SEE BELOW FOR MATERIALS TO BRING!
Hey BXBers and others, come teach/learn how to make bike panniers (or "saddlebags") out of recycled materials. Choose either coroplast (plasticized cardboard like the stuff elections signs are made from) or kitty litter buckets (or any square, plastic buckets). SEE YOU THERE!
***FOR EACH PANNIER***
* First, decide: BUCKET OR COROPLAST? (heavier,...
[read more] SEE BELOW FOR MATERIALS TO BRING!
Hey BXBers and others, come teach/learn how to make bike panniers (or "saddlebags") out of recycled materials. Choose either coroplast (plasticized cardboard like the stuff elections signs are made from) or kitty litter buckets (or any square, plastic buckets). SEE YOU THERE!
***FOR EACH PANNIER***
* First, decide: BUCKET OR COROPLAST? (heavier, more durable vs. lighter and less durable)
* Then, find one of the below:
* 1 (square) plastic bucket (try Ecology Action at E. 9th & IH-35)
* 2 (sheets of) Coroplast (We'll have some but bring some if you can--check E.A.)
* Whichever you choose, you'll need...
* 2 sturdy, metal hooks (these should be big enough to fit over edge of rack and have a long body with holes a bit larger than the diameter of the bolts, I've bought strips of metal used for shelving with pre-cut holes and used a vice and hammer to bend. I've found them at Home Depot and Breed's Hardware--they'll let you borrow their vice and hammer)
* 2 bolts (small enough to fit through the hooks, washers and long enough to fit through the side of the pannier, the washer, and leave enough of the bolt free to tighten the nut and, if you wish, to tighten the cap nut)
* 2 nuts (same size as bolts)
* 2 washers (again, with a hole that is a bit larger than the bolts)
* (Optional: 2 "cap nuts" to go on the end of the bolts to soften sharp edges)
Some way to attach the bottom of the pannier to the rack; there are options:
* Old bike tubes
* 1 "tarp bungee cord" (these are little looped bungees with a plastic ball on end)
* invent your own solution to keep pannier snug against your rack
ALSO (for coroplast panniers)
* Plastic zip ties (about 20 or so)
* 1 strip of wood (small enough to fit inside the pannier and not too thick)
* Make sure that your bolts are long enough to go through the wood strip AND the washer AND the coroplast and still leaving room for the nut--and the cap nut, if you choose)
