Perfect panniers
(Me, Susan Transit and the panniers: Glasgow, Scotland)
Living in Glasgow’s centre has many perks; the proximity of the underground, the shops, a cinema, two rail stations, the bus station, art school, all within a ten minute walk. However, it has one major disadvantage; no supermarkets. There are a couple within reasonable walking distance but they are not well stocked and the hill I live on prevents me doing one big shop. I could travel in a taxi, but that would negate any bargain I encountered, I could catch the subway, but there are so many stairs, I could lift weights in my spare time to build up my biceps but that’s silly, I could buy a mule and keep it in the garden but I can’t afford that either. For the past seven and a half years that I have been in Glasgow I have struggled to find a solution to this quandary.
I must add at this point, even if I had the use of a car, I have no driving license. What I do have is a bicycle. I have tried backpacks and shoulder bags, but they all impinge my cycling ability. Around two years ago, I fancied that buying a set of panniers (saddlebags) for my bike would allow me to buy and carry more without undue strain on my arms – After all, once there’s a carton of milk, potatoes, juice and some fruit, it can get pretty weighty. In fact, it would be a perfect solution – I wouldn’t have to carry anything, my bicycle would be doing all the work. I went to the bike shop, asked around and clicked around on the internet and made a disturbing discovery; any set of panniers was worth more than my bicycle was. This was a horrifying revelation, but even this did not dissuade me from my dream of panniers. The only way I could have them would be if I fashioned them myself. You might be thinking that would be more difficult and expensive than just shelling out for them in the first place, but oh no no no.
I paid a visit to my local army surplus store and chose a pair of army ready satchels – can you see where this is heading? I bought them exceedingly cheap, took them home, cut of their shoulder straps and prepared to stitch them together as panniers. Now, this is where the plan failed. It went well at first, until I snapped the needle of my sewing machine in a tricky manoeuvre with one bag caught around the machine itself. I got my spare and tried again. *Snap* The spare was broken too. Since I had run out of needles, the project was put to one side, then under the wardrobe, then in the cupboard, then somewhere else. I completely forgot about it over time until I discovered them again, held together with pins. In the time since forgetting them, I had invested in special strength leather needles for my machine. With much care yesterday, I stitched and *snap* after another replacement needle I had finished fixing the panniers together. I went shopping in the afternoon and they worked a treat, so this is me with my triumphant grin and bulging bags of shopping. I didn’t even break a sweat. Well, except when the needle broke – I should wear goggles next time I do any sewing. By the way, I look slightly awkward because I took this photograph by using the timer function on my camera and people were walking past. Odd behaviour indeed.
–Today Rosie is squirreling away on multiple projects in Glasgow, Scotland –
It’s a MasterCard advertisment.
“Second-hand bicycle from starving art student – £30
Saddle bags from army surplus store – £2
Needle replacements – £1.80
Satisfaction of using saddlebags that have been in the making since 2007 – priceless”
HAHA!
In truth, I think it was:
“Second-hand bicycle from starving art student – £30
2 bags from army surplus store – £20
Needle replacements – £1
Satisfaction of using saddlebags that have been in the making since 2007 – priceless”
Well, at least I finished them in the end. I feel good about that! I also mended a hole in the jeans I’m wearing in that photo – you can’t see my leg anymore.