I’ve always wanted bicycle luggage. The kind that you can load up with lots of gear for a long trip.
When I was at Goodwill, found a shaving travel kit for $2.00. I bought it because I have a thing about travel bags and just couldn’t pass up the deal.
The shaving kit was just the right size to attach to the top of my luggage rack. I strapped it down with three zipties. It worked great.
Later, I noticed a small laptop case I had. It had been part of my bag collection for years and never really found right use. With a few more zipties I had a bag for the side. 
The last bag arrived today. My wife found a Targus laptop bag at a garage sale for a $1.00. How could I resist. Now this bag was large enough that I didn’t want to attach it with zipties. I wanted it to be removable. I was able to wind the shoulder strap around the luggage rack so that it held the bag in place, and left the clips available, so the bag could be removed.
A complete set of bags for $3.00.
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on Sep 30th, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Hey, you can set those up as regular bike bags easily with stuff from the hardware store: some stiff backing, some aluminum to bend into hooks, some bungee cord, and two metal rings…. Then take your pop rivet tool and get to work (now you have a tool excuse!)
I used to convert cat litter buckets over for my friends’ bikes…. Maybe you could cut your backing from one of those, if you have cats (now you have a pet excuse!)
on Sep 30th, 2006 at 12:23 pm
I know what you are talking about. If you could take a photo and post or or e-mail me a link, I’d be interested.
And I do need a pop rivet tool…
on Sep 30th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
I got a pop rivet tool for $3 at the dollar store at a flea market near my house. And before you ask, yes, they have a lot of stuff that costs more than a dollar. Although I did get a badass 12 shot wooden rubber band gun for $1.
on May 11th, 2008 at 12:41 am
This is brilliant. I probably already have enough giveaway bags on hand to construct this immediately. I’ve been struggling with stupid bungee cord on my rack for too long! Yay!
on May 13th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
This is awesome – I bought a rack last week and didn’t want to spend more money on it. The attachments are expensive as well. I have a laptop bag lying around with no use except for the occasional ones. Let me try this and let you know.
on Jul 24th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I had thought of this idea myself I found an old laptop bag at my parents house I used once upon a time. The problem with it is either it’s too big. (It is a huge bag, I kept my laptop and all my college books in it and I was an English major at the time.) or it’s too flexible. I also have a narrow rack. (maybe 6in wide?) the material is in good shape just not as stiff as it once was. It rubs the tire. I was trying to think of a lightweight board that I can stick in the back to stiffin it up. Any one have any ideas. I figure I could attach it through the shoulder strap connector.
on Jul 25th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Perhaps the board from a clipboard? I know you can pickup boards made out of the same material at Lowe’s and Home-Depot.