Kootenay Mountain Culture Reviews the
Kermode Bear Spray Holder
The website has offered a glowing review of the device crafted by Ghostrider Equipment in Fernie, BC.
“It’s amazing to think people have been riding bikes for over a century, and carting around bear spray for four decades, but no one ever thought to design a bike-specific bear spray holder. Until now.” So writes gear reviewer Vince Hempsall in a recent article that features Pat Simpson’s Fernie-based company Ghostrider Equipment, and the product he developed called the Kermode bear spray holder.
The article not only gives a well-rounded assessment of the holder based on aggressive riding in the bear-filled woods of Nelson, BC, it also offers up an interesting history of bear spray. “In the 1970s a poor problem grizzly nicknamed Growly was relocated from Glacier National Park in Montana to northern Manitoba. There, researchers subjected him to various tests to see what would be an effective bear deterrent,” the story reads. It then goes on to discuss various tests that included such irritants as boat horns, bells, and, eventually, pepper spray. The latter was found to be the most effective and today thousands of hikers and field workers in the Kootenay region carry bear spray containers in hip-belt holsters. But bikers play in bear country too? How should they carry their spray? That conundrum is what Pat Simpson solved.
Gear reviewer Vince Hempsall didn’t have any bear encounters on his mountain bike rides with the Kermode bear spray holder, other than seeing some fresh, steaming evidence. But he did encounter plenty of testing conditions, from rutted, root-filled tracks to smooth, fast descents. The Kermode proved its worth by staying securely attached to the bike frame, even during jarring rides that could have easily shaken loose a weaker product. He then explains the Kermode’s construction and it’s various attachment options.
The story goes on to say the Kermode isn’t just another piece of gear—it’s potentially life-saving. Having bear spray close at hand while cycling could make all the difference in a wildlife encounter, and Ghostrider’s innovative solution allows bikers to carry their spray in a stable, easily accessible spot.
What makes Kermode bear spray holder even more of a Kootenay success story is how various local experts were brought in on the project. For example, Pat worked with Nelson-based gear engineer Cam Shute of Dark Horse Innovations and Carla Uy from Selkirk College’s Digital Fabrication and Design program. Plus, materials are sourced in British Columbia, such as printing filaments from Matter3D Inc. in Victoria.
To read the review in its entirety, visit KootenayMountainCulture.com and for more about the Kermode, visit Ghostrider’s maker page.
