yes, they are super-easy to take on/off.
Pro tip: attach your panniers to the side of your grocery cart and add the groceries directly into the bags. That way you know how much you can carry rather than estimating based on what's in the basket.
And here I've been an amateur all along! Thanks for the tip! Next time I'll feel like a pro! BTW - I'm planning a weekend overnight (not grocery shopping) this weekend so watch this space for a potential video dropping early next week. Weather will play a factor, but it's someplace local and doesn't require reservations so I can adjust my options.
Congratulations, nice video and a good example for a more sustainable future. I'm curious to see your green road from google maps. Could you share the location? I wanted to show my municipal administration how it was done (I'm from Italy). Thank you
tough to shop without a picture. Here's a link to maps with the bike layer showing (www.google.com/maps/@34.1708134,-84.1940349,14.97z/data=!5m1!1e3). If you look at the green-colored pathway, you'll see how it branches off into the local neighborhoods. That allows residents to ride through their neighborhood, access the greenway, and then the main road with the sidewalk which goes right to the grocery store parking lot. As more infrastructure gets built in Forsyth County, GA, more communities are including links into the "recreation" infrastructure which I use to go get my groceries. A good example is Boulder, CO which has integrated these very well and is a cycling city.
@@AdventuresWithPaul Maybe I'm a bit paranoid and not used to it anyway but ... don't you worry about leaving the bike out with all the bags attached? I wouldn't be so comfortable doing the shopping thinking that someone could detach them and steal them, or just the contents. I was imagining the situation in my supermarket and it has neither the bars to attach the bike with the lock nor an area with a good view to be monitored by the security. I really want to go to work on my bike and I am used to stop often after work to do the shopping (little stuff but every day) So I'm thinking about the best setup. At the moment I imagine ZERO bags to leave out :D
When I have panniers, I'll detach them and take into the store with me, and then throw them into the shopping basket. I'll either pack the panniers in the grocery line or take them back out with me and pack them on the bike. When I'm touring with reckless bags (i.e. "bikepacking" everything is much more difficult to attach/detach from the bike. At that point, I leave it up to fate. I bring my wallet, phone, GoPro into the store with me, but my clothing, tent, quilt, helmet, gloves, are outside on the bike. At some point, I figure I can't protect everything. I do tend to park my bike near a high-traffic area, so if any passer-by would see someone messing with a bike they would (hopefully) intercede. So, I guess I follow these rules: (1) don't lock it in an out-of-the-way or sketchy location (2) bring what you need with you should your bike get stolen (wallet, phone at a minimum) (3) lock it up to prevent a theft of opportunity. Make it as difficult for someone to steal your belongings as possible. Cheers!
ya know what? I enjoyed the discussion with people around a specific topic (bike touring, bike packing, yachting, etc). If this channel ever becomes too popular where I can't have individual conversations, then so be it. But at this point, I enjoy the social interaction. Cheers, Matteo!
that’s a tail fin rack. they had a kickstarter campaign a few years ago (2017 I think) and I backed the project. looks like they are successful as they still sell products at tailfin.cc
I do it every week on a bike I bought and set up for doing it. But then, I live on a boat and haven't had a car since '06 when I moved aboard. You can see the setup here: th-cam.com/video/LsQpDvS1MRQ/w-d-xo.html I also have my original bike, a 700cc hybrid, that I use for riding and filming. It has a small insulated bag that I use for fast food pickups and a mount for the front basket if I'm just making a quick one bag type run. On the rare occasions I have more than the bike can handle, I use public transpo there, and a cab to get back.
Nice setup. Glad others are doing it. While I live in a totally car-dependent area, I originally shot the video to prove it's possible. Admittedly, I didn't run to Costco and pick up a case of 247 pickle jars, so there is that constraint. But for small errands and daily food it's completely doable. Plus, one keeps active with the riding. Nice job on the liveaboard. Wife and I are closing on a boat next week and we intend to set off on the great loop probably next year. Yet one more adventure for the books! Cheers!
Probably not. what's funny is I cannot remember what I bought that day. most likely we were out of some cheddar cheese (because, you know, it's the single most popular cheese in the world :-))
Yes, that's true. No way to 100% prevent that. Only you can be the best judge if the activity is safe and you will return with what you rode to the store. As an option, can you bring the bike inside the store and have it next to the checkout/office where it's "monitored" by the staff? not saying that's possible, but it may be an option.
