May is Bike Month

Written By Claudette Shatto

How to attach a wooden wine crate to the back of your bike
You don’t have to live in the Napa Valley to be Wine Country chic! 

Mom and two kids on biks

I have two elementary-aged boys and we often ride our bikes. Thankfully we had our bikes pre-pandemic bike boom. Like many Americans, we got into the habit of taking our bikes out more often over the last year.

I make my boys carry a backpack with snacks and a water bottle, but I still find myself overloaded with… well… stuff. I end up with sweatshirts, ball caps and you name it, mom has to carry it. If we go on a picnic I need to bring more than can fit in my front bike basket. So I added a wooden wine crate to the back of my bike! It’s a fun accessory that doesn’t cost much. I get so many compliments. Best of all, it is super practical! 

Supplies needed:

  1. Wooden Crate/ Wine Box
    I live in Wine Country, so sourcing a wine box was fairly simple. If you are reading this outside of the area, you can find wooden crates on your local Facebook Marketplace or even at the big box stores like Michaels.

  2. Bike Rear Rack
    Not all rear racks are made equal. Be sure to buy one that extends out far enough to fit a wooden box. The best one for this project is the one that attaches to the rear wheel. Also, make sure it has a flat surface free from any curves or bent edges.  You can find these online, or at stores such as Target or Walmart. 

  3. Two to four U-bolts

After you purchase your rear rack measure the width of the bars on the top of the rack. This will help you decide the size of the u-bolts to purchase based on the inside width of the bolt. You can buy these at any hardware store. 

Tools needed:

  • Measuring tape

  • Pencil

  • Drill

  • Allen/hex key

  • Pliers

Assembly

  1. Attach the rear rack to your bike according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Most require a hex key. 

  2. Position the wooden box onto the rack and measure where to drill the holes for the u-bolts. Mark the two spots with a pencil. 

  3. Drill the holes

  1. Loop the bike rack into the u-bolts and secure them to the box. I only needed two u-bolts. Test the durability of the box. You may need four. 

  2. Tighten the nuts with pliers

The rack I purchased came with a tie-down. For added security, you can also use bungee cords.  

Voila! Pack a blanket, some cheese, a baguette, and a beverage of your choice and you can bike to your favorite picnic spot! ENJOY! 

Claudette Shatto

Claudette has called Napa Valley home for over 25 years. She’s a professor of Business & Entrepreneurship at Napa Valley College, a keynote speaker, and the author of Gazill Hill, a multicultural children’s book that introduces leadership, courage, and a growth mindset to young readers.

Claudette was named Best Educator by the Napa Valley Register and received Napa Valley College’s Distinguished Teaching Award for her commitment to student success. Her passion project is teaching leadership and entrepreneurial thinking to children through school visits, community workshops, and storytelling. Whether she’s in a college classroom, leading a business workshop, or reading to first graders, Claudette is committed to helping students of all ages step into their potential.

Follow her journey on social @claudetteshatto.

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