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

[bikerchic]

Mary is inspiring to many of us in many ways

That is so true! I vote for Mary for president......oh wait I'm a tad bit late on that one, but heck she still rocks!

Mary I was so glad to see you here today. I first read your postings on bikejournal.com and had no idea you posted here also. I'm going through bikejournal withdrawals........

Oh pardon my manners, nice to meet you Mary, I'm Kate.

Tri Girl those are pretty awesome looking panners!

[shellkay1212]

I can't wait to make some of these! I will be moving in a couple of weeks to 'the city'. It will enable me to commute to work, the store, the theatre, the mall, and even to see family. Heck, with these I can even ride to family dinners. I could put ice in these if I have to take a dish to a family carry in! I can't wait!

[Tri Girl]

I could put ice in these

Oooooo... I hadn't thought about that. Good one! I can put ice in them and use them for picnics in the summer time (I'm thinking cold beer on ice to bring to summer games/gatherings). Hmmm... you're making me think of many other ways to use them that I hadn't thought of.


And, yes, Mary is definitely inspiring in many ways to lots of us. I wish I could be like her in quite a few ways for sure!!!

[shellkay1212]

Heck, yes! I will make all kinds of new friends in my new neighborhood!

[mary9761]

ah geez you guys.. you're embarrassing me... I'm not trying to be inspirational, I'm just a fat and sassy, metal head grandma who decided to hop on a bike one day.

back to the panniers, one of the sites I found talked about getting some material (they said at Lowes) like is in the refridgerated bags that can be used as a liner to keep cold items cold for a time. I'd imagine it would work for hot items too going to your family dinners. I didn't know where to look exactly the day I was at Lowes getting some other stuff and didn't have the extra to get it anyways. Of course for that matter, I found a cloth grocery bag sized cold bag at Walmart today in the freezer section for $1.50 that will fit right down in one of the panniers.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Good job, TriGirl!
I like them in red.

[Tuckervill]

Tri-girl, that's not the same bike you had in July, is it?

That means you have TWO Frankenbikes! I like it!

Karen

[pardes]

I'm sooooo glad they are RED!

Clever, innovative, recycling in action, and it DOES NOT look like a Frankenbike! I think it's almost lovely.

Please give us a detailed report on the amount of groceries they will hold. I'm sure it will be impressive.

[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. )