Mastodawn

Phil (ascentale)Nov 22

@iris @bikenite A2. Not much general stuff I guess. I have made some lights and also a cargo sling that I use to carry my kid's backpack. I tried sewing a cycling cap for fun. It didn't fit at all but was a neat experiment.

#BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling

Moz Nov 22

@ascentale @iris @bikenite A2: I've made panniers (last week's discussion), racks and other accessories, I've made lights in the past but those are *hard* (somewhat annoying my longest lasting one was a 5W LED bolted to a lump of aluminium channel and run straight off a hub dyno... simple, brutal, and lasted ~3 years of being on the bike).

I mod clothing more than I make it, adding reflectors or sun shields.

@moz @ascentale @bikenite good thing I have lights that are working great for me, or I'd be drawn to that _because_ it's hard!

Love modding clothing. It really opens up a lot.

Moz Nov 22

@iris @ascentale @bikenite soooo... it's durability that's hard. Which is partly waterproofing, and partly vibration, and party "you put *what* in the pannier with the light?"

The main 'choice' is a hole for the USB charge lead or a hole that gets you access to a replaceable battery. Or a wire to the dynamo :) None of the holes help with waterproofing.

I kind of want to try contactless charging through a sealed unit, but not enough to actually build one :)

@moz @iris @ascentale @bikenite

Ooh yes. I might be asking questions later. My next project is a combo powerbank/dynamo power splitter / usb charger all internal so I can record long trips on GoPro. I think with new rechargeable cells I can stuff enough in the seat tube (or maybe even seat post) to keep all my electronics happy

@MatthewNewell @moz @iris @ascentale @bikenite

I think the Raveman lights that mount under your GPS can also supply power, which is. A useful get out of gaol free card?

@Pionir @moz @iris @ascentale @bikenite

It's the neat all round and water proof solution I am after

I bodged a power bank under stem that allows for 8 hour recording - but it's dry weather only and ugly. A nice internal permanent solution is long term goal

@MatthewNewell @moz @iris @ascentale @bikenite

I have a similar setup for my front camera (a cheap Aliexpress one like Chillitech sell) but with a light adapter. I'm thinking about using a double adapter to also mount a light under but could easily use something similar for a battery.

@MatthewNewell @moz @iris @ascentale @bikenite of course, a touring bar is another option

@Pionir @moz @iris @ascentale @bikenite both good solutions - but I feel a full internal system ie dynamo power <> power bank <> usb outlets is within my technical ability (perhaps) and would be very cool.

cognitively accessible math Nov 22

@MatthewNewell @Pionir @moz @iris @ascentale @bikenite I want to be all y'all's neighbors!!! I'd build a garage...

@geonz @Pionir @moz @iris @ascentale @bikenite

Now a garage; that's something I could really use :-) . I am in central London - only the super rich can afford the space.

@MatthewNewell @geonz @moz @iris @ascentale @bikenite

I lucked in after 10 years where I am when a council lockup opposite my house became available. Costs an arm and a leg though but still cheaper than self storage! And hopefully only for a few years until I can retire (hahaha yeah right!)

@Pionir @geonz @moz @iris @ascentale @bikenite

I just got lucky with a council bike locker - one bike out of the flat at least.

It's almost cheaper to sell and buy again than use self storage in London. If you have means to get well out of London/Big Cities to one of the rural ones it becomes almost bearable but accessibility is then very difficult

Solarbird

Nov 22

@ascentale @iris @bikenite A2: Bike trailer! :D

i didn't build the frame, that was adapted from a kid carrier. But I did build everything else!

Also the trailer hitch on my bike so I could hook my trailers up. That I did build entirely from scratch, from design all the way up to working implementation.

Hm, what else.

My in-triangle cargo wedge.

I reverse-engineered the accessory mounting system that had no accessories available here for stupid IP reasons and built my own attachment mechanisms so I could have interchangable cargo basket/containers over the back wheel.

I built a handheld radio holder for my handlebars, so I could ride around and do FRS and/or shortwave. (Mostly FRS, the shortwave is kinda big and heavy.)

@moira @ascentale @bikenite I'm starry-eyed contemplating your projects. Honestly, goals.

I think I saw the trailer hitch saga in real time on here!

#BikeNite #BikeTooter #maker

Solarbird

Nov 22

@iris @ascentale @bikenite <3

I'm so glad I didn't know there was an existing solution. Mine's way more interesting - and I absolutely think better from a protect-the-bike-frame standpoint - and I had a _lot_ of fun figuring it out.

Making things up is fun! :D

@ascentale @iris @bikenite A2: I’m working on making pogies (the oversized mitts you see on delivery bikes. The intent is that you jam your hands in to stay warm and dry without taking gloves off/putting them on constantly.