Never thought about that. I lock it up so it's a deterrent mostly. And park it/lock it in an area with lots of foot traffic so it has high public visibility. Not that it 100% prevents the bike being stolen but will lead to deterring any theft. So far it's worked for me.
I used a Kryptonite on that ride. I ended up switching it out for an Abus 6800 chain lock. The Abus gave me a lot more options for locking both my bike and my wife's. But, they are both good locks. I wouldn't trust any of them in a city overnight with my bike out of sight, but for locking up outside a store for 15min, it works just fine. Plus, it's in a highly visible area so anyone walking by would see a thief absconding with the bike.
It looked like you only locked the rear wheel. If so, that makes the bike worth taking and paying something like $150 for a new wheel and bike. The lock should always go through the wheel and frame.
@@chrislano8531 I normally lock the rear wheel and frame (through the downtube). But looking at Sheldon Brown;s site he advocates locking the rear wheel through the rear triangle just as effective (sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html). Point being, if the U-lock goes through the rear wheel only, thieves will need to destroy the wheel before stealing the bike, thus completely de-valuaing the theft. Of course, that leaves it open for theft and then parting-it-out, but at that point, it becomes more difficult for the theif and. they will most likely look to a more opportune target. Point on this is, I know a bike is isn't 100% theft-proof, but I'll make myself a lesser-opportune "steal" than the next bike. And I always lock it :-) Thanks for checking in :-)
@@AdventuresWithPaul I’m not doubting your abilities, just stating what I observed. I’ve seen too many bikes locked by a wheel and not by frame and wheel. Seat tube and wheel are my preference, but rear stays are just as effective. Happy riding!
Yeah - I just used the generic term. It was something solid to lock the bike to. Plus, I had those people walk by who said "no one would steal that bike" so maybe it wasn't necessary :-). Better safe than sorry I suppose.
Big fan of groceries on a bike. Just one thing to take note of: the way you locked that bike is a treat for thieves. You've only locked the wheel. It looks like a quick release so unless you have a security bolt installed, it would take an unskilled thief a few seconds to remove the rear wheel and walk off with the rest of your bike.
Thanks for looking out for a fellow rider, Philip. When I shot the video, I used this technique (www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html) which would require cutting through the rear wheel to remove the lock through the rear triangle. Now I have a chain lock and lock it through the rear wheel and seat tube on the frame.
Bike Thieves are the worst!
It's so handy to have a decent bit of bike infrastructure to get you to everyday destinations!
Agreed. I happen to be in a sweet spot in the Atlanta metro area. There are a lot of places which don't have this bicycle/rec trail infrastructure. Makes me wonder if there was more of it would people start skipping automobile trips and go by bike.
@@AdventuresWithPaul Good to hear, I'm in a similar position in the part of Sydney I'm in that the cycleway network is "reasonable enough" to get you to quite a few local destinations. I'm on a mission to try and swap out more short vehicle trips using my e-bike
@@AdventuresWithPaul where are you? This looks like the big creek greenway. I live in Decatur, but have lived a few different places in the metro atlanta area.
@@JBthePAdashC DING-DING! We have a WINNER! it is the Big Creek Greenway, and that's a great resource stretching from Roswell all the way to Sawnee Mountain in Cumming (well, once they complete the
I just picked up a trek 520 complete with rear pannier bags .Did my first grocery run ,15 miles round trip ..I saved 5 bucks in gas and I took my bike inside with me ,no one said jack ,and I wouldn't care if they did .But yea what happens when gas is unaffordable or the is no gas available .ONLY people with bikes will have transportation.Or even an emp strikes and there's no electricity .Your golden .Thanks for sharing .Now if anyone wants a dedicated cargo bike check out trek 520 ,they have all the attachments for front and rear bags ,easily fitting 100 bucks worth of food These bikes are gear for hills with a load ,and trust me these bikes coast forever effortlessly .
I love it! - Going for the EMP. Total Fallout - yea! I just like it for the adventure. I have the car and all that but going and getting groceries on the bike to me is just so much more adventurous. Glad you're able to fit a TON of groceries in those panniers, too!
@@AdventuresWithPaul A gallon of milk ,tons of groceries ,just in the rear bags alone ,that's without front bags .And I'm 68 years young .Staying active is the key of long life .Although last winter I was trapped by the cold .
i ride all year round in calgary, Ab, Canada. I ride a Yuba Mondo cargo bike and i transported my son, commute to work, grocery shopping and other errands. It can be done even in the snow just takes a little more planning and time.
