How to Choose a Bike Basket

June 7, 2016 separator DIY Tutorial

Tips for Choosing the Right Bike Basket

I’ve been blogging for quite awhile, and mostly I just try to enjoy the ride. I obsess over every photo and take 23 shots for every one that ends up on the blog. I do what I love and try to perfect it, and sometimes it works, and that’s great. And sometimes it intersects with what I love in my “non-blog life,” and that’s the absolute best. And this is a prime example of that.

I’m thrilled to announce that I’m a Schwinn Ambassador this year, and that means that I got to surprise Andrei with a brand new, shiny-wonderful Schwinn bike to replace the one we left behind when we moved. This has been a perfect opportunity to turn my obsession for finding the perfect combination and the ideal photo into something you guys can actually use. Plus, now Andrei and I have adorable matching his and hers bikes!

How to Choose a Bike Basket

If you want some storage on your bike, a basket is a great way to go, but you’re not limited to something that’s specifically made for bikes! Three of these that I’ve featured here are actually just home storage baskets, but they work wonderfully on the front — or the back — of a back.

If you’re using something that wasn’t specifically built for mounting on a bike, just use some heavy wire from the hardware store to wrap through the basket and around the bike. Secure it in a few places to keep it from wiggling around.

Now read on to see how I styled four different basket, and tell me: which one is your favorite?!

Tips for Choosing the Right Bike Basket - Classic Wicker Bike Basket

1. Classic Wicker Bike Basket – This is the standard Schwinn classic — a workhorse that snaps on and off and holds about as much as a medium-sized purse. It’s adorable, iconic, and especially good for bikes without a front mount. It fits perfectly onto handlebars alone.

Tips for Choosing the Right Bike Basket - Copper Wire Basket

2.   Copper Wire Basket – This one’s definitely a bit “out there” as far as bike baskets go because it’s not wicker, doesn’t have a tight weave, and isn’t an old crate. At first glance, it might not be the most practical addendum to your bicycle, but it’s honestly my favorite.

The weave is really open, so it’s not great for throwing your keys into and hitting the road, but it’s still perfect for holding a purse or tote bag, and it looks absolutely gorgeous when you’re riding around town!

Tips for Choosing the Right Bike Basket - White Wooden Crate

3.  Whitewashed Wooden Crate – This one immediately brings to mind the old milk crates that everyone straps to the back of a bike. It’s a workhorse and just the right fit for toting around everything you need. If you’re looking for a slim, sleek profile, it might be a bit bulkier than you want, but otherwise it’s a classic option that’ll complement any bicycle profile.

Tips for Choosing the Right Bike Basket - Woven Wicker Basket

4. Wicker Box Basket – This big, boxy container is the perfect combination of the classic wicker bike basket and the workhorse milk crate. It holds everything you need, but it has a beautiful, sleek profile and fashion-forward vibe. You should be able to find something to suit in smaller or larger sizes to fit any need, and you can just throw anything — keys included — in the basket and hit the road without worrying about anything falling through.

Tips for Choosing the Right Bike Basket

19 comments

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  4. Great article and subject! Thanks 😀 It’s an amazing post. Thank you again! It sounds like you are gathering lots of different ideas in your blog.

    Good work. Instead of thinking about what you haven’t written, look at how much you HAVE written 🙂

  5. Wow, all of these are just gorgeous! But I’m of course most in love with the copper basket. I sadly sold my bike a couple years ago because Boston drivers are INSANE — and of course now I work right off the bike trail that starts at my house and would have a smooth easy ride! lol

  6. Oh my gosh, this is such a fun post! First I think your partnership with Schwinn is perfect! And I love how you styled these photos in the forest.. I haven’t had a bike in years (my last one was stolen from our garage on the way to the hospital to deliver my daughter – ha!). But I’ve been itching to get a new bike and I love the idea of a bike basket. That copper one is calling my name!

    1. Oh good grief — what a way to lose a bike! I’ve really enjoyed mine so far. My last one was vintage, and I loved it, but it needed A LOT of work!

      P.S. That forest is in my backyard — eek! 🙂

  7. That copper wire basket has seriously stolen my heart! I also love wicker and have ended up with the best of both worlds. A fixed wire basket with a removable wicker basket inside! if only the wire were copper though…

    1. Isn’t it fabulous? It’s not the most practical without an insert (for the bike, anyway), but it’s so dang pretty!

  8. This is SO fun! I really need a bike now that we live in a more bike-friendly area. And gimme that gorgeous copper wire basket!

    1. Isn’t it just stunning? I kind of want to do a wall shelf filled with copper baskets now!

  9. Thank you Lindsey, this post was very timely for me. A grocery store is being built about a mile from my house and I can’t wait to strap a basket to my bike and ride over for some groceries! I love the #1 wicker basket. Do you have any tips for adding a basket that can easily be added and removed as needed?

    1. I’m so glad it’s helpful for you, Nicole! The only super practical thing I can think of is a basket designed specifically for bikes that has a release mechanism. The Schwinn basket I featured here pops off for shopping! 🙂

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