I’ll let you know if I succeed. Can’t be THAT hard, can it?

#howhardcanitbe

https://mark.stosberg.com/review-of-extreme-bar-mitts/

Mark Stosberg Nov 22

@grammasaurus @ascentale @iris @bikenite If the pogies project fails, I can recommend Bar Mitts.

#bicycle

Review of Extreme Bar Mitts versus original Bar Mitts

New for this winter bike commuting season are Extreme Bar Mitts. Like the original Bar Mitts the Extreme Bar Mitts are like mittens for your handlebars that stay on the bike. You operate the controls inside of them, possibly with additional gloves or mittens on. I have long, thin fingers

Mark Stosberg

@markstos @ascentale @iris @bikenite Thank you!

Ryan Nov 22

@ascentale @iris @bikenite A2 I've made bike wheel lights from scratch. They're better and brighter than anything you can get online.

As for making your own gloves ... fuck around and find out! I used to make my own HEMA gear; I learned to sew to make it.

If you fail, at least you tried, and learned something in the process. If you succeed, you learned something AND you have something to show for it.

So go for it!

#bikeNite

@yantor3d @ascentale @iris @bikenite have you published your bike wheel lights design? I’m interested

https://www.instructables.com/DIY-3D-Printed-Rechargeable-Bike-Wheel-Lights/

Ryan Nov 22

@grammasaurus @ascentale @iris @bikenite Yes, I did! But as far as I know, nobody has attempted to make them yet. You could be the first!

DIY 3D Printed Rechargeable Bike Wheel Lights

DIY 3D Printed Rechargeable Bike Wheel Lights: I started commuting to work by e-bike in the spring of 2024. As fall approached and the days grew shorter, I started to worry about visibility - car drivers are notoriously oblivious to cyclists and I didn't want to be a statistic. I wanted more lig…

Instructables

@yantor3d @ascentale @iris @bikenite Wow! That’d be a steep learning curve for me, but why not? 😃

Ryan Nov 22

@grammasaurus @ascentale @iris @bikenite Same learning curve I went through to make it - I didn't know solid modeling (I knew polygon modeling), 3D printing, or soldering before I started.

You can do it! I believe in you! Fight! Win!

@yantor3d @ascentale @iris @bikenite Thanks for the encouragement—I may be back with questions!

@yantor3d @grammasaurus @ascentale @iris

Amgine Nov 22

This was on my winter break schedule, after I discovered the local library system will 3d-print-to-order! Not sure it is still on my schedule as family things have been hung all over that time frame…

Amgine Nov 22

A2. I #knit. And while I have made mittens and gloves, I have not specifically made anything quite like for cycling.

OTOH, I did just see a #knitting discussion about bicycle-related projects, with links to handlebar mittens, sweaters & hats with bike themes, thermal leggins, and enough socks to be scary. Some of the surprising knitting projects: a bike basket, seat cover (dumb!), spoke covers, and a saddle bag.

@Amgine @ascentale @iris @bikenite

Akkana Peck Nov 22

"seat cover (dumb!), ..."

Why dumb? Because knitting isn't the right medium?

I have a beloved old original Terry seat (now unobtanium) on my around-town bike, but the lycra cover is giving out, and I've been thinking about how I need to make a pattern to sew a new cover with lycra and elastic.

I have regular non-covered seats on my other bikes, but I sure do love that comfy Terry and am not ready to give it up.

#BikeNite #maker #sewing

@ascentale @iris
@enobacon

Amgine Nov 22

And going back to look at some of the links in that discussion, I rabbit-holed into a knit Mercury Messenger Cap pattern!

Late 19th century and early 20th cyclists were one of the more valuable semi-skilled labour pools. They carried time sensitive documents everywhere, faster than trains or ponies, and usually employed in delivering telegrams. A common motif was Mercury, and the cap captures some of that style.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mercury-mens-cycling-cap

Mercury Men's Cycling Cap pattern by Tony Limuaco

This 8-page e-booklet has pictoral tips and how-to’s to guide you through special instructions. It’s written for advanced knitters in three men’s sizes: M, L, XL. One of them is bound to fit. It requires some sewing and crocheting skills.

Ravelry

AI6YR Ben Nov 22

@ascentale @iris @bikenite #BikeNite A2. I'm somewhat through building a pannier bag (my first), but waiting for a zipper (in the mail). I don't expect it will be too difficult. I made this tool holder for all my bike tools! Gloves might be somewhat involved... Mittens yes, gloves... a pita (I have fixed a bunch of gloves, and they have tight tolerances and are hard to get around, and usually the material being leather or tough it's kind of painful on the hands). That said, go for it!

Inky says "What the hell?!"Nov 22

@ai6yr @ascentale @iris @bikenite Mmmmmm pita, with falafel.

