Bike Mount for iPhone - help
 

I was curious what you all use and/or recommend as a mount to put your iPhone on the bars of your road bike?

I use my iphone's built in fitness tracker to track my rides. I wear an apple watch - and between the HR monitor and GPS in my phone - it seems to do a pretty good job of telling me mph, total distance, HR, etc.... right now I have to flip up my writst and look at my watch to get this data as I ride..and it's not idea to pull my hand of the bars...

i'd rather have my phone mounted to the stem or handlebars so I can just glance down and see the info as I ride.

I have seen several systems. one thatl ooked cool was called Studio Proper.. it is a magnetic system where you put their mount on yoru stem, use their iPhone case..and it just magnetized to the mount... although I saw a YouTube review that basically said it doesn't work and his phone fell off repeatedly... not sure if it was just a competitor posting to damage their reputation or a legit customer.. anyway.. curious if anyone here has tried it.

there is quadlock and rokform which look similar to the Proper mount - only they snap in with a twist mount.

is there any reason I am not aware of as to why a dedicated bike computer would be better than using my iPhone mounted to the bars? Is there something that I can measure with a bike computer I can't do with my iPhone? I am nsomewhat new to cycling... so far I only track my distance, speed, calories burned, HR, etc..

I know there are ways to measure cadence and watts...not sure if that is something most advanced riders are tracking real time as they ride and whether an iPhone can measure those too? do you need special meters on the bike frame/wheels to do those or can you just have the right app/software?

i'm not opposed to a dedicated bike computer..but the good ones look to be a few hundred bucks and if my ipone will do it all - why not just use that!

I would prefer a mount that is clean and sleek.. the mounts that attach tot he stem look nice..the quadlock seems a bit cheap looking as it mounts with rubber bands..but my bike light mounts that way and it works great..so maybe it's not so bad.

function is more important than form...but having it look sharp and sleek doesn't hurt either. :)

any photos, comments, or observations are appreciated!! thanks!

I always have my phone with me for a variety of reasons so I don't need to carry the phone and a dedicated cycle computer. I use the Rockform Pro Series Mount, my iPhone, a Wahoo HR monitor, and Strava to track all of my rides.

I hadn't heard of the Proper M Lock so I looked it up. Initial thought was how secure could it be using magnets only to retain the phone, that was answered when I found the following disclaimer on their web site.

"Important - Cycling is unpredictable and the M Lock Bike Mount has been designed for use on smooth to mostly smooth road surfaces. It is not designed for bumpy/irregular terrain."

Most of my cycling would fall into the smooth to mostly smooth surfaces but there are a couple of different rails to trails routes I ride where crossing old train trestles is part of the mix. Some are quite rough at speed, the last thing I would want to see is a $700 phone come loose from it's mount and skid off of the side of the trestle and into the river below.

Nite Ize. Works on any bike so you can even take it if you travel and rent a bike. I've used mine to 2 years now and my son has one on his road bike. Handleband - Universal Smartphone Bar Mount Inexpensive, works great and absorbs vibration, and I've even used it as an emergency pants clip!

I use a combination of two items to hold my phones including the larger Galaxy S7.
1. istabilizer (it has two standard tripod mount holes that I use it on my bike handle bar tripod mount or any tripods if I'm carrying around my phone to video things. What I like is the two side wings that hold the phone are strong and grippy and I set the whole view of the phone screen and the grips are small enough that I can access my phone side buttons without taking it out of the mount. It is $15 right now on amazon

https://www.amazon.com/iStabilizer-S...ds=istabilizer

2. for the tripod mount on my bike handle bars I use the Arkon bike camera mount and then simply spin on the istabilizer to that mount. It works great for me and very sturdy! It's $13 right now on amazon.

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

I too would be interested in hearing other phone mount solutions and how they work for people.

I've tried a couple and, this is my favorite so far:

https://www.amazon.com/Delta-HL6100-...0P***4PDTQEQ1C

But, they're coming out with new ones all the time ..............