Very nice - Spent a few days in Calgary 4 years ago. Very nice city. Funny story - walked into MEC and went to check out and pay for my purchases but they wouldn't allow me to buy anything since I didn't have a membership. Anyway, really liked the bicycle infrastructure in the city, and kudos to you for being just that much more car independent. Cheers!
Nice that y'all have a greenway! We have very little here in Tuscaloosa, Alabama but roads are small enough I can get to 90% of places quickly by bike
Not to mention the Piggly Wiggly just a 2min ride from my apartment!
PIggly-Wiggly - you are definitely in the south. I'll only see those when I going from metro Atlanta to St Simons or further south in Georgia
Wow shocking. Here I thought Alabama was known for its infrastructure.
Heck yeah! Fun, healthy and with gas prices what they are in 2022, screw the oil companies. I hope more people decide to do the same.
agreed. plus it’s just a lot of fun for me and I get a sense of satisfaction able to accomplish something without the “status quo”. don’t do it this way all the time but even if it’s once a week for a quick trip -BAM! - that one trip less by car :-)
Of course it is. In my country millioms of people do so on a daily base.
You're completely right. My rhetorical question was probably US-centric. I was trying to show the "other" millions 😀 it's possible and you can live without a car for at least this particular errand. If there are any tips you can provide to encourage people, please do so! - I'd love to see more people make the trip on bicycles. Cheers!
Love the benny hill 🎵
Yeah - I remember the "Yakkity Sax" on the Benny Hill show with those silly hijinks all those years ago and considered it 100% appropriate for packing up. I didn't want to have the video show the whole packing up of groceries and all the time it took, so speed it up and put fun music to it? Sure - and the Benny Hill montage was born
to you for using your bicycle for shopping! I do the same with my recumbent trike and Burley trailer. Wish millions more would do the same. We would have a better world if we collectively did. Keep the dirty side down - appreciate this video!
To me, it's more of an adventure and I CAN do it. I'm not anti-car, I'm just pro-bike :-)
@@AdventuresWithPaul One doesn't have to be anti-car to hope one day we can all ride our bike easily and safely to the grocery store ;-)
Yeah, you're absolutely right. My point is (in the US) I feel increasingly pressured to be on one side of an argument or another and wanted to state I'm not against the other side, I'm just for bikes :-). For example, if I'm pro-bike, I must be anti-car. That's not the case. They each have their place - when I need to pick up cargo or transport my bike someplace I can throw it in the back of my GTI and I arrive at my destination. Other times I eschew the automotive transportation altogether and go for the bike. Either way, I'm with you - more cycling infrastructure to use bikes as a sole means of travel and transportation :-D
@@AdventuresWithPaul Ohhh here in Europe I definitely feel the pressure to take a side in an argument that's never really as simple and black and white as suggested.
Regarding the bicycle versus car war, I feel privileged to be living in the Netherlands. Here there is a vast well-thought out cycle network. 80% of that network is lanes completely separated from the cars. This way there is hardly any contact between the two, so less irritation, ergo much less of an anti-feeling towards each other.
@@AdventuresWithPaul Unfortunately I too live in the states, where I live both tires would be sliced/knifed after locking this up and walking into the store, just to show me someone was pissed at not having an easy item to steal that day. I can afford a few things like this, I just don't want the hassle of having to repair them or report them stolen, deal with Police and Insurance agents. Sigh.
Where I live, in San Antonio Texas, we have surprisingly a lot of greenway trail systems and my house is within a mile of three access points. What we also have is unbearably hot, humid summers that run from March through November making bicycling near impossible unless you are young and in excellent shape or are a sadist. Even when the weather permits, I'm getting older and have medical conditions that prevent me from peddling for more than half a block. On my e-bike this is solved, even in summer I can bike, but e-bikes are not allowed on the bike trails. I've been fighting to change this but there is a mindset that because a bike has motor assist the rider has no ability to safely slow down or control the bike below ramming speed. It's okay for me to be on the roadway with cars capable of going eighty miles an hour, but somehow my bikes ability to get a few miles per hour faster than a jogger puts everyone's life at high risk. Nonsense.
