Thursday, 13 June 2013

Little challenges and solutions - Part 2

So, I've bought this little tool kit meant to fit under the bike which doesn't because the basket fitted to the rear rack gets in the way...


So, what to do? I've worked out that a small extension fitted to the saddle will make it fit. Bought a few metal brackets (mending plates, I think they're called) and tried to attach them under the saddle. Found it more difficult than I thought it would be...

Came across these giant zipties at work - it looked like they might do the trick so gave up the idea of the mending plates except to stiffen the ties and stop them drooping tried them out.











This seemed to work. But, once fitted, they got in the way of anything large that I might want to put in the basket...back to the drawing board. :-(  Ideally, I'd want an extension from the saddle to the toolkit that clipped on quick release style, you know, like those plastic things you see on rucksacks in outdoors shops...not sure what they're called, then it could be taken off if it got in the way.

Anyway, was all about to give up then got the idea of using the quick release thingy from a luggage strap and this looks to be the best solution. Used the zipties to attach the male under the saddle and the female to the toolkit attachment.


Used some more of the velcro hook and loop tape used in my Little Challenges And Solutions Part 1 post to extend the tape round the seatpost for added support:

And voila! It fits and can be attached and detached:



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