When it comes to switching from cars or
public transit to bicycling, actual pedaling is only half the battle.
Unless you’re funemployed in July and your only cargo is the precious
U-Lock in your back pocket, converting to the bike doctrine requires
determination, planning, and—you know it—gear. Here’s a rundown of the
most popular ways that bicyclists carry their stuff, in order of how
serious a rider you should plan to be.
The Backpack
Often the cargo-carrying mode of choice for newbie riders,
the backpack is a convenient and versatile way to haul everyday things
if you’re dabbling in biking—you probably have a pack lying around the
house, after all. Fast-forward a few weeks to the first day you have to
commute five miles in 40-degree driving rain, and you’re going to want
something more waterproof and less cumbersome. There are suitable
options, like the sporty
Osprey Momentum ($130) or instantly
recognizable
Chrome Metropolis Buckle Bag ($160), but getting a quality
pack like that costs about the same as a set of panniers. If you end up
being in this for the long haul, consider investing in bags you don’t
have to wear.
The Milk Crate
Strapping a milk crate to your back rack is akin to
wearing generic canvas shoes in Portland. It’s cheap, mildly hip and
gets the job done. And the second it starts raining, you’ll wish you’d
thought things through a bit. With the convenience of being able to
throw whatever you fancy into that crate comes the added sluggishness of
a carrying mechanism that pulls against your center of gravity. Unless
you only do the two-wheel thing during the summertime, your stuff is
guaranteed to get soaked. Ask any bike-shop mechanic and they’ll tell
you—the classic crate isn’t so convenient. But at least they’re free if
you steal one from a local grocery store, like most folks do.
The Basket
Bike baskets are like crates, but you actually have to pay
for them. In return, you get to look cute at Sunday Parkways and
solidify your neighborhood identity as an easygoing but respectable
community member. Costs range from $40 for a quick-release wire
contraption to $130 for charming wicker baskets built specifically for
pets.
Panniers
They’re waterproof, relatively heavy duty, detach easily
and don’t throw off your bike’s efficiency. Panniers are, with few
exceptions, a must-have for daily commuters. The downside is that it’s a
slippery slope from your first pannier purchase into the eye
roll-inducing spandex biker stereotype. Unless you’re careful,
waterproof booties, Gore-Tex and pit zips may be in your future.
Everything in moderation. Panniers run about $120 for a good pair.
The Bike Trailer
Great for carrying kids and puppies or getting strangers
to think you’re weird for toting paint supplies in what is generally
considered a child’s travel device. On the plus side, you can haul a lot
of stuff, but you’ll suffer in maneuverability. A quality trailer will
put you a few hundred bucks in the deep, but there are decent options
that cost about the same as a pair of Ortlieb bags. There is also a
sub-genre of bike trailers designed with inanimate cargo in mind, but
these tend to be great for touring, not commuting. And ultimately, if
you’re actually planning to put a bike trailer to good use, you better
have the stamina and muscles that the typical beginner only dreams of.
Xtracycle
OK, so you’re super-serious about this biking thing.
Forget water bottles and wallets—you just sold your car and want to be
able to haul loads as if that hatchback were still connected to your
fenders. There’s something appealing about the capacity and extreme
bikeyness of cargo bikes, but you’ve already got a solid frame. Meet the
Xtracycle, a popular add-on to standard bikes that converts most of
them into longer cargo carriers for $100-$300. Xtracycles get xtra
expensive once you move beyond the basic accouterments.
