I have been using these bags on my bike for around 15 years. I basically copied the design from commercial panniers back when I couldn't afford to buy one. I take a canvas bag, about the size of a grocery bag, and bolt a piece of plywood inside of it. The two top bolts connect to hooks that hook onto a rear-mounted bike rack.
It makes for a nice, big saddle bag that holds lots of stuff and it's also convenient to carry by the handles when you leave your bike.
Every few years the canvass bag wears out and I replace it. These bags were very common ten or fifteen years ago, but I don't see many these days. Some vendors have sturdy nylon bags that might work as well The photos in this instructable were taken as I did my latest refurbishment.
It makes for a nice, big saddle bag that holds lots of stuff and it's also convenient to carry by the handles when you leave your bike.
Every few years the canvass bag wears out and I replace it. These bags were very common ten or fifteen years ago, but I don't see many these days. Some vendors have sturdy nylon bags that might work as well The photos in this instructable were taken as I did my latest refurbishment.
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Signing UpStep 1: Tools and Materials
Tools
Wood Saw
Hacksaw
Metal File
Electric Drill
Screwdriver
Crescent wrench and/or box wrenches
Awl
Materials
large canvas bag (or any other suitable fabric)
1/4-inch plywood approx 12 x 14 inches (size depends on your bag)
Large Canvass or Nylon Shopping Bag
24 inch long bungee cord
2 1¼ steel right angle brackets with two screw holes on each leg of the bracket
2 ¼-20 threaded steel hooks
6 ¼-20 x ¾" long bolts
6 ¼-20 nylon lock nuts
4 ordinary ¼-20 nuts
10 ¼-inch washers
2 ¼-inch lock washers
Wood Saw
Hacksaw
Metal File
Electric Drill
Screwdriver
Crescent wrench and/or box wrenches
Awl
Materials
large canvas bag (or any other suitable fabric)
1/4-inch plywood approx 12 x 14 inches (size depends on your bag)
Large Canvass or Nylon Shopping Bag
24 inch long bungee cord
2 1¼ steel right angle brackets with two screw holes on each leg of the bracket
2 ¼-20 threaded steel hooks
6 ¼-20 x ¾" long bolts
6 ¼-20 nylon lock nuts
4 ordinary ¼-20 nuts
10 ¼-inch washers
2 ¼-inch lock washers
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I wonder if a square aluminum frame would work instead of plywood?
I think this could be made lighter by using a piece of plastic board instead of plywood (like from an old signboard or those things that people use for standing up poster presentations).
Yes, plastic could work, but keep in mind that the board will take a fair amount of abuse if you use the bag a lot, so not all plastics will be durable enough. My piece of plywood finally wore out after about ten years of use (screw hole broke in a lower corner).