Spec me a: phone bike thingamajig

Anchundan · 20 Feb 2011 at 15:49

I think I'd feel extemely nervous with my phone so exposed on a handlebar mount. Maybe it's the type of roads I cycle on, but the first sign of potholes and I can see my phone flying loose.

I have a smallish top-tube 'pannier' type bag, with a mobile phone pocket on top (in betwen the two panniers). It's really easy to whip out the phone from the pocket whenever I want to check GPS directions etc. but the pocket isn't clear. I'm sure it could be modified though.

Craig321 · 20 Feb 2011 at 16:15

Saundie said:
Why not buy a handlebar mount for your phone, so that you don't have to keep getting it out of your pocket or backpack?

I know I definitely wouldn't want my £500 iPhone mounted on the handlebars of a bike that could potentially go rolling down the side of a large hill, scraping along a road, or the mount could simply fail if going down a bumpy path or something.

I don't see why you'd need more information than speed/distance on the handlebars though, if you get lost you just get the phone out and find a route.

The OP has said he wants to see distance/speed, so I think the cycle computer + phone in bag method will do perfectly.

Windle · 20 Feb 2011 at 16:57

Endomondo is a good app by the way

Craig321 · 20 Feb 2011 at 17:12

Or RunKeeper

Saundie · 20 Feb 2011 at 17:46

Craig321 said:
I know I definitely wouldn't want my £500 iPhone mounted on the handlebars of a bike that could potentially go rolling down the side of a large hill, scraping along a road, or the mount could simply fail if going down a bumpy path or something.

My phone is slightly more robust than an iPhone, so I'm not overly concerned about that. It's also waterproof, so I don't have to worry about it getting wet. Besides, those handlebar mounts look pretty beefy, and I'm fairly confident that they're not just going to fall off.

Craig321 said:
I don't see why you'd need more information than speed/distance on the handlebars though, if you get lost you just get the phone out and find a route.

The OP has said he wants to see distance/speed, so I think the cycle computer + phone in bag method will do perfectly.

If all you want is a way of seeing your speed/distance at a glance then I agree, a cycle computer is the way forward. I have one on all of my bikes, and they're good enough for most of the cycling I do. I want to start cycle touring soon, and so being able to see the route at a glance by having the phone on my handlebar is worth £20 to me. Clearly if you can't see the advantage to it then I'm probably not going to be able to persuade you otherwise, and it's not something that I feel strong enough to debate over.

Please don't take this as me being deliberately contrary or awkward, that's not my intention. The OP asked for advice on handlebar mounts, so I provided him with the results of my own searches. If he decides that he still wants a handlebar mount, then that's his choice, likewise if he sees that he is in error and goes for a cycle computer instead.

PardonTheWait · 20 Feb 2011 at 17:52

I've not used SportyPal but I've used Endomondo which is the same sort of thing, it gives you audio feedback through the headphones about how long the last mile took, or how many miles you have left and expected finish time and so on. I just put it in my pocket or in a little camera bag on my belt (geeky time)

Russinating · 20 Feb 2011 at 17:54

As said, using a cycle computer for during and sticking your phone in a pocket with Endomondo or similar running for post-stats is the way forward.

Dewotter · 20 Feb 2011 at 17:55

Saundie said:
My phone is slightly more robust than an iPhone, so I'm not overly concerned about that.

Come back and tell us that when it goes carrering over the handlebars onto concrete.

Draeger · 20 Feb 2011 at 17:57

Windle said:
Endomondo is a good app by the way

This is what I use. I have a Cateye Micro on the bike and I just start Endomondo, stick my iPhone in my rear pocket, then go do my run.

Get home, fire up the PC and log into my Endomondo user account. And there it is - your route and all other info on the distance covered. Awesome. It even tracks in real time so the missus can see where I am ( good / bad idea??!!

).

I've got Sportypal and iMapmyride installed too but I always end up using Endomondo. It just does everything perfectly. :cool:

Saundie · 6 Mar 2011 at 10:34

RKO said:
Come back and tell us that when it goes carrering over the handlebars onto concrete.

Well, the good news is that it finally happened; I was doing about 30mph down a very bumpy road when the phone came out of the holder. The road was horrible, I was very nearly shaken off the bike myself. The phone bounced once, the back came off and landed near some parked cars. I was able to retrieve the phone and back cover and carry on with my journey without further issue. I guess the moral is that there are limits to what it'll withstand, but then that should come as no real surprise. I am very pleased with the holder, and I'm amazed that it didn't let the phone go sooner. The bracket that attaches to the handlebar doesn't budge; I can lift the bike up by it.

