I got an email from a reader, Amanda (Mandy), months ago. We were chatting about Pashley and the basket bit. I haven't made any dramatic modifications to the Pashley, except taking off the rack thing that used to be attached to the... handlebars? In theory the basket that comes with Pashley is supposed to sit on this rack but my basket fell several inches above it, rendering it pretty useless. Also, every time I turned the handlebars the rack would rub and make an annoying squeaking sound on my front tube thing.
So I took it off.
I did the same modification to my basket that I did when I first noticed my basket banging on the front tube (I have no idea what it's called) of my Amsterdam. I was wondering why there was a huge dent in the badge. It's because my basket was banging on it every time I went over a bump. And in Edmonton I go over a lot of bumps.
I use velcro tape and wove it into the bottom wicker part that touches the bike, so there is a bit of a cushion. I also use the loose ends of the velcro to wrap around the tube so there is no more bumping and banging, and it doesn't interfere with turning and steering.
See?
I've done this to the baskets on both the Pashley and the Amsterdam. It works.
Amanda had asked that I send her a few photos and I figured I would post about it, but have been remiss to until now.
So there you go. Basket fortifications! That's about as technical as I get.
11 comments:
Great Job!! I always say or should always say at least that there isn't anything velcro can't solve:) lol
Fiona
Ah, I too shall have to try this. I wondered why the Pashley's basket didn't actually touch the rack it came with and my boyfriend told me it can't because of the height of my handlebars. He told me it's not a proper "porter rack" anyhow and warned me not to put too much weight on it. But I've already learned that lesson. While riding my other bike with my purse in the front basket the plastic clamp that held it to the handlebars broke. After that happened I could see why he wouldn't allow me to put my 15 pound dog in one. I'm going to replace the woven basket with a wire one that attaches to the forks for support as well. I always wonder if it's just me who hits all the bumps on the road.
Fiona - I use that velcro tape on all sort of stuff around the house. It's handy!
dag - my Amsterdam basket has leather belt things to secure to the handlebars, (it's actually the old pashley basket) and my Pashley's basket is a wicker one with metal woven in. The two prongs that loop over the handlebars are hella sturdy. I put almost 30 pound Dougal in there all the time! Just makes the bike very top heavy.
I have a basket on my handle bars and no its not very strong, I need to upgrade!! It has one of those plastic quick release clasps and although its meant to take 5 kilo I don't dare!!
I HAVE had my dog in it after a dog trailer disaster, but he is only 6lb and wears a harness which I held onto tight in case the worst happend, at least I figured I could flick him up out if harms way lol.
Cool and simple bug-fix.
Haha! Almost the same thing happened to me, the squeaking got unbearable so I asked the hubby to fix it...guess what he did?
DUCT TAPE!
Needless to say I was not impressed, he ended up saying it was a joke and used these fancy little black clamps from our biking shop to fasten it.
Try zip ties! Or even a little bit of plumber's foam from a hardware store. I've used them for all of my basket woes.
Kelly, it was the quick release type that broke on me. Plastic parts will always wear out faster than metal. I don't know how, but a crack formed in the QR clamp and I haven't been able to find a replacement for it separately.
Sarah, it's called the head tube.
-Matt.
ari - I personally don't prefer zip ties because they're so permanent. But if you know the thing you're going to fix isn't going anywhere... then it's totally a good solution.
Matt - Thanks! Do they also have bum tubes?
Wicker Laundry - Duct tape? Man, that sounds like how my dad would fix it.
Kelly - I hate those quick release plastic things. They look so bulky and more often than not I always see these pretty bikes with such depressed looking baskets on them. I say depressed because they hang off the handlebars in a weird way...
Though I'm sure they work on some bikes. I am a personal fan of the hook mount or the belt buckles (so long as the belt buckles are sturdy and don't rip)
Great Job!! I always say or should always say at least that there isn't anything velcro can't solve:) lol
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