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Cycling and Shopping

Page updated: Wednesday April 11 2012

Ways to carry goods on your bike

Biking is a great alternative for travelling to work or school, running errands or even shopping.

With a little planning and proper bike accessories, you can carry almost anything on your bicycle.

Accessory	Description	Best For	Things to Consider
Backpacks	A bag you carry on your back secured with 2 straps that go over your shoulders	Light loads and short trips	Can cause back strain, so not recommended for longer trips or for carrying heavy objects Can add perspiration on your back
Front Baskets	Wicker, plastic or metal baskets can be attached to the front of most bicycles or anchored to the handlebars and the front fork	Any trip	Well-constructed baskets are strong and can hold a lot Some baskets can be easily clipped on and off the bicycle so you can take them inside for shopping and unloading The more weight you put in the front basket, the moreeffort it will take to steer and control your bike Front baskets are convenient, but it will take time to adjust your steering and manoeuvring
Rear Racks	A metal rack that can be attached to the seat stays of most bicycles	Any trip	Considered one of the safest and most convenient ways to carry things on your bicycle when used with a pannier Can secure objects directly to the bike with bungee cords, install a rear basket or attach panniers
Front Racks	Similar to rear racks, front racks can be attached to the front of the bicycle to allow for panniers over the front wheels	Any trip	Don’t overload a front rack: the extra weight on the front of your bike will make it more difficult to steer
Panniers	A basket or pack, usually one of a pair, that fastens to the rack of a bicycle and hangs over the side of one of the wheels	Carrying heavythings	Considered one of the safest and most convenient way of carrying things on your bicycle when used with a rear rack Can be canvas, leather or a variety of synthetic and waterproof materials Good for carrying a variety of things, and usually have alarge capacity You can bike with just 1 pannier, but it’s best to have 2 to distribute the weight of your load on both sides of the bike The bulk of the weight remains low to the ground
Seat Bag	A storage accessory hung from the back of a bike seat	Trips where you don’t want to carry much	Provides storage for small objects such as energy bars,a wallet or keys Attaches under the seat Won’t interfere with your riding technique or balance.
Trailers	A carrier you attach to the back of your bike for carrying large, heavy and/or awkward items		Pull a lot of weight Come in a variety of different sizes and styles Can have any number of wheels When using, bike in a low gear to minimize strain on your joints Are easy to use, but cycling with them requires practice