Pannier — pan•nier (păn’yər, -ē-ər)

Listen, I know what your thinking and it’s just not true. I don’t try to make everything. For example, I just bought a very nice tent and a very nice sleeping bag (considered the sleeping bag carefully). It’s just when I see something that is either (a) very simple or (b) overly complicated and needs to be simplified, I say to myself, “I could totally make that shit” and it turns out that sometimes I can.

In the case of the bicycle panniers I found them, depending on the brand, to be both simple and overly complicated. There are the simple ones, i.e. – The Ortlieb Roller Classics – a single compartment, folding top enclosure, very tuff and waterproof fabric. Then there are fancy and very expensive ones, i.e. – The Arkel GT-54’s –removable pocket for tent poles, lots of pockets separate from the main compartment, internal aluminum frame, full-length zippers. I’m going to attempt to design my own panniers, inspired by features from both the simple and fancy panniers on the market.

First thing first.
Design the pattern –

The pattern

The plan

And then order the materials –

Seattle Fabrics, Inc:
1000 Denier Cordura Nylon
WeatherMax Polyester (detachable rain cover)
Nylon Webbing
Nylon Thread (for home sewing machines)
Buckles, slides, d-rings
Seam Sealer

TAP Plastics:
2′ x 2′ HDPE Sheet Smooth Finish 1/8″
2′ x 4′ Polyethylene, LDPE Sheet 1/16″
This is for the bags shape and support for the mounting hardware

Axiom:
Pannier Replacement Attachment System w/ Lower Hook and Bungee