Installation

The Fauna Cargo Cradle installs in two stages. First the support and collar go into your spacer stack, exactly as they do for the Handlebar Bag Support and Kitty Collar. Then the cage body bolts to the support.

If you haven’t worked on your stem or headset before, read the Handlebar Bag Support installation first. It covers the headset steps in detail, and this page refers back to it.

What You’ll Need

• Hex keys for your stem clamp bolts and top cap bolt (usually 4 mm and 5 mm)
• A hex key for the M5 cage bolts
• A 2.5 mm hex key for the collar’s pinch bolt
• A torque wrench, especially if you have a carbon steerer
• A toe strap or similar to hold the fork in the frame
• Carbon assembly paste, if your steerer is carbon

Caution

Incorrect headset or stem installation can damage your bike or cause injury. If you’re not comfortable working on your stem or headset, have a local bike shop install the cradle.

Installation Steps

1. Remove the stem: Follow steps 1 and 2 of the Handlebar Bag Support installation. Support the fork so it can’t slide out of the frame.

2. Make room: Remove 13 mm of spacers from the steerer. The support takes 5 mm and the collar takes 8 mm. Take them from below the stem to keep your bar height the same.

3. Fit the support and collar: Slide the support onto the steerer with its platform facing forward, then the collar directly above it. Turn the collar until its pins drop into the holes in the support. Leave the collar’s pinch bolt loose for now.

4. Reinstall the stem and set preload: Follow steps 5 through 8 of the Handlebar Bag Support installation. Set the headset preload and tighten the stem clamp bolts before you touch the collar.

5. Tighten the collar: Tighten the pinch bolt with a 2.5 mm hex key, only as much as it takes to stop the support rotating. Don’t go past 1 Nm.

6. Bolt on the cage: Set the cage body on the support’s platform with its backplate flat against the platform and its open side facing up. Line up the slots in the backplate with the threaded holes in the support. Thread the three M5 bolts through the cage and into the support by hand, then tighten them evenly to the torque listed below.

7. Check clearance: Turn the bars fully left and right. Make sure the cage doesn’t touch the frame, fork, or tire, the cables move freely, and there’s room for your hands and brake levers with the cage in place.

8. Load it: Strap your dry bag or gear into the cage and make sure it can’t shift. Two straps, one at each end of the load, hold better than one in the middle.

Torque Specifications

Bolt	Recommended Torque
Cage to support bolts (M5 × 16 mm)	4 Nm
Collar pinch bolt (M3)	1 Nm maximum, only as tight as needed
Top cap	Only enough to remove headset play, usually 1–2 Nm
Stem steerer clamp bolts	Stem manufacturer’s spec, usually 5 Nm

The torque printed on your stem always takes priority. Carbon steerers are easily damaged by overtightening, so use a torque wrench and carbon assembly paste if you have a carbon fork.

Final Checks

• Recheck the cage bolts, collar pinch bolt, and stem bolts after your first ride.
• Try to turn the cradle on the steerer by hand. If it moves, check the headset preload and stem clamp torque before adding tension to the collar.
• Stay within the recommended load of 2–3 kg (4.4–6.6 lbs) for road and gravel use.
• Make sure the straps stay tight and the load doesn’t touch the tire, head tube, or cables.

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