The holiday season is in full swing, and you’re wondering how to get it all done. Finishing up work, travel plans, groceries for a big dinner with family and friends, gift shopping – they all add up to a busy schedule! But that doesn’t mean you need a car. Biking can be great way take care of your holiday errands.
There is some gear that can improve your shopping experience. With the CERO One, you’ve already got a solid bike with a front and rear rack. We recommend using the big basket on the front with adjustable bungee cords to keep your items from shifting in transit. On the back, we love Ortlieb Waterproof pannier bags, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Lastly, make sure you have a versatile lock like the ABUS Chain Lock (which integrates with CERO’s wheel lock) so you can lock up to all shapes and sizes of bike racks.
The next step is to plan your shopping trip. If you’re going to a new place, then scope out the route on Google Maps and use Street View to see where you can lock your bike. You can often find bike racks inside of store parking garages as well. In most cases, you’ll be able to lock up near the entrance and avoid the hassle of waiting for a parking space and then trekking across the parking lot. And because it’s easier to lock up, get in, and get out, you’ll find that you can make multiple stops at different locations more easily on a bike.
Once you’ve made your purchases, it’s time to load them on the bike. For the best stability, we recommend keeping most of the weight towards the center of the bike (between the front and rear axles). Because the CERO’s front rack is attached to the bike frame and relatively low to the ground, you can load heavier items than you would expect (up to 55 pounds). Pannier bags are highly adjustable as well, so make sure your bags are sitting towards the middle of the rear rack. The CERO can carry a combined 77 pounds of cargo on the front and back, plenty for groceries or holiday gift shopping.
This year, try out a new way of shopping using an electric cargo bike. You’ll find it much less stressful than sitting in holiday traffic and navigating packed parking lots. Let us know how it goes, and as always, reach out anytime with questions and we’ll be happy to give you suggestions. From everyone at CERO Bikes, happy holidays! See you in the new year.