The world is changing and cars just don’t have the conscience-free, go wherever you want persona anymore. They’ve been stigmatized. And for good reason, because they literally stink. So, what’s been coming in vogue nowadays to replace them? The good ol’ bicycle. It’s hardly changed in the past hundred years, and it still is one f the most popular forms of transport around the world. Yes, they’re a whole lot more complicated, but in the bigger picture, they’re the simplest machine that’ll get you from A to B outside of walking.
But you can only carry so much on your bike. A backpack will only cut it so far. So, let’s take a page out of Dutch culture and see what it would take to rely on a bike as sole transportation.
Baskets
There’s not a single one of you, young or old that hasn’t thought how nice it would be to have a basket on the front of your bike. You can rock the French stereotype and carry a baguette and flowers, or even a bottle of wine in the basket. You might have a small dog that you fantasize about going on rides in the countryside with – if it’ll just stay in the damned basket.
Baskets can be added onto a few kinds of bikes but are really only made for cruiser-types or Dutch-style granny bikes. While they’re great fun in theory, they are only good for some bikes, and can only take so much weight.
Pannier Racks
Traditionally, if you want to carry anything on your bike, you’ll have a rack or two. These are called pannier racks because they carry pannier bags. And pannier bags are those square bags that sit on either side of the rear wheel (and sometimes front).
They have been the best friend of touring cyclists around the world, literally. They are what people who ride around the world use. So, if they can fit their lives in these bags, then they should be fine for daily use.
Most bikes are able to fit a rear rack, which isn’t too expensive. Then you get your bags, which can range from affordable to near Louis Vuitton. You obviously get what you pay for, but there are some things you really shouldn’t cheap out on, namely waterproofing.
Pannier bags can be used for your daily commute, for errands like grocery shopping, and you can even add a child’s seat onto the top for school runs. It’s probably the most practical way to carry things on a bike if perhaps not the most attractive.
Bikepacking Bags
Bikepacking bags are the new kid on the block. Where racks were restricted to a certain type of bike and added much more weight on the bike, bikepacking bags can be made to fit just about any bike, and their weight is negligible.
In fact, all you really need is a couple of long, sturdy straps and some sort of bag (we recommend a dry bag), and you could consider that a bikepacking bag. Though you won’t find it quite as practical as something purpose-built. But it does offer a new perspective on what is possible with carrying stuff on your bike.
As with everything about cycling, you can get some pretty crazily expensive bags like those from Apidura. And custom-made bags with taped seams and your dog’s name stitched on the side, whatever you fancy. But then you could get some pretty cheap ones too that just on with the job. It’s all a matter of what you need.
The most common styles are handlebars bags, saddle bags, and frame bags. The frame bags sit inside your front triangle, the handlebars bags strap onto your handlebars, and the saddle bags – you guessed it – they fit under the saddle.
What is particularly cool about bikepacking bags is that they’re so niche that you have a great chance at supporting your local industry. Most brands are tiny and make their bags in small batches or to demand with little more than a sewing machine. That’s pretty damn cool. How often do you get a chance to speak to someone who is actually making the thing you’re buying?
And for that reason, check out this awesome site with all the bikepacking bags brands from around the world so you can find one near to you.
Cargo Bike
For the ultimate in bicycle transport, the cargo bike is king. They might be a new thing in many parts of the world, but they’ve been a staple part of life in the Netherlands and other Northern European countries that are flat as a pancake. Which makes sense because they’re super heavy, and pedalling them up an incline is near impossible.
But damn, you can do anything on these things (except hills). They’re so fun to ride, and you can transport actual people on them without a problem. It’s what they’re built for after all.
Some cargo bikes have a longer rear end that’s dedicated for extra seating for kids. But the fun ones that have the cargo load up front are the winners. You can throw just about anything into the ones with tubs. Little humans – check, groceries – check, building equipment – check, a single larger human – probably check.
Ok, fine, they are not cheap. But what is cheap that’s worth buying anyway? The normal ones like the Bullitt by Larry vs Harry go for about $2,500 and up. But the electric ones that are coming out are real car alternatives. These can actually be ridden uphill, at pace. But they cost nearly as much as a car, which is a bit bewildering.
Urban Arrow makes some fantastic options that be custom-built to what you need it to be, either a people transporter or a good transporter and anything in between. If you live in a city where cycling is more accessible, then they’re definitely worth a hard look.
