The Bar Fly Universal Mount

While other Bar Fly fixtures are specifically designed for Garmins or smartphones to clip into, the Universal Mount simply adds 50mm of extra 'bar space' in front of (or above/below/behind) your bike's handlebar. It's an alternative to one of Minoura's older, bigger, and similarly-priced Space Grips.

It's sturdily made from what looks like one piece of moulded plastic – or possibly two pieces exceptionally well bonded together. There's a broad (10mm) clamp to attach it to a 31.8mm handlebar, and it'll fit to a carbon bar without crimping it.

The Universal Mount's bar sits about 3cm from the handlebar, edge to edge. It's 31.8mm in diameter too, so any accessories you'd fit to your handlebar – computer, GPS, smartphone, lights – should go on without the need for bits of old innertube to pack them out. The mounting bar has slots running through it to make it more convenient to attach accessories with zip ties. As the mounting bar has a lip on one end and the attachment arm at the other, nothing can slide off sideways.

And that's it. It's simple and it feels nice and solid; you could attach heavy lights to this without worry. The only negative is that, at £20, it's a lot of money for a little bit of extra bar space, made out of plastic. I made a mount about this big – to fit a Garmin between my tri-bars - out of an old reflector bracket, a wine cork, some washers, a screw, and some electrical tape. That cost nothing. It's obviously not nearly as well made as this, but it did cost nothing, and I've used it for four years and counting. Just saying.

Verdict

Sturdy, if expensive, way to add 50mm of extra handlebar space for accessories.