Bike basket opinions please!
May 19th, 2007 by Sarah
We’re off on holiday soon, and of course no holiday of ours these days would be complete without the odd family bike ride … so I’m on the lookout for a basket for the front of my bike, as I really hate wearing a rucksack but there is always stuff to carry.
Quick opinion poll, what do people think – something like this, which I love the look of but can’t help thinking it might be a bit floppy … or a trad wicker basket? Has to be one or the other, I just don’t want a wire one, that would be boring. Or, any other ideas? I already have a clippy thing on the back which I usually put a bag onto but still end up needing another one. And I don’t like side panniers because they are ugly.
May 19th, 2007 at 19:43
Is your clippy thing a panier rack? Surely just buy a panier? Less drag!
May 19th, 2007 at 19:47
I really really hate them! Irrational I know but I just want a basket for the front that I can chuck stuff into, and grab it out again easily without having to undo straps or zips etc.
May 19th, 2007 at 19:57
I can’t help you out!
I really want/need something for my bike too, but the sheer ugliness of panniers keeps putting me off. Couldn’t they do that woven one in a pannier style??
May 19th, 2007 at 20:00
Oh well glad it’s not just me that thinks they’re ugly. It’s slightly sentimental, I think, as when I was a kid I used to ride my Mum’s old bike which had a wicker basket on the front, and I had a soft spot for it … don’t ask me why! Rose tinted glasses I suspect
So it might have to be a wicker one, for that reason alone …
May 19th, 2007 at 20:28
But think of the drag Sarah!
May 19th, 2007 at 21:03
I don’t think it will make any difference to my sort of cycling!
May 19th, 2007 at 21:18
If you buy that I might just never speak to you again!
What about a nice bar bag? They are NOT ugly! Ortlieb are the dog’s gonads.
May 19th, 2007 at 21:43
well, i like the woven one for looks, but what if it rains! so i am a bar bag girl
May 19th, 2007 at 22:30
it looks fab! I’d get it
May 19th, 2007 at 22:40
lol, I don’t cycle in the rain, Helen! stuff in the basket would be in a carrier bag or something anyway …
I am of course now tempted by the recycled one more than ever just to see if Rog will really never speak to me again! Remember I have a shopper-style bike, and a pink one at that! Something as serious as one of those Ortlieb things would just look all wrong!
May 19th, 2007 at 22:44
imho I’d get a wicker one (not that I’m ever going to get one). I think they look nicer. Well, you did ask!
May 19th, 2007 at 22:47
Or how about this one?
May 19th, 2007 at 22:50
Oh, that didn’t work did it? Let’s try again.
This one.
May 19th, 2007 at 22:53
ha ha.
Actually did spot these on my travels and thought they were a good idea for the kids …
May 19th, 2007 at 23:07
well, the kids def need their own as well, so they can carry some of their essential clobber!!
have the recycled one then.
May 20th, 2007 at 6:43
Ha! I have found THE bike bag for me – it’s a bag so it’s closed, it clips on and off so it’s easily functional – but it still looks pretty (scroll down for the different versions)! And they do kids’ ones! So much more expensive mind.
Still not sure though, a wicker basket is somehow simply more charming.
May 20th, 2007 at 7:07
Oh, and look! Pretty panniers!
May 20th, 2007 at 8:34
Wow – paniers to die for there Sarah. Gorgeous!!!
May 20th, 2007 at 8:36
But then I’d have to get a pannier rack… If I don’t have a pannier rack then Rog carries more stuff than me (snigger). And the girls cycle with rucksacs so their lazy mum doesn’t have to lug much around if she can help it
May 20th, 2007 at 9:08
I’d go for the wicker basket I think if you want the basket functionality, I’m not sure I really trust the recyled one to be sturdy enough without seeing it. i’ve used a basket (boring metal mesh one) when I lived in London, they are great just for chucking stuff in. I do think wicker looks best
Though personally I’d use a proper cycling bar bag on the front, with either panniers on the rear for most of the stuff or a saddlebag on the rear monuted on a quick release mounting on the seat post/saddle. but that’s probably not your thing nor your price?
This mounted on this is what use.
Though the brooks bags have an understated stylishness
Berthoud looks goo too, but then they are french http://www.wallbike.com/berthoud/berthoudbags.htm
May 20th, 2007 at 9:17
I may well get a slim bag for the back as well, although no, I don’t really want to spend too much, it’s not as if I use my bike every day or am desperately serious about it.
The matter is complicated slightly by the fact that I’ve realised I have to make sure the bike plus bags can either fit on the bike rack on the van with all the other bikes, iyswim – or the bags be easy to unclip and pack in the van. Which might have to rule out the wicker basket idea
May 20th, 2007 at 16:37
Ooh! I like the flowery panniers…. I’m almost tempted now!
June 19th, 2007 at 18:10
i sell a load off different wicker baskets and straps on ebay my ebay name is mrguest1
or just do a bike wicker basket search , my pricers are at least 10 – 15 pounds cheaper that i see other people selling the sam ething for, also i can get bigger ones than i sell on ebay as i think the ones i sell are big anuff but there always one that wants a biger one so just eamil me if you need a bigger one
August 31st, 2009 at 5:55
Maybe you might consider getting a Bikatrunk.
http://picasaweb.google.com/EDixon250/NewBoldGoldTrunk?feat=directlink
August 31st, 2009 at 5:56
Heres the sight.