It has been a very busy year around here after having found a new location for the Natural Living Country Store.  After four years of building our family owned business it had obviously become time to get a more appropriate, commercially zoned space for the business to continue to grow and meet the needs of our customers. 

Lots of folks came to help us move the refrigerators, freezers and other large heavy items.  With the need to continue operating our already established business we also needed to remodel, build shelves and pretty much just keep from feeling overwhelmed by all the work necessary for a smooth transition to our new location.  It was at that time a Warm Showers member needed a place to stay to ride out the forecasted storm.

Aaron arrived on his fully loaded touring bike and had obviously been bicycle touring for awhile.  He explained he only needed a place to stay for two or three nights until the cold front with intense wind and rains passed.  After seeing all the projects we were working on he was eager to help and glad to pitch in.  His experience working an organic farm in Michigan provided him with knowledge and experience which perfectly suited Lisa's need for help with harvesting at local farms and other customer service activities.  Aaron's help allowed me to concentrate my efforts on getting the new store ready to move into and rather than staying two or three nights as he'd intended he was enjoying the work and meeting the folks here so much he stayed for almost two months.  His timing was perfect and his help will always be remembered and greatly appreciated. Visit Aaron Kabodian's Blog.

Speaking of bike folks showing up to help I want to take this opportunity to thank the readers and return visitors to our Bike Tourings' Site and Blog.  By making purchases through our affiliate links we had some extra funds for such items as sand paper, wood glue, replacement sander and other assorted items as needed over the past few months.  Here are some photos of the custom up cycled wood working.  All of the wood working projects for the new store consists of pallet wood and bamboo harvested from the property of the store's new location.  As we incurred many unforeseen expenses we were pleasantly surprised to find that the Bike Tourings' Blog is doing so well in helping to offset some of our expenses.  So for all you bike folks out there here are several photos showing what your purchases helped to support.  Thank You so Much!

There was a lot more custom pallet wood shelving and many photos of our new store.  
Be sure to visit Natural Living Country Store for more information.  

When considering bike panniers for commuting there are certain qualities that can be overlooked as opposed to considering panniers for bicycle touring.  For example having smaller more compact panniers for navigating through urban, city or high traffic areas where a large set of waterproof panniers are usually too bulky and rigid.  

Panniers supplied with horizontal compression straps on the outside of the bag can be used to tighten the bags around the load in each pannier.  This provides ability to make the bags smaller and provides more secure handling as the weight of the load in the panniers is much less likely to shift around in the pannier. A particularly important consideration for use on a front rack.  

I have been using my Delta Compact Panniers for their ease of use for taking off and putting on the bike and have come to appreciate the simple design. Although I have found these to be my go to panniers for quick grocery and business errands I didn't like the way they handled on a front rack when fully loaded on my touring bike. This was due to the lack of features previously described.  So while browsing several different makes and models of panniers looking for these quality options  I stumbled upon some excellent panniers from Trek on sale at one our local shops.  

I wasn't at all familiar with any Trek Bike Company panniers and didn't recognize the logo on the bags having guessed they were a product of Transit, makers of bike racks and other bicycle accessories.  Once I began looking over the quality of the steel rack mounting hooks, metal snaps located on lower fore and aft positions of the panniers as well as on the top handles and overall quality of construction further inquiry revealed they were the Trek Pannier II Pack. A model of excellently designed and constructed bike commuting panniers including built in rain covers!  Very modestly priced as these panniers cost the same as my Delta Panniers which have less capacity, no rain covers or ability to snap the panniers together.  For the price these panniers are a no brainer and I love how they feel snug and secure after tightening the cinch straps on the outside of the bags, very nice. They only thing missing is a shoulder strap but with the snaps and carrying handles I don't mind a bit. Here's the basic product information:

Product Description:  Extra large rack mounted bicycle pannier. A basic attachment system with Tightrope safety cord easily secures the pack to the rack. Fits most front, rear, and low rider type racks. 2,520 cu. in. capacity per set. With a built in rain cover. Comes as a single pannier.  Click Here for more information or to Purchase.

Spring is here with plenty of wet weather and being in need of a versatile rain cover for my hydration packs and panniers I combed through the options scrupulously.

I have a genuinely fond appreciation for my older CamelBak Capo Hydration Pack.  Although it's one the company's discontinued models I have no reason to replace it.  It is durable, comfortable and is perfect for camping, day hikes, bike packing and bicycle commuting all it needed was a rain cover.  However, I was also looking for rain covers for my Axiom Cartier Panniers and Delta Compact Panniers. 