The e-Bike is a tough question i'm sure municipalities are trying to deal with. I'm in favor of pedal-assist on trail because in reality, they aren't going to go much faster than a conditioned cycling athlete on a trail. There are a lot of intricacies around this - how about kids scooters which have no pedal assist and can easily hit 15-18mph? Why are they allowed but not pedal-assist ebikes? And how about those single-wheeled skateboard-like things? They zip along and in and out of walkers but are they allowed? ANd then ultimately, who is going to enforce it all? So is there any way you could hop on the trail and follow all the speed rules and not get caught?
@@AdventuresWithPaul You are a reasonable person. There has to be some rational compromise where all taxpayers of every age , physical condition, and risk aversion get to enjoy the public amenities they've paid for. Speed limits and policing are how we manage roadways, it's not perfect but overall it works. There's no reason to think bike/e-bike speed limits on bike/hike trails would fail. Cement trucks, Hummers, Mini Coopers, and Smart E-cars all share the same roads, Bikes/E-bikes can share paths with joggers and Karens. And right there is the real problem, politics has fouled every discussion and institution we have. If someone or something seems the least bit too far Left or Right then clear thinking leaves the room and is replaced with scorn and cancelation. E-Bikes somehow found themselves the bane of both sides. Our city counsel made changes to City Code several times last year further penalizing E-Bikes, none deserved, none that make any sense. All it takes is one trail-bound Karen to complain about anything and the E-Bike code gets new restrictions. E-Bikes are no longer permitted anywhere on any city-owned parks, trails, paths or municipal land. Not even allowed to be on paved roads in parks! Nothing like being irrationally singled out. On the positive side, I am allowed to be on sidewalks if the traffic is going faster than 45MPH.
I think one has to apply "reasonableness" to the situation. What I think is the root cause to banning the eBikes is the speed/danger they represent (my assumption). Therefore, it's the potential of an incident that the legislation is trying to prevent. The same lawmakers don't feel the potential exists with human-powered bikes. If you take the "e"-advantage away from the eBike it becomes a, you guessed, human-powered bike. What is the difference with you riding your e-Bike with the motor off vs a traditional human-powered bike? It's the same, albeit your eBike now becomes much heavier with the battery and motor that you're moving along. Is there a way you could ride to the path assisted and then turn off the assist once on the path?
I think of it this way. A Lamborghini has the potential to do 185mph, but are they restricted from our roadways? No - they are not allowed to drive faster than that. Therefore, they are handicapped to the level of a Toyota Corolla or other small car so the maximum speed you are allowed to drive is posted. I'm not anti-car (or anti-Lamborghini) by any means - I'm more people be people and apply reasonableness to every situation.
I just cruised about 10 miles on my bicycle to pick up Wendy's. My children insisted. Lol when I got home this was the first video suggested by youtube to watch.
Have gone on many a Wendy's frosty run. Although I tend to eat those right in the parking lot and get brain freeze if I'm not too careful. But they're soooo good!
It’s one of my favorite bike things to do! I go at daybreak to beat the Summer heat and most of the distracted drivers. No rack though-my backpack will accept a carry cart worth of food. It’s a riot on a 20 lb. road bike.
Good for you! I didn't realize so many people would watch this. All I wanted to do was show how you can make a daily mundane errand into a bike trip all in one. I try to be car independent at least once a week, and I've gone for groceries many times. Once I even went to donate blood while out on a bike ride - I pumped my pint faster then I ever did before. But that was when I was young :-)
I didn't catch how far your trip to the grocery store was.
I love biking to the store too (my trip is 2-3 miles). It gives me purpose and forces me to exercise. It also allows me to buy fresh just what I need for the day (I've actually ridden to the store for the sole purpose of getting a couple of mushrooms for an omelette) without having to load up a ton of groceries and stuff the fridge.
I guess I didn't mention - the round trip is about 10 miles for this store. And you make a good point about going more frequently because you cannot carry a lot of groceries. So you make more frequent trips to pick up a smaller amount rather than 1 trip/week with a huge load. And I have done a run for 1-2 items as well (mine was for bottles of wine, not mushrooms :-))
@@AdventuresWithPaulwoah I live in a rural town outside of Harlingen Texas and after a two hundred meters of the city limit sign it’s farms and fields. It’s 6 mile round trip to the nearest super market.
