Commuting - Ikea Pannier... a little DIY project.

Those Swedes... they think of everything don"t they ?

Check out this new bike bag...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/ikeabag1.JPG

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/ikeabag2.JPG

But wait... it wasn't the guys at Ikea that thought this up. It was this Svensker boyka who did not like having to bungee his daughter's school bag to her bike so after school made another bike friendly bag.

The locking clips come from MEC and cost about $6.00 a set and are offered as service replacement for their own panniers but if your MEC pannier clips break, they replace them for free.

These clips come to fit a standard 9mm rail and there is an oversized version for thicker rails.

Clips on the back...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/ikeabagback.JPG

Re-purposed an old election sign as a back and stiffener for the clips which need to be flat to clip on easily.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/ikeabaginside.JPG

Here is another bag I made... it dates back to the 30's and attaches in the same manner and looks more appropriate on a 50's bicycle than a modern synthetic bag.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/reg2009a.JPG

Nice work, sixty fiver!

PS... the bag can be mounted in a forward or rearward position on the rails but since my daughter has such small feet the forward position works for her.

This bag carries her binder and planner and she has a lovely Basil bag for carrying her other essential like her lunch, rain gear, and baseball glove and by making theIkea bag clip-able it frees up the top of the rack.

This looks really awesome. Do they sell those clips online? For $6 a pair the possibilities seem endless. Could you explain further how they clip on? I am relatively new to pannier mechanisms.

Nice, looks great!!

:thumb:

This looks really awesome. Do they sell those clips online? For $6 a pair the possibilities seem endless. Could you explain further how they clip on? I am relatively new to pannier mechanisms.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/ikeabagback.JPG

This strap is the release for the clips and doubles as a handle... once they are placed on the rails the inner tab clicks into place under the rail and in my many years of using these clips have never had one fail save for being a little reluctant to open after being put on a rail that was bigger than it was designed for.

Pull up on the strap and it opens the tab and the bag lifts right off.

One more... when I was using the 20 I converted a laptop bag so I could carry my netbook and it's accessories.

This bag has traveled with me a good deal as I also use it as my carry on when I fly... I usually have a bike waiting for me when I land.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/basil1.JPG

Nice work! :thumb:

Thanks for the explanation thats how I thought they worked. I looked on MEC website and I didn't see these clips. Where can I get them? I would have another reason to pick up awesome bags at thrift stores.

I have one of those bags, they're very nice. I might just do that when I get a rack for my bike.

You can use a "door handle" hook as an anti-sway device as in ortleib/carradice fittings.

Repurposed correx election signs are the best material for frame stiffener. The is one reason for Carradice Super C beng so lightweight for their toughness. Mine are over 15 years old and going strong.
I would recommend that the corners of Correx board are radiused to prevent stressing the bag fabric.

Really neat. I have a few I may think of converting... thanks for the idea!

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/reg2009a.JPG

What bike is that? It looks almost exactly like my Raleigh Trent Sports, except mine's red and not in anything like the good condition yours is.

Nice work on the panniers by the way, much better-looking than anything I could bodge together!

What bike is that? It looks almost exactly like my Raleigh Trent Sports, except mine's red and not in anything like the good condition yours is.

Nice work on the panniers by the way, much better-looking than anything I could bodge together!

The panniers are pretty easy to bodge... no great mechanical skill is needed and they do not take that much time to make.

That bike is a 1955 Raleigh Lenton, Reg Harris Road Model (fixed gear)... I am only it's second owner.

Nice work, Sixty Fiver!
I have an assortment of pannier clips and latches for unrealized projects such as yours - this post inspires me to actually do something with them. :D

I have often thought of election sign material as ideal for diy panniers, but have never put it into practice.

I'm wondering why MEC doesn't sell the clips online

I'm wondering why MEC doesn't sell the clips online
I was wondering that myself. I'm sure that I saw them there before. They still sell their shockcord and J hook assembly:

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302693397&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442618084&bmLocale=en

Things have disappeared off of the MEC site before, only to return later "new and improved". Hopefully that's the case here.

I hope they do I would like to replace the hooks on my bags.

NDP are gonna be pissed at you :)

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/ikeabaginside.JPG

That's the best political contribution I've ever seen. :thumb:

NDP are gonna be pissed at you :)

They should be pleased that I am recycling and re-using.

:)

Thanks for sharing this idea. If I can get my hands on some of these clips, the possibilities would be endless. I not only have several messenger bags in the closet, but my mother makes handbags that she sells at craft fairs...