Utility Cycling - Hard-sided cooler

Today on the commute home, I saw someone pedaling with a small hard-sided cooler attached to the back of her bike. It had reflectors on the back and by appearances was probably mounted on a rack. Before I had the sense to ask about it, I turned down a different street.

Has anyone seen one of these? Is it most likely a custom job, or do you think I might be able to track down a retailer?

Today on the commute home, I saw someone pedaling with a small hard-sided cooler attached to the back of her bike. It had reflectors on the back and by appearances was probably mounted on a rack. Before I had the sense to ask about it, I turned down a different street.

Has anyone seen one of these? Is it most likely a custom job, or do you think I might be able to track down a retailer?

Probably a custom job. I have seen small tool boxes, milk crates, odd baskets and wine crates all attached to rear bike racks. There are a several hard shell cases out there made for bike racks. But I think you are best off choosing what works for you, then attaching it. The three hard shell cases that come to mind are from Planet Bike (http://ecom1.planetbike.com/4020.html), Topeak(not sure they still make one) and Ortlieb (http://www.ortliebusa.com/CartGenie/prod-141.htm). Orlieb makes several different ones that lock onto the rack.

Aaron :)

I have a tiny, six-pack-sized cooler that fits nicely on the front rack of my little bike. I've occasionally thought it would be handy to have a larger cooler that fit, pannier-style, on the rear rack of my larger bike, but I worry that a DIY job might compromise the insulation of the cooler and leave some of the attachment parts socking in ice water, which might not be good for them.

But I did find a solution to wanting a bigger cooler by turning again to the little bike with a wide rear rack.
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I've also heard of people using water-proof panniers to as temporary coolers by throwing ice in them along with their cold items. Of course the panniers aren't insulated, so that wouldn't be good for very long, and they're soft-sided, so it wouldn't be good with items that could be crushed.

Oh, incidentally, I did find some DIY instructions on mounting a cooler pannier-style: http://www.instructables.com/id/Cooler-Bike-Cooler/

Nothing approaching this one, though. If it was a home job, it was pretty perfect -- it almost looked like the cooler sat on and around the rack it was mounted to.

You'll probably see most anything cobbed onto a bicycle. All ya need is imagination and a drill.

You'll probably see most anything cobbed onto a bicycle. All ya need is imagination and a drill.

Zipties help too...

Aaron :)