Food buying on tour

[skudupnorth]

Might seem a daft question but i am planning a solo camping trip (my first) from Manchester to Lands End in May.I plan to take some food but i have often wondered what you do about the security of all your kit while buying other provisions at say a large supermarket.I know you would take wallet,camera,phone ect in with you but what about the bike locked up with all your kit still within easy pitching of the local scum if you are in a town ?

 

[rich p]

I've mainly toured on the continent so it's never been an issue. Not many people would want your smelly kit but I take your point.
Maybe lightweight wire locks to deter opportunists from nicking your panniers. Cable ties.
Maybe only shop in small Spars, Co-ops etc where you can keep an eye out.

 

[Haitch]

Avoid supermarkets and buy from local retailers, especially in small towns and villages en route, so that you can always see your bike leaning against the shop window.

 

[ComedyPilot]

As the others have said, put yer money in small town shops instead of hypermarkets. They'll be interested in your journey, will look out for your stuff, and you might (not) get a discount?

 

[Haitch]

What I have seen (although it won't help your panniers) is people immobilising the bike by taking the front wheel off.

 

[HelenD123]

What I have seen (although it won't help your panniers) is people immobilising the bike by taking the front wheel off.

Do they take it with them?

 

[summerdays]

If its a big supermarket you could put all the panniers in one of the shopping trolleys and push that around leaving the bike locked up outside. You could have the same problem at anywhere that you stop - pub lunch, exploring a castle etc.

At one National Trust place in the torrential downpour, the man behind the counter wasn't allowed to look after our bags but offered to put them in the boot of his car whilst we went in and ate lunch and explored.

 

[Kirstie]

...as illustrated by this pic
http://michael-wright.fotopic.net/p52852062.html

 

[Haitch]

Do they take it with them?

Yes, they walk into the shop with the wheel. I've also seen people take the saddles off their bikes, presumably for the same purpose.

When out on my lockless road bike, I usually fasten my helmet to the wheel and frame, twisting the strap a few times round the spokes. It might not stop a committed thief but it should slow down a "chancer" long enough for me to get back to my bike. (I hope.)

 

[HelenD123]

Maybe I'm too trusting, but I take off my bar bag containing my valuables then just lock my bike up well, leaving the panniers on. My tent was bungied on to the rack and wrapped in a tatty looking plastic bag so I figured it would take a while to work out how to untangle everything. Like Alan I also strap my helmet round a wheel and frame to further delay a thief.

 

[andym]

Personally I always carry a lock in some form or other, and hope that the rest of my kit is not going to be of interest to thieves. It's probably easier to take the seatpost out and carry that around the shop. I also prefer small shops but sometimes supermarkets are the only sensible option.

 

[snorri]

It seems to be difficult for people used to living in areas with high rates of crime to realise that most of the country is just not like that.

 

[psmiffy]

In Europe I just park by the supermarket door and take my few valubles with me - However in the UK I would be much more circumspect - my long cable lock through both wheels and a couple of those tiny saddle lock cables for the panniers

Sad that I feel it necessary to take extra precautions in my home country

 

[Rhythm Thief]

If its a big supermarket you could put all the panniers in one of the shopping trolleys and push that around leaving the bike locked up outside.

The hooks designed to secure panniers to racks work equally well for securing them to the outside of a shopping trolley. that's what I used to do in the days when I did my shopping by bike.
On tour, I tend to get my tent pitched then ditch the panniers in the tent and nip to the shops with one empty pannier to carry the shopping in and a bike lock. But - obviously - this only works if you're reasonably close to a town.

 

[skudupnorth]

Thanks for the replies everyone.Hopefully the trip will be a crime free affair but living where i do i am extra careful of where i leave ANYTHING ! I guess the pitching tent idea and dumping the load is the best idea along with local shops.Roll on May !