baskets and bicycles
Let’s be clear from the start. This is at once the dorkiest looking and one of the most useful things that I’ve done to one of my bikes.
Joseph Broach wrote a nice blog entry a couple of months back about baskets. Then he posted even nicer photos of his Romulus setup with a front basket.
I’ve been riding one of the Kogswell Porteur prototypes for a few months. This is a unique production bike on the US market because it has a steering geometry which is designed for carrying big loads up front. I’ve been planning on making a large handlebar bag for it, but haven’t actually done that, so I’ve been carrying all of my cargo in the rear. Then I saw Joseph’s bike and ordered one of the Wald baskets.
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(click here for more of my Kogswell Porteur photos)
The basket is the Wald rear basket that Rivendell sells installed onto a Nitto M12 front rack. The basket is held in place with hose clamps. The handlebars are 44cm wide and this setup wouldn’t work with any narrower handlebars because the basket would intefere with the hand positions on the drops. The net is also sold by Rivendell and is essential or my stuff would blow away.
It is the perfect size for a full bag of groceries and stable enough for this too. I still carry most of my gear in the pannier on the back of my bike, but the basket makes it possible to pick up groceries or other shopping on the way home. It has also been fantastic for quick rides, just throw my lock and a jacket into the basket and head out.
In the two weeks since installing it I’ve used the basket almost every day. It has carried groceries, bicycle tires, plumbing parts from the hardware store, my bicycle lock, my jacket, and other random stuff.It is much faster to put a grocery bag onto the basket then to make groceries fit in the tapered shape of most panniers. It is nice being able to watch the load to make sure that everything is in good shape. It is handy to be able to reach into the grocery bag for a piece of fruit while riding. The basket is a great way to carry small grocery loads.
My plans for making a handlebar bag have changed. Rather than making a huge handlebar bag I’m going to make a small one which fits into the center of the basket. This way I can still use the basket’s extra capacity while touring. The basket is more useful than a handlebar bag for me when riding around town.
When you aren’t using the basket it doesn’t really hurt to ride with it. The basket and little front rack don’t weight very much and don’t get in the way. These photos were taken after a 25 mile ride where the basket was empty for 22 miles. I stopped and picked up groceries at a store near the end of the ride.
I can’t recommend putting a basket on every single bike that you own, but I can recommend putting a basket onto one of your bikes. The Kogswell Porteur is a great choice because it was designed for front loads, but most touring and city bikes would also work well with this setup.
alex
Footnote: For those who are curious,the basket works fine with the Sportworks bike racks found on many city busses. The hook fits over the front tire,under the basket. I would recommend removing items from the basket before putting your bike on the bus rack.