Mary9761- you've inspired me

[Tri Girl]

to make my own panniers from kitty litter buckets. I've been really wanting something better than my touring panniers to haul groceries, but decided that I didn't want regular grocery panniers (I wanted something more durable). You posted pics of your panniers on the Hilly Hundred, and the slideshow inspired me to build my own.
I had to first locate some buckets (www.freecycle.org got me in touch with people who donated about 10), and then it was the difficult task of finding rope hooks. Who knew they'd be so hard to find? Lowe's, Home Depot, and my local Ace Hardware didn't have them, and had no earthy idea what they were- even tho I had a picture. I finally found them at Tractor Supply Company. Go figure?
I love them!!!! They are not the prettiest thing (my DH teases me about my frankenbike), but they are utilitarian- which is exactly what my workhorse bike is supposed to be.

Just wanted to share my thanks with you for inspiring me to build my own for under $10 instead of buying something new for much, much more. And on the plus side, the paint is so toxic, that I get a contact high from just using them (that's not really a plus- just kidding). The toxic fumes are pretty bad- for both me and the environment.

I put the lock through the handles and locked it to the rack because the fumes are still a bit much to bring it into the grocery store with me. People are pretty nice around here and nobody will mess with it (I left my phone on my handlebar last week at the store and nobody touched it- whew!)

[mary9761]

AWESOME JOB Tri Girl! You did a great job on them. I'm glad you like them too. I LOVE mine and since they get moved on and off my bike pretty often when I travel on the bus at all I'm glad to have something really sturdy too. Good thing is they hold up and protect what's in them if the bike tips over too. (I'm a bit of a clutz at times)

[Tater]

What a cool idea! Now I will have to mooch mom's kitty litter buckets! Thanks, ladies.

[Gidiup]

How do you hold those on the bike? I like the look . . . form and function over fashion

[mary9761]

they hang off the sides of the rack with rope cleats/hooks and bungee at the bottom "v" on the rack. the bungee goes through a hole drilled just below the handle hole in the flange but not all the way through to the pannier.

[Mr. Bloom]

Mary is inspiring to many of us in many ways

[wackyjacky1]

they hang off the sides of the rack with rope cleats/hooks and bungee at the bottom "v" on the rack. the bungee goes through a hole drilled just below the handle hole in the flange but not all the way through to the pannier.

Forgive my density, but I'm not quite getting how/where the bungees attach to the buckets. Could you maybe post a close-up pic?

(I really want to make a set of these! I think the mention of their use as a beer cooler clinched it for me. )