A coat rack for your bike!
09-21-12, 06:05 PM
#1
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A coat rack for your bike!
Matt at the Bike Hacks Blog posted this for me (thanks, Matt), but I reckoned you all might like it too.
I live in a very hot, humid climate (Eastern North Carolina), but I wear a sport coat or suit jacket for my job. From May to September, wearing the coat during my daily commute is pretty much out of the question. So, I made this rack so I can hang my coat and transport it without wrinkling. It works with a Wald folding rear basket, which I recommend in any case. Besides the basket, you'll need a floor lamp -- the cheap box-store variety that students tend to have in their dorms, and then throw out. I found mine out at the curb on trash day -- thanks, neighbor!
The only parts of the lamp you'll need are the pole itself and the threaded clamp that holds the pole to the base. You'll also need a little extra sheet metal (I used the lid from a cookie jar), and some nylon zip ties. I used a garment bag with handles that loop over the pole, and a strap (originally for holding the two handles together) that fits perfectly around the pole.
Once you've installed the base, you can screw the pole on or off in seconds. The base doesn't interfere with the folding of the basket.
Coming home in the evening, I'll often clip an extra blinky light to the top of the garment bag, or even (for full nerd effect) put a reflective vest over the garment bag.
* * * * * * * * * *
I live in a very hot, humid climate (Eastern North Carolina), but I wear a sport coat or suit jacket for my job. From May to September, wearing the coat during my daily commute is pretty much out of the question. So, I made this rack so I can hang my coat and transport it without wrinkling. It works with a Wald folding rear basket, which I recommend in any case. Besides the basket, you'll need a floor lamp -- the cheap box-store variety that students tend to have in their dorms, and then throw out. I found mine out at the curb on trash day -- thanks, neighbor!
The only parts of the lamp you'll need are the pole itself and the threaded clamp that holds the pole to the base. You'll also need a little extra sheet metal (I used the lid from a cookie jar), and some nylon zip ties. I used a garment bag with handles that loop over the pole, and a strap (originally for holding the two handles together) that fits perfectly around the pole.
Once you've installed the base, you can screw the pole on or off in seconds. The base doesn't interfere with the folding of the basket.
Coming home in the evening, I'll often clip an extra blinky light to the top of the garment bag, or even (for full nerd effect) put a reflective vest over the garment bag.
* * * * * * * * * *
I like Fredism!
09-21-12, 11:05 PM
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After all the work you put into that project, I almost hate to ask, but here goes anyway: Couldn't you keep your jacket(s) at work?
09-25-12, 12:26 PM
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A little bit, but keep in mind that I'm riding a Raleigh DL-1 -- speed is definitely not the goal, here.
Sure, and I do, but A) I have to get them to work somehow, in the first place, and B) sometimes I might want them back at home for other occasions.
Thanks for the compliment! But maybe I misunderstand your irony here -- this is the opposite of Fredly, no?
After all the work you put into that project, I almost hate to ask, but here goes anyway: Couldn't you keep your jacket(s) at work?
Extremely neat 
I like Fredism!
I like Fredism!
09-25-12, 01:00 PM
#8
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Will version 2 have a 2 foot wide horizontal pole on top to hang clothing for two weeks? You know, like those old folks in their Lincoln Towncars you see sometimes with a full wardrobe/closet hanging across the back seat? 
09-25-12, 01:34 PM
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There is a biking garment bag already. It goes over your rear rack, and once you get to your destination, it has a hanger you can flip out (or attach? I haven't used mine in a while) and hang up. Basically works exactly the same as a traveling garment bag a business person might put in their trunk, or as carry on for a flight.
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In the words of Einstein
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In the words of Einstein
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