OK guys and gals how do you carry your day to day food?
This was one thing that drove us up the wall and want to get it right next time. All we had was a soft roll bag that had everything thrown in it and cargo netted to the pillion seat on one of the bikes. There isn't that many options I know, all loose in a pannier or some kind of plastic box in the pannier or strapped to the back of the bike. I was thinking of trying to make a hamper type thing out of a Pelican box but not sure it would work and that would be an expensive cock up!
I know there's a lot of lateral thinking types out there so hit me with it

Cheers
Pete

__________________
Current trip BA to NYC: www.facebook.com/curryhunt

India and back 2009/2010:

Do people carry food ????? Really ???

Well, I know I don't ! It's so impractical for many reasons which don't really need explaining.

I always just find a shop or eating place in the town I end up in and eat there. If i'm camping, just a few simple provisions tucked here and there in my luggage.

You obviously can't buy a Strawberry gateau or 12 eggs like this but bread, cheese, packed meat etc etc survive a trip to the pitch pretty well.


Having a top box helps a lot. Just pack your food into a smaller carsboard box in your topbox in a way it wont move about.

__________________
Technician, BMW Chester Motorrad.
www.TouringTed.com
1994 XR650L
2001 NX650 Dominator.

Now that's more information than I care for interpol to know :/

That's a question I've been trying to answer for over 30 years.
Maybe the collective intelligence here, can come up with something.
I usually just favour an old flour bag, tied off at the top.

also...............

Just for short runs to the shop etc, get a little draw string gym type bag. It folds away to nothing and can worn as a back pack.

__________________
Technician, BMW Chester Motorrad.
www.TouringTed.com
1994 XR650L
2001 NX650 Dominator.

Now that's more information than I care for interpol to know :/

Ted, that was the sort of thing I meant. We buy bread,cheese,meat, pickled chili's, jar of anchovies tea/coffee etc etc but doesn't all get eaten that day, it might last a day or 2 and this is the stuff i'm trying to pack. I also want to be able to get at it so when we stop to buy stuff (that we're going to eat later) I'm not then faffin around with roll bags and cargo nets

Cheers
Pete

__________________
Current trip BA to NYC: www.facebook.com/curryhunt

India and back 2009/2010:

Had a search and i'm swinging towards a Pelican case (as a top box, 350mmx250mmx100mm) with a few Tuperware type boxes to go inside that. I could add dividers for cutlery/ condiments and all manner of stuff.
I did have a look at plastic cantilever fishing tackle box but too much wasted space/wrong shape/not secure.
Like I said before during the last trip not having a working set up for this did my head in, we cooked our own food at least once a day most days through Europe/Turkey/Iran and the next trip will be mostly camping over an 18 month trip so for the sake of my sanity I've got to find a solution

__________________
Current trip BA to NYC: www.facebook.com/curryhunt

India and back 2009/2010:

Well if you've only got roll bags, take a large plastic lunchbox. It's firm enough not to crush your food and soft enough not to do any damage to your bags.

__________________
Technician, BMW Chester Motorrad.
www.TouringTed.com
1994 XR650L
2001 NX650 Dominator.

Now that's more information than I care for interpol to know :/

I came here to say this, learned it in primary school

"Well if you've only got roll bags". The whole point of the thread was for some ideas about getting away from them!
Anyway thanks for the input chaps, why didn't I think of that.

__________________
Current trip BA to NYC: www.facebook.com/curryhunt

India and back 2009/2010:

Here's a couple of things I've tried...



This small coolbox has been great, it's only 9"x7"x7" and fits perfectly inside my topbox. The only problem is it's not waterproof so has to be sitting upright.



This food thermos is pretty good too and is fully sealled so doesn't have to be upright. It comes with 3 stainless dishes with sealable lids designed to carry hot or cold food around. It works, to a point. I don't like the taste of stuff that's been in it for hours though. It's great at keeping ice creams cold though and I like to use it on day trips. Pick an ice cream up at the petrol station and then ride out into the middle of no-where before stopping to eat it. People passing then spend the next 10 minutes looking for the shop!

The problem with both of these is the space they take up. On my last big trip I just used a plastic click-top container for my food. However, I ended up with food poisoning for 5 days after eating some dodgy salami I had in there for a couple of days. Not a nice thing to experience. I'll be a bit more careful next time. The coolbox does a good job of keeping your stuff cool even in hot temps if it's inside your topbox. That's without freezer blocks. With them it's as good as having an onboard fridge. It's relatively easy to freeze them overnight on a campsite but I don't usually bother with them. Maybe, after my latest experience I'll start using them!

If you're looking for extra room to stow your daily food consider tank panniers. The ones on my Serow are gasmask bags!



Or you could splash out on one of these...

The Champagne and Fois Gras goes in the fridge which goes in the dry compartment of the sidecar, as does the chicken. The chillies and onions go inside the dutch over which goes in there too. The wood/charcoal/gas for the stove goes in the locker with the stove. The Chateaux Neuf du Pape is best kept in the wet compartment as the tent etc. stops it getting too shook up. I do have tupperware boxes for the cous cous , salt, pepper, tea, green tea, hot chocoate.......

Hope all you solo riders enjoy your pot noodle and cafe a la NATO



Andy

It would help if you told us your current luggage set up

__________________
Technician, BMW Chester Motorrad.
www.TouringTed.com
1994 XR650L
2001 NX650 Dominator.

Now that's more information than I care for interpol to know :/

Cheap plastic food containers with sealable lids .Put them inside a flexible plastic six pack cooler with a small bag of ice .All of this goes inside the top box and wrapped in a towel or clothing for added insulation .

If one was running a sidecar outfit ,one would probably have a fridge too .
[and one would have take along a servant to prepare the meals,polish one's boots , maintain the motorcycle,ask directions etc etc . ]

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Yes, unique ideas, Dod, and worth thinking about for a bit; but are you absolutely sure that a topbox is the right idea for an overlanding bike? Can I suggest that all that weight up high, and to the rear - many would find that so very clumsy, with all the weight in exactly the wrong place. And where would you put your rollbag if your topbox was there? To say nothing of the unusual look, and the rattling, shaking and banging of all the contents. And, I must say, what about this ice supply, which would not be easy to find in Africa or the 'Stans or anywhere, for example. Maybe a cocktail shaker rather than a topbox might be the thing, but I remain to be convinced. Please come back on this one? I'm open to persuasion.

Maybe it's just me, and your idea is actually OK.

Denis old boy ,I fear it must be you .
Most fishermen and campers keep their or food cool this way ,so it's hardly unique.A soft sided cooler can fit anywhere not just a top box.
My top box only contains light stuff ,like an extra layer of clothing ,overtrousers ,bog paper/notepaper,extra pair dry gloves ,very handy place to put the helmet when parked,you get the picture .Made out of plastic -[with rounded corners for safety,it's actually not very heavy,quickly detachable and waterproof -not a givi -just a cheap knockoff and cheaply replaced should the need arise .
Unusual look? Come now Denny boy ,you've seen bikes with top boxes before haven't you ?


Heavy stuff goes down low in the panniers .

Ice is optional ,depending on availability ,but snow has been used on occasion as has bottle of very cold water or package of frozen food .
Wrapping your food container or cooler in clothing as insulation works very well and protects it from vibration.Vibration is not a problem on my Strom .[My bottle of Glenlivet is impervious to vibes anyway .]

Roll bag?Well my dry bag [large] fits in front of top box if solo , two smaller dry bags fit on top of panniers if two-up .
Very simple.

This is my preferred hamper [ I'll send you the cherries ].

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."