<p>That’s a nice basket…but I want the kind that goes on the handle bars in front…not behind the seat!</p>
<p>The picture shows the basket in front. At least, the picture I’m seeing shows the basket in front, and those baskets are normally mounted in front. I know because I’ve ridden with a lot of guys riding Rivendells with those very baskets on front.
<a href=“Brother and dog | Manuel Acosta | Flickr”>https://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/mannyacosta/14735849130/in/photostream/</a>
<a href=“Hey I know that guy | Manuel Acosta | Flickr”>https://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/mannyacosta/14735862709/in/photostream/</a>
<a href=“Hey I know that guy | Manuel Acosta | Flickr”>https://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/mannyacosta/14735862709/in/photostream/</a></p>
<p>I have a quick-release metal basket by Wald on my front handlebar. It’s very secure and will hold a grocery bag or equivalent but, by lifting its handle, it can be easily removed from the bike when I’m going on a ride with no need of a basket. It could also be carried into a store or to a picnic table, etc. I quickly learned that I need to have stuff in a bag to keep it from flying out of the basket, and I use a bungee cord hooked onto the basket to hold the bag in place. The down-side is that it does rattle a bit when going over bumps. I think this is the one I have:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Wald-Front-Bicycle-Basket-Black/dp/B000AO3H2Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1408251218&sr=8-2&keywords=wald+removable+bike+basket”>http://www.amazon.com/Wald-Front-Bicycle-Basket-Black/dp/B000AO3H2Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1408251218&sr=8-2&keywords=wald+removable+bike+basket</a></p>
<p>Using a cargo net like this, rather than a bungee, to hold your stuff in the basket also works: <a href=“Rivendell Bicycle Works - Lugged Steel and Custom Bikes”>http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/net.htm</a></p>
<p>I just now looked at the bike you bought, Onward. What a pretty color!</p>
<p>CF, I see that the cargo net could be a fine solution to keep things in the basket. I often stop at the grocery store on my bike and buy produce that I want to keep immobilized as much as possible, and the bungee allows me to cinch everything down snugly since I can attach it anywhere on the basket frame. It’s not elegant, but it works!</p>
<p>I like the cargo net (which is made of bungee cord) because I can attach it in various places on the bike to achieve whatever tightness I like. If I go to the grocery store and end up buying more than fits in my huge saddlebag, I can bungee some of the groceries on top of the bag. I don’t currently have a wire basket on any of my bikes, but if I did, I’d be able to adjust the tightness of the cargo net by which part of the basket I put the hooks on.</p>
<p>Zipyourlips- Thank you! It is also a nice lightweight bike. It is so much easier to pick up than my last bike. I am learning a lot about baskets now!</p>
<p>I test drove the Felt, but I needed a smaller bike ( short arms)
I have this pannier bag[Ballard Market]( <a href=“http://www.detours.us/panniers/ballard-market-pannier.html”>http://www.detours.us/panniers/ballard-market-pannier.html</a>) that converts to a backpack, and a handlebar bag( for phone & wallet) & under the seat bag ( for tools & spare tire) that all match! ( local company & I got a discount)
I couldnt help it, my bike is asphalt & needed some brightening up.
So much accessorizing. B-)
I still need more lights.
And a saddle.
And a computer!
<a href=“The 3 Best Hybrid Bikes of 2023 | Reviews by Wirecutter”>http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-hybrid-commuter-bike/</a>
I like the baskets that look like fishing baskets, but my waterproof bags are probably more practical.
<a href=“http://www.rei.com/c/bike-baskets”>http://www.rei.com/c/bike-baskets</a></p>
<p>Too bad my dog is way too big to sit in the basket.
I dont think I have the patience to teach him to ride his own.
<a href=“http://www.normanthescooterdog.com”>http://www.normanthescooterdog.com</a></p>
<p>What size frame do you need, ek? I got the 16" frame rather than the 18".</p>
<p>Mine is a 13".
The Trek goes from 13" to 20".
Im excited about the recent bike competition ( that Seattle won).