I do the same. Hop on the bike for something as small as a loaf of bread. Why bother driving, closest grocery to me is about 2km, less than 10 minutes away, good exercise and feel good after
Great video. I just picked up a clean vintage road bike and my primary goal is to use for groceries. 5 mile round trip. Thanks for Tailfin info.
Good plan! You'll find the tailfin rack invaluable if you use the bike for different purposes as it clips on or off in < 30 seconds
Pleases me so much to see you do this. It also hurts my heart that it’s such a weird thing. This should be something that’s common.
It's fun for me. I try to go carless at least once a week. Now with a hybrid work schedule I find it's a 3x/week thing I leave my VW GTI in the garage. I've even done trips to REI to pick up items or just to surf the clearance rack to see if there's any deals there. I guess having experience touring I'm no stranger to walking into grocery stores, hotels, shops with road grime and miles under my belt that day.
Hey Paul, that's a good vid, thanks for posting.
Maybe it's the high price of fuel but this video is getting more views than every before. Glad you enjoyed it. I like creating the vids for two reasons (1) if other people find it interesting, it's something to help them enjoy the trip/adventure vicariously, and (2) it gives me something to document my trip I can look back on when I'm no longer about to do these things. Cheers!
Great video! What bike rack were you using? It looks very easy to install and remove yet sturdy.
That's a tailfin rack. I participated in a kickstarter campaign a few years ago. It was pricey but a solid choice. Tailfin still makes racks at www.tailfin.cc. I went over to their site and it looks like they updated their design to make a flat connector bar to the seat post which allows for placing items on the top. Mine is the original with the hoop and the side bags. The rack attaches to the bike in about 1min and gives me much more carrying options for making the bike utilitarian instead of just recreational.
That's a great video Paul. It demonstrates how beneficial even a little bit of infrastructure can be to facilitating utility trips by 🚲 bike. Every trip like this one helps reduce traffic congestion & is beneficial even to those driving. You also demonstrate how a bike can be a utilitarian vehicle and is not just for recreation. That's such a paradigm shift for SO many people around here. Anyway great job 👏!
Thanks, Tom. I can't believe with all the trips I've shot THIS is the video with the most views. Shows that people are at least curious about it. While the greenway is there really for recreation, it's infrastructure that can definitely be used for utility. Even if people hopped on the bikes and pedaled off to a restaurant, coffee shop, etc, that's one less trip by car. I'm not anti-car but I'm definitely PRO-bike :-) Cheers!
I do that all the time… and soon will be even better when I get an e-bike
Awesome. That should enable you to pick up even MORE groceries :-D
I got the same comment from a guy when locking up my bike. In the past two yrs I have l toured self supported 3,500km. It’s a Old Garry Fisher. Has never let me down and plan I riding for yrs to come. Love to Pedal
True. It doesn't matter if they find value in what I ride or not. I just like providing commentary as if you're riding along with me - sometimes it's tough to "find things to talk about" and other times, such as this one, other people write the script for you. I'd rather lock it up to ensure it's there when I leave the store than to chance it. Ironically, the value of the bike is probably more than the value of the guy's bike who made the comment (or he doesn't have a bike and is just passing judgement).
I like using scan-as-you-shop systems and loading the bags as I shop. That way you can cram them as full as you dare!
That's a good idea - take the panniers in and then load them as I check out. Thanks
I loved watching your ride in this video, I cannot drive a car due to disability but some days my vision allows me to ride a bicycle. I wanted to remind folks that you can also get one of those bike wagons you often see kids riding in that connects to the back of the bike for larger grocery shops.
Yes - absolutely right. I kept this one to only what I could fit in panniers, but a trailer is a great option if you're doing a HUGE shopping trip. Like Costco :-D
I used to have 1 of those my kid loved it, until it got stolen. Now I have a fairly large cooler bag on my bikerack, use it for UberEats if you can believe it.
Nice one ..
Thanks - I believe the bike is more than "just" a recreational vehicle. I tried to show how it's completely useful as a tool to pick up groceries in this video. It may be my own personal crusade but I try to go at least one day during the weekend car-free (sometimes both).
