Bikes as SUVs

I loaded Bianca up this weekend with who-knows-how-many pounds of stuff.  I dislike having a bag against my back, so I added the rear rack (and later, the awesomely reflective crate) to her before she even came home with me. 

In the crate:
4 heavy books
2 paperbacks
lots of thrifted clothes for a patchwork quilt I am making
1 reflective waterproof rain jacket (which, after an unfortunate incident involving a white shirt, rain, and me on a bike, stays folded in the crate at all times)
2 extra bungee cords
1 8" x 8" artwork
1 thrifted wood basket that may or may not turn into a front bike basket
1 backpack full of various items (brush, wallet, newspaper, camera, phone, yadda yadda yadda)
1 large roll of paper (to recycle into books), attached by rubber bands through the holes in the crate
...and a partridge in a pear tree.

All this without even having a front basket yet.  Who says you need a car for a shopping trip?

This is nothing, really.  There's a moving co-ops in Portland where people will help you move across town by bicycle.  Search "move by bike" at Flickr to see some seriously loaded-up bikes.

What's the biggest thing you've managed to get home on a bike?

Melissa Esposito is the Car-Sharing and Bike-Sharing Program Coordinator for Arlington County and a Metro/bike commuter.