Summer's coming and I don't want to deal with a sweaty back this year so I decided to get panniers. Good ones are expensive (think Ortlieb and Arkel) which got me thinking, "Can't I just convert a bag I already have into a pannier?" The answer is, "Well, I've got nothing better to do." But first, I needed to find the right hardware. Luckily, Arkel offers the Cam-lock hook kit.



Which would go on this old bag (now with 50% more dust!).



I also needed some eyelets to keep the fabric from tearing apart after making holes in it. Amazingly enough, my wife had these for some odd reason so I didn't have to buy them which was good since I didn't know where I would've gotten them.



So I popped some holes in the bag and hammered in the eyelets. My neighbors must've loved me for that.



Then mounted the pannier kit.



Oh wait, I need a rack, don't I?



So I went to my LBS and got a new rack when my old one turned out to suck big time. Even though they were closing and all changing into their riding clothes, they hooked me up with a rack that did the trick.



So now I have a pannier!



Checked for heel clearance and it seemed to clear it. Next up is a test ride around the block and probably a piece of masonite or something to keep the back of the bag rigid and out of the spokes.

wow, great idea. I'm now looking at my waterproof messenger bag a little different now... Thanks for the idea.

Panniers on fixed gears! It's the new white belt/trucker cap/ironic shirt/girl jeans combo!

Looks a lot like my Arkel Briefcase now... dust included.

Get that masonite or something for the back of the bag. You might want to remount the Arkel cam bit to both the bag and the hard backing in the bag, that's how most panniers are made. Should take a bit more stress off the bag fabric.

Damn nice briefcase pannier you've got now though...

I have an old backpack from the British Burn Society (courtesy of my wife's cousin on our last trip to the UK) that I have my eye on to convert to a pannier when one of my old REI panniers finishes falling apart. I'll have to remember the eyelets. I have plenty of ABS plastic laying around for backing, though.

Thanks for the pics.

Nice job. But now you have to make sure the seams don't stretch and tear apart.

Enjoy your nice pannier.

The eyelets can be found in any sewing store. Camping stores often carry them as well, but that brand, "Unique," is a standby in the sewing departments of Michaels', Wal-Mart, and Zellers (for the Canadians). Fabricland, Hobby Lobby, Jo-Anne's - any of those will have them. The usual retail on those is about $3. They come in lots of different sizes.

Be warned that the eyelets are not all that wide, and they can rip out of the fabric. I'd recommend reinforcing the fabric (with a patch - you can get the iron-on ones in the same place as the eyelets), and putting glue around the edge of the hole you cut. You don't have to let the glue dry before you attach the eyelet.

Spent 5 years or so working in fabric shops...

frostline flashback ... cool!

BUMP! Time for an update. I changed the position of the pannier kit so it tilts the bag away from the pedals and added a stiff board to keep the bag from scraping the wheels.



When punching the new holes, I took Buglady's advice and glued the fabric around the eyelet.



Here's a cautionary picture of the back. Obviously, I don't subscribe to the "Measure twice, cut once" methodology. However, if you don't want a bunch of extra holes in your bag, you may want to exercise more care than I did.

Very nice indeed.

Nice work! I'm looking at making some homebrew panniers and this is right up the alley i'm lookin.

I was thinking of cutting apart a rubbermaid tub for backing...i've got a few sitting around.

I just use a regular backpack and one of these:



On top of a seatpost mounted rack. Does the trick for me.