When she’s not out driving trails, bikepacker Kate is creating her personal bike baggage. From {custom} body baggage to beer carriers, she exhibits how making your individual gear can elevate your adventures. Comply with her step-by-step information to DIY a feed bag and add a private contact to each journey.
There’s one thing empowering about making your individual gear (MYOG). What began as a approach to tweak issues to suit my setup became one thing a lot greater. Possibly the pockets weren’t fairly proper, or the match didn’t sit with my bike. However as soon as I began, it grew to become extra than simply customisation – it grew to become about creating with intention, and incomes a way of satisfaction from making one thing with your individual two palms.
It’s much less about perfection and extra concerning the satisfaction of designing gear that’s tailor-made to your precise journey, with a little bit of your individual persona woven in.
Matched my DIY feed bag to my handlebars
The place It All Started
I’ve been stitching since I used to be a child, however I by no means imagined I might merge my love for making garments with my outside obsession. That every one modified on a wet weekend when my accomplice, Josh, prompt we attempt stitching a bikepacking body bag collectively.
I jumped on the likelihood to share my ardour with him, and instantly, it opened the door to so many potentialities. Since then, we’ve made {custom} body baggage for all of our bikes, bum baggage, feed baggage, and even a beer service (extremely really helpful for these post-ride brews).
Cloth Choice
With regards to making your individual bikepacking gear, selecting the best cloth is vital. Your baggage want to resist rugged terrain and shield your gear from rain, mud, and particles. You may undoubtedly select the upcycling path – an previous rain jacket or tarp works properly – however consider, bikepacking gear takes a beating. I want to make use of sturdy, waterproof supplies to verify my baggage maintain up and shield no matter’s inside.
X-pac VX21 is a well-liked cloth for bikepacking gear, identified for its raised diamond laminate sample. It’s extremely sturdy, waterproof, and holds its form whereas remaining light-weight. For lining, I want PolyD 300 (also referred to as Hyper D), which is softer and extra versatile with out compromising waterproofing.
Each materials are available a spread of vibrant colors, including a enjoyable contact to your bike. For individuals who prioritize sustainability, ECOPAK – constructed from 100% recycled polyester with a C0 DWR end (fluorocarbon-free) – is now accessible in Australia and is totally recyclable after use.
Selecting your colors is a good way to make one thing distinctive, or get matchy matchy together with your bike
I supply all my materials and {hardware} from Make Your Personal Gear Australia (previously Monkey Puzzle Cloth), a small DIY provide enterprise primarily based within the Blue Mountains. Graham, the proprietor, is extremely pleasant and at all times up for chat. After I positioned my first on-line order, he even known as me to ask about my stitching undertaking!
Since then, he’s been an enormous help on my MYOG journey; providing cloth recommendation, sending samples, and sharing stitching patterns (this isn’t sponsored – he’s only a legend).
Tips on how to Begin Making Your Personal Gear
Earlier than you get forward of your self and begin tracing the within of your bike body, it’s a good suggestion to start out easy with one thing like a stem bag or feed bag. Because the title suggests, these baggage are good for stashing snacks to munch on all through the day (get it, feed bag?), however they’re additionally preferrred for holding all of the necessities like sunscreen, lip balm, PLB, and a multi-tool.
I exploit my Nalgene bottle as a template so I may use it as a water bottle service when wanted. With two traces of webbing (one horizontal and one vertical), the bag simply attaches to each your handlebar, stem or body. When you’ve made one, you’ll be wanting to whip up an identical set – they’re simply that useful to have on the bike!
As you progress by way of every step it’s a good suggestion to verify that your sizing is right with a couple of checks like this
Step-by-Step Feed Bag Directions
Ability degree: Newbie
What you want
- Water bottle (for measurement)
- Cloth (I exploit VX21 Mulberry for the primary piece and PolyD 300 Orange for the highest opening)
- Wire Elastic (any width so long as it matches by way of your eyelet)
- Webbing
- Eyelet
- Toggle/wire finish
- Velcro (to connect to bike)
- Binding (non-compulsory, for skilled end)
- Clips
Getting every part collectively earlier than you begin makes it simpler
Just a few ideas earlier than you begin
- Make a observe piece – Earlier than slicing into your costly cloth, sew a ‘toile’, principally, a observe model utilizing scrap cloth like an previous sheet or T-shirt. You’re certain to make a couple of errors in your first attempt, and that’s completely okay. The objective is to keep away from placing pointless holes in your cloth that might have an effect on waterproofing.
