Hello!
This month we’re packing our bikes to take World of Picnic on the road. Cycling is one of our favorite ways to pass the time, and Tiffany once had a bicycle sandwich delivery business. Preparing a picnic for two wheeled adventures depends on a lot of variables, and we planned this picnic to be packed in a pannier (one of those bags that latches onto a special rack on the front or back of the bike). For a long time we resisted getting panniers, favoring messenger bags or backpacks, but now that we have panniers we would never look back. They allow for a more comfortable ride, and it’s easy to balance the weight to make carrying heavier loads quite easy.
Food that you carry on your bike, whether for a longer tour or just for a short picnicy jaunt, should be lightweight and nutritious. We packed our picnic into stainless steel tiffin containers, which prevents whatever you pack from getting squished and fits nicely into our pannier.
We made onigiri, a favorite picnic food in Japan. Rice is a great source of energy when you’re pedaling and onigiri (one with salmon and one with umeboshi) is an easy-to-eat finger food. Doubling down on the rice theme, we made tahini rice crispy treats, a recipe from Tiff’s dad who is a Serious Cyclist. Spicy peanuts (inspired by Chef Ron’s Spicy Nuts at Parcelle) and a banana round out the picnic for a little sugar and a little protein. The banana gets tucked into the back pocket of a cycling jersey so it doesn’t get smashed.
Cycling and drinking should be done in moderation, and with that in mind we finished with a little splash of pastis and water over ice (4 measures of water per measure of pastis is a standard ratio).
We’re excited to share more bicycle picnic tips and ideas with you in the coming weeks.
Your friends in picnics,
F&T
I adore this new endeavor!