The Mork Mount iPod Nano Holder: A Hands-On Review

The Mork Mount, manufactured by Risse Racing, is a CNC machined aluminum landing pad for your iPod nano. (Get it? Mork, nano? Na-no-na-no, Mork and Mindy? Genius!) Witty name aside, the Mork Mount appears to be a clever solution to the age-old issue of where to place your nano while you shred singletrack, mow the lawn, or shop for groceries. Put your nano in your hydration pack, pocket, or purse and you lose the ability to adjust volume and skip songs-an inconvience that I, for one, am unable to tolerate.

The Mork Mount is the only music-related offering from Risse, which is best known for its after-market bicycle suspension systems and accessories. It's obvious that they've committed a hefty portion of time to ensuring the flawless performance of the Mork. Its hinged clamp and thumbscrew keep the mounting process simple and tool-free. Though Risse claims that the Mork fits standard 7/8in bicycle handlebars, I found that, mounted close enough to the shifter and brake levers, the Mork also fits oversized bars--meaning it will easily attach to your lawn mower, crutches, or shopping cart as well. Anal-retentive gearheads will notice that the screw and clamp have fairly sharp edges, which will scratch your handlebars if one attempts to mount the Mork too quickly. A few small scratches seem like a small price to pay for the unparalleled performance of the Mork.

I carefully removed my nano from the padded aluminum case it has inhabited nearly all its life. Safety first, I always say. I had forgotten just how small my teeny-weeny nano is without its protective case-it's just so cute! The Mork provides no padding between aluminum and nano, which caused me to fear for the safety of my little buddy. Once I secured it with the two super-tough rubber bands, though, I felt better. There's no way my nano could escape the Mork Mount.

I sorted through my music library and pulled up some Color Me Badd-damn I miss them-to start off my mountain bike ride. The Mork did not come with instructions as to whether I should ride with my headphone cords inside of or outside of my helmet straps. I opted for wearing my headphones outside of my helmet straps. This decision proved wise later when, while singing along to "I Wanna Sex You Up," I failed to negotiate a downed tree. As I bailed off of my bike, I snatched the headphones from my ears while I unclipped from my pedals and watched my nano meet bark. Though the nano suffered some trauma the Mork Mount remained in place and unscathed, providing proof it its durability and quality craftsmanship.