- Use clips, not pins – Pins can depart tiny holes that mess together with your bag’s waterproofing. Maintain your cloth along with clips as a substitute.
- Begin with a recent needle – It makes stitching by way of these harder materials a lot simpler. Belief me, you’ll thank me later!
Use clips not pins
Step 1: Lower Out Your Cloth Items
First, measure the diameter and top of your water bottle. I like to chop the primary cloth (VX21) so it reaches just under the lip of the bottle. Add about 2cm to the peak for seam allowance, and add 4cm to the diameter – 2cm for some wiggle room and 2cm for seam allowance. Lower out a rectangle utilizing these dimensions; this’ll be your important piece.
Measure twice to make sure you’ve received it right from the beginning
Subsequent, hint the bottom of your water bottle onto the material. Add 2cm across the define for seam allowance, then reduce out the circle. This’ll be your base piece.
For the highest piece, reduce one other rectangle out of your top-opening cloth (PolyD 300). The width ought to match your important piece, and for top, measure from the bottle’s lip to the highest and double it
Keep in mind, measure twice and reduce as soon as!
Step 2: Assemble the High Piece
Fold the highest piece in half lengthways and mark 1cm beneath the fold within the centre. Insert your eyelet at this mark for the drawstring. Sew the rectangle right into a tube by stitching the brief sides collectively, with proper sides going through one another.
Fold the material in half once more, this time with improper sides collectively, and insert the elastic into the fold, feeding it by way of the eyelet. Sew across the prime, about 2cm from the fold, to carry the elastic in place. Add your toggle and tie off the elastic. The highest piece is now full.
Now’s the time you may actually see it start to return collectively
Step 3: Assemble the Fundamental Piece
Sew one piece of webbing horizontally and one other vertically onto the primary rectangle, utilizing a zigzag sew to bolster the attachment factors. I like to stitch each 5cm, permitting for a number of velcro attachment factors to safe it to the bike. To forestall fraying, flippantly burn the sides of the webbing with a lighter.
The black is the webbing
Sew the brief seams of the primary rectangle with proper sides collectively. If you’d like a clear end, sew binding over these seams.
Now, the fiddly half – sew the circle base to the primary tube with proper sides collectively. Once more, you may sew binding over this seam for an expert contact.
Inside out important piece with binding
Step 4: Sew High & Fundamental Piece Collectively
Rigorously align the highest and backside items with proper sides collectively, ensuring the toggle and eyelet are on the within. Sew them collectively, and add binding over the seam should you like.
Flip the bag right-side out and voilà , your feed bag is finished!
High and important piece are sewn collectively now
Elective: Add Lining or Interfacing
This bag is unlined and has no interfacing, to maintain it easy for newbie sewists. If you’d like a extra structured bag, think about including foam or interfacing to your cloth items earlier than assembling.
You may also totally line the bag to cover inside seams (see chalk bag directions for tips about this). For those who go for lining, I like to recommend utilizing a shiny color – it makes it a lot simpler to search out small objects within the depths of your bag.
And that’s a wrap!
Get in Contact!
If these steps really feel a bit overwhelming otherwise you’d reasonably have one thing custom-made, be happy to ship me a message on Instagram @katealiice for {custom} orders. I’m additionally comfortable to reply any MYOG questions, or you may attain out to Monkey Puzzle Materials for further recommendation or cloth samples.
Locations to Take Your DIY Feed Bag For a Spin
- Bikepacking Victoria – 12 Finest In a single day Bikepacking Routes in Victoria
- Driving Brisbane to Darwin in 42 Days on Our First Bikepacking Journey
- 8 In a single day Bikepacking Routes in NSW
- Newcastle to Wyee Bikepacking – An 80km In a single day Bike Trip You Can Begin within the Coronary heart of Sydney
