Living Car Free - Repurposed items

Wondering if you ever needed bike equipment, decided the commercial options didn't work, then found something in your home that you could modify?

Last year when I started bike commuting, I needed panniers. I didn't want to spring for a new set unless I absolutely had to...

So I experimented with a couple of bags I had lying around the house. One was a soft briefcase which caused a lot of heel kick. Didn't work. The other was a knapsack I had received as a gift a while back. Luckily the bag was the same shape as a pannier and I was able to attach two snap hooks, which allowed it to hang off my rear rack.

I know it isn't Arkel or Ortlieb, but it works for me. I use it every day.

Do you often re-purpose things for your bike?

Truth be known most saleable ideas were an owner "re-purposing"
something he already owned then found a market when others liked
his idea.

If you growup poor or in a working famliy most will know all about.......
"use it up..wear it out".

Truth be known most saleable ideas were an owner "re-purposing"
something he already owned then found a market when others liked
his idea.

If you growup poor or in a working famliy most will know all about.......
"use it up..wear it out".

+1
Still do...and I always buy the best I can afford, basic rule around here is if it isn't medically necessary or if it can't be eaten you probably don't need it;) But the things we do buy we look for minimum frills, durability, suitability, repairability and do we already have something else that can/will do the job. Keeps impulse purchases to a minimum. "Re-purposing" is a way of life, along with many other things that lead to a sustainable lifestyle.:p

Aaron:)

My apartment now has repurposed bike inner-tubes nailed down at the bottom of most of the windows. They seem to help a lot in keeping air from going under the windows, which are old and don't shut very securely. On the top and sides, the windows still have a bit of air leakage though.

If anybody in philly has more dead inner tubes they're willing to give me, i'll put them to use. :) I'm thinking about redoing the inner-tube hitch on my home made bike trailer and figuring out how to block up more of the little window drafts with inner tubes.

I love those little clips that are sold as quick-release key holders. One thing I use them for is to hold my gloves together. When I go indoors I can hook my gloves to my backpack. Also, the little silver clips look pretty flashy on my gloves.

I keep a few different sized cable ties in my tool kit as all purpose fasteners. They have come in handy for loose fenders, cables (of course), and wayward loads.