Another DYI thread - whatcha got?
 

We've not done this in a while and things are slowing down. Show your creativity, your innovative solutions, your home spun hacks and artistry. I know we cannot compete with Gugie and some of the other expertise but toss out some projects that will give others ideas, possible solutions and inspiration. I'll start......

Junk box HB bag support:

I obtained a very nice handlebar bag to use on my Schwinn Voyager but did not like the way it was designed to hang on the bar - sagged down onto the brake cable and was supposed to strap to the HT, rubbing off the paint. I rummaged in my stacks of "material too interesting to throw away" and made what I needed.

I took a length of steel rod (from a campaign sign the politicians place on my property - they never ask permission) and bent that into the shape shown. I'd made a prototype from lighter wire but it was too flimsy, though it did show me the shape and size I needed. The clear tubing to protect the handlebar and stem is off a length that was surplus from some medical procedure my wife was on years ago. The wood strip is just snug on there and pulls off easily but adds a bit of stability and keeps the steel rod ends from rubbing on the cordura - a piece of cherry I had in the "too small to throw away" pile. I've applied a few coats of wax to the bare steel to minimize rust. I may or may not paint it eventually.

You'll notice a triangular fitting down at the fork crown (where center or side pull brakes would be mounted but not used for cantis). That stainless steel thing was surplus from one of my wife's electric fence systems - you never know when something like that may be useful.

The second shot shows the bag mounted. The shinny tube serves as a standoff to keep the bag away from the HB. I like riding on the tops and this enables that. It was cut of an aluminum tube that used to be a pool cleaning pole. Maybe I could keep a couple jiggers of brandy in there for emergencies. See how that strap off the bottom of the bag can grab the fitting on the fork crown to keep everything stable underway. Oh, there on the side is the map pocket I made for this bag. Also easy if you need one.

I rode this on the Voyageur down to Philadelphia recently and it all worked just great. 50 miles round trip. The bag held my lunch, spare tube and a powered speaker to plug my MP3 player into during lunch. Also held my gloves and one layer after the temps went up near 60deg. Various smooth to rough trail conditions did not rattle the set up.

https://www.bikeforums.net/attachmen...1&d=1513602090

https://www.bikeforums.net/attachmen...1&d=1513602090

That all seems to work very well..and very cost effective too!! :thumb:
I too would welcome others' ideas that could prove to be a solution or inspiration.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Roc..._DSC1616-L.jpg

My own modest contribution: How to get a few more miles out of a Silca pump while waiting for Santa's elves to make a replacement.

Is DYI half way between DIY and DUI?
Brent

Apparently. Wadda was in my coffee this morning?

I had what I thought was a good idea, but it's probably obvious to everyone else here. (Either that or there's something wrong with it.) I've been looking for a used bike, and I know that I'm most comfortable on bikes with a seat angle of 73 degrees or less (with the seat slammed all the way back, I don't know why), but how to tell without having access to original geometry specs? I just downloaded a free angle meter app to my phone. Put the bike on level ground and put your phone against its seat tube. From testing it on my own bicycle with known geometry, it seems accurate enough.

How to make reproduction hoods - https://www.flickr.com/photos/681231...57662070020831

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1606/...abb86bc2_h.jpgHood 026 by iabisdb, on Flickr



How to make a seat tube badge - https://www.flickr.com/photos/681231...57669439083941

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7539/...a2b79889_h.jpgBadge07 by iabisdb, on Flickr

Reproduction tubular bag

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/...d38e349f_h.jpgBag 007 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Reproduction tire savers

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7446/...45501126_h.jpgSavers 001 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Bike stand

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5513/...1b7d0d92_h.jpgStand 002 by iabisdb, on Flickr



First lug of lug set

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4255/...7bb9b2ce_h.jpg20170623_064041 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Frames for memorabilia

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4188/...caf617ec_h.jpgOffice by iabisdb, on Flickr



Event posters

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3892/...83460189_h.jpg001 Centenario Bartali-Thursday Setup by iabisdb, on Flickr



Event chatchskies

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3833/...0a0c7d69_h.jpgRIde number 001 by iabisdb, on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3704/...b8b70ed0_h.jpgCentenario Bartali Patch by iabisdb, on Flickr

Leather hoods for Weinmann and DiaCompe levers.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...psuu1pn6ii.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...pstwubw1z1.jpg

Also, I turned this...

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...psrzvp3aq4.jpg

Into this... (...with the exception of the saddle, which is a [MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION] creation No. 110)

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...psk5z5w8qd.jpg

Quick release clips for a Carrdice Barley bag, and an internal stiffener made from a campaign sign:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Bicycles/...15072965-L.jpg

The interior wooden rod was replaced with a metal rod, and attach to the bag with fender drawbolts:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Bicycles/...15075124-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Bicycles/...15075739-L.jpg

With a handy strap to carry it when off the bike:
https://photos.smugmug.com/Bicycles/...15080443-L.jpg

And the stand-off to hold it away from legs, made from a Klickfix seat bag support. [MENTION=114373]northbend[/MENTION], who now owns this bag (none of my current saddles can use it), has improved the stand-off retention method using a leather strap instead of zip ties:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Bicycles/...ey%20Bag-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Bicycles/...2_152344-L.jpg

As long as I was doing all those changes to the Carradice Barley, I replaced the slow-to-use belt buckles with plastic clips, polyester webbing and reflective ends on them. Took lots of machine and hand sewing, but worthwhile:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Bicycles/...15083241-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Bicycles/...15082381-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Bicycles/...15081295-L.jpg

I'm liking all of these!

