jerrduford

I've recently acquired a pretty cheap seatpost rack for the occasional carrying of gear.
I often like to take my bike fishing, so I take a backpack with broken down rods and tackle boxes in it. It's also nice for longer rides where both the fiance and I want to bring extra clothes. I like the versatility of strapping down a backpack (and cost) vs paying extra for dedicated panniers.

For now, I'm using bungee straps with carabiner clips, custom made. They're strong and hold well, but I can't help but think some affordable, mini ratchet straps would be far easier and more secure. Perhaps even some of the backpack-like straps that adjust and then clip in. I just can't seem to find them anywhere. These would also be quite helpful for kayaking and carrying gear.

Does anyone have any suggestions or links?

TransitBiker

I will say, that my old rear red blinkie had a screw type strap, where turning a screw lightened or loosened the strap. The strap had grooves in it. It worked sorta like a rack and pinion system. Perhaps that would work vs a plain rachet, just thinking.

- Andy

Juha

I carry extra backpack straps, the kind where you thread the strap through the receiving buckle, then tighten. QR clips are prone to breaking in cold weather (I use the straps when XC skiing as well). That said, for cycling purposes bungee chords are even easier to use IME.

Bike Gremlin

jerrduford

Very nice with the bungee strap mounting the backpack vertically! I hadn't thought of that - I've just mounted horizontally, bungee'd, and let the poles hang off the back (broken into halves and stuck deep into the backpack.

Is that a hanger or other custom piece of metal perpendicular to the rack, or is that something that came with the rack?

MichaelW

here

here

Bike Gremlin

It's part of the rack. Rack with a spring. A bit more stable if you put the spring up and tie bungee through it. But it is stable enough even without spring. Such racks are from 5 to 50 euros - depending on the make etc.

jerrduford

All very nice ideas. Thanks everyone.
I think bungees are the most versatile in the long run, since I can easily just keep multiple lengths in one of my pockets. Maybe I'll pick up some of those linked straps for longer trips or when I have to carry something that might tend to be more flimsy.
I'll likely also end up trying to rig up something similar to that spring on the rack, since I already have a cheap rack without it. Thanks again

Hangtownmatt

Check these out:

ROK Straps - The Ultimate Stretch Strap - Bacpack Stretch Strap

Matt

Booger1

I like welded steel D-rings with 3/4 poly webbing.Make them as long as you want.Cost about $1.00 each.If you have access to a sew machine,take 30 seconds to make one.

Poly webbing is about 65c a yard and d-rings about 30c each....you can lift your car with a couple of them....

no motor?

REI sells the loose buckles and will cut the straps to order.

jerrduford

https://www.copy.com/s/jbzwVEKPU6OJ/...g%208-7-14.png

I ended up just using the bungee's and cheap carabiner clips for today. It held pretty securely for the 5 mile ride to the lake (which was a purely awesome time by the way), but I can't help thinking the buckle straps with some poly webbing would be faster/easier and more secure. I will look into some, but these bungees will remain handy forever.

lazlo

I like these, I had a bunch of them from my canoeing days, and have used them to strap stuff on to my rack:

Camping > Straps at nrs.com

fietsbob

There are double pull buckles [national moulding Fastex ] so you dont need any sewing , just a length of nylon webbing

jerrduford

Very nice! Price isn't too bad. They're the same type of straps as my Saris bike rack. I may have to look into those. That type adjusts extremely fast and holds quite securely. Thanks for the find

mconlonx

Surly Junk Straps. Essentially just really, really long toe straps. I got a few as schwag and am frequently glad I have one with me.

jerrduford

https://copy.com/C2Qv4JUzrDYC3vSu
I found the straps at Walmart in the camping section!

6 bucks for 2, 12 footers. 'lashing straps' like the guy above posted. Needless to say I bought 3 packs. Should be perfect for both biking and holding my fishing crate to my kayak.

Perfect advice guys!