kennj123

I'm looking for a navigation device i can put on my handle bars for navigation that can handle heat and rain. I would like turn by turn directions. it needs to have blue tooth to communicate with my wahoo. I'd also like gsm so i can put my sim card in it. here's one i found:

Casio G'Zone Commando C811 4G LTE 16GB Black Android Rugged Verizon Smartphone 044476815645 | eBay


or am i better off just getting a garmin 500 or 800?

John_V 

That phone won't work because it only supports Bluetooth 2.0 and your Wahoo sensors will not work with that older version of BT. Any phone with a rugged 3rd party case should work for what you want or you can go with the Garmin if you have to purchase the phone.

kennj123

>>Any phone with a rugged 3rd party case should work

i have an Iphone 5 that shutsdown due to heat when i have it mounted on the handlebars during the summer. I'm hoping if its called rugged it won't do that.

John_V 

When you said rugged, I was thinking more on the lines of protection from breaking from a fall. I have an iPhone 5c that I keep in a plastic and rubber case that I have been using for almost three years and it's mounted on my aerobars. The phone sits horizontally with the screen facing upward. I live in Central Florida and it's hot and sunny here for most of the year. The only time I have ever had my phone overheat was when I stopped for an extended rest and left the phone in the case and in direct sunlight. My rides are daily and last an average of 3.5-4.5 hours (including rest stops) and other than the scenario I just mentioned, I have never had my phone overheat during a ride to the point that it shut off, especially while moving. If I stop for a rest and the bike isn't in the shade, I take the phone with me and keep it in my jersey pocket until I start riding again.

If you're using your phone as a cycling computer, you may want to look into the Wahoo RFLKT. It will display all your data from your cycling app and will allow you to put your phone in your jersey pocket to protect it from the sun. The RFLKT is compatible with the MapMyRide app which does have the turn-by-turn feature. Other devices that are similar to the RFLKT are the Cateye Padrone series and the Topeak Panobike series of computers. Unfortunately, these devices will only work with their apps and neither support turn-by-turn navigation. Both the Cateye and Topeak devices support Bluetooh so your Wahoo sensor(s) will work with them, but they're connected directly to the device and not to your iPhone.

hammond9705

Garmin a are great, but for navigation u will need an 800 or 810. If u want the phone I would look at Samsung S6 Active

Calla lily

I have a Samsung Galaxy s5. I've found it pretty rugged. I also live in Central Florida. It's been rained on, never submerged though. It's in a tough armor case. Until recently, when riding, it would be in a plastic covered handlebar bag with no airflow, like this one. It never overheated in it, but I didn't have the screen on all the time, only for a couple minutes at a time. The only time my phone has overheated was taking a long video in 100 degree temp. If you are wanting the screen on constantly, I think the only issue would be battery life. I now have a Wahoo RFLKT so the phone goes in a different handlebar bag. I don't know how well the RFLKT works with turn by turn as I've never needed it and have only had it a few rides.

Seattle Forrest

Another thought: you might be able to make a cheap phone work?

I think they're more rugged than most people think they are. I use mine in the rain all the time. It's maddeningly difficult to send a text in the rain but it can be done, and as far as I can tell it doesn't hurt the phone. I've had it a year and it rains a lot in Seattle. I paid $80 for the phone. I dropped my last phone about 35 feet to a granite ledge, it fell out of a pocket I should have zippered shut while I was rappelling. Had a small dent in the case but it continued to work. I've never heat stressed a phone so I can't comment on that. If I was in the market for a new phone I'd let this one go for a song. If you find a cheap, possibly used phone, you won't be out much when it eventually dies.

Podagrower

I've used a variety of Android phones on my bike. Motorola Droid 1, Motorola Droid 4 (used a ANT+ adapter with both), HTC Rhyme, Galaxy S4 (which have native ANT+ support), and Nexus 6 (ANT+ radio can be turned on thru a root hack). I didn't go the bluetooth route so I can't give you feedback about it, but I never had issues using ANT+ to read Garmin sensors. I never had issues with shutting down for overtemp, but they were plenty hot. I heard 2 people with Iphones talk about them shutting down over the summer (phones were in bags with no airflow). Having said all of that, I use a Garmin 810 now; 11 hour battery life, made to get rained on, phone stays dry and charged for phone calls.

Drew Eckhardt 

I'd get a bike computer but not necessarily an Edge 500 like I own and does not do maps or Garmin which always has software design and implementation issues. I pre-ordered a Wahoo ELEMNT to see how that goes (supposedly shipping in a few weeks) but will compromise with an Edge 1000 if that does not work out. Ray Maker at www.dcrainmaker.com has good reviews of most bike computers showing what your current options are.

My Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport ran out of battery navigating with Google Maps driving ~2 hours to a ride, was down to 15% riding for 8:48 following a sunrise departure when I left my phone in my jersey pocket with ridewithgps running but the screen and GPS off except when I pulled it out to navigate, and quickly went from 40 to 5% when I pulled it out to navigate a few times in 40-45 miles being very careful to keep ridewithgps stopped and gps disabled when I wasn't actively using it (that forced me to change my route home to a more familiar one).

Sensor support is also bad on phones with native ANT+. Neither of the two apps I've tried (mapmyride and ridewithgps) supported my builtin Samsung ANT+ hardware, only bluetooth sensors. That precludes using ANT+ only power meters including older used PowerTaps which can be found for under $200 without jumping through hoops like a ANT+ to BlueTooth bridge heart rate monitor and running apps which support the composite device profile.

Drew Eckhardt 

How much battery life do you get out of it, running what cycling apps?

canklecat

Can that case be adjusted to record video in landscape/horizontal mode while riding? I'm looking for something similar for my iPhone 4s. None of the ad specs or comments for phone mounts seem to discuss recording video, just use for navigation, music, etc.

sierrabob

My rather complicated airline pilot biased suggestion: buy a Garmin Edge 500 and an android phone with the biggest battery at the price point you like. Learn how to build and download routes using ridewithgps and bikeroutetoaster to your Edge 500 and smartphone. Learn how to use Garmin courses and this free app for turn by turn instructions: Index of /latest-night-build. Plug in your headset, switch the phone into airplane mode, place in ziploc bag, and carry in your jersey pocket. This setup will give dual independent navigation with a visual display of a TCX course and audio cues for a GPX track that should last at least 12 hours. For added endurance, bring along a dual port battery pack to charge both phone and Edge 500 (using modified USB host cable).

tds101 

Samsung Galaxy S6 Active,... 64gb, great battery life, rugged, reliable.

gauvins

I'd say yes. I prefer a Garmin touring mounted on the handlebars and a smartphone turned off, tucked in a pannier. While a phone can be coaxed into providing you with the information you require, the Touring is designed for the job - rugged and better battery life.

Drew Eckhardt 

Please define "great battery life" when it's stem/bar mounted with screen on and cycling application running.

tds101 

My battery life varies, but I tend to get a full day with a lot of screen on time. There's a few real world reviews floating around. Google, watch, read, decide.

One thing you will see is that they ALWAYS say there's no 64gb version. Yes, there is. I'm using it. Just be forewarned, unless you buy it straight away, it's locked to AT&T. You can unlock it if you purchase it then and there.

Drew Eckhardt 

I also get a full day out of my S5 with its 2800mAh battery pack and 5.1 inch screen, except when I attempt to use it for navigation which can drain it in 2 hours.

The S6 has a smaller 2550mAh battery powering the same size screen and should do worse in the same situations. How bad is it when you use it for riding?

tds101 

I guess you didn't do as I'd suggested, and checked out specs & reviews. The battery is 3500mah, and I get WAYYYYYYYY more than 2 hrs when I've used it for automotive navigation.

Here's the specs from a reputable site, and they do wonderful reviews as well.
Samsung Galaxy S6 active - Full phone specifications




PS: I'm not trying to come off as sarcastic or obnoxious. I'm just letting you know that your best avenue, even after suggestions are made, is to do some research.

John_V 

Unfortunately, no. The case I use has a solid back and won't even allow the taking of photos with the phone in the case. However I have seen a set up on one guys bike where he used a bar end extension mounted in the center of his handlebars and had his phone mounted in a landscape position on the extender.

canklecat

Thanks, much appreciated. I wonder why there aren't more iPhone mounts designed to record video as well from the bike? I suppose the introduction of the GoPro at about the same time as the iPhone 4/s negated the demand for such a thing. And since video cameras are available so cheaply now it might make better sense for me to go that route than adapt the iPhone to shooting video while riding.

Calla lily

Paid attention on today's ride. Ride length about 1 hr 45 min. Battery from 95% to 78%. Running Wahoo app with RFLKT and Panobike speed & cadence sensor, gps on, bluetooth on, wifi off, and most of the area has poor cell reception. Phone kept in handlebar bag and screen off except once to look at google maps and a couple times to take photos.

bobwysiwyg

+1, I use mine on every ride, no problem with battery live using live tracking (MapMyRide and Strava, one day both simultaneously) for more than two-three hour rides and that includes routine use before and after the ride. I use a holder on the handle bars that would allow photo/filming in portrait mode, but not landscape because of the location of the camera lens (top-center). If it were located in an corner, it might, but I don't use it for that anyway.