By Harriet Muir, Lug+Carrie Marketing & Community Manager, Tern GSD Rider and wrangler of small children.
Two years in and I still feel the joy every time I jump on my Lug+Carrie. It’s the excitement on the kids’ faces, or cruising along the river at sunset. Who ever felt that sitting in traffic? It’s the feeling of joy that makes riding the easy choice for me. But, I know there are common hurdles that cause others to reach for their car keys. Whether it’s uncertainty about carrying capacity, safety, or which route to take, the good news is, these challenges are easily overcome!
After 2 years car-free, I’ve worked out a few non-negotiable accessories that make my Tern GSD a genuine car replacement. So, if you still find yourself defaulting to the car for short trips, read on for my top 3 eBike accessories to change your behaviour for good!
How to carry it all in style: panniers
Panniers are my number one, non-negotiable eBike accessory. It’s amazing how much can be crammed into them. Groceries, school bags, kids’ scooters, a polar bear habitat (that was a fun school project!). If you’re serious about replacing car trips, panniers make it so much easier.
I have two 52 litre panniers, one on each side of my Tern GSD. Between the panniers, Transporteur rack and Euro Crate on my Lug+Carrie, I can pedal the kids, and 5 bags of groceries up the hill from the supermarket, no sweat. Panniers are waterproof so, if it’s wet, you can unfold them completely and close them over everything to keep things dry.
Some customers wonder where kids will put their feet. It’s simpler than you might think. Kids who are in a child seat have their feet on the foot rests which sit slightly inside the panniers. Larger children can rest their feet inside the panniers (doubles as a leg warmer in winter), or drape them over the sides. The small amount of space that you might lose to little feet is well worth it for the cargo space you’ve gained.
Send us an email to add panniers to your subscription.
How to have eyes in the back of your head: a side mirror
I wouldn’t dream of driving a car without one, but installing a wing mirror on my Lug+Carrie didn’t occur to me till a few months into my subscription. It’s normal to look over your shoulder on a bike to see what’s coming. But, with the kids on the back, I didn’t love taking my eyes off the road ahead. When I was in the Brisbane shop one day, Allan suggested a wing mirror and, being the good bloke he is, popped one on my eBike immediately. I was grateful but didn’t think it would make that much difference to my experience. Boy was I wrong.
I couldn’t imagine my life without this eBike accessory now. While I try to avoid busy roads, sometimes for short stretches it’s unavoidable. A wing mirror means I can quickly check traffic (as well as the kids) behind me without constantly turning my head. As well as feeling much safer, it makes me a more considerate road user too. I’m able to let cars pass before riding around parked cars which I’m sure they appreciate. Some customers have a mirror on each side, but I find one on the right hand side is enough.
The Mirrycle Rear Mirror is the most popular one out there and for good reason. It’s quick and easy to install, can be folded in to save space when parking/storing your eBike and it’s compatible with lots of bikes, including all our Terns and Riese & Mullers!
How to discover new routes stress-free: a phone mount
I still remember the first time I rode with the kids on our Lug+Carrie. Our eBike had been delivered a day early so I surprised the kids and rode to pick them up from daycare, a lovely 7km ride around the river. It still makes my heart soar thinking about it, we were all so excited!
But, on the way home I kept taking wrong turns. It was June and getting dark, the kids were getting hungry and I had to keep stopping to check my maps. I was up for the adventure, but I can imagine how it would put people off. After that I started spending a bit more time planning my route or chatting to other riders for advice before I tried something new. Even then, I’d still have to stop and check my phone along the way.
That is until the Lug+Carrie team recommended a Quadlock phone mount for my handlebars and I LOVE IT! Having my navigation out front is fantastic for discovering quiet streets, dedicated bike lanes, and shortcuts I never knew existed. In Brisbane, I’ve found Google Maps is the best navigation and In Melbourne and Sydney we recommend City Mapper.
There is nothing like the joy and freedom of riding a Lug+Carrie. Skipping traffic, arriving on time, no more searching for or paying for parking, happy kids, the list goes on and on. Unfortunately driving is so engrained in our culture and long term behaviour change can be a challenge. For me, these few simple accessories have made the change that much easier. I hope they help you too!
