On a short, for the hell of it ride with my friend Chris, his girlfriend Koda, and I we stopped into the local Cause For Paws (consignment shop). After quickly checking the back to see if there were any bikes (there weren't) I remembered my idea to find an old camera bag and turn it into a handlebar bag. Well, after a little bit of digging around, I found a neat looking one. It's nylon, with a strap with leather on it.
After riding back with it I took it apart a little to figure out my mounting options. I quickly realized the shoulder strap for it would work well looped under my handlebars and over my stem. Took a little fidgeting with, but it turned out well. It's got a front pocket, a divider, and a little mesh pocket. It's just big enough for a camera, maybe a sandwich and a Clif bar, and something else. Maybe now I can start taking pictures of the area around my house. Of course, I have pics of it.
I still need to glue the bottom of the main flap clasp to the actual bag, so that it doesn't drag on the front wheel, but otherwise it's good. It sits high enough that I can fold it completely open so that I can access everything in it.
Total $2
-Gene-