http://www.carsstink.org/peterson/BarBag.html
The bag worked well and I used on various adventures including my tour back to Minnesota.
Over the years I've had various bikes and worked out various luggage solutions for them. My current green bike performed like a champ on my recent Washington state tour and my various commutes but I got to thinking I could use a bit more storage space up front for things like food and maybe a rain jacket. I also got to thinking about my old coroplast handlebar bag. I dimly remembered making an alternate version of that bag, one that turned out to be a bit too big for a bike without a front rack. But my green bike has a front rack...
I dig the second coroplast bag out of storage and it turns out to fit the green bike perfectly.
I love it when a plan comes together.
Even if it takes five years and I had no idea what the plan was when I started.
What a great looking bag! Reminds me of the Vetta box although that was a rear hardside "bag". seems like you would have problems with water entering around the door since I know you ride in all weather kent.
ReplyDeletethx superfreak
I just wanted to say that its always great to see pictures of your bikes and see that they are just normal everyday bikes. I read about the bikes that people use on races like the GDR and then you look at the bikes you ride and you can truly say that its the rider not the bike that matters.
ReplyDeleteFantastic! How do you make one? Specifically, how do you attach the sides together without having it be clunky and less-than water-resistant?
ReplyDeleteI used coroplast (campaign sign) as an internal stiffener/liner for my canvas h'bar bag. It adds some weight but helps the bag hold its shape and divides things inside well. I'm intrigued to try a pure coroplast unit up front.
Cheers --Beth
Sweet!
ReplyDeleteMy Bertude front bag came missing the stiffener. Rather than go through all the hassle of trying to get one, I bought a sheet of coroplast and fashioned a stiffener that is actually an internal box frame for the bag. I was meticulous in my measureing and cutting. The thing turned out to fit better than OJ's glove! It not only keeps the bag from sagging over the sides of the front rack (and onto the lights mounted below) but also provides excellent stability all round for when I swerve in the middle of the night to miss that Lewic County sized pot hole.
Perhaps the coroplast/Giles Bertude combination is incongruous, but hey, it works well. I'll just try to make sure the inspectors @ PBP don't get a peak inside the bag. I'd hate to be DNS'ed for a fashion faux pas.
Bonne Route!
In answer to the "How waterproof is it?" and "How is is put together?" questions, it's pretty waterproof. Unless you go with a total drybag design, you can get water seeping with any bag. The coroplast itself is totally waterproof, so 99% of the water just rolls away. I sealed some of the seams with yellow electrical tape but anything I want to stay 100% dry goes in a plastic bag inside the bag.
ReplyDeleteThe construction is coroplast version of a hat-box and all the joints are held with zip-ties. The top physically overlaps the sides, so no water gets in there.
kent, that is just lovely. i was going to ask what the big, low-drag-coefficient yellow object was on the front of your bike.
ReplyDeleteVery crafty, making it so aerodynamic! Perhaps a windshield on top next? And you could do a rear bag shaped like the back of a time trial helmet for cleaner separation airflow!
ReplyDeletethe best part is...IT MATCHES!
ReplyDelete