Hi, does anyone know how to secure an Afghan pannier to a bike? While I was over there I saw lots of people with these things, but didn't get a close enough look to see how they're secured. Creative ideas welcome. The whole thing is just woven wool with needle work.

https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...821113127.jpg/
https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...821113149.jpg/

If you have any mechanical aptitude, there are many ways to do that,
sewing velcro, adding wee bolts and nuts, snaps an such,

if that is not your strength, which since you asked here,
as you have
without any details .. like what rack do you intend to use
,[ like we all can read your mind],
I suspect is true,
Hire some help, giving a job to someone else, who I a mechanically minded individual ,
is a good thing.

a stiffener in the inside of the bag I expect is a good first step.

to be multinational Baltic all birch plywood is a great material to work with.

Fins an old "For Sale" or "Obama for Prez" sign made from corrugated plastic board and use that as stiffener.
You can rivet a mounting onto the plastic.

@fietsbob, I really like the Velcro idea, notsomuch the sarcasm. The bike has an older style rack with the mousetrap.

@MichaelW, With the Velcro, I could sew in something that can firm it up. Do you think the corrugated plastic is better than sheet metal or balsa wood?

I made a rack bag out of an old army surplus bag, using these hooks: https://www.bikebagshop.com/lone-peak...et-p-1675.html, and a piece of aluminum from the hardware store. I drilled holes in the aluminum for the hook bolts, poked holes in the bag at those locations, and attached the hooks though the bag to the bar. Works like a charm.

It sounds like you are just trying to secure it to the rack to prevent it from sliding off. If that's the case, you could just pop some grommets in there and use carabiner style clips to hold it on. I would say one in the front and one the rear should be plenty.

The other issue that you might face, depending on how you ride is the bag getting caught up in the rear spokes. The corrugated plastic or sheet metal would help you with that by stiffening the bag so I would be less likely to swing over into the back wheel.

Corrugated plastic sheet is the lightest board and tough enough to withstand decades of daily use.
Fabrication is very easy, you can cut it with scissors, sew, glue, rivet and screw stuff onto it.
Carradice panniers use it for stiffening.

how am I to read minds? seems lots of people don't have mechanical skills ,
DC is a place to move documents around.
folks that can do that, live quite well and , don't need to be plumbers ..

Thanks for all the ideas everyone! @lostarchitect, thanks for the link especially.

@fietsbob, yeah, I know what you mean about this place.. Believe me, I am only here because of my orders. I just wanted to get some ideas before I start cutting. It won't be easy to replace these things! Not that I would.. I'm just having fun.

The corrugated plastic (properly called plasticor) makes for an excellent backing material for bodged together panniers. Really can't go too wrong with that.

You're welcome, and good luck. Also, glad you made it back safe from Afghanistan.

Move all the paper you want, you'll still be calling that plumber though when the $&!* starts piling up.

No advice here, I'm all thumbs when it comes to jimmy-rigging stuff, but those panniers? WANT!

Very nice.