As a cyclist who’s also a car owner, I only drive my vehicle when it really isn’t possible to ride my bike.
This is a commitment I’ve made and it isn’t to say I don’t like driving, but it’s important to me that I use my bike whenever I can and keep the carbon footprint to a dull roar.
It’s a work in progress and I know there’s always more I can do in this regard, but I do make a conscious and determined effort to use my bike for absolutely anything when it’s feasible to do so.
To this end, the carrying capacity of my bike is something I think about a lot. Beyond the obvious options of a rear rack and panniers or a handlebar-mounted basket, there are tons of ways to turn a regular commuter bike into an impressive cargo machine.
For small stuff, you can add an under-the-seat pack or a triangular frame carry bag that will velcro onto the top tube. While these don’t offer lots of additional room, they’re extremely unobtrusive and unlike panniers or a front basket, they don’t alter the bike’s handling.
A bicycle chariots is a phenomenal option for transporting small children (and pets) and can also double as a large-capacity cargo hauler.
I used one of these for the first time last summer and was amazed how little it interfered with the bike’s handling compared to other options, especially once it was fully loaded with a small child and all of her gear. I just had to remember not to cut corners while I towed it.
There are also dedicated cargo trailers that will have even less effect on the bike’s handling unless you excessively load them up with heavy or unwieldy contents. I’ve even seen a stand-up paddleboard be towed behind a bike on one of these —I was impressed.
If you want to use a bike to transport your pet without towing anything extra behind you, there are also a range of products to choose from, including pet carriers that strap to a rear rack or ones with straps that you wear like a backpack. Keep in mind, though, that having a moving animal (especially a larger one) on either a rack or your back is quite different than carrying a static load.
If you don’t mind wearing a backpack (which is my preference), there are lots of options for carrying extra gear. Because I ski in the winter my pack has a ski carry, which not only enables me to bike my skis back and forth to the shop when they need work but also lets me carry lots of other long and unwieldy objects comfortably: bamboo stakes for plants, a giant poster in a tube, a new broom. The ski carry positions long objects at a slight diagonal across the back, so unlike strapping them to a pannier there are no issues with increased width or possible obstructions to the pedal stroke.
What are your preferences for hauling cargo on your bike? Any suggestions for things I haven’t included here? Let me know!
Kay Cahill is a cyclist and librarian who believes bikes are for life, not just for commuting.