One of these days I want to build a CheapoRando bike to show that you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get most of the performance of one.

[MENTION=42162]pastorbobnlnh[/MENTION], nice work. Inspiration for my first front box project. I think I'll drag out the sewing machine and get a start on that.
[MENTION=340794]Dfrost[/MENTION]; I don't quite see how your quick releases work on the customized bag. Can you show the clips in better detail?

And to prove great minds think alike, I've done a similar custom bag job on case that came with a portable DVD player someone handed down to my kid. I made it to fit a Brooks Pro, ergo, the mounting system hooks onto the rails rather than a pair of bag loops.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4600/...d658eff6_z.jpg

A piece of 1/8" plywood to stiffen the area on the top of the bag where it bolts onto the rails:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4589/...ede4931f_b.jpg

View of the top of the bag & saddle rails:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4731/...951a5e6b_b.jpg

And the "quick release" hardware. :P
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4644/...dedffc74_z.jpg

Also I've done several easy-on easy-off bag hangers for the front bars, similar to our OP. 3/16" aluminum rod for a really light bag or 1/4" rod for a heavier bag. The bag I use on the heavier one is a day pack with the bottom reinforced with a sandwich of heavy plastic on the inside and plywood on the outside.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4735/...602dbeb4_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4594/...bf8a8b33_b.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4593/...b50701e0_z.jpg

I can fix that. :lol:

You saw this on the North Trask ride, but you've probably blocked it in the manner of traumatic memories. This is my erector set "decaleur" for a Blackburn handlebar bag that came with a blocky integrated clamp that propped the bag up a couple of inches above the bar. It's cobbled together with parts from various Taiwanese accessory mounts. It's the Croissandwich of decaleurs. :innocent:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4358/...c4d94a99_c.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4403/...7ee74af1_c.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4400/...43aab7e3_c.jpg

I’ve built a few of these for the bike room.

https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8260/2...9fbf4c52_c.jpg

Old photo but I have books/parts displayed on top of the shelves now.

Nothing as spectacular as some of this stuff, but I did make a spare spoke holder for my tourer using the cable guide and the fender mount up front. Doubles as a stay protector, although not really needed for a chrome one.


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4729/...d6a97972_b.jpg


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4642/...2110f24b_b.jpg

Yeah, that's ugly as f***. But I do appreciate the functionality of a good solid tinkertoy bodge. I have been guilty of stuff that bad and worse in my time. Fortunately, I didn't shoot any pictures. :)

Tim,
Since [MENTION=114373]northbend[/MENTION] now owns the bag, he’ll have to show assembled details.

But the key parts to the “quick release” that aren’t too clear are small metal (stainless steel, as I recall) spring hooks like these:

Mini Hanging Buckle, Uning Pack of 20Pcs Metal Spring Backpack Clasps Climbing Carabiners Hook EDC Keychain Fishing Camping Bottle Hooks Paracord Tactical Survival Gear (Silver) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XBBN5KF..._4pioAb33CS6K8

Sorry I don’t have any to photograph, but the metal rod inside the bag passes through the circular closed loop on these hooks, while the hook and it’s spring closure extend through the holes that originally allowed the leather strap to pass into the bag. I cut squares of rubber sheet with a small center slot that the hooks pass through to prevent water entry through those holes.

These hooks are just long enough to clip through the metal bag loops on Brooks or similar saddles.

This one's kinda ugly, too. One of those "What the heck" kinda projects:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4601/...dbec1015_o.jpg

Double thickness insert sewn in for extra coverage on nose and forehead:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4685/...31ae72a7_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4726/...92f2dd3b_o.jpg

Ready for those winter descents:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4684/...2ba9688f_o.jpg

[MENTION=57649]iab[/MENTION] impressive work! What haven't you done??

Or robbing banks! Talk about versatility! :)

Some guys take an extra job running packages for UPS this time of year. Other guys...

You're quite wise for a caveman. I should have thought of not taking pictures. :thumb:

I just drill holes in things. I feel so inadequate when I see all this stuff made from scratch!

DD

I don't know about that. I saw someone gave you a shout out on SIR and had posted one of your pieces. There was no shortage of likes. :thumb:

To put a wired dynamo tail light on where the rear facing bottle cage, Is,

I bent Zefal mudguard struts to place the tail light on my Bike Friday.

Now there is a wrap around mount. for it..

Too bad this thread wasnt titled 'half-ass workarounds', then I could've participated! ;)

Wheel Alignment Gauge, copying the VAR tool form. Made from crap that was lying around.

https://i.imgur.com/RVbZP5Ul.jpg

Half-assed handlebar holder, made from an old, padded table leg brace.

https://i.imgur.com/rPpuonEl.jpg

What's SIR?

While I might have modification skills, I've not produced anything like those in this thread, that's all I was trying to say. The level of leatherworking skills by at least three of our C&V devotees is fantastic, to give just one example.

DD

How about some bike displays from repurposed handlebars and plumbing parts...

http://www.pbase.com/jhuddle/image/164473640.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/jhuddle/image/164273011.jpg

@drilliumdude Steel is Real on Facebook.

I've mentioned before but the green and brown set by Pastorbob is a stunning color combo.