Just got Beth's email about the new Tom Cats that fit the Jones Loops to say there's some available, ready in time for Christmas.
I've been using a prototype since the summer which has been great and I also noticed a couple of refinements to the production version since I got to play with one.
Have been using mine with GPS on the stem and Revo on the front loop with no interference problems. Cable port on the forward facing side means I can poke out the connector for my sinewave too, right where the Revo sits.


http://www.wildcatgear.co.uk/shop/handl ... s/tom-cat/

Fat Lions available too but I've not been allowed one of those.

Having seen a couple of proto's in action, they look very nice, I love the idea of utilising space that's otherwise redundant.

Think the Fat lion should be called ... Lenny.

Have to say I'm tempted, although I do use the middle sections of the loop bar as handholds. They help a lot in strong headwinds, especially on road, adding over 1mph to speed.
Also at the moment I have my Garmin 800 on an out front mounting into the middle of the loop. I find I can tilt it so the worst of rain runs off the screen.

s8tannorm wrote:Think the Fat lion should be called ... Lenny.

But then the Tom Cat would need to be called Top Cat

But there is another joke/pun surrounding the Tom Cat name, originating from Wales.

Must admit that cartoon characters open up a whole new avenue for product names

Must admit that cartoon characters open up a whole new avenue for product names

Oh yes, how about Rory from Animal Quackers, he was a big Lion ... although you'll need to be of a certain age to recall.

But there is another joke/pun surrounding the Tom Cat name, originating from Wales.

As in the rogue / robber / villian?

Nice - 1 ordered for the fat bike - "Fat Cat has the wrong connotations I suspect.

s8tannorm wrote:

But there is another joke/pun surrounding the Tom Cat name, originating from Wales.

As in the rogue / robber / villian?

No, don't think so
Think music, but possibly not to your taste

Obviously I'm well off the mark there then.

I was referring to the legend of Twm Shôn Catti the 17th century rogue from near Llandovery ... finding his cave makes a good afternoons adventure.

Ah, very clever. But you're over thinking it.

Clue in the title of the latest blog post on the Wildcat website.

Very good name Ian. I like.

FLV wrote:Very good name Ian. I like.

I must bow to a superior mind - Beth came up with the name for this one

I see Jeff Jones on Facebooky as a very similar picture of one made by Porcelain Rocket (zip looks more on the top)
sorry struggling to link to it from my phone

Like the look of the Tom Cat, zip in better position and has a small gap where the loop joins the cross piece (where the other one has it filled) Means it's still useable for hand positions

Tom Cat bags are now officially in stock. All pre-orders will ship first thing tomorrow

Tom cat does look more useful than the PR version, good to keep that part of the loop open for grip options.

Fingers crossed the velcro doesn't conflict with the 4 straps on my Sweetroll..

jameso wrote:Tom cat does look more useful than the PR version, good to keep that part of the loop open for grip options.

Yes, I'm glad we made that choice - it was a final tweak of the last prototype

mountainbaker wrote:Fingers crossed the velcro doesn't conflict with the 4 straps on my Sweetroll..

I can guarantee compatibility with the Mountain Lion and Lioness

Ian wrote:I can guarantee compatibility with the Mountain Lion and Lioness

If the inner front velcro loops interfere with the loops from the sweetroll, I'll unpick the velco loops and sew a little further out. Have made my own bags before, so quite happy to do this. I wouldn't expect you to make a bag that works with every other bag combo out there!

This and the lioness extra front bag look great! I'll see if I have any money left after Xmas (and both kids birthdays in the same 5 weeks...)

No surprise that they look good mind, you can see the effort that goes into w/c gear.

Ian,
Thought you weren't allowed near those carbon Jones bars !!
Sneaky....

I can't work out the name thing? 'If only I knew' but then again 'it's not unusual' for this to happen.

Fantasticmrmatt wrote:I can't work out the name thing? 'If only I knew' but then again 'it's not unusual' for this to happen.

So 'Whatcha gonna do'?

'Don't fight it', 'It's just a matter of time'.

Or you could leave it to 'some other guy'?

zigrat wrote:Ian,
Thought you weren't allowed near those carbon Jones bars !!
Sneaky....

They were allowed out for product promotion purposes (though I did manage to get them on the scales when Beth wasn't looking ). They've been put away again now...

Ian wrote:

Fantasticmrmatt wrote:I can't work out the name thing? 'If only I knew' but then again 'it's not unusual' for this to happen.

So 'Whatcha gonna do'?

'Don't fight it', 'It's just a matter of time'.

Or you could leave it to 'some other guy'?

What a load of Thunderballs.

My Tom Cat has arrived and is fitted. I had to move front light and Garmin 800 out front mounting, but like the new positions anyway

Here is a terrible quality picture

I had to move front light and Garmin 800 out front mounting, but like the new positions anyway

I run my Garmin Etrex to the left of the stem on a short extender - mainly to keep it out of the way in the event of a crash
Although you like the new position, could you have your mount positioned in the same way, effectively pointing towards you, on the right of the stem?
Alternatively, mount in on top of the stem itself, with a different adaptor?