Hi, i hope everyone is doing great today. I have my own ideas and im sure ill think of something that will work well, but i could use some input. I have a Garmin e-trex handheld gps unit that i want to attach to my handlebars. Without buying any type of "mounting kit" from garmin, (which i assume they will charge at least $15 for, and i am quickly going broke- i just bought my first house), how would you guys go about attaching it to your bikes handlebars? My bike is a trek 700, with the stock handlebars that came with it.

Thanks,
Jesse

Pllease, let me be the first:

Duct Tape

In case you change your mind > https://tinyurl.com/675jv6

I feel better that my Garmin eTrex will not go flying off the handle and can be removed in seconds...

For $9 that's SO the way to go

I have heard of issues with the Etrex series bike mount being not secure. I think I read about that on MTBR and some other cycling forums.

That would explain why a lot of people are making a DIY mount for thier Etrex instead of paying the $9-$15 for it because some have already paid that price and dropped (thankfully not lost) thier GPS. If you plan on using that Garmin bike mount make sure you use that lanyard attachment as a backup so if the GPS slips you won't have it bouncing off on the road/etc which perhaps a car could run over it or lose it.

I was thinking something along using two strong elastic bands. Like the really strong ones you get from holding the broccoli (western broc) together and the ones they use to keep the claws from pinching you on the lobsters.

I'll have to draw out what I'm thinking unless you can some what figure out what I'm thinking right now. I was thinking of stem mounting that GPS. Say use two really small PVC tiny pipes of about 1 inch long for the small piece and 4 inches long for the other piece. With the small piece you drill a hole on the sides large enough to run a ziptie through it. THat is the piece you'll be zip typing to the stem. The second piece you screw it togheter with a screw to the first piece before stem mounting it. Now add some gun tape or foam and tape up the longer piece so it can give a soft buffer cushion for the GPS then with two strong elastic bands you put that on the top of the GPS and the bottom of the GPS allowing all functions to be still operational.

Ok uploaded my sketch here. https://www.flickr.com/photos/49184877@N00/

I've only had the unit pop out of the mount once on a very bumpy trail. Since I usually have to struggle to disengage it, I assumed I hadn't properly secured it in the first place.

I mount mine using a normal #64 rubber band. Attach the rubber band to the GPS by looping it through the little triangle ring on the back, wrap the band around the handlbar (usually twice) and loop over the top of the GPS.

I also tie off the lanyard to the bar so that the unit does not fall to the ground if the band breaks.

and shaped styrofoam, plus a neoprene band and self adhesive velcro strips.
that is how i roll.

Just get the etrex mount and wrap the lanyard around the handlebar. If the GPS disengages from the mount, the lanyard will save it.