Regular Readers will know that minimalism isn’t my middle name. It’s Neil: after Neil Armstrong, who walked on the moon a few weeks before I was introduced to Earth in the master bedroom of a dormer bungalow.
Why Buy a Topeak BarXTender?
I was struggling to mount my phone mount a couple of weeks ago. I blogged about it here. As a result, Jon came up with the idea of me getting the BarXtender. You should buy one of these (at about £15 online) if:
- You’ve already got too much schizzle on your handlebars; or
- Your handlbars have too much girth for your lights and mounts.
How Do I Fit The Topeak BarXTender?
The unit is a clever bit of engineering. It’s built to fit up the biggest handlebar or headset, and can be rotated so it will fit front-facing or left/right-facing tubes. It also has a bar that be moved around it’s axis for finer adjustment once you’ve got the unit clamped to your bike.
The clamp part of the BarXtender contains a “belt” type metal strip which is held by an allen bolt. You just adjust the belt strip to slightly larger than the diameter of your tube, then insert the obligatory rubber strip to stop your tube being scratched and tighten the allen bolt. The belt is drawn upwards into the clamp housing and feels nice & strong when attached.
Next, simply screw the top half of the unit onto the clamp part, then adjust the rotation of the actual bar to suit yourself.
How Does It Look?
I much prefer my cockpit now that the BarXTender’s on. One person (mentioning no names) commented that I’m just missing a kettle on my bike now, but I think it makes the handlebars a lot tidier, and safer, than they were before.
The completed job, with Big Light and Phone GPS Mount.
What do you think?
Tags: GPS, HTC HD2, Mobile Phone, Rides
Does that not hinder your vision when cycling?
Its like having a GPS holder right in the middle of your car windscreen
Can only see one prob how u going 2 ride with that thing on the back
u cud sell it 2 the Tate Modern tell them ure a new budding artist make a fortune lol
no serious m8 ure a genius
Joby ” Oh well back to the drawing board “
It reminds me of those chemistry experiments at school, lots of clamps and stands.
Joby,Ha, it’s well out of eyeline unless I’m pulling wheelies. I’m 40, I don’t pull many wheelies
Les,It is tricky riding with the tripod on, yes, especially as I’m a bit of a shortarse. Can’t get on and off properly. Soon I’ll find the intructions and work out how to get my bike down. Someone will lend me a stepladder…
Chris, Happy days, burning through the oak desk with the bunsen burner and making mustard gas in the sinks….
Happy days your right! I was just think about lighting magnesium ribbon. I wonder if I can get some on eBay?
That and Miss Silk, our student Chemistry teacher, mmmmm….
Another short arse? Is it compulsory to be short if you own a bike, except for me and chris?!
Ooh, burning hydrogen sulphide was great. And the Van de Graaf machine in physics.
And as for my biology teacher….phew
don’t forget lobbing sodium into tubs of water…
Van de Graaf machine!
A lad at school discharged himself, via a plug socked on the desk, via this balls! Fantastic comedy image in my mind, I am now laughing at my desk!
Now you’re talking
That should have been “his balls”, I wonder if he ever managed to have kids?!?!?
Erm – Chris is a short arse isn’t he?
He’s shorter than me but not as short as you
yes, but he’s fatter than me
So am i
I wouldn’t dare comment on a ladies weight…
Although I have commented on Chris(tines)
An arse posibly, but at 5’11 not really short. Oh and I am working on the fat thing….
I’m fatter than you
Not sure about that, if you can, check out my picture in this months business insider, you can count the chins!
See Joby, chris is only 2 inches shorter than me.
Chris: well, you were thinner than me when we last rode together!
I’m probaby thinner than most, but definitely shorter too.
i’m 5’11 and 200lbs and not losing any weight.. getting slimmer though!
Another shortarse – compared to me anyway
Um, I’m old school, I don’t do metric.
Well dnt want 2 spoil ure debate but I think u mite find I am the shortarse ere I am about 5’2
You’re teeny tiny Les
Jeez, that means I’m nigh on a foot taller than you!
Les, do you have to buy age 3-4yr bikes to ride?
Phill – thinner than most…. Mwhahahahahaaaaa!!!
I’ve seen your pot belly
Lost, I am teeny tiny but not round me belly tho lol
Joby, Yeah U know me so well but I cant sit on the saddle wen I stop I av straddle my Bike cue comment
Phill wot is ure Pot Belly Pig called
Phill: are you feeling loved now btw with all these comments on your blog?
Les: I’m saying nowt. I’m a lady don’t you know
Lost, u can say wot u like
This post is more popular than my local cyclists forum – LOL
Phill has created a monster!
For what its worth I am exactly the same weight and height as rooleymoor… he must be fat short arse as well!
Rooleymoor you dont want a new road bike do you?
Chris/Rooley: I’m taller and about similar weight to the pair of you then, so that makes 3 short fat arses who’re actually tall, above average eejits in reality.
Joby, OK, ok, ok, I’m thinner than most apart from my pot belly. But I’m taller than Les, woohoo !
I bet if your really tried Phill you get loads more kit on that bike of yours!
As for short arses, I’m 5′ 8 and a 1/2″ the 1/2″ is very important to me.
I’ll tee ‘em up for you lot!
Phill everyone is taller than me m8 so fraid that aint much of a claim 2 fame
So clive r u saying Phill’s Bike is just a work in progress
I was looking online last night for more kit. Sites like http://www.dealextreme.com offer loads of genuine wonderful bargains for people like me. Or is it just cheap sh*te from China? I get confused.
I am tempted by Chris’ kettle idea though… I wonder how I could do that?
I won’t even dare, Clive, to mention how important that 1/2″ is to your other half.
Phill bit of advice again but Bike matters
I c u av disc brakes on ure bike if u get a puncture is the only thing u av 2 worry bout not 2 apply the brakes wen the wheel is off I ope this makes sense m8
Thanks Les. I’d seen that and after reading the intructions I can see why it’s important. I’m a bit of nerd for reading intructions, not a typical bloke at all. Good shout.