Cheap, flexible, and durable: None of this alloy and polyester tat for cyclists' panniers eh?

 

The best baskets I've found come from a particular area of Laos, they last for years, and put Thai Rattan baskets to shame (which become brittle and crumble after a year on a bike.)

 

Last month I persuaded the chap pictured above to weave two suitably sized bamboo baskets for my 1991 Panasonic MTB, and I'm very happy with the result.

 

Time will tell if it's as durable as the Laos ones I've used for a decade.

 

He was reluctant to take on the commission, because all he knew was; fish-traps, cockerel cages, and winnowing trays, but his wife helped me to cajole him, and he was quite fussy over measuring the bike, and which bamboo to use.

 

I liked him immediately, and I think you will too.

 

His shop is on the AH2 highway North from Chiang Rai to Maesai, in the village of Baan Huai Khian, on the right hand side, next to one of those new rolled-sheet-roofing places, and opposite the Cosmo petrol station.

 

I think I may ask him to make a cat-igloo for me next, then perhaps a bat-box.

 

Pop-in when you pass, and give him some work, we need these skilled artisans.

 

 

Yeah, after that you can go to the farmer and ask him to mill the perfect durable rice. That one you can eat two times before it´s empty.

Yes Mr Godfridd.. you must get a real rise out of your sarcastic replies.. 

May I suggest if you want them to last paint them with a protected coat of, I believe its called  'Fish oil' its very thin and watery, comes in a beer type bottle, available at most hardware shops. it will make them water proof and prevent them from rotting, they will turn browner, you can usually see it applied to those hats used by rice farmers.

Ta Brian I was thinking along that line, I'll give it a go.

 

Kitten "Mercy" already has a Cat-igloo!

 

Notice the double wire, plus thick bamboo strips around the top, neatly secured: That was the Weaver's very good idea.

 

This is the appearance after one coat of the shellac pictured.

 

The bottles come colour graded; Nine being the lightest shade, lower numbers are darker shades, like Oak and Teak.

 

Note: Shellac is toxic and sticky when wet, if pets walk on it and lick their paws you'd be wise to take them to the vets. So keep creatures and toddlers away when applying it. I used a small sponge and wore gloves, and burned them afterwards.

 

For those interested, you may like me, be surprised to learn shellac is made from Kerria lacca insects in Thailand, see here for more;

 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/shellac