Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Old Man Mountain just unveiled two interesting new cargo-carrying prototypes. The Axle Pack is an axle-supported three-pack cage mount designed to work on any front fork, and the FLIP Cage is an innovative cargo cage that doubles as a pannier mount. Check them both out here…
Old Man Mountain from Bend, Oregon, just lifted the curtain on two interesting product prototypes. Before I go into much detail, note that these are just prototypes, and the finish and production are still being refined. We don’t know anything about pricing or release dates just yet. Feel free to ask questions in the conversation below, and folks from Old Man Mountain will likely chime in, as they often do. Here are the details as we got them.
Old Man Mountain Axle Pack and Flip Cage
Since their merger with Robert Axle Project, Old Man Mountain has capitalized on the use of axles as a means to mount their racks. This not only provides the option for bikes without the proper eyelets, but it also offers a load-bearing advantage by removing stress from the frame and fork.
Now, OMM has made use of this same concept for folks who don’t have fork mounts but are interested in using triple-mount cargo cages, such as Salsa’s Anything Cage or the King Cage Manythings Cage. The classic solution is to use hose clamps or electrical tape to attach a cage, and there are now quite a few other ways to add mounts to a fork. However, there are pros and cons to most of them. Hose clamps can rotate or break and don’t work with very many cages, and as we proved in our Guide to Bikepacking With a Suspension Fork, clamping force can bind suspension fork internals.
To solve all these issues, OMM designed the Axle Pack to be the perfect three-pack mount. It works by securely mounting to their specially designed axle studs so it can’t slide down or rotate around the fork legs. The upper attachment point uses OMM’s mounting pucks that are zip-tied into place. OMM also claims that the Axle Pack can carry a lot more weight than a fork as it doesn’t rely on small bolts and threaded eyelets to carry the vertical load. Axle Pack is rated to 10 kilograms per pair. OMM notes that the Axle Pack can also be used on seat stays, depending on the bike and heel clearance. We’ll share more details as we learn them.
Old Man Mountain FLIP Cage
According to Old Man Mountain, the Flip Cage has been in the works since 2019. FLIP is actually an acronym that stands for Fast Locking Integrated Platform. In short, the FLIP Cage is a cargo cage with a detachable foot so you can tailor it to what you are carrying. However, the trick up its sleeve is the built-in locking system. To demonstrate, OMM showcases it with a bag that has the FLIP system built in. To install it, the lower hooks attach to the bottom of the cage, then the lever slides through the recess, and the T-handle lever rotates 90 degrees to lock it into place. OMM claims it’s ready for all trail conditions.
Right now, the FLIP Cage is a 3D-printed prototype, but OMM states that molds are in the works, and the final product will be made from injection molded nylon. This will make it extremely durable and light. The bag shown is a simple shop-made prototype, but the end product is in development and will share the same waterproof construction as their new Ponderosa Panniers.
Old Man Mountain also added that they’re making the FLIP connection system available as an OEM option to other bag makers. “There are so many fantastic bag makers out there that we will be making the FLIP components available.” So, if you’re a bag maker and you’re interested in making FLIP-equipped bags, make sure to reach out to them.
We look forward to hearing and sharing more details on both of these products, so stay tuned!
Further Reading
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