Lately I been trying to cut down the weight on my bike.Over the last year or so I've updated my big 4 and cut almost 8 pounds off of my base weight,just by going with more modern materials.
So for fun while I had the scale handy,I threw all 4 of my panniers on the scale and was SHOCKED by how much they weighted...ALMOST 8 POUNDS! ....what the ****!
So I started weighing materials I had around and found that Cordura is HEAVY! So I figured I'd make a Cordura "frame" and put a silnylon stuff sack in it,that should cut the weight down.I'm not backpacking,so I figure I don't need the abrasion protection Cordura offers.I'm not dragging my panniers over rocks or hitting them with trees and branches.
After sewing for a bit,the trash was full,so I went outside to empty it.After it was empty,it dawned on me that my trashcan was about the size of my panniers....I wonder how much this weights? Wow....it's only 7oz.....HMMMMM? I think with some whittling I can do something with this.
So it's off to the dollar store for a trashcan.So I pick up a can for a buck and start in a whittling.After a couple hours of fooling around and making a quick bag for it, here's what you end up with.
A modular,100% waterproof pannier.It mounts solid to the rack so it CAN'T fall off.If you want to remove it,remove the bag and loosen 1 allen screw and it comes off like normal.When you get to camp,loosen the cargo net on top and remove the bag leaving the frame behind.If you want a different color pannier,just change the bag.Silnylon isn't tough enough for ya? Put a canvas bag in it...Don't need all of the strenght? Put a net bag in it,save some more weight.
I saved the best for last...are you sitting down? The whole pannier,frame,bag,cargo net and mounting hardware weight......7 OUNCES! That's correct 7 oz......WOW!
That means that I will save almost 6 POUNDS over my soon to be old panniers.I'm not really a weight weenie but it was time to update my stuff so I figured I would do what I could to save some weight while I was at it,why not.
So here you go, a 7oz. 100% waterproof pannier and it isn't the ugliest thing on the planet.
These cost about $8 to make.....So what do you think? It's pretty crude,prototype and all.My finished versions will have a couple net pockets on the outside attached to the frame adding about a 1/2 oz to the finished weight.Worth my time or should I just drink the koolaid and buy some?
