I can’t ride a bike to work, I have to carry stuff
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So you think you can’t commute to work by bike because you think you can’t carry anything. Maybe you think you just carry too much stuff back and forth to be able to ride to work. Well let me tell you what…both assumptions are wrong.
I’m going to break this down into common items carried to work and show you how you can do this by bike.
You need to carry a laptop, a few documents, and a change of cloths…
Too easy. There is a plethora, a varied cornucopia of backpacks and messenger bags that will suit the needs of all that fall into this category. Here are some good messenger bag choices:
You need to pick up some groceries on your way home…
for bulkier items it is usually better to get them off your back and onto your bike. Here are some racks, panniers, and an Xtracycle, a very cool and popular way to take care of it.
You need to carry your business suit to work…
This one would seem to be tough at first but the people at 2 Wheel Gear solved this one.
You need to carry really big stuff like your refrigerator…
Some people, mostly in Portland I think, are really serious about living car free. Sometimes you have to move big stuff. You might think this could never work but look here my friend:
- Bikes at Work - Hauling a refrigerator
- B.O.B Trailers - Great for around town or touring
- Burley Nomad trailer - Another great touring trailer
This should give you some ideas for how you can go about your daily life no matter what you need to haul by bike. So no more excuses…starting commuting by bike.
My name is Bradly Fletchall. I am the guy behind most of what you see here. I am a bicycle enthusiest and advocate. I'm a founding member of a local bicycle club. I also compete in road and moutain bike races. You can learn more about this blog and me on the 
November 20th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Good info. Thanks.
November 21st, 2007 at 1:58 pm
I bought an extra kid trailer a couple years back, and I had been using it as a cargo trailer, just throwing my stuff inside.
But, the kidtrailer had its drawbacks - It was tall enough for kids, but it didn’t have much horizontal space, and you could only put heavy items on the seat - putting them on the floor caused it to drag on the ground. It couldn’t carry a weeks worth of groceries without a high likelihood of smashing the fragile items.
So, I tore it apart. I pulled all the fabric off, revealing a square frame with two wheels and a tow-bar.
I lashed old milk crates into the middle, which worked great for smaller items. I quickly discovered that I could haul far more than I originally thought. After I towed 200 pounds of water softener salt and another 100 pounds of groceries, I thought about my canoe. At under 80 pounds, it should be a piece of cake, if I could get it lashed to the trailer. Then I wouldn’t need the car to go camping at a local lake.
The problem is that the maximum length of an object I could haul with the trailer was about 5 foot, and the canoe is 15 foot.
So, I used an 8 foot section of 1 inch square steel tubing and extended the tow bar. Now I can haul stuff over 20 foot long if I have to.
I can remove the extension in about a minute and strap it to the trailer - it hangs out the back about 3 foot.
If you do something like this, remember you can’t turn tightly, especially to the right. (the tire rubs the tow bar) You can turn fairly tight to the left, but the tow bar can hit your pedals. Still, it was very ridable, you just have to remember that you’re the length of small truck, not a 5-foot bike.
You need to balance your load on the trailer axle, and not let it put too much weight on the tow bar. that means it’s going to hang over the back of the trailer. Be aware of clearance: I have to raise the canoe a foot over the wheels to prevent the back end from hitting the ground when I hit a bump.
I’ve used my modified trailer to haul computer desks, bed frames, dining room sets, extension ladders, and yes, a refrigerator. The trailer can reliably carry up to about 200 pounds, but I’ve had over 300 pounds on it at times. The issue is trailer strength, not muscle strength. The axles only attach to the frame on one side, and over 200 pounds, the axle blocks bend noticeably.
The trailer behaves very well overall, especially considering that all the parts, purchased new, could be had for under $100.
Oh yeah - I’m not in Portland either - I’m in Northeast Ohio. I wouldn’t consider myself serious about car-free living, it’s just easier to scrounge from a bike than a car.
November 21st, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Dave - that is a great idea. Those kid trailers can be picked up at Target for a pretty good price usually.
November 21st, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Dude, get a Bob or Yak one-wheeled trailer . I have thousands of miles on mine and I have carried complete tenting equipment, beach blankets, food, pillows and changes of clothes. It’s a perfect commuter machine and my Gary Fisher doesn’t even bat an eye !
http://www.bobtrailers.com/trailers/trailers.php
November 22nd, 2007 at 10:13 am
Gary - I’ve been wanting to get the B.O.B. Ibex trailer for hauling tools into the woods to do MTB trail maintenance.