Heyduke

Last night over a couple beers (okay four beers) I finally decided to retrofit a large insulated AMBICO camera bag that I picked up at a thrift shop for $3.99. If you look closely you can see my messy fishing string sewing job on the outermost buckle straps...but I wasn't (nor do I ever) going for looks. So after about an hour of measuring and sewing, I have a stable, detachable and very CHEAP trunk bag for my commuter. It's not symmetrical or pretty but it does the job quite well. So if you see one of these AMBICO bags or similar for cheap somewhere....convert it!

You got any homemade bike stuff?

Nightshade

Use it up, wear it out, just don't throw it away!!

Allen

MyBikeGotStolen

Allen, I dont think a week goes by that you dont amaze me with one of your bikes/bike toys

PanPanX

How is that box attached? I've been wanting to convert one of those backpacks with wheels into a pannier, that way when I get to school, I can just take it off and roll it around and not worry about someone stealing it and I can make it a little heavier cause I wont have to carry it around all day!

Allen

Never married, no kids. And like my father and his father a grossly over developed hobby ethic gene runs in the family.

Allen

I used Ortlieb small parts, specifically:
Adaptor for Rear Basket
Rack Trunk Quick Release Plate
I took the foam out of the case, lined up the QR Plate and marked and drilled the holes.

I've also seen where someone (I can't remember who) attached a Pelican case to their rack the same way as I did my messenger bag/pannier above. Ortlieb spare parts are fantastic when it comes to cobbling together homemade luggage.

{edit} The Pelican case is not locked to the bike, although you could rig a metal ring to run a lock through with ease, and the case has places for locks to secure the lid.

Cyclaholic

As an avid DIYer I'll '+1' that.

wtb

I don't have a picture, but after unsuccessfully looking for a handlebar bag that I liked (no gaudy quick release device, no leather if possible, not too big or too small, can mount securely on my mustache bars, etc) I ended up taking an old Tamrac SLR camera case (like the one in the link, not identical though) and attaching it by routing a "utility strap" through its loops and around the bars/stem. It's pretty rock solid, and just about right for my day-to-day use. I haven't done this yet, but I have two of the strap-on lens pouches too, so I can expand my cargo capacity if I want... At least enough to hold a water bottle or two.

Someday I'll get a Carradice or Acorn type bag to mount on my saddle (anyone know of something like them that doesn't have leather? I may not be able to avoid it, but I want to at least try) but this is doing the trick for now.

Heyduke

I'm glad I posted my creation so that I could see AllenG's stuff!

Is there more out there?

MyBikeGotStolen

BTW, Heyduke, good idea, I too have been wanting a pair of panniers/ trunk bag, but "like my father and his father, a grossly over developed cheapness gene runs in the family"

Heyduke

Yeah, thanks! The dimensions of that camera case were perfect for the Blackburn rack that I'm using on my commuter. I rode in today with just the converted case loaded down, no panniers, and not a bit of rattling or shifting. Dumb luck that it worked so well but I thought others might be able to do something similar.

Heyduke

Oh...and BTW....I picked up the Blackburn panniers also at a thrift shop for $2.99. They were laying in a bin full of hats....guess the pricing folks didn't know what they were.

Panniers = $2.99 (thriftshop)
Rack = $15.00 (craigslist)
Trunk Bag = $3.99 (same thrift shop)

That's pretty damn cheap!