Poor man's panniers.
After you bolt on the buckets using u-bolts and a few washers (under $5 for the hardware), you will have a sturdy, 100 percent waterproof pannier. If you put one on each side, you have a nice flat platform to which you can strap larger items like tents and sleeping bags. Jackson bolted some sections of vertical PVC pipe onto the back of one of his buckets, making nice fishing rod holders. Sarah and Tasha had wicker baskets attached to the front of their handlebars for easy access to maps, cameras, and snacks. Again, nothing fancy. No need to spend hundreds on custom touring gear. Just grab what you have or make something. It’s easier than you think.
Because we wanted the trip to be fun for the kids, we tried to limit the weight they were carrying and I carried a bit more of the group gear like tents, pots and pans, and stoves. So I ended up using a combination of a square bucket on one side and a bike trailer that I got for $40 at a yard sale. I ripped out the seats in the trailer to make a giant cargo bay and I had so much room I could pack a LOT of gear—two tents, days worth of food, clothes, games—even a mandolin and some books! This set-up is heavy on the uphills, but on flat ground the momentum behind me keeps me rolling.
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