Introduction: "Old School" Pimpin' Military Style Bicycle Handlebar Bag - Old Skateboard, Camera Bag and Bicycle Mash Up!

About: I love my two sons, I enjoy my Jeep, skateboarding, wood working, gardening, upcycling and creating a comfortable space in which I live. I am constantly inspired by the creativity on this website and look for…

Re-Used and Re-purposed!

  Here is a afternoon "re-use" project created using some items laying around the garage. Now you might not have these exactitems for this project, chances are you don't, but perhaps this will at least inspire your "cargo bag" creation with what you have laying around.

  So anyhow, we picked up this old beach cruiser a while back at a pawn shop and as of today it has become my official "Instructable Bicycle"...meaning I will mod & fix it using existing author's Instructables (with due credit given), or by creating my own mods & repairs and posting 'em up. My wife will be thankful since it will be her weekend ride to the beach. 

 The Beach Cruiser already came with an old wicker basket on the handlebars. My wife thought it was cute, but unfortunately is had sun-rot, was brittle and falling off...so this is where the first project begins.....

...and let me point out that I went by the "seat of my pants" so to speak, no set plans, just built it as I went, took some pics and hoped like heck it turned out nice. the idea was to totally reuse items laying around. Nothing fancy, just work with what ya' got type of thing.

Let's begin...

Step 1:

The Usual Suspects:

* 1 Broken skateboard deck
* 1 Old canvas camera bag
* 1 Handlebar bracket assembly for a cargo basket (my bicycle had one already installed from previous owner, see pics)
* Various washers and wood screws

and of course...

* Power drill
* Jig saw
* Screwdriver

...don't forget to wear protective eyewear when using power tools!

Step 2: Putting the Bag, Brackets & Deck All Together...

 Well I couldn't just mount the brackets directly to the bag with screw or bolts because the bag would sag down and eventually the screws would pull through fabric. So I needed something with surface area for the brackets to attach and screws to mount.....

The thinnest piece of wood I had laying around was a broken skateboard deck. No worries, that will work!

 I measured the length for the inside wall of the bag and cut it to size....saved the ends for a later project. 

 Next place the bracket in the correct position (in this case "dead center" worked), marked the holes with a pencil....these were then drilled out...Skateboard decks are hard, it is advisable to pre-drill the holes.

The deck was was placed inside the camera bag and wood screws with washers were drilled into place from the outside to all four corners.

Next the brackets are lined up with the pre-drilled holes and the bolts/nuts were put in place to hold it tight and secure.

Let's Continue....

Step 3: Couple More Things and You're Finished!

Almost done....All done!

 Since I couldn't find shorter wood screws I was left with screws poking thru the inside. I simply cut 4 small squares of wood and twisted the down over the point. Problem solved.

That's it, you're finished!  

Yes the cargo bag looks huge in the photographs...but it actually fits well and isn't heavy, plus the extra pockets are nice. Good luck on yours and be sure to post up some pictures!

Have an awesome day!

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Reuse Contest