When she’s not out using trails, bikepacker Kate is creating her personal bike luggage. From {custom} body luggage to beer carriers, she exhibits how making your individual gear can elevate your adventures. Observe her step-by-step information to DIY a feed bag and add a private contact to each experience.
There’s one thing empowering about making your individual gear (MYOG). What began as a method 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 turned extra than simply customisation – it turned about creating with intention, and incomes a way of pleasure from making one thing with your individual two arms.
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 out of doors obsession. That every one modified on a wet weekend when my accomplice, Josh, recommended we strive stitching a bikepacking body bag collectively.
I jumped on the likelihood to share my ardour with him, and all of a sudden, it opened the door to so many prospects. Since then, we’ve made {custom} body luggage for all of our bikes, bum luggage, feed luggage, and even a beer provider (extremely beneficial for these post-ride brews).
Material Choice
In the case of making your individual bikepacking gear, choosing the proper cloth is essential. Your luggage want to face up to rugged terrain and defend your gear from rain, mud, and particles. You possibly can undoubtedly select the upcycling path – an previous rain jacket or tarp works properly – however remember, bikepacking gear takes a beating. I desire to make use of sturdy, waterproof supplies to ensure my luggage maintain up and defend 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 desire PolyD 300 (often known as Hyper D), which is softer and extra versatile with out compromising waterproofing.
Each materials are available a variety of vibrant colors, including a enjoyable contact to your bike. For many who prioritize sustainability, ECOPAK – made out of 100% recycled polyester with a C0 DWR end (fluorocarbon-free) – is now obtainable in Australia and is absolutely recyclable after use.
Selecting your colors is an effective 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 Material), a small DIY provide enterprise based mostly within the Blue Mountains. Graham, the proprietor, is extremely pleasant and all the time up for chat. Once I positioned my first on-line order, he even known as me to ask about my stitching mission!
Since then, he’s been an enormous assist on my MYOG journey; providing cloth recommendation, sending samples, and sharing stitching patterns (this isn’t sponsored – he’s only a legend).
How you can 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 identify suggests, these luggage are excellent for stashing snacks to munch on all through the day (get it, feed bag?), however they’re additionally ultimate for holding all of the necessities like sunscreen, lip balm, PLB, and a multi-tool.
I take advantage of my Nalgene bottle as a template so I may also use it as a water bottle provider when wanted. With two strains 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 desirous 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 test that your sizing is appropriate with a number of exams like this
Step-by-Step Feed Bag Directions
Ability stage: Newbie
What you want
- Water bottle (for measurement)
- Material (I take advantage of VX21 Mulberry for the primary piece and PolyD 300 Orange for the highest opening)
- Twine Elastic (any width so long as it suits by way of your eyelet)
- Webbing
- Eyelet
- Toggle/wire finish
- Velcro (to connect to bike)
- Binding (non-obligatory, for skilled end)
- Clips
Getting the whole lot collectively earlier than you begin makes it simpler
A couple of suggestions earlier than you begin
- Make a observe piece – Earlier than reducing into your costly cloth, sew a ‘toile’, principally, a observe model utilizing scrap cloth like an previous sheet or T-shirt. You’re sure to make a number of errors in your first strive, and that’s completely okay. The aim 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 contemporary 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: Minimize Out Your Material Items
First, measure the diameter and peak of your water bottle. I like to chop the primary cloth (VX21) so it reaches slightly below 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. Minimize out a rectangle utilizing these dimensions; this’ll be your most important piece.
Measure twice to make certain you’ve obtained it appropriate from the beginning
Subsequent, hint the bottom of your water bottle onto the material. Add 2cm across the define for seam allowance, then minimize out the circle. This’ll be your base piece.
For the highest piece, minimize one other rectangle out of your top-opening cloth (PolyD 300). The width ought to match your most important piece, and for peak, measure from the bottle’s lip to the highest and double it
Bear in mind, measure twice and minimize as soon as!
Step 2: Assemble the Prime Piece
Fold the highest piece in half lengthways and mark 1cm under the fold within the centre. Insert your eyelet at this mark for the drawstring. Sew the rectangle right into a tube by stitching the quick 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’ll be able to actually see it start to come back collectively
Step 3: Assemble the Foremost Piece
Sew one piece of webbing horizontally and one other vertically onto the primary rectangle, utilizing a zigzag sew to strengthen the attachment factors. I like to stitch each 5cm, permitting for a number of velcro attachment factors to safe it to the bike. To stop fraying, evenly burn the perimeters of the webbing with a lighter.
The black is the webbing
Sew the quick seams of the primary rectangle with proper sides collectively. In order for you 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’ll be able to sew binding over this seam for an expert contact.
Inside out most important piece with binding
Step 4: Sew Prime & Foremost Piece Collectively
Fastidiously 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 when you like.
Flip the bag right-side out and voilà , your feed bag is completed!
Prime and most important piece are sewn collectively now
Non-compulsory: Add Lining or Interfacing
This bag is unlined and has no interfacing, to maintain it easy for newbie sewists. In order for you a extra structured bag, take into account including foam or interfacing to your cloth items earlier than assembling.
You can too absolutely line the bag to cover inner seams (see chalk bag directions for tips about this). If you happen to go for lining, I like to recommend utilizing a brilliant color – it makes it a lot simpler to seek out small gadgets 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 somewhat have one thing custom-made, be happy to ship me a message on Instagram @katealiice for {custom} orders. I’m additionally joyful to reply any MYOG questions, or you’ll be able to 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 Greatest In a single day Bikepacking Routes in Victoria
- Using 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 Experience You Can Begin within the Coronary heart of Sydney
