At a Glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Bicycle mount for iPod nano
The iPod nano has become the iPod of choice for many active types, thanks to its combination of skip-free flash storage and the iPod’s famous interface. If you’re a cyclist, Risse’s Mork Mount helps you keep your iPod accessible during your ride. (Of course, we don’t recommend listening to an iPod when sharing the road with cars and pedestrians; but for dedicated bike paths and roads, music can be a great riding companion.)
The Mount — which attaches to the handlebars of your bike via a hinged, thumbscrew-secured, aluminum mounting bracket — provides a slim, machined aluminum cradle into which you slide your iPod nano. The cradle protects the back and side of your nano, while two elastic rubber o-rings hold your iPod securely in place.
Overall, the Mork Mount is a great idea with a few minor issues. If it fits your bike, it works well: It keeps your iPod safe and secure in a location that’s relatively easy to view and access while riding. However, its mounting bracket fits only handlebars 7/8″ or less in diameter. If you’ve got thicker handlebars or — like my own bike — handlebars that vary in thickness, you’re out of luck. (The company points out that the Mork Mount also fits lawnmower handles, shopping carts, and exercise bikes; I didn’t get a chance to test it in these environments.)
There’s also no padding around your iPod; it sits directly on the Mark Mount’s aluminum surfaces. A bit of padding of some sort, however thin, would have added a bit of shock protection and also prevented the possibility of the Mork Mount itself scratching your nano. Finally, I would have liked to be able to detach the Mork Mount’s cradle from its handlebar mount. Because the Mork Mount’s rubber o-rings hold your iPod so securely, it’s easier to remove the entire Mork Mount from your bike, using the thumbscrew connector, than to remove your iPod from the mount — but then you have to carry around the handlebar mount, as well. I prefer Marware’s MultiDapt approach, used in the various SportSuit cases; the handlebar mount remains permanently attached to your bike, but you can easily detach the case.
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