Urban Commuter Expo: Nice Pannier!

May 19th, 2008 by RL Policar · 13 Comments

We met a nice fella at the expo that showed us his nice home made panniers. It’s a wonderful idea that doesn’t cost more than a bucket of detergent.

He basically took some old detergent buckets (rectangular shaped) and cut the handles bent them and latched it onto the rack.

The lip of the bucket keeps them secure.

The owner said that its pretty easy to remove but it won’t come off when he’s got load in it.

We thought it was a pretty brilliant idea…and he recycled his trash. We even joked with him about painting it to match his bike and get some bullet hole stickers on the side to add some character.

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Tags: 2008 Urban Bike Commuter Expo · Advanced Commuter Tips · Commute · Commuter Bikes · How To

13 responses so far ↓

1 thePig // May 19, 2008 at 10:09 am

Buckets as panniers….the possibilities. I wonder how much beer I could fit in those
2 Moe // May 19, 2008 at 10:36 am

Funny… I had asked the same question, our guess is about a case of Fat Tire Ale…
3 cafn8 // May 19, 2008 at 10:47 am

Great re-use of old junk. I love it.

I wonder how the bike would handle when the ice on the beer starts to melt.
4 RL Policar // May 19, 2008 at 10:49 am

Well then you have yourself a cooler! I even told the guy he should add a spigot on it and fill it up with some sort of beverage….
5 Ghost Rider // May 19, 2008 at 10:51 am

You guys know about Cobbworks, don’t you?

http://www.cobbworks.com/

They sell square bucket panniers made out of recycled oyster buckets…but unlike the above guy’s homemade jobs, the Cobbworks ones are $80!!! Holy cow!
6 climbinskier // May 19, 2008 at 12:57 pm

Maybe I’m missing it, but how does the lip of the bucket keep them secure against the rack. It seems to me that if you come across any moderately bumping riding the buckets could bounce right off.
7 RL Policar // May 19, 2008 at 1:09 pm

If you look at the handles, the hook to the rack below the lip. So the lip sits on top of the rack…its basically pinching the rack.
8 Clancy // May 19, 2008 at 1:11 pm

Google “bucket pannier” . Comes up with several DIY’s.
9 climbinskier // May 19, 2008 at 2:43 pm

RL - That’s what I was thinking but wasn’t sure. Thanks
10 GANESHA // May 20, 2008 at 10:18 am

EXELENT IDEA.
TE FELICITO ! CONGRATULATIONS.
FROM ARGENTINE SOUTH AMERICA.
11 doug sullivan // May 21, 2008 at 2:03 pm

The rectangular buckets are the same ones that Costco uses for their Kirkland brand laundry detergent. I’m not sure if they will work with my disc brakes but it’s worth a try.
12 Rapps // Jun 15, 2008 at 6:50 pm

I found a web site with kitty litter buckets upcycled into panniers. I can fit 1.5 bags of food/shoppping into each. Very cool, everything dry as I use the lids too.
13 Rapps // Jun 15, 2008 at 6:52 pm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27566087@N07/sets/72157605562259911/