Originally Posted by
WheresWaldo
The iPhone 4 is also not a huge phablet on your bars either. So with the correct case and maybe some mount that puts it out in front of your handlebars or above the stem, it would actually be unobtrusive.
Just a side note, you mention how the iPhone 4 is old tech, bear in mind that the Edge 800 is over four years old and the 810 is over two years old. So my suggestion is use this setup, which by your description is a workable solution, until Garmin announces 'The Next Big Thing.'
@Dave Cutter; your description would be considered normal use for a smartphone, so battery life should never be an issue. Screen time is what sucks battery power and you phone screen is likely off within seconds after placing it in the ziplock and your jersey pocket. That said, Rom5:8 wants to actually use his phone in lieu of a cycling computer, cheap or otherwise.
Yeah a mount and a case. Ooh, what about one that works with an external battery pack! Oh, oh, and has ANT+ capability built in? Like, I dunno; just spit-balling here; but, maybe; you know...
...The one mentioned in the original post of this thread? The mount mentioned in the OP that's available for $29 because it's "out dated" bundled with a speed and cadence sensor that also adds ANT+ capability to the iPhone? Sort of the whole point of the whole thread?
(EDIT: Reading that back that sounds really sarcastic and mean. Don't take it that way. I'm just being a butthead. You can't convey tone over the internet. Not yet at least!)
(Just messing with ya!). And yes, smartphones seem to move at the speed of light. The reality though; there's functionally no difference in the way Strava or other apps perform or newer smartphones. Perhaps screen size or battery life; (and Bluetooth 4.0 is a nice plus but until the cycle computers adopt the ability to use BT4.0 sensors; the ANT+ sensors seem a wiser investment).
I think there was some confusion as to what this threads about though. I wasn't trying to discuss the merits of using a smartphone vs a cycle computer. It was just me noticing this on Amazon and wanting to pass it along. I know a lot of folks who use the smartphone-in-the-back-pocket as a cycle computer; or even a cheapie-wired one; who might also have an old iPhone laying around. Because it's "old tech", these mounts are being fire saled out (because they don't work with the newer phones). Heck; even if you just want a speed and cadence sensor; this BUNDLE is actually CHEAPER than the speed and cadence sensor itself. So I was just trying to pass that info along.
Originally Posted by
Dave Cutter
I have a nice large screen GPS device that I use in the car when traveling. It's really nice to have the big screen with the 3D, and lighting options. But I also listen to the radio and talk on the phone when driving. I prefer a little less distraction when cycling. Maybe... I am just old.
For me it's about fitness. I began losing weight a little over a year ago and am trying to get fit. I've been running, and cycling looks like a good 'next step' for me. Something I can really enjoy. Where a cycle computer comes in handy is measuring progress. I could just go ride until I feel tired; and there's nothing wrong with that. But for me; it's great motivation to see that, over time; I'm going farther, and faster. I've done the same thing with running.
Originally Posted by
Domane
For me the Garmin 500 computer works perfect. It is small and provides a lot of information through 5 pages that you can scroll through at the push of a button or you can set it auto scroll. You can find the Garmin 500 for as low as 150 dollars on line. If you have a Bontrager DualTrap speed and cadence sensor it pairs right up with the Garmin computers as does the Bontrager heart monitor. As I had the DualTrap and Heart monitor from Bontrager from my Node 2 Bontrager computers all I had to do was obtain the Garmin computer and sync the sensors.
I liked the Bontrager Node 2 computers and had one for my bike and one for my wife's bike but the Garmin 500 just does more so I picked up two of them and now we are tracking more useful information that syncs with our personal computers so we have a running record of each ride now to track our progress.
We also have BlackBerry Z10 touch screen phones and have cycling apps on them but the phone apps like others above have stated just are not as easy to work with when riding as the Garmin computer solutions. With our Garmin 500 computers attached via K-Edge mounts the Garmin 500 sits out in front of the bars and just a little lower than the top of the bars and is in a perfect position to quickly glance at it without having to completely look down taking your eyes off the road.
If you find a Garmin 500 complete with speed+cadence sensor for $29 new in box shipped let me know! LOL!
I love BikeForums. I've only been here a short while and it's already a favorite of mine. I know it bugs some people; but I kind of love how the folks around here are so good at tangenting off! LOL. I expect just to pass along a cheap find that might come in handy for a couple of folks and ended up with a page long thread of $500 options to replace my $29 find. I guess that's why this is an expensive hobby for so many people. HA!