Oh, wait.

Megan Lynch (she/her)Nov 22

@ascentale @iris @bikenite A2. I can't do metal fabrication, but I can sew. I've sewn a vintage sewing outfit (which sadly stayed in the US when I left). Again, if I can successfully crowdfund a recumbent trike, I may well end up sewing panniers for it since Ortlieb no longer makes their recumbent bags. #Recumbent #BikeNite #Trike

Poor 'Possum Nov 22

@ascentale @iris @bikenite A2: I've made my own cycling caps in the past from local bike bag maker Dill Pickle: https://www.dillpicklegear.com/pickle-project-cycling-cap-sewing-pattern/

I'll be trying my hand at making sling pannier for my cargo bike soon, as I haven't seen anything on the market that feels right, yet.

Pickle Project: Cycling Cap sewing pattern | Dill Pickle Gear

[1] https://banjobrothers.com/collections/banjo-brothers-panniers/products/banjo-brothers-grocery-pannier
[2] https://banjobrothers.com/collections/banjo-brothers-panniers/products/banjo-brothers-market-pannier

edd Nov 22

@ascentale @iris @bikenite A2. Not yet, but I'll probably make some bike bags sooner rather than later. Probably when the current grocery bags [1] [2] start getting too worn.

I haven't made gloves, but they'll be a bad first sewing project. Tolerances in glove fingers are pretty low, so it won't be an easy first project. But if you're comfortable sewing, get a pattern/base one off another pair of gloves and go for it.

Grocery Pannier Banjo Brothers

Nov 22

@ascentale
A2: lol no. But I have seen a few people make frame bags and other luggage
@iris @bikenite

Yes I make bags and equipment holders. Just ordered some ripstop and cordura for the latest one.

I once made gloves. Had a lovely piece of leather that I didn't want to waste & gave it a try. My Dad wore them for about 5 years until they disintegrated. I cut up a pair of v thick old washing up gloves to make template. Very slow, methodical, precise stitching required - but that level of concentration was my thing back then; pretty sure I couldn't now

#bikenite

@MatthewNewell @ascentale @bikenite oh, very nice. Sounds like they were well loved! Detail and concentration are my strong suits so I might just try it.

Pete Nov 22

@ascentale @iris @bikenite A2 #BikeNite I've thought about making over mitts, but my MYOG has been limited to luggage to date. I'm perhaps most pleased with the matching frame and top-tube set I made to fit my Cotic Cascade.

Arjan Boltjes Nov 22

@pete @ascentale @iris
That matching set indeed looks pretty awesome!

@pete @ascentale @bikenite oh, incredible! well done.

su_liam Nov 23

@pete @ascentale @iris @bikenite That thing is definitely geared for off road use.

Pete Nov 23

@su_liam @ascentale @iris @bikenite Yeah, but not out and out. I find with the drops I push a little higher gear when climbing so run a 34 rather than the 32 or even 30 on my flat bar equivalent, depending on the race/event. And it'll still roll in the mid 30s km/h at a not too crazy a cadence on flat or road sections.

Eat This Podcast Nov 22

A2. I have been tempted by those solid pannier thingies out of kitty litter boxes or whatever, but the truth is that I’m never going to carry heavy loads up the long hill home. So, no, not tempted.

Inky says "What the hell?!"Nov 22

A2. I have done all sorts of bits and bobs for my bikes but gear building is not one of them. I do want to get a functional sewing machines since there are about a 1/2 dozen sewing projects I have, the first being turning an old 25lb rice bag into a proper shopping bag.

After that... probably the water bottle holster since my primary daypack's water bottle holders suck.

And neither of those are bike gear. Ah well.

Obscuredavid Nov 22

@ascentale @iris @bikenite
A2
I made these covers for my winter gauntlet/mittens decades ago. I've never sewn anything as well before or since.
#bikenite

dr2chase Nov 22

@ascentale @iris @bikenite A2 #BikeNite

I made my own pogies/bar mitts, because the ones I could buy were not friendly to Rohloff shift cables. My wife knit me some fingerless gloves, you want to use a tough yarn for that.

I laser cut a chainguard from acetal.

I had a mold 3-d printed for casting silicone into my own XL "grip rings" and they're nice. I tried Shore 10 and Shore 20 hardness, most people like Shore 20, Shore 10 works for me, is nicer with vibration.

nothingfuture Nov 22

@ascentale @iris @bikenite A2: I’ve made a bunch of stuff. Front racks, bottle cages, canti-brake-hangers, bash guards, etc. I’ve also made wearable gear- seat bags, waist packs, musette bags, messenger bags- and the organizing pouches and whatnot for inside those. I’ve made knee warmers, and I’d like to start making MTB over shorts.
#bikenite