SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING

Free Parable Design Gorilla Cage is another utility model that’s best suited to lugging large and relatively lightweight stuff.

 

Measuring a fairly prodigious 40x20cm, In common with the smaller primate, it’s made from sturdy resin composites and mounts either to the frame’s bottle bosses via a two cleats; or via the Gorilla Clip. This is essentially an adaptor that tethers to the frame, fork, or seat tube via four beefy cable ties. This also translates handsomely to Bromptons and other small wheel folders with lofty stems.

 

Regardless of host; fitting is pretty intuitive and I’ve alternated its position on several occasions during my recent charge down to the Czech Republic. That said; it’s worth taking the time to get everything rock steady. Fork mounting is only really advisable on beefy mtb legs, or their adventure touring inspired offspring sporting bottle bosses. My venerable Dawe’s Galaxy’s slender blades proved a non-starter.

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Talking of which, I found ours worked best on the frame’s seat tube, keeping a standard bottle and cage combo on the downtube for easy guzzling from the saddle-those sturdy Velcro straps employed by the free parable primates are literally designed for hauling stuff about.

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Nearing the 1.5 kilo payload and there’s some discernible flex but soon forgotten. Michael has managed a 1litre disposable bottle of welding gas and I’ve trucked all manner of stuff without incident.

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I started with a bottle of wine, which proved a real ice breaker/talking point at café stops. Other obvious candidates include sleeping bags/mats, bivvi tents etc. 3nm worth of torque and a quick lick of thread lock solves most problems before they start but its worth checking the cleats are snug every few days in these contexts, just to be sure. 

 

While trying to segregate a sodden waterproof from wet clothes drying on the Galaxy’s rack; I went the top-tube route via Gorilla Clip. Looked a bit weird but worked just fine. Remember to prune the ties low to prevent them fouling control cables, or catching legs annoyingly on the upstroke.

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Post tour, ours now serves as a paint friendly colour coordinated bottle caddy on my Pashley Roadster, which is bereft of braze-ons. Ultimately, these systems are a brilliant concept and come recommended for any riders looking to carry touring overspill or impromptu roadside purchases. However, the option of a smaller diameter clip for road biased touring lorries would be welcomed.