I will watch all of this later but I'll say that for myself, just having a good backpack for hauling a reasonable amount of groceries has been all I've had for the best of it and all I plan on using. Racks seem to be unneeded and add weight for the non-grocery rides. I guess that means technically I'd have to make more round trips to the supermarket, but that's OK. So far my record for bicycle only supermarket runs is around five weeks. That time was only stopped, funny enough, because I was dropping off a bike to a bike shop for some bike mechanic attention and I had some things to get at the store at the same time! I did have a '96 Volkswagen GTI for many years. Great car, very fast too, but the parts costs were unexpectedly high. Now I drive a 2012 Toyota truck.
I’m glad the rack attaches and detaches quickly :-)
I have a Motobecane 400 HT and Topeak MT DX bags that will hold a 12 pack on my trip to Kroger. Trying to find someone that can set it up for a mid-motor and make it electric
Good luck and keep riding! Cheers!
I have a Rock Bros pannier with foldout saddle bags which can fit a medium shop. Once a month I do a car run for large items like detergent, bulk rice etc.
Nice! I originally posted this because I didn't see many people (at least in my area) getting groceries on bikes - now there are thousands of hits on this one video alone. Well done John and everyone!
What are some of the bags you have on your bike?
the rear rack is a tailfin rack. I acquired that as part of a kickstarter campaign. The company did well and they are selling version 2 of their rack systems. bags are waterproof and large enough for a good bit of carry.
Hello. Who made those panniers. I’m looking for some that are easy to take on off for shopping. Thanks.
They were part of a kickstarter campaign for a company called Tailfin. I thought it would be very versatile taking on/off of multiple bikes so I supported the campaign, and they delivered. I found they are still in business at www.tailfin.cc/ and it looks as though they changed the rack design so it's flatter on top, which may actually be a bit more versatile even than mine. But back to the original, yes, they are super-easy to take on/off.
@@AdventuresWithPaul Thanks. I’m going to check them out. I want something that’s easy to put on/off for shopping.
Pro tip: attach your panniers to the side of your grocery cart and add the groceries directly into the bags. That way you know how much you can carry rather than estimating based on what's in the basket.
And here I've been an amateur all along! Thanks for the tip! Next time I'll feel like a pro! BTW - I'm planning a weekend overnight (not grocery shopping) this weekend so watch this space for a potential video dropping early next week. Weather will play a factor, but it's someplace local and doesn't require reservations so I can adjust my options.
Congratulations, nice video and a good example for a more sustainable future. I'm curious to see your green road from google maps. Could you share the location? I wanted to show my municipal administration how it was done (I'm from Italy). Thank you
tough to shop without a picture. Here's a link to maps with the bike layer showing (www.google.com/maps/@34.1708134,-84.1940349,14.97z/data=!5m1!1e3). If you look at the green-colored pathway, you'll see how it branches off into the local neighborhoods. That allows residents to ride through their neighborhood, access the greenway, and then the main road with the sidewalk which goes right to the grocery store parking lot. As more infrastructure gets built in Forsyth County, GA, more communities are including links into the "recreation" infrastructure which I use to go get my groceries. A good example is Boulder, CO which has integrated these very well and is a cycling city.
@@AdventuresWithPaul Maybe I'm a bit paranoid and not used to it anyway but ... don't you worry about leaving the bike out with all the bags attached? I wouldn't be so comfortable doing the shopping thinking that someone could detach them and steal them, or just the contents. I was imagining the situation in my supermarket and it has neither the bars to attach the bike with the lock nor an area with a good view to be monitored by the security. I really want to go to work on my bike and I am used to stop often after work to do the shopping (little stuff but every day) So I'm thinking about the best setup. At the moment I imagine ZERO bags to leave out :D
When I have panniers, I'll detach them and take into the store with me, and then throw them into the shopping basket. I'll either pack the panniers in the grocery line or take them back out with me and pack them on the bike. When I'm touring with reckless bags (i.e. "bikepacking" everything is much more difficult to attach/detach from the bike. At that point, I leave it up to fate. I bring my wallet, phone, GoPro into the store with me, but my clothing, tent, quilt, helmet, gloves, are outside on the bike. At some point, I figure I can't protect everything. I do tend to park my bike near a high-traffic area, so if any passer-by would see someone messing with a bike they would (hopefully) intercede. So, I guess I follow these rules: (1) don't lock it in an out-of-the-way or sketchy location (2) bring what you need with you should your bike get stolen (wallet, phone at a minimum) (3) lock it up to prevent a theft of opportunity. Make it as difficult for someone to steal your belongings as possible.
Cheers!