I'd go so far as to say that I endorse the universal swivel mount, as long as you don't try to use it while going DH or anything absurd.

Begbie · 6 Mar 2011 at 10:38

Saundie said:
Well, the good news is that it finally happened; I was doing about 30mph down a very bumpy road when the phone came out of the holder. The road was horrible, I was very nearly shaken off the bike myself. The phone bounced once, the back came off and landed near some parked cars. I was able to retrieve the phone and back cover and carry on with my journey without further issue. I guess the moral is that there are limits to what it'll withstand, but then that should come as no real surprise. I am very pleased with the holder, and I'm amazed that it didn't let the phone go sooner. The bracket that attaches to the handlebar doesn't budge; I can lift the bike up by it.

I'd go so far as to say that I endorse the universal swivel mount, as long as you don't try to use it while going DH or anything absurd.

Cable ties for extra protection.

Zip · 6 Mar 2011 at 10:57

Saundie said:
My phone is slightly more robust than an iPhone, so I'm not overly concerned about that. It's also waterproof, so I don't have to worry about it getting wet. Besides, those handlebar mounts look pretty beefy, and I'm fairly confident that they're not just going to fall off.

Motorola Defy?

Saundie · 6 Mar 2011 at 11:14

Begbie said:
Cable ties for extra protection.

I don't want to have to cut the phone free every time I want to take it out of the mount.

Zip said:
Motorola Defy?

Indeed. It's pretty tough, for a smartphone.

Zip · 6 Mar 2011 at 11:33

Saundie said:
Indeed. It's pretty tough, for a smartphone.

Good to know

Ive got one too and coming from the Sonim XP3 where the back plate is made of metal and has screws to hold it on i was a bit concerned about the flimsyness of the Defys back plate.

Im getting my self an otterbox commuter case for it soon to beef it up that little bit more.

Just a shame that Ballistic dont make cases for it.

Saundie · 6 Mar 2011 at 11:45

Zip said:
Good to know

Ive got one too and coming from the Sonim XP3 where the back plate is made of metal and has screws to hold it on i was a bit concerned about the flimsyness of the Defys back plate.

Im getting my self an otterbox commuter case for it soon to beef it up that little bit more.
Just a shame that Ballistic dont make cases for it.

It's nowhere near as tough as a Sonim, but it's not a directly comparable product. The Sonim doesn't have a touch screen, which I imagine helps a great deal in ruggedising a device. The phone I used before was a Samsung B2100, which is the same sort of rugged device as the Sonim, and the Defy is not as robust as either. That's not to say it's weak; it survived a drop of 1m onto concrete while traveling at about 50kph, after all. I imagine a fruit based phone would have shattered into hundreds of little pieces.

It's interesting that you should mention the back plate - it seems to have been slightly bent out of shape by the impact. I can still lock it in place, but I can't tell if it's still making a seal and so I'm not sure if the phone is still waterproof - I'm not especially keen to test it...

Temi_D · 6 Mar 2011 at 11:50

http://shop.nokia.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdetail_10512_10102_-11_70000597 ? Has a micro usb charger as well.

Zip · 6 Mar 2011 at 11:51

I know what you mean about it not comparing to the Sonim.

I got a new plane and the defy came with it so the ol sonim is in semi retirement.

Ive just found a company that make aluminium cases for the Defy so i might get one of those instead of the otterbox since it means i wont need to wait for it as long.

My back plate has had a bit of a curve upwards from factory. That disapears asoon as it looks in place though

Saundie · 6 Mar 2011 at 12:20

Zip said:
I know what you mean about it not comparing to the Sonim.

I got a new plane and the defy came with it so the ol sonim is in semi retirement.

Ive just found a company that make aluminium cases for the Defy so i might get one of those instead of the otterbox since it means i wont need to wait for it as long.

My back plate has had a bit of a curve upwards from factory. That disapears asoon as it looks in place though

I had not really noticed the curve before, however you can see what I am talking about here (and also the scuff from being dropped):

Had I left it in cheap rubberised case that I ordinarily have it in, it would have survived the incident completely unscathed. Fortunately I keep phones until they die, because now it has almost no resale value

Tomsk · 6 Mar 2011 at 12:31

Saundie said:
I don't want to have to cut the phone free every time I want to take it out of the mount.

Use 'Velcro one wrap' instead.

Saundie · 17 Apr 2011 at 11:24

Time for another update;

Thankfully I had the phone in it's case, so no scratches were incurred this time. Amusingly it came off at almost exactly the same place as last time, though less amusingly the entire thing went under my back wheel. More good fortune was had in that none of the cars following me ran over my phone.

I wonder if I can get my money back