First Week Riding with a Front Basket - A Retrospective
Wald Front Bicycle Basket - Sorry about the poor quality cell phone photo.
At long last, I have installed a front basket on my bike. It’s a black metal Wald front basket — haha “black metal.” I think it’s a Medium. If folks are interested, I can post the dimensions, just ask in the comments.
This is my first time riding with a basket, and it was a fun week noticing how riding with a loaded basket can change the nature of your riding experience. So I thought I’d post some observations — some pro’s and con’s.
Pros
- When rolling on flat-land or downhill, the bike’s momentum is carrying the load for you — whereas when you carry the load on your back, you’re doing the work of carrying that weight no matter what the terrain is.
- Not carrying a load on my back / shoulders is helping with an old shoulder injury that I have from getting hit by a car last year.
- Less sweaty when I arrive at my destination - backpacks and bags huggin’ up on you make you more sweaty.
- Basket does not restrict my view of the road at all, even when full.
- When the basket is empty, it hardly changes the feel of the ride, I don’t really notice it.
Cons
- Bike is front-heavy when basket is loaded. This makes for akward handling at first, but seems easy to get used to. Also it’s harder to carry the bike up stairs on my shoulder if the basket is full.
- Increased likelihood of getting doored - Doors! The cyclist’s enemy. Now with a big front basket poking out there, I have a higher chance of getting it snagged on a car door, and less time to respond to seeing an opening door. (friggin doors! *sigh*)
- When you go over bumps, if things aren’t secured with a cargo net or bungees, the stuff in your basket will bounce and unload the basket temporarily, then land back in it and reload it with weight, or just fly out of the basket completely.
- My Surly is set up as a fixed gear at the moment, and the extra momentum that a loaded basket creates on your bike can be a little scary at first, it takes longer to slow down the bike. I don’t do skids anymore (they were hurting my back) so a front brake is a nice backup method here, but I realize a front brake and a heavy front load is a recipe for ENDO! so I’ve been riding conservatively as I adjust.
Tips for Riding with a Front Bike Basket
- Get a cargo net or bungees to secure your stuff
- Ride conservatively as you adjust to the feel of having the basket on your ride
- As always, be aware of doors! Take a lane if you need to.
That’s that! Let me know if you have any questions.
Update: It’s been a few more days of riding with the basket now. This morning was my first attempt at a trackstand with a loaded front basket. Danger alert!! Maybe when you try trackstanding with a basket for the first time, try it with 5-10 lbs in there, not 20-25 lbs!! Trackstands are to be slowly relearned with front baskets, I urge you not to dive right into the deep-end as I did. I’m not sure what happened, but I came very close to eating it in a seriously tangled, messed up kind of way.
Also, I’ve already lost one of the bolts that holds this whole contraption together. I made it to the hardware store to replace the whole set with nylock nuts so they’ll never wrattle apart again — which is another recipe for danger zones.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:30 am
I have front saddlebags, and have noticed the weight all too much. One good sharp turn, and the bike _is_ going that way even if you change your mind. That said, the bags sit much lower than a basket, so maybe the weight in turning isn’t as noticeable.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:40 am
i’m interested in more recipes for danger zones.
i’d think the best option for avoiding them is first and foremost, not to take the oft-acclaimed “highway to the danger zone.”
maverick and goose made it look so cool
December 19th, 2007 at 11:02 am
Haha!! Maybe I could do a Holiday Recipes for the Danger Zone series…you know, for the holidays.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
I looked at your site and i love it. it really is awesome.
have you considered sewing up a square bag out of cordura or pack cloth to drop inside of the basket. by taking a paper grocery bag for shape and making a template from that and sewing the same shape and using that.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:26 am
I don’t know how much you carry but how come you didn’t go for a Cetma? I’ve been considering getting a rack for commuting and that’s what I would want.
Here’s a nice and narrow 3 rail
http://www.cetmaracks.com/3rail.htm
January 21st, 2008 at 10:57 am
I think the cost was the main reason I didn’t get a Cetma. Those racks look great and I know a few folks that are really happy with them. But I was looking to spend around $10 vs. $80 or so.
Let me know what you think of your Cetma if you end up getting one!
April 19th, 2008 at 8:31 am
what size is this basket? I have a small frame like yours and i’m not sure if a basket will fit…
April 21st, 2008 at 11:38 am
Hi Jen, I think it’s a Wald Medium, you can probably look up the detailed dimensions online. It’s pretty huge. My frame is a 49cm and it just barely fits.
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
is there a happy medium b/w the cetma racks and the wald bike baskets? i currently have a 1976 fixed raleigh and the turning capabilites are paramount for me, a newer SF rider. does anyone know of another brand that has a rack vs. a basket, similar to the cetma but less expensive?
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Hi Priscilla. Hmm, not sure. Does anybody else know? I’ll post something if I find anything that sounds like what you’re looking for.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I got a fixed gear recently and have been toying with the idea of putting a basket on the back instead of the front. Anyone have suggestions on hot to do it if I don’t have the holes in the back frame fork for such a thing?