@@AdventuresWithPaul Thank you for your kind, argued replies;)
ya know what? I enjoyed the discussion with people around a specific topic (bike touring, bike packing, yachting, etc). If this channel ever becomes too popular where I can't have individual conversations, then so be it. But at this point, I enjoy the social interaction. Cheers, Matteo!
very cool
Thanks. I guess I'm going to have to get more groceries as this has become my most-watched video :-)
What brand and model bike rack are you using here?
that’s a tail fin rack. they had a kickstarter campaign a few years ago (2017 I think) and I backed the project. looks like they are successful as they still sell products at tailfin.cc
I do it every week on a bike I bought and set up for doing it. But then, I live on a boat and haven't had a car since '06 when I moved aboard. You can see the setup here: th-cam.com/video/LsQpDvS1MRQ/w-d-xo.html I also have my original bike, a 700cc hybrid, that I use for riding and filming. It has a small insulated bag that I use for fast food pickups and a mount for the front basket if I'm just making a quick one bag type run. On the rare occasions I have more than the bike can handle, I use public transpo there, and a cab to get back.
Nice setup. Glad others are doing it. While I live in a totally car-dependent area, I originally shot the video to prove it's possible. Admittedly, I didn't run to Costco and pick up a case of 247 pickle jars, so there is that constraint. But for small errands and daily food it's completely doable. Plus, one keeps active with the riding.
Nice job on the liveaboard. Wife and I are closing on a boat next week and we intend to set off on the great loop probably next year. Yet one more adventure for the books! Cheers!
i take me small backpack just incase everything don't fit in me panniers
Good plan.
Super Bowl Sunday-not a chicken wing in sight I bet!
Probably not. what's funny is I cannot remember what I bought that day. most likely we were out of some cheddar cheese (because, you know, it's the single most popular cheese in the world :-))
I would love to ride my bike to the store but unfortunately there are those people that like to take things that don't belong to them.
Yes, that's true. No way to 100% prevent that. Only you can be the best judge if the activity is safe and you will return with what you rode to the store. As an option, can you bring the bike inside the store and have it next to the checkout/office where it's "monitored" by the staff? not saying that's possible, but it may be an option.
Funny how you got told that about your bike being stolen. What happened was he was about to steal it before you walked out. The guilt talk.
Never thought about that. I lock it up so it's a deterrent mostly. And park it/lock it in an area with lots of foot traffic so it has high public visibility. Not that it 100% prevents the bike being stolen but will lead to deterring any theft. So far it's worked for me.
What kind of lock
I used a Kryptonite on that ride. I ended up switching it out for an Abus 6800 chain lock. The Abus gave me a lot more options for locking both my bike and my wife's. But, they are both good locks. I wouldn't trust any of them in a city overnight with my bike out of sight, but for locking up outside a store for 15min, it works just fine. Plus, it's in a highly visible area so anyone walking by would see a thief absconding with the bike.
Thank you
It looked like you only locked the rear wheel. If so, that makes the bike worth taking and paying something like $150 for a new wheel and bike. The lock should always go through the wheel and frame.
@@chrislano8531 I normally lock the rear wheel and frame (through the downtube). But looking at Sheldon Brown;s site he advocates locking the rear wheel through the rear triangle just as effective (sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html). Point being, if the U-lock goes through the rear wheel only, thieves will need to destroy the wheel before stealing the bike, thus completely de-valuaing the theft. Of course, that leaves it open for theft and then parting-it-out, but at that point, it becomes more difficult for the theif and. they will most likely look to a more opportune target.
Point on this is, I know a bike is isn't 100% theft-proof, but I'll make myself a lesser-opportune "steal" than the next bike. And I always lock it :-) Thanks for checking in :-)
@@AdventuresWithPaul I’m not doubting your abilities, just stating what I observed. I’ve seen too many bikes locked by a wheel and not by frame and wheel. Seat tube and wheel are my preference, but rear stays are just as effective. Happy riding!
Dude that's not a rack, that's a bar...
Yeah - I just used the generic term. It was something solid to lock the bike to. Plus, I had those people walk by who said "no one would steal that bike" so maybe it wasn't necessary :-). Better safe than sorry I suppose.
Privileged
Not sure what is privileged about this - that I chose to use my bike instead of a car?
A bicycle like that, even with all the gear, is thousands of dollars cheaper than a car PER YEAR. Privileged my butt, dude.