One of the features I was looking for in a multi purpose rain cover was a way to secure the rain cover for very windy conditions.  Most of the rain covers I had looked at were designed like over sized shower caps with only an elastic edge to hold the cover in place.  Being a frugal fella I also wanted the rain cover to securely fit either of my two hydration packs as well as the aforementioned panniers.  If you get to shopping for pannier rain covers you will find that some if not most of the good quality rain covers available designed specifically for bike panniers are a bit pricey and usually sold individually and not in pairs.  I mean gee whiz, for a bit more fifty dollars I could get another set of panniers not just rain covers.  Thus began my search for a bargain of versatility and my prize catch with the CamelBak Rain Cover, after all the answer had been staring me in the face with the need described for my CamelBak Capo.  

This "blog about" is mostly to help resolve the mystery of how to attach CamelBak's Rain Cover.  I read so many reviews where folks were frustrated and bewildered and ridiculing the company for not providing instructions at to how to attach this rain cover, see above photo.  A velcro strap and loop is attached to the top of the rain cover which is designed to be passed under the top of the pack's straps, passed through the hole and looped back over to attach the bit of velcro on to the strap.  Then pull the cover around the pack and cinch the bottom pull tab attached to a chord which is sewn in around the perimeter of the cover.  

This is a good design for use on bike panniers being adjustable, lightweight, easy to use and durable.  With the bright yellow day light visibility color made of coated nylon and reflective lettering make it an excellent choice for bicycle commuting. Photo at left shows the excellent fit for my Delta Compact Panniers of 16L capacity which I use only for bike commuting as their ease of use and simple design fit my needs.

I also put this rain cover on my fully loaded Axiom Cartier Panniers for bike touring and camping with a capacity of 2013 cu. in. or 33L each and the Small Medium rain cover fits perfectly. Due to the adjustable design this rain cover also fits my High Sierra Splash 70 Hydration Pack which I prefer to use during the summer and for longer rides due to its' mere 368 cu. in. capacity though it has a 2 litre reservoir.  
Because of the multiple panniers and packs I can use the CamelBak Rain Cover on I felt a wee bit obliged to share this information.

CamelBak Rain Cover is available in two sizes of Small to Medium designed to fit capacity of 1000 and 1500 cu in or 16L to 25L or Mediium to Large for 500 and 2300 cu in or 25L to 38L.  CamelBak Hydration Packs designed for different types of bicycling typically use the Small to Medium size even on packs designed to carry additional gear on the outside of the pack.

Use any of the bold underlined links provided for more information or to purchase.  Happy trails, keep pedalin' and enjoy!

As a follow up to a previous post regarding the Wald Splashguard Fenders for folks who were concerned about the fender providing enough coverage for wet weather bicycle commuting or as one fella commented "getting a bikini shower". .

Several options are available for adding leather fender mud flaps, most popular being those from Velo Orange and Brooks.  While they provide very nice products I chose to make my own since I had some pieces of leather stashed in my workshop.   

Process of making a leather fender mudflap is fairly simple.  I found a package of scrap leather a couple years ago at a local hobby and crafts supply shop for ten bucks.  I would recommend using at least 1/8" thick leather as it holds its shape after being treated with a water proofing wax which tends to considerably soften the leather.  

Photos shown here are of the Wald #90 Balloon Bolt On Bicycle Splash Guard Fender.  Photo at left shown the piece of leather to be used clamped on the fender in order to make a template.  It is the easiest way to account for the curvature of the fender.  After tracing around the fender and cutting with a utility knife the leather mud flap measures 3 1/4 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches long with an inch to an inch and a half overlay on the fender for supporting the leather mudflap underneath.    

After the piece was cut to shape two holes were punched through at 3/4" from the top edge and 3/4" from the outside edge to accommodate the hardware for mounting to the fender. 
Then I simply warmed the leather in the sun for half an hour or so before water proofing with Sno Seal.  After rubbing the wax into the leather I was fortunate enough to have an antique shoe buffer to work the wax into the leather and provide it with a solid finish.  

After drilling the fender mounting holes for the hardware it was installed onto the fender and allowed to dry. . I plan to make a rear mud flap and a set for the classy classic old Puch which has the narrower model of the Wald Splash Guard Fenders. I am really pleased with how these are performing after providing just a few inches of added protection, what me worry?
I am very pleased with how these leather mud flaps have turned out and have been asked if I am going to make them for sale.  Though I haven't decided on that yet the mud flaps do look nice and the color matches the Selle Anatomica Saddle. A nice bit of luck considering the leather came from scraps hidden away in the shop for two years.