Let's Pay Tribute To The Errand Bicycle

Lance Armstrong popularized road cycling and there are those out there who enjoy fashioning a high-end road bicycle. Indeed, a $6,800 carbon-fiber chariot can be a thing of beauty.

But on the other end of the bicycle spectrum is the beloved errand bike -- a practical and affordable two-wheeler equipped with a pannier bag or two that is designed to run errands to the store or maybe haul your books to school.

In this day of expensive fuel, the errand bike is a cheap alternative, especially when many of our trips are one to three miles. The cool thing is that you can piece together an errand  bike with some enterprising trips to your local thrift store. Or even check Craig's List.

You can buy a cheap used mountain bike for maybe $50-$75. Then stop by that thrift store and look for an old rear rack that can be attached to the bike above the rear wheel. Look for a metal cage that can be attached to your rear rack or even your handlebar. Or even bungie cord a milk crate on top of your rear reack.

Remember: the goal here for your bicycle is to show off its practical utilitarianism. You don't need an aesthetic beauty with fancy curved handlebars.

I turned my introductory mountain bike by swapping out its knobby-tread tires with smooth-tread tires I bought for $2 at a bike store swap meet. I have a rear rack in the back and attached two big ol' rear pannier bags in the back to haul my bounty of goods that I buy at a farmer's market that is a mile away.

Don't worry about wearing black Lycra shorts and a snazzy bike jersey. Comfortable baggy cargo shorts and a T-shirt will do the job when navigating on an errand bike. Just don't forget to wear that helmet.

I guarantee that you'll feel satisfied the first day when you use your errand bike for a trip to the store or the post office. It's fun to know that you're able to get things done without having to fire up the car.