Shopping on Ebikes

Is anyone doing their weekly shop on their ebike?

 

I'm trying to switch from car to bike. The first time I went a bit crazy an nearly broke my panniers but it was pretty much the equivalent of a full car load.

 

I've now reduced it to the equivalent of a small shop or half a full shop. I only use two large rear panniers and a medium sized rucksack but that seems more than adequate. I have to use the 36V workhorse bike but it seems more than up to the job although the ride feels very strange with all that extra weight.

 

It always depresses me slightly though when I turn up and mine is the only bike amongst the sea of cars in the supermarket carpark.

We shop every 4 to 6 week so use the car for that, but I do use my ebike to go get the fresh stuff and veggies for the piggies. I use a basket on the back rack and a rucksack if necessary and Wilma handles it with aplomb, doesn't it make you feel great?

the fresh stuff and veggies for the piggies

 

Is that a term of endearment, or do you really have pigs?

 

And yes, I must admit, it does make me feel good!

Is that a term of endearment, or do you really have pigs?

 

And yes, I must admit, it does make me feel good!

 

I have Guinea pigs and boy can they motor through their veggies *lol*

I nip down to Tescos every day or so at around 7pm, fill up the panniers with any half price bargains and come home feeling smug,

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/drillam/ebike/IMG_9300-1.jpg

I nip down to Tescos every day or so at around 7pm, fill up the panniers with any half price bargains and come home feeling smug,

 

Sounds familiar !

I try to do most of my shopping on the bike, the motor makes the 10 mile, hilly round trip much more attractive. However, since putting up a polytunnel last year, i rarely seem to have to shop more often than i am otherwise out with the car. On sunny days i find myself looking around for things i might need as a pretext to go out on the bike and feel all happy and smug cruising up the hill that is our main street.

I don't know if it's where you live, but i'm noticing a lot more cyclists on the road over here in Ireland - particularly in the cities.

Is anyone doing their weekly shop on their ebike?

 

I'm trying to switch from car to bike. The first time I went a bit crazy an nearly broke my panniers but it was pretty much the equivalent of a full car load.

 

I've now reduced it to the equivalent of a small shop or half a full shop. I only use two large rear panniers and a medium sized rucksack but that seems more than adequate. I have to use the 36V workhorse bike but it seems more than up to the job although the ride feels very strange with all that extra weight.

 

It always depresses me slightly though when I turn up and mine is the only bike amongst the sea of cars in the supermarket carpark.

 

I do it on my A2B Metro or Urban Mover UM44S. If you shop at Waitrose they lend you a cycle trailer FOC to use....

I nipped to Aldi on my bike today but as a stereotypical man I only went for gloves but came out with loads of gadgets, so I couldnt manage any food - oops! My wife wasnt happy

I don't have enough space for a big shop, so have to pop the other trailer on:)

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/inamini/IMG_5774.jpg

Wow, impressive 7-wheeler !!

Shopped for many years by bike, including when on unpowered bikes.

 

Members might have been amused at an arrangement I had at one time, a supermarket wire basket attachment

system so that I could clip the wire basket onto the carrier. Very green, no plastic bags, just goods from basket to

basket, then home.

 

Was it a supermarket basket I stole? No!

 

I'd gone into Focus DIY one day and saw some of these wire baskets on a display stand with other goods for sale.

I mischievously asked an assistant how much they were, and the surprised lad said they were free, "just help

yourself".

 

So I did, just put the goods I bought into one and checked out with the basket as well. It had blue plastic clad

handles, unlike the orange clad Sainsburys ones where I shopped, so no risk of misunderstanding.

.

About halfway down the page here is a lovely (sandwich) delivery bike.

David Hembrow, basketmaker - Bicycles fitted with my baskets I keep wondering what kind of bike it is. Brand or home-made?

 

It certainly looks like it can carry plenty.

 

 

I just use my meerkat for shopping. A wire basket in the front (Argos £12.99) and I either place bags on the child-seat in the back or use a pannier.

looks like a Pashley delivery bike with front hub motor kit added...

Whilst camping in Cambridge a couple of weeks ago, I cycled to the nearest Waitrose - I was really encouraged by the size of the cycle park - it was huge and appeared to be really well used.

 

I sometimes use my bike to buy eggs from a farm approximately 1 mile down a country lane - to date I have only cracked one egg, which is pretty good going I reckon.

Members might have been amused at an arrangement I had at one time, a supermarket wire basket attachment system so that I could clip the wire basket onto the carrier. Very green, no plastic bags, just goods from basket to basket, then home.

 

My previous bike had a Tescos basket on the rack. Go round the back of a big Tescos and you'll probably find a graveyard for retired baskets and trolleys. Have a word with someone and you can take your pick! I've now switched to Adie baskets as they're cheap and look more appropriate, but I'm impressed you did a quick release arrangement.

 

My record is probably on the Megascooter (Suzuki Burgman). One xmas the car threw a cam belt so I had to use that for all the shopping. My best was a turkey under the seat and the xmas tree on the back.

That's quite something on the Burgman, big though it is.

 

I used to do the main Christmas shop with my large trailer, parking it in a Sainsburys Warlingham car bay to the

great amusement of car drivers. I'd turn the bike alongside the trailer and lock them together for security:

 

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my missus has been shopping on her ebike for the last 3 years! and she's still alive! wind, rain, ice, snow, sun! respect to her! it's a really nice bike though, built it myself !!!!

looks like a Pashley delivery bike with front hub motor kit added...

Thanks Alex. I wonder where it may be driving.... A flat area would be fun. Steep hills would be murder I guess.

Is anyone doing their weekly shop on their ebike?

 

I'm trying to switch from car to bike. The first time I went a bit crazy an nearly broke my panniers but it was pretty much the equivalent of a full car load.

 

I've now reduced it to the equivalent of a small shop or half a full shop. I only use two large rear panniers and a medium sized rucksack but that seems more than adequate. I have to use the 36V workhorse bike but it seems more than up to the job although the ride feels very strange with all that extra weight.

 

It always depresses me slightly though when I turn up and mine is the only bike amongst the sea of cars in the supermarket carpark.

 

I do a weekly shop on my bike, I have 41 litre panniers which fit two sainsbury jute bagfuls, then on the carrier I put a freezer bag and attached it with those elastic bungi straps. Then on the handlebars I have two of the Tesco jute bags they have shorter handles so don't rub on the wheels, which I put light things in.

 

I ride a Technium and Sparta and Gazelle, obviously not at the same time.

The Gazelle and Technium are the best as they have a good stand that is stable whilst packing, which does take a bit of time.

 

Marina

I use Ortlieb panniers which just clip on an off. The Ortlieb Shopper bag even looks like a normal bag so I take this in but the panniers a left on the bike. Sometimes I buy so much I wonder if something will break and one time I didn't have enough air in the shock so had to go very slowly as it kept bottoming out.

Most I've take is probably about 20kg! And the Ortliebs are waterproof so it all stays dry!

I prefer the bike to the car as I buy less and have to make some decisions on need v's want.

Dutch panniers for me, giving a large flat platform on top for bulky extras. This bike has a parking brake too for

when it's on a steep slope as here:

 

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