A little while back we ran a post on a homemade hardside pannier that was submitted by reader Ryan. A few people commented that they wanted to see the pannier on the bike and this post acts as a double bonus - there is a picture of the pannier on the bike, but another hack is included as well.
The temperature has been dropping in the northeast and the holiday season will be upon us before we know it. Ryan took the opportunity in the past to mix a love of the holidays with a love of biking. The following text, pictures, and video are credited to Ryan.
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In Knoxville, Tennessee organization called KnoxTrans that, among other things, organises bicycle events. In the past they had a holiday ride and offered an award for best decorated bicycle. I knew I had to win that award so I started about a month and a half before the ride. I began by building a trailer with 12.5" wheels from a children's bike, hand bent conduit, and some pine lumber.
Once I had a working trailer, I built the sleigh out of plywood and screwed it to the trailer. Some paint and glitter finish added a nice look. The ski's are 1/2" steel conduit, the santa was $20 at Walmart, and I sewed the santa sack myself using some red velvety fabric. I added a "share the road" bumper sticker along with some custom LED lighting (see video).
I fixed up my bike by gluing rhinestones to my homemade hard luggage, along with some LED spotlights shining on the words "I Believe". I also used my mp3 player with some battery powered speakers on the handlebars and a Rudolph with a red nose and blue LED eyes that pulsed to the music. There are more pictures from the event @ http://www.knoxtrans.org/plans/bikeprog/tourdelights/2007/pix.htm. I'm in the first pic and a pic of my bike is on the 3rd row from the bottom, on the right side.
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Very cool! Hope Santa's good to you this year!
Posted by: ___Danno | 10/12/2011 at 03:42 PM
Very clever and good job.
Too *&^$'in early for Christmas though :-(
Posted by: Leo Horishny | 10/12/2011 at 06:01 PM
Followup: I did win best decorated bike with this entry for 2007. For 2008 I built a new trailer in the shape of a mining type coal cart. It was made of weathered oak lumber and had even featured a custom fiberglass dome cover with real coal glued to it so the cart looked full of coal. My dad helped make a stencil for the "North Pole Coal Company" on the side of it. It was ridiculously heavy to pull but I won again with that entry as well. Unfortunately I have since moved away and was unable to participate in 09', 10' and I doubt I'll be participating this year either. :(
If any of you are in the Knoxville, TN area this is an awesome event and from the pictures I've seen people have really stepped up the decorations in recent years.
Posted by: Ryan C | 10/13/2011 at 09:11 AM
rtunately I have since moved away and was unable to participate in 09', 10' and I doubt I'll be participating this year either. :(
If any of you are in the Knoxville, TN area this is an awesome event and from the pictures I've seen people have rea vfwe w rtwe
Posted by: eskort | 10/13/2011 at 08:18 PM
rtunately I have since moved away and was unable to participate in 09', 10' and I doubt I'll be participating this year either. :(
If any of you are in the Knoxville, TN area this is an awesome event and from the pictures I've seen people have rea vfwe w rtwe
Posted by: ankara bayan escort | 11/05/2011 at 10:23 AM