iPhone/Smartphone bike mount, anyone use one?

[domtyler]

Hi all,

I have been using my Garmin Edge 305 for years now, it is great, battery lasts for days etc. Trouble is, some of the apps you can stick on your iPhone are pretty damn good and make it much easier to upload/download routes, stats etc. Does anyone have any experience of using their iPhone or other Smartphone as their main bike computer? If so, which bike mount have you been using? I was looking at the Quad Lock thing which looks like it works but is only available via mail order from the States and is pretty damn expensive at $70 although they do offer free shipping... Also, are there any other considerations when doing this, battery life etc.? Any thoughts would be appreciated...

 

[Goonerobes]

I've got the Biologic from Wiggle @ £35.99 & have used both Strava & Runtastic apps together for 35 miles without running out of battery. (although on anything longer than 50 miles I'd probably just run 1 app).
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/biologic-bike-mount-for-the-iphone-4/
It secures well but make sure as the first time I used it I didn't & saw my phone bounce out & fall on the road closely followed by me as I forgot to unclip in my panic to stop & pick it up!

 

[snailracer]

I DIY'd a number of mounts for various satnavs and smartphones, my thoughts:

• Needs to be waterproof
• Touchscreen needs to be accessible - this rules out rigid screen covers
• Covers must allow access for charger cable, assuming you have the means to charge it while riding. A smartphone running a GPS app might last only 2-4 hours on a full charge
• Front shroud to block daylight from "washing out" the screen and rendering it unreadable
• Side/rear shroud to prevent unwanted attention from nosy drivers/pedestrians
• Adjustable angle to minimize reflections from the sky or your own face/body at night, or to prevent the phone jumping from landscape/portrait mode
• Matt-finish clear screen cover to reduce reflections
• Landscape and portrait-mounting options
• Mount needs to be shock-absorbing to avoid rattling your phone to bits
• Mount must not have pointy/sharp bits that might injure if you fall onto it
• Mounting position forward of the stem to avoid bashing against your knees when riding out-of-the-saddle
• Mounting position below the bars, so your phone does not get crushed if the bike flips
• Mounting position offset to one side, to leave space for bike light
• No close-fitting metal parts that affect your phone's GPS antenna
• Few parts - because parts get separated!
• Removable parts must fit into pockets when leaving the bike
• Must remain secure even if one cable tie or rubber band breaks.

 

[Ciar]

I bought one about £25, in all honesty for me personally my phone went back into my shorts pocket, 3-4 times I went down a kirb or up a kirb the top unit which holds the phone came flying off, luckily it's well made it didn't break or scratch and my phone was fine, but the last time it happened i was in the road with a red bus right behind me, i had to wait and hope my phone didn't become an ex phone! luckily the bus missed it by about 10cm, after that I chalked it upto experience.

odd part is i have ridden trails and the bloody thing didn't move once or fall off! explain why it did on the road cause im clueless.

 

[DrLex]

I've been using a Topeak Ridecase since April last year on both commuting bikes; ideal for visibility & access and had no issues with rain or "unplanned detachment". Will be getting the iPhone 5 version if I upgrade.

 

[vickster]

I bought one about £25, in all honesty for me personally my phone went back into my shorts pocket, 3-4 times I went down a kirb or up a kirb the top unit which holds the phone came flying off, luckily it's well made it didn't break or scratch and my phone was fine, but the last time it happened i was in the road with a red bus right behind me, i had to wait and hope my phone didn't become an ex phone! luckily the bus missed it by about 10cm, after that I chalked it upto experience.

odd part is i have ridden trails and the bloody thing didn't move once or fall off! explain why it did on the road cause im clueless.

This sounds like the one I have! Would steer clear. The biologic one is meant to be best or the topeak bag

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Tigra-BikeConsole-Bike-Mount-For-iPhone_50608.htm

 

[DazC]

I use the Topeak Dry Bag, used in a variety of weathers and has been pretty good.

My only annoyance is the faster is a clip belt style so does rattle a bit when clipped onto the bars using the provided mount, but it's pretty secure. Used mine for over 1K miles and has never failed or come of the bike, unlike myself

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-iphone-drybag/