New here, over 50, just started riding bike 3 months ago after only riding occasionally with my kids when they were younger for many years. I am riding for fitness and my mental health! I am loving it!
I would like to know what is the most secure handlebar mount for an iPhone? I bought a $10 one and had doubts about it right away so I was watching and caught it when it came loose after a mile on rough streets.
Will the vibrations damage my phone? I ride on rough streets and a few wash-boardy gravel roads. I live in a rural area with only one very short, smooth bike path here.
Also best mounts for headlights that won't rattle off or let the light start pointing down?
Limited funds available.
Thank you

Quad Lock! I went through many, almost losing my new phone. Don't mess around.

I just got a Rokform mount this week. The way the phone mounts is like the Quad Lock but also has a magnet and tether. The one I got is actually a motorcycle mount but works well on the bike. Amazon Warehouse had it for $12.99. I also like the thin case for the phone that comes with it.

Quad Lock seems to be the bee's knees. I have a Galaxy S8 and the Quad Lock for that isn't out yet. If it had been, I woulda got that first and been done with it. Might be a bit more expensive than the competition, but seems worth it to me. Seems wiser to go that route than to try several cheaper ones and still not be satisfied. I have a cheapie one right now that gets by. There's several versions found on Amazon. It has a spring loaded clamp for the sides, then rubber band type things that grab each of the corners. It's stable enough. I trust it for now, and for a couple of seasons. Yet I imagine those bands will eventually break. It does take some fidgeting to get it secured in to my liking without covering too much of the corners of the screen, or accidentally opening some apps in the process. It mounts to the handle bar securely, yet I'd prefer to mount on the stem like the Quad. Or at least the option.
The only thing I don't like about the Quad is having to use a dedicated case. Though the more I've thought about it, I find myself taking the case off my phone for several reasons anyway. So realistically, swapping or removing cases really isn't a deal breaker.

Everyone I know who uses a Quad Lack says they should have started with the Quad Lock.

But they're pricey.

If your budget is limited check out the Delta phone caddy mounts. I've used a Delta for my iPhone 4s for several months. Works great. Cost only a few bucks because Amazon was blowing out the Delta mounts for discontinued phones. It's not as slim and elegant as the Quad Locks, but it holds securely and seems to isolate the phone from vibration. By design it offers a lot of protection -- the entire phone, except for the display, is encased in protective plastic. If the phone frame ever popped loose from the handlebar attachment it would still be protected from most impacts. But for that to happen the bolt would need to strip or the handlebar mount would need to break. Neither is likely to occur.

The Delta mounts can be attached to the caps on threadless stems, or clamped to the handlebar on older quill stem bars like my older bikes.

They are limited in orientation. It's pretty much the handlebar or threadless stem cap only, with the phone mounted in vertical/portrait mode. It *could* be mounted to some top tubes, but only in horizontal/portrait mode and might interfere with knee motion on some bikes.

I use the Delta mount only on my road bike. On my hybrids I use little padded pouches Velcro strapped across the handlebars. Those hold my phone, glasses, etc. I don't look at my phone cycling apps while riding so I don't really need the phone mounted visibly on the bar. It's just more streamlined on the road bike. If I need to access a map or other app I just pull over and stop anyway.

Two years now, with quadlock "bike mount pro" on the bike. I move the mount from bike to bike as needed. For the phone, I adhere a "universal adapter" to the back of my phone case.

Recently relocated universal adapter to back of water proof box (from Walmart) which contains the phone.

Thank you all for the input. I am going to look at the Delta, but it sounds like the Quad lock is worth the money. thank you again

You said most secure mount so it would be Quadlock. However, you also said limited funds. My wife and I both use Vibrelli phone mount. Rock solid over all surfaces, the phones do not move. I even forgot to attach the silicone strap a few times and phone stayed on securely.

For headlight mount, do you mean something like a flashlight? If so you can look at the Two Fish lockblock.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've been super happy with the Topeak RideCase installed on my stem cap. Very secure.

Delta makes one for the iPhone 6, 7+, I have one and it holds my 7+ very securely. Some of the county roads around me are in terrible shape and it has never failed. They also make one for the smaller phones. And it's $20.

Here's a link:
https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Holder-...older+for+bike

Probably dozens of different phone mounts.. the top of the line of Ortlieb Bar Bags let you put the phone in the top of them

in the map window. and touch screen through it.

personally as you say : I'd say put it in your pocket , stop, use the phone, put it back in your pocket, and concentrate on riding, and the traffic around you.




...

I look at mine constantly, it's no different than looking at my speedo in my Jeep. Plus my app will talk to me at set intervals, I have it set to spout out my selected stats every 1/2 miles. I also use that to remind me to take a few swallows of water.

Yeah, the handlebar bag thing is worth considering as well. I occasionally ride my hybrid with an Agu handlebar bag and put the phone and spare USB battery inside the waterproof touch-sensitive map pouch. That way I can run the phone with the display active and the USB battery will keep it continuously charged all day. Even my Agu bag cost less than a Quad Lock, although that's because Nashbar was blowing out unsold new/old stock of a discontinued Agu weatherproof bag.