I went ahead with the above plan. Ended up using a carabiner and a couple of nylon bands with clip attachments at the end to make a secure point near the center of the basket.
I also used another carabiner to hold a mesh bag inside the carrier as a storage area to carry his things.
Today was the first day I've gone on a longer ride with him and he appeared to love it. A little nervous at first but after a few treats and some time spent biking along he was sticking his face out in the wind like any dog enjoying a ride would.
I started the project when he was ~2lbs as a puppy. Now he is (I think) fully grown at around 9lbs. He still fits quite comfortably (after readjusting the centering straps) and is now big enough to fit the harness I bought him.
I used a pleather cushion (the type that would sit on a bar stool) to pad the inside of the basket. It is secured in place by a nylon cord that I used to stitch the cushion in place through the bottom of the basket.
I'm quite pleased with how it ended up, because it is
1. water proof
2. can fit a yorkie from 2 to ~12 lbs (estimate - maybe higher)
3. has no commercial alternative - the only ones on the market either put the dog in the front basket (dangerous) or pull the dog in a trailer (usually enclosed-no open air; also affects bike handling).
It's very easy to make if anyone wants further details / pics on how to do this. |