My daughter has a very dear friend who decided to build her a bike as a gift for her birthday. He asked if I can make a leather bike bag to go with the project. My daughter lives in Denver and the weather can change with the blink of an eye. I wanted to make sure it would be something that can endure the harsh weather elements of snow and rain as well as keeping her things securely inside the bag as she pedaled around the downtown streets. And of course, making something stylish and functional.

I have never made a bike bag before. I checked online to get ideas for the project. Nothing I saw satisfied my requirements. So I decided to start with one of my original patterns of a small 5″ x 7″ purse that is very popular for it’s size. I could modify the gusset width so that it would fit perfectly under the straight bar without interfering with any leg movements. Deciding on how it would sit on the straight bar was another consideration. I designed the bag to have adjustable straps that could wrap around the bar and could also easily convert to use on the front handle bar. The straps would then be secured by two belt buckles. For additional security I also added the swing clasp. A small strap and D ring on the bottom of the bag secures the bag from sliding.

The bag shown is made from American Bison leather. Dense, somewhat water resistant, lightweight and develops a beautiful patina over time. It is lined in lambskin and has a pocket inside. I added D rings that hold a cross body strap.  This bag allows you enough room to hold the basic essentials and get them to your destination securely inside. When you arrive take the bag off the bike and add the strap that is tucked inside the bag. You then have a convenient and fashionable bag to use for your day on the go.

My daughter was very surprised to get her beautiful bike. She also loved her cowhide ostrich embossed original design bike bag. Denver, as well as my home here in Boise Idaho, are huge bike towns. Many other cities are shifting the commuting emphasis to biking. A bag like this will be fashionable and convenient for those growing cities.

I am hoping to see many variation of leather colors and types of my bag being used on the streets. Of course I can also change the width and length for those looking for something a little bigger. Happy trails!!!