I've been a part-time bicycle commuter since I was 18. Back in the day, I would carry what I needed in a backpack. Well, books are heavy, and since most of my classes were literature classes and science classes, I was hauling a lot of books. I would get massive backaches from hauling so much weight around on my back. So I got a rear rack and a smallish sized pannier. I would have gotten a larger pannier, but I bought what was affordable.
So, I crammed everything I wanted to haul around with me into that little pannier and put it on my bike. It was fantastic! My back pain stopped right away, and riding a bike was much more fun and comfortable without a bunch of weight strapped to my back. Although my little pannier was a big improvement, I still had issues with it:
- When I'd ride over a big enough bump, the bag would "jump" off the rack and fall to the street (which is a big concern when you commute on streets, and just plain dangerous).
- When my pannier would "jump" off the rack the contents were in danger of being smashed.
- If I rode in the rain or snow (which was frequently), the contents of my pannier would become soaking wet.
However, since nice panniers are very expensive, I dealt with it.
Then, in graduate school, I met Jody. She recommended the amazing bike bucket to me. There used to be a link to Brian Huntley's Amazing Bike Bucket Mk. II, where he described how to make it yourself. I've looked all over the internet for that site, but as far as I can determine, it's a dead link now. How sad.
I did find this picture, which I remember was on his original web site. He was demonstrating how you can put a bucket on each side of the rack and strap cargo to the top. In this photo, I think he just went grocery shopping. How awesome!
Anyway, I decided I'd try it out. I absolutely love it! With the lid on tightly, it's completely waterproof. Also, it's "jumped" off my rack a couple of times when I first started using it, but the lid didn't come off and the contents were safe and uninjured. I added an extra piece of hardware to prevent the bucket from coming off the rack.
Here's my bicycle with one of my amazing bike buckets.
Here's how it hangs on the rack.
Maura also has an amazing bike bucket. Maura's bike bucket is lovely.
I hope the "new" bike trailer will attach to the bike with the amazing bike bucket in place.
8 comments:
how will you get M to ride with a bike bucket? aren't they too dorky for him?
haha
I so love my bike bucket and I think everyone should make one. Mine doesn't seem to jump off, but maybe I'm not hitting the bumps as hard as you do.
maura
One reason my bucket might jump off when yours doesn't is that you have a bigger bungie cord on the rack side (the one that pulls down on the bucket, not the one strapped around the bucket). I have a little bungie in that spot. I'll take pictures when I make MJ's bucket so better explain what I mean.
The biggest problem MJ has with the bucket is the glaring white-ness of it. I think if it were a different color he'd like it more (or at least make fun of it less).
One cheer for buckets on your bike!
Two cheers for being a tightwad!!
Boos to self conscious philosophers!!!
...tell MJ to get over it...
Spray paint it any color(s) you wish. Great idea - already saw similar things in China!!! ;
Hi there!
My old web page was renamed by my lousy ISP, who doesn't seem to understand what the "S" and "P" stand for.
It's now got the horrible URL of
http://ca.geocities.com/bphuntley@rogers.com/BikeBucket.html but I also have photos, etc, on brianhuntley.crazyguyonabike.com too.
I hope this helps.
BTW, I've never had my jump off. I use the vertical bungie cords between the buckets and the lower rack prongs, and I also bend the "rope cleats" a bit so they're more like an inverted U than a V.
One more think - the buckets are available in colours other than white (I have red and yellow ones) and the lids come in all sorts of colours, too. Plus you can dress them up with stickers and/or reflective tape. It never hurts to be extra visible on a bicycle!
Post a Comment