Hypno Toad

OK ... sounding totally hipster, but I'll looking for a way to carry vinyl records home from the store by bike in a Chrome Citizen (soft-side messenger bag) without damaging them.

I think the most basic solutions is cutting two pieces of stiff cardboard slightly larger than a record, maybe include some recycled bubble wrap.

Do have a solutions to protect records while in your bike bag? If yes, please share pictures and any do/don't you've learned. Thanks!

Also, I'm sure everyone on BF thinks I look like this for posting this question:

WhyFi

Corrugated might provide a little more protection than just the record sleeves, but I'm thinking that some 1/4" plywood would be better.... that would certainly keep the upper corners from bending, but then you still might have the problem of the records sagging below the protection of the boards... Maybe another skinny piece of ply on the bottom, hinged to the uprights?

Where are you getting vinyl? I've been playing more, recently, and was thinking that I needed to go peruse some shops, which I haven't really done since moving back here. There's the place on Nicollet and 26th... and the place on Portland north of the crosstown... the Electric Fetus... where else is good?

And that video doesn't seem too far off from what I see on Strava....

JanMM

Sold all my LP’s to Half Price Books a long time ago and hung on to last mid-80’s Technics direct drive turntable until donated to Goodwill a couple of years ago. I don’t miss vinyl.
Much easier to transport CD’s. Or flash drives. Sound quality generally Good Enough.

zandoval 

Two square pieces of 3/16th Luan Plywood and some rubber bands made from old inner tubes should do the trick...

JanMM

Coroplast would be a lot lighter than wood and can be repurposed from signs littering street corners, utility poles, etc

Hypno Toad

I was that guy buying up everyone's used vinyl back in the 90's. I've enjoyed having a classic stereo set up in my home office. I use Audacity to create digital files, to listen to my records on the go. I've got it hooked up with a modern speaker system throughout the house too.

Additionally, I have a massive collection of CDs. I'm old and like owning my media.

Hypno Toad

I'd like to make the trip to E Fetus for some used records, but this trip is a little less 'hipster'; I have a gift certificate to Barns & Noble that I'd like to use for some vinyl.

Being in Hopkins, I've gotta say Mill City Sound is great! That's a newer store, and they get some great stuff in there. Plus I don't need anything special when I go shopping there, it's a short 4-block walk

Down in the Valley is a good one too, but I haven't been there in a while.

livedarklions

This is not an exaggeration--I started going to that store 45 years ago and am completely amazed it's still there at the same location. Does everything you buy from there still smell like incense?

WheelsDoHeal

I AM Very Much AN ANALOG GUY.
Absolutely.
Positively.
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
TOTALLY And as FUSSY as the Need To Be, For ME, and THAT is BEING Very VERY Fussy, Indeed.

I Enjoy the Vastly and ever so Slight but Monumentally uplifting Experience with Analog listening. Oh Yeah !

It is Most Definitely a major Hassle, BUT I Think worthy of the effort, INCLUDING Cleaning, when possible, PRESERVATION of ALL; Covers, Sleeves AND Vinyl.

Vinyl transport, even in in low quantities, gets Heavy, Very quickly. Very. Be warned !

I believe there is a “return” for your efforts.

OK, so to transport ALL Vinyl, via bike, vehicle, foot, or animal…
You might get some Very Stiff 90° angled Corners And Reusable, Waterproof materials, as the Corners are quite vulnerable. Packaging materials And Shipping Preparation, are the Achilles Heal in vinyl transport. Reminder: Preservation, or, on the other hand, With Attention: Please PAY ATTENTION…

THAT is How I do it, for more than 70+
years and counting.

NOTE: I suggest you consider the weather conditions, as DRY tends to be less of an issue during transport.

tyrion

I'd make a 12"x12" folder out of Masonite (or 1/8" fine particle pressboard) and duct tape. Maybe a big rubber band (or shock cord) to hold it tight.

Eric F

This ^^^ is what I would do, too.

Iride01 

Don't fall on it and you'll probably be good regardless of what you do.

tyrion

The corners will get roughed up if they're carried in a soft bag.

indyfabz

What are these things you call "records"?

jack pot 

i do a radio show and routinely ride my bike to the studio. i too have a Chrome bag ( see pic) whenever i carry LPs I take a a few old scratched albums that I never play and and sandwich the "good" LPs between the old ones. I use rubber bands to hold the sandwiched pack in place. i never make a "sandwich of more than 5 albums thick so sometimes I have to make more than 1 sandwich

Hypno Toad

Great idea, I have some old record sleeves without records ... I've been trying to think of what I can do with them. Thanks!

Also, love that pic!

livedarklions

I want to know if there's a world record for carrying records on a Raleigh Record.

Litespeedlouie

Any of these solutions should work. If you want to keep the jackets clean, I'd consider poly sleeves for each album. I assume they still make them. Otherwise, a stack of albums could rub and damage the artwork.

Eric F

They do. I bought some not long ago. There are plenty of places to still get all of the accessories and gadgets that go along with playing vinyl records.

Eric F

Chop a couple of pieces of 1/8" board (fiberboard, or similar) to fit inside the sleeves, and - voila - a stylish record protector!

Iride01 

Well the OP ask about the LP or record. Not the album cover.

Or are you thinking outside the box, so to speak?

mstateglfr 

It is nice to see people have a healthy sense of humor about themselves.

Hypno Toad

Thanks again for the helpful posts! Here's my solutions, using two albums covers that are missing the LPs. Packing tape hinge at the bottom, leaving enough room for 3-4 albums. One Velcro strap and one large rubber band to hold it together. And the padded laptop sleeve will protect all but the top inch or two of the complete package. I might test it out later today ... schedule might postpone until next week. I'll post an update after the shopping trip.

tyrion

You lost your sergeant pepper album?!?!?!?!

Hypno Toad

I some how ended up with two covers and only one copy of the Sgt Pepper's... same story with The Who's It's Hard.