Perhaps you woke up on a weekend morning to find the sun shining and the birds singing which thus inspired you to have a picnic after a bike ride in the countryside.
You’re excited so you take the time to carefully prepare all the food from the appetizers to the desserts, only to realize you have no idea how to carry food on a bike. What should you do if faced with this dilemma?
Unfortunately, many bikes may not come with a pre-installed basket for easier transportation of goods. However, not all hope is lost as there are simple solutions for carrying food on a bike.
Types of cycling luggage
Although there are many ways to carry food with you on a bike, the simplest way would be to obtain some type of cycling luggage. There are several benefits to using a form of cycling luggage, such as convenience and ease of transport.
While you could opt to carry the food in a backpack, it might be better to invest in cycling luggage that can be strapped to your bike instead of you.
Some cycling luggage is even water-resistant so you could rest assured that leaks would stay contained, and your food items would be sheltered from rain.There is a large selection of cycling luggage that is available on the market these days, each one with its advantages and disadvantages depending on your needs. These types include:
- Handlebar bags – these bags can be placed on the front of your handlebars
- Pros: Has quick-release mount for easy removing; comes in various sizes
- Cons: Can negatively affect handling if overfilled; might not easily fit over handlebars with excessive cabling
- Saddlebags – these bags can be strapped to the back of your bike seat while you ride
- Pros: Come in various sizes; lightweight; can be water-proof
- Cons: Easily stolen; tedious to switch between bikes; might not hold food securely
- Rucksacks – these bags can be strapped to your back while you ride
- Pros: Come in various sizes; can have slots for drinking bladders; easier to move around; can be water-proof
- Cons: Less comfortable when overloaded; can become floppy when not filled to the brim; might not hold food securely
- Panniers – these bags can be strapped to either side of the rear rack of your bike if you have one installed
- Pros: Large carrying capacity; more ease of transportability; can be water-proof; come in various sizes
- Cons: Must have a rear rack installed; can make balancing difficult if only placed on one side of the bike; the larger the pannier, the bigger the effect on your handling; easily stolen
- Trailers – these metallic contraptions can be hooked to the back of your bike
- Pros: Huge carrying capacity which minimally affecting handling
- Cons: Costly; can be quite heavy; must be locked up when parked to avoid theft
No matter which cycling luggage you decide to procure, any of them can be used to transport food from point A to point B. It all depends on what you’re planning on carrying.
In Summary – How to Carry Food on a Bike
If you’re inventive enough, there are many ways to carry food while on a bike. If all the food you’re toting is a granola bar, then you might as well just stick it in your pocket. However, it might behoove you to consider transporting dry foods rather than prepared foods cooked in sauces.
Nuts, chips, crackers, or aluminum-wrapped sandwiches would all be easier to move from place to place rather than pasta dripping in bolognaise. If your love of curry dictates that you must bring along prepared food, then make sure to use spill-proof food containers to avoid any messy accidents. Bon appetit!
Useful Resource
https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/fueling-your-ride-how-do-you-carry-enough-food/27887