Portable Cyclocross Barrier

If you train for cyclocross, these portable, collapsible barriers are easy to tote along, even on the bike. I used shock cord inside PVC pipe so all the parts stay together when you break down the barrier, and the longest piece of the barrier is 2 feet (24 inches).

Material cost:

• 2 10' lengths of 1/2" Sch 40 PVC pipe (Lowe's only had 10' lengths, you need 12') - $4.14
• 4 1/2" slip-on end caps - $1.52
• 2 1/2" slip-on 3-way couplers (Side Out Elbow)- $1.96
• 1 1/2" slip on coupler (Coupling) - $0.44
• 20' 5/32" Marine Bungee Cord - $2.80

Total: $10.86

Materials:

• 6 2' lengths of 1/2" or 3/4" PVC pipe (I used 1/2" Sch 40)
• 4 slip-on end caps
• 1 pipe coupler
• 2 3-way side outlet couplers
• 2 10' sections of bungee cord

Tools:

• Drill with bit large enough to make a hole for the bungee cord (I used a step bit)
• Scissors (to cut the bungee cord)
• Lighter (to keep the cut end of the cord from fraying)
• Pipe cutter, hacksaw, or reciprocal saw (pipe cutter makes the cleanest cuts)

1. Cut PVC pipe into 6 2' lengths
2. Drill holes into the center of each end cap
3. Run a section of bungee cord into the hole in one cap, and tie a figure eight not on the outside of the cap (tie this knot close to the end of the bungee cord
4. Feed the cord from the inside of the cap into a 2' section of pipe, and slide the cap onto the end of that piece of pipe (you could glue the cap on, but it isn't necessary)
5. Run the cord through one hole in a 3-way connector, and out another hole
6. Repeat steps 2-4 for the other piece of bungee cord, ensuring that both sections of cord come out the same hole in the 3-way connector
7. Slip the 2 leg section into the 3-way connector
8. Run both sections of bungee into another 2' section of pipe
9. Now through the coupler
10. Now through another 2' section of pipe
11. Run the 2 sections of bungee into one hole of the other 3-way connector, and run one cord out each of the other holes in the connector
12. Slide the 3-way connector onto the pipe section from step 9
13. Run one piece of bungee through a 2' section of pipe
14. Run that piece of bungee through an end cap
15. Slide the pipe into the 3 way connector
16. Slide the end cap onto the pipe
17. Repeat steps 12-15 for the other section of bungee cord and remaining parts.
18. With the barrier assembled, pull on one of the bungee cords so there is tension on the cord running through the barrier, and then tie a knot in the cord. Cut off excess and use a lighter to melt the end a little bit so it won't fray
19. Do the same to the other bungee cord section
20. Tie the leftover chunks of bungee cord to the barrier, making a couple of loops that can be drawn around the barrier when it is disassembled so it is easy to store and carry.