how should i secure this this canvas military style tool bag to my classic blackburn rack on my nishiki? it's a nice bag for the price, with a hard bottom. i'm wanting to afix something classy looking. there's some fabric inside the bag (pen/pencil holders) i could maybe remove to fashion some ties, maybe using velcro as well. or is there something readily available (velcro strips?) that i could use?

i'm wanting to stay away from simple bungee, so when the bag isn't full, it will still be upright and decent looking.

if you have a similar bag, let me know what you used.

cheers.







ps: i wasn't sure of the specific forum for this post, but wanted to keep it 'classic.'

My Ozette Rando Bag has velcro strips stitched to the underside. Those secure the bottom to the rack and work very well.

yeah, just stitch two strips (hook and loop) to the underside, both front and rear, making sure they'll wrap around a piece of the rack and meet. now to find some wide velcro strips ...

i was also thinking about using twine in some boy scout kind of way. but, i cannot tie a knot.

You can go to any sewing "notions" store like Hancock Fabrick for instance and get that stuff by the roll.

I'm sure I'd go way overboard. It is my nature. I don't care for Velcro much for this type of application. Although it would work fine of course. I believe I would rivet two leather straps, with buckles, onto the bottom side. You say it has a hard bottom. Know what the material is? Pretty cool bag.

^ yeah, i've seen a couple of your leather saddle bags -- extremely creative. are any of them trunk bags?

no, i'm not sure what the hard bottom material is in this tool bag. it's not very flimsy, and it's sewn in. my guess is somewhat thick plastic.

thanks for the leather/buckle idea...

I attached mine to the back (sissy bar) of my 1969 Sears Spyder with a slightly modified vintage road bike rack, the exsisting straps, and a few zip ties.













get yourself 4 "P" clamps that will fit the wire bike rack, then mock up the bag so its where you want it, just make sure theres one clamp at each corner of the bottom of the bag, then mark the bottom of the bag through the "P" clamp holes, take a hot soldering iron and burn holes all the way through the bottom of the bag where marked, use for small screws to secure the "P" clamps to the bag useing the proper sized washer on both the bottom and inside the bag.

four clamps secured through the plastic bottom of the bag. not a bad idea. probably not too easy to remove once secured, but still, a way to secure it in a good looking way. thanks.

Overboard sounds fine. A hardwood/melamine/MDF-ish sliding dovetail plate (think professional video camera mount) with a bullet catch...on or off in a second.

No trunk bags yet, but I'm thinking of making one that style for the VO rack on one bike. Four clamps is a good idea. Or, some 1/2 inch or one inch nylon webbing with a couple of those black plastic quick release buckles as found on outdoor gear, etc.

Now that would be fun to fabricate. Way over my pay grade tho'.

that would be awesome. if only i were dick proenneke. ever see that bear-proof lock he fashioned into his cabin's front door? wish my dad had taught me stuff like that.