I mostly stay on moderate hills, ( who am I kidding- I stay OFF the hills) but it has some interesting features.</p>
<p><a href=“Seattle Wins The Bike Design Project (Take That, Portland)”>http://kuow.org/post/seattle-wins-bike-design-project-take-portland</a></p>
<p>EK, that is so cool that this bike won! KING5 had a little segment showing one of their news guys riding it around the city. :)</p>
<p>I got my bike today. Went with the Twin Cities Civia because it was marked down 25% and I was tired of looking for bikes. It is not the <em>old lady</em> bike I had in mind when I started looking, but it was a nice ride, and I think I can handle it. It seemed not to bother my knees to ride it. Some of the old lady bicycles seemed to stress out the knees. Best riding season in Minnesota – fall – coming up. Should be fun. Hubby got a bike too. With the parkways so accessible here, seemed like the logical thing to do!</p>
<p>Great news, mstee. Those Civia bikes are just gorgeous. Happy riding! Did you get the step-through model? Did you get the one with that pretty painted-to-match front rack? </p>
<p>Yes, I got the step through model. Nice bike. I realize I forgot to get a lock to lock it up, so still have to do that. And attach the lights. Then I’m good to go. No, didn’t get the metal front rack, just a woven blue basket to strap on front for now. . . Thanks for all your advice, Cardinal Fang!</p>
<p>Just read through this thread. I really need to get back to a good exercise program, but I get bored so easily. I thought it would really be beneficial to start riding a bike in order to get that variety. I am going to check out some local bike shops (so glad to read good reasons to avoid the walmart/costcos) and hopefully choose something not too expensive since I am a beginner. $799 or so seems reasonable?</p>
<p>Also, I would want a rack for my car which could hold 2 bikes (hoping to get DH involved in this). Any suggestions? I drive a mid sized SUV.</p>
<p>For $799 you can find a wide variety of bikes. Do you think you’ll ride hills? Will you need to lug your bike up stairs? Would you ride only on pavement, or would you want to ride on gravel trails as well? Do you live in an area where it sometimes rains at the times of year you’d be riding? Would you want to take your bike on public transportation? Do you think you’d want to ride for transportation (to stores, yoga class, farmer’s market, etc) so you’d want to be able to carry things? Do you envision a more upright bike, or one where you’re more bent over and streamlined like a racer?</p>
<p>CF gives good advice.</p>
<p>For the car rack, are you tall enough and strong enough to put your bikes on top of an SUV? I’m not tall enough (5’3") for my car (Ford CMAX) even though I’m strong enough; DH has to do it for me. If you’re not tall enough, can you fit the bikes inside the car with the seats folded down (and the front wheels removed)? Easier and less likely to be damaged (DH broke a bike driving into the garage with bike on top years ago). Do you have a tow hitch? There are nice bike racks that fit on a tow hitch.</p>
<p>I know lots of women with bike racks on their cars. None of them have roof racks; it’s just too hard for us to lift bikes up to the rack. The rear trailer-hitch racks are the most popular now, among the women I ride with. If you can’t fit your bike in your car, I recommend the rear racks.</p>
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<p>Living in Dallas, there might be the smallish hill, but nothing major. Some gentle, long inclines at our lake house.
No, won’t be taking the bike upstairs.
Mostly pavement, but would want the option of gravel trails as well, because apparently there are some in Dallas.
Probably wouldn’t purposely ride in the rain.<br>
No, public transportation is not great here.
Would probably just be taking the bike to dedicated bike trails, not likely as a form of transportation.
I have a long history of bad neck/lower back, so I’m thinking bent over would not be smart for me.</p>
<p>I would be looking for a rack that would go on the back of the car, not on top.</p>
<p>Thanks for the time/consideration to my post!</p>
<p>I am a paved bike path person myself! Not really interested in any hills but nice paths and I usually drive to the staging area.</p>
<p>We have a hitch and bike rack but usually I throw my bike in the back of my Subaru. It’s so much easier than put the rack on the car, putting the bike on and securing it just to drive a couple of miles to the staging area ( don’t like to bike there as I would have to cross a very busy highway). </p>
<p>My H had a friend who forgot his bike was on top of his car and drove it into the garage. It was a very expensive bike and dealing with insurance has been a pain. </p>