Wald baskets vary in size and price, and are available both online and at your local bike shop.
Last week I talked about Grant Petersen's new book, Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike. In his book, Petersen extols the virtues of baskets, writing:
When you're after function and can give up the French country look, forget wicker, rattan, and wood baskets, and get an easy-loading, space-efficient rectangular one made of steel wire. The best are made by Wald, in Kentucky. They come chrome-plated or painted black, in enough sizes and styles and mounting methods to satisfy anybody.
I was glad to read this, because I think baskets are among most underappreciated of bike accessories. Racks are great, and I recommend them, but baskets are perfect for holding groceries. You don't need to remember your panniers or bungee cords.
The advantages of baskets go well beyond grocery shopping. Baskets are great for holding all kinds of objects, whether you're headed out to play hoops...
... or on your way to a party...
... a basket will come in handy. It's one the easiest ways to make your bike more useful.
5 comments:
I love my Wald basket! (and my albatross handle bars) I throw all kinds of stuff in it, but i haven't tried a case of beer yet...
Love my Wald basket. Among other uses it's a great commuter solution, especially with a Shopsack that clips in to the basket. I fasted mine to a rear rack with strong reusable twist tie type things.
I use a Wald rear folding basket. These attach to the side of a rear rack, like a pannier, but fold down very flat when not in use. They weight about the same as a pannier but probably have less wind resistance, and they live on the bike attached by bolts, so you don't have to worry about theft, and can carry as much weight as you want. They are perfectly sized for a large paper grocery bag. The galvanized steel is a little rough looking, but very durable. And its one of the only cheap, reliable bike things you can buy which is still Made in the USA.
I like Wald baskets, my favourite being the foldable kind that attach to the rear rack of a city bike.
The one problem I have with wire baskets compared to wicker/rattan, is that small or narrow objects tend to fall through the gaps.
A little late here but like the previous comments I love my Wald's too. I have the 520 pannier basket system on the rear and the detachable style basket on the front of my mtb commuter/errand/shopping bike. The 520 can handle most everything and the front carries my shoulder bag.
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