Category: Bike Accessories

My virtual buddy over at Screaming Bike Monkey posted a picture of this saddle with the comment, “No words can adequately express my feelings at this time…”

I wasn’t sure if that meant that he was so in awe of the concept that he was speechless; whether he hated it so much the “If You Can’t Say Something Good, Then Don’t Say Anything Rule was in effect or if he was, like me, looking for quick content for his blog. [Wife Lila said that I shouldn’t have put that last reason in. I overruled her. Some days you go for the easy and you should just fess up and admit it.]

The inventor has ridden more miles than I have

Part of the history of the saddle says,

“GABS Saddle was designed by George Andrews, Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada, as a result of Thousands of cycled kilometers.

George cycles almost every day and has done so since he decided in May 1994, at the age of 65 to cycle across Canada.  He completed the ‘cross-country’ journey in 1995 when he cycled from Tofino, BC to Cape Spear, Newfoundland.  In June of 1996 he cycled to Salt Lake City, USA.

Of course, I always switch to metric distances when I want to impress people too. As in, “I rode a (metric (said in a lower volume)) Century this weekend. Actually, if you didn’t drop your voice when you said “metric,” most non-bikers would think metric meant “metered” or something that sounds even more impressive.

A tip of my helmet to him

I give George applause for coming up with an idea and seeing it through to distribution.

It’s not the craziest design. I’ve seen the ones that have two separately adjustable butt cheeks holders without a nose. It might be OK for casual riders, but a nose is important for controlling the bike, particularly when standing up on the pedals.

In some respects, it resembles an extreme version of the cutout saddles that are supposed to relieve pressure.

What happens when you’re “on the rivet?”

I wonder, though, what happens when you’re “on the rivet,” as cycling commentator Phil Liggett likes to say. That’s where you find yourself sliding forward on the saddle when you’re tired or to put maximum pressure on the pedals. You would find yourself suddenly dropping down what appears to be a couple of inches.

Scream Monkey has a point about the GABS Saddle

I’m not sure I can improve on his comment, “No words can adequately express my feelings at this time…”

I just took a whole bunch more words to come to that conclusion.

Go see George for the whole story of the GABS Saddle

I’ve tried several different ways of mounting my camera to my handlebars depending on what camera I was using and what materials were at hand. I finally settled on a RAM mount for my cameras.

Bro Mark, who is a weight wienie, usually carries a tiny camera (now probably replaced by his trendy iPhone).

Recycle a soda bottle

He created a camera mount out of the top of a plastic soda bottle using the bottle and cap, a stainless steel hose clamp similar to this (size will depend on your handlebar), a piece of inner tube and a 1/4 x 20 bolt. You can find all of it at your local hardware store or in the bowels of your junk drawer.

Trim to bottle to size

Step One is to trim the top off the bottle. You can do this with a knife or a pair of scissors. With a little pruning, you can leave enough of the bottle to protect your bars. (He said he left strips about three inches long for the wrap-around)

Cut slots for the hose clamp

Step Two is to cut slots into the bottom of the bottle top to hold the hose clamp. I was going to ask Bro Mark how he did it, but he’s tied up on an advertising shoot in Memphis. That means I’m going to wing it and let him make any corrections in the comments section.

I’m going to guess that the easiest way to do it would be with a Dremel Tool if you have one. Since I don’t, I’d be inclined to tackle it with a hacksaw. It’s not rocket science, so anything that will cut two slots and leave you with most of your fingers will work.

[Bro Mark surfaced long enough to say that he thinks he cut the slots with an exacto knife. That might explain what looks to be a scar on the finger on the left.]

Drill a hole in the bottle cap for a 1/4″ x 20 bolt

Step Three is to install the bolt to hold the camera.

Camera tripod screws are a standard 1.4″ x 20 thread available at any hardware store.

This is a case where bigger ISN’T better. Get a bolt that’s just long enough to go through the bottle cap and any cushioning material (washer, inner tube) and just far enough into the camera tripod socket to be secure. Mark said he added a lock washer on the bottom and top of the bottle cap (below the inner tube).

Safety warnings

• DO NOT, DO NOT get one that is one screw turn longer than necessary or you’ll punch through the bottom of your camera. That is a very Bad Thing.
• I always use a lanyard with any device I attach to my handlebars: GPS, still camera or video camera. That’s to keep from hearing the sickening thud when the expensive device hits the ground, followed by the skittering and disintegrating noises as it disassembles itself.

Use it as a camera mount OFF the bike, too

Make up a second bottle top for use off the bike. When you want to stabilize your camera, fill a soda bottle with water, sand or something heavy, put on the top with the tripod screw and you have a ready-to-use camera support.