Moab On My Mind

It's fun ramping up for a trip. You spend time thinking about all the little details. How you'll pack. Where everything will fit and how it will tie down.

I've been thinking about how I can bring my mandolin. I like to have an instrument wherever I go. It just helps me chill out and relax at the end of the day. I usually play guitar but that's just too big for my bike. The mandolin on the other hand is pretty small. I have an old bluegrass mandolin and they make a tight little case that's just about the same shape. So in my idea is to strap it to the top of my pelican top case. And since there are not tie down anchors on the pelican I had to get creative.

After spending way too much time online looking at images of tie down anchors, I jumped on my bike and headed over to Orchard Supply Hardware. I didn't find exactly what I was looking for but I did find something better—stainless steel strap loops.

A couple screws later and my top case tie down system was in place. They claim it will hold 100lbs in place, which should be plenty for my little bluegrass mandolin.