Getting Groceries by Bike

tlp's picture
Full capacity demonstration (unrolled Ortlieb Backroller panniers.)
Full capacity demonstration (unrolled Ortlieb Backroller panniers.)

One of the most frequently-cited examples I've heard people give for needing a car is the ability to haul home groceries. I haven't starved to death just yet, so I thought I'd share my secret! As of this month, May 2014, I've been using a bicycle as my primary mode of transportation for eight years, getting by pretty well without a car. It's not for everybody, nor is it practical in all cases, but it works for me and saves me a lot of money. It also alleviates the fear of becoming sedentary, which is my natural state of being.(continued)

Winter Strategy: Thoughts after six years of bicycling in the winter.

tlp's picture
Peaceful riding in the winter, with no cars in sight.
Peaceful riding in the winter, with no cars in sight.

I've been a cyclist in Idaho for nearly seven years now, of which six I've ridden most days through the winter (including this year). Despite intuitions to the contrary, cycling in the winter is nearly as practical as it is through spring, summer and fall. This is not to say care may be thrown to the winds, but with proper gear and strategy, you can ride your bike most days of the year with little hassle. Studded snow tires are very effective at keeping traction most of the time, and key winter clothing combinations will keep you comfortable.(continued)

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Coffee to Go

tlp's picture
Hipster with a coffee mug
I hear this method is popular in San Francisco

If you're like me, your day typically begins with an alarm going off, reluctantly climbing out of bed, and heading straight to the coffee pot. Once brewed, you pour yourself a cup and wait a bit until it's cool enough to drink. After your first few sips, you notice it's time to head out the door in a hurry -- and you have all this coffee you haven't finished yet!

Okay, maybe that's just me, but you get the idea.(continued)

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The Pipeline Deserter Branch - s24o Labor Day 2012

selfash's picture

Indeed, the first half of our s24o was delightful. As dusk set in and I discovered that the seam tape on at least one seam of my bivy sack had failed, my enthusiasm quickly waned. I packed fairly light, so I didn't have much in the way of insulated clothes to get me through the night comfortably without a reasonably warm sleeping bag, and my soaked down sleeping bag and sleeping pad were no longer able to provide that need.(continued)

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Pipeline Campground Cycle Camp, Labor Day 2012

peltkore's picture
Cycling to American Falls On Frontage Road
Cycling to American Falls On Frontage Road

My usual cycle camping buddies (Travis Poppe and Dan Lloyd) and I were eager to do an overnighter soon, and Labor Day weekend was approaching. Recently, Jeff Selfa had joined our circle of geeky beer drinking cycling folks and Travis had gotten himself a girlfriend, Justina, and they both wanted to come along as well. Jeff is a very experienced cyclist and has the ability to blow us all out of the water in terms of speed and skill as well as sheer coolness factor of the bicycles that he rides, so I thought he was going to be bored to tears for this event. Justina is pretty new to cycling so I was worried that this 60 mile round trip ride was going to make her hate cycling for the rest of her life. Ah, well, I was interested to see how things were going to turn out! And you never really know how a cycle camp is going to go anyway, to be honest. But that’s how adventures are supposed to be and I wouldn’t have it any other way!(continued)

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Porteur Pizza, Please! How to Carry Pizza With Your Bike

tlp's picture
Bicycle carrying a 16" take-and-bake pizza.
A 16" take-and-bake pizza strapped to a Velo Orange Porteur Rack

One of the many challenges facing utility cyclists is the need to carry a wide range of objects without the assistance of a motor vehicle. Surprisingly enough, almost anything you wish to carry can be done using a bike! Don't believe me? You might appreciate a visit to Bicycle Cargo: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, and Chapter 4. Using a variety of methods, from cargo racks, panniers and trailers to messenger bags and backpacks, chances are you'll be able to haul most of what you'd need to carry on a daily basis without ever putting your key in the ignition.(continued)

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A Ride for the Birds

tlp's picture
Birds sitting on a power line.
They lie in wait...

So there I was, cycling along the mountainside against a grueling headwind, hunched down in the drop handlebars on my touring bike, when I noticed I had a riding partner. Well, perhaps more of a flying partner... or beaked stalker? I digress. Crouched down like this, I'd noticed the shadow of a bird about half the size of an adult crow just in front of my wheel. I'd see his shadow for a few moments before he'd fall back against the force of the wind. Poor fellow, I thought; and it was neat! How often do you find a bird that wants your companionship?(continued)

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Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tires (26×1.35)

tlp's picture
Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tires
Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tires

I recently replaced the aging Schwalbe Marathon tires (26×1.5) on my Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT) with a narrower, hardier version of the same thing: the Marathon Plus (26×1.35). These tires are known for their extreme puncture resistance — the “Plus” version even more so. In addition to this, they last practically forever. Unfortunately, my original Marathons have lost much of their puncture protection and are a bit too wide for my taste.(continued)

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Goodenough Cycle Camp 2010!

peltkore's picture
Bikes and Trailers
Bikes and Trailers

We enjoyed camping in Goodenough Canyon near McCammon, Idaho in the past so much that we decided to do it again this year! The distance is good (30 miles one way), there’s plenty of trees (a rarity in southern Idaho), and McCammon is only a few miles away from the campground. I was late, as usual, arriving at our meeting spot near the south end of Pocatello, so we set out at about 9:30 am. I was riding my Windsor Tourist touring bicycle and towing my Nashbar Kid Karriage trailer full of firewood, sleeping bag, etc.(continued)

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Bicycling Smith Canyon Road: A Lava Hot Springs Adventure

tlp's picture
The author, Travis Poppe, by his touring bike.
The author, Travis Poppe, by his touring bike.

Over Memorial Day Weekend, my friend Korey Pelton and I had planned a 3-day, fully-loaded, 100-mile camping trip by bicycle from our hometown of Pocatello, Idaho, to the well-known tourist destination of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, using a little-known dirt and gravel route in the country: Smith Canyon Road. Much of our trip revolved around this section, even though it is a relatively short part of the distance traveled, due to its 1,800 foot elevation gain. We chose to do this trip in May to avoid the intense heat of the summer, which can easily make or break a trip of this difficulty.(continued)

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