Last week I realized something kinda surprising. I don’t have a bottle cage on my ebike. I don’t ever fill a water bottle and bring it with me when I’m running errands by ebike, even if I’m out the better part of an hour. I have no good explanation for this, nor do I defend this ongoing lapse.
With that admission, I’ll say that when I was introduced to the Handlestash, I knew I’d have a good excuse to improve my behavior. The Handlestash is, simply put, a shock-absorbing cup holder.
My previous experience of cup holders is both brief and remarkably consistent. You don’t even have to hit a pavement seam to send liquid flying with a traditional cup holder. I once wrote catalog copy for a manufacturer of cruisers and they had to specifically ask me to mention the cup holders because I’d not included them in the first draft of my copy … because I think cup holders are stupid.
What can I say? The Handlestash mocks my suspicion. It is a cup holder that features an elasticized design intended to reduce downstream consequences caused by bumps and vibration. More on the mounting clamp in a sec, but the relevant point for the moment is that it mounts tool-free.
There’s a drawstring that can be tugged if you want to carry, say, a bottle of Coke (or Corona). When fully open, it accepts a 12 oz. can easily, and a water bottle with a firm push. Included is a thick piece of foam you can insert in case you want to carry an 8 oz. cup.
In my testing, I’ll admit that I didn’t crack the can of fizzy water and immediately insert it in the Handlestash. Something about tempting fate. When I open a canned drink in my car, I make sure to take three or four sips before placing it in a cup holder in order to lessen the opportunity for splashy-splashy. It seemed reasonable to me to apply the same standard in using the Handlestash.
Honestly, I expected I’d see a bit of splashing. Had I rolled the speed bumps at full speed, I’m sure I would have, but I went the speed I’d go with either a passenger or groceries and not a drop emerged from the can. Color me surprised.
The Handlestash is mounted with a quick-release-style clamp, offering the promise that you might remove it easily, such as if you’re sweetie steals it off your bike and puts it on theirs. For that reason, I suggest buying two.
That this thing offers enough shock absorption to work effectively compounds my wonder with the bare fact that when I look down, I see no movement, which may be the answer itself.
Admittedly, $35 is a princely sum for a cup holder. But the counter-argument is to point out the futility of buying a cup holder gives your coffee wings, and no, I’m not talking either caffeine or Red Bull. It comes in 16 different colors and prints; as I cycled through them all, I had the feeling I was shopping for a pair of Vans. I like the bright red because I don’t have to look down to grab the can.
Final thought: I might actually do the Dew while riding.