When I was using Endomondo to track my rides, I just carried my phone in my pocket. If they display was on it would just chew through the battery, so to get to last the whole ride, they display had to be off. So I just turned on, turned off the display, stuck it in my pocket and enjoyed the ride. I could look at all the stats later, it just isn't that important to me during the ride.

I just got this one. Seems to work pretty well.

I always used quadlock in the past, never had an issue with it coming off or anything else regardless of miles of chipseal and rr tracks and texas sized craters in the road I missed. Secure and reasonably priced.

Isn't that ^^^^^^^the truth. I could go about 20 miles before my phone battery died. Couldn't figure it out until I learned as you did, leob1..........turn the display off. I couldn't figure out why other riders were able to do 40, 50, 60 mile rides without their phone battery dying.

I have this on the stem of both my bikes for my iPhone. :love:

Handleband - Universal Smartphone Bar Mount

I also use the Nite Ize. Bought it at Target for $20.

I think there are some that use a holder with a plastic covering. Since an iphone isn't waterproof. (resistant)

I use a kyocera brigadier. Waterproof, for a long time. Just doesn't work very good.

I use a non-iPhone quadlock and it is very secure. the iPhone quadlock is even better because it comes with a case for the phone so you don't have to stick a plastic mount to the back of the phone.

Cheap and it works

I use the QuadLock and have been so delighted, I have bought another, and will buy even more for others of my bikes.

You don't have to stick the phone mount to the phone. I bought a back cover that the phone slips into, and stuck the mount to that. It means the phone (Samsung) can be swapped between that back cover and another flip cover I have.

I do randonnees, and my phone will last a century if I use the display sparingly. But then, I have the route instructions printed out in traditional form and on my handlebar bag. To boost for events over 100 miles, I use a battery pack with 8000mAh capacity. I have done two 400km distances with that arrangement and I am confident of doing a 600 and maybe even a 1000 with the phone and battery pack together.

I've also looked at using the Bluetooth function to record heart rate, but haven't got around to getting the strap yet. Apart from that, I use Strava, and mapmyride to plan routes, and all has worked as I wanted. Plus, other advantages over a simple bike computer is that I can take pictures, amuse myself at rest stops on the net, or make a phone call as needed to let organisers know that I have finished, etc.

Quadlock here as well, what others have said! I've definitely been on many bumpy rides, without ever a problem with it.

Geoff

I read of people attaching the quadlock mount to a case and then to their Android phone. The quad lock info said it doesn't work on TPU cases, of which all mine are. Didn't feel like having a phone fly off the bar so I stuck it right on the back of the phone and cut a square hole out of the back of my case. After a few days didn't even notice it anymore and now it's been months. YMMV

I was in the market for awhile but ultimately decided against a phone mount. I recently got into a run in with a car. Had my phone been attached it would have made a bad day worse as I'm pretty sure the phone would have been damaged. I also find phone screens hard to read in the sun. And then, overall, I realized it's more important that I keep my eyes on the road than have a computer to obsessively check.

All this to say, the advantage of a dedicated bike computer is that it's durable, easier to read in sunlight and won't leave you SoL if it gets damaged while you're out in the boonies. They can be cheaper than a phone too, though the higher end ones are around the same cost (which is crazy to me). BUT, for me, I'd rather not have anything mounted. Just ride and enjoy the scenery and keep an eye on the road for dangers. I'll run my phone from my jersey and review my stats in the safety of my home.

Lifeproof case with their Bike & Bar mount. I tried some cheaper cases and always had problems with the phone being thrown off when I hit a bump, etc. This one has never failed me. The case is really rugged, too - I've dropped the thing, stepped on it, etc, and the phone is undamaged.

iPhone 6 Accessories from LifeProof | LifeProof

Here's where you can get a bunch of ideas.

If you have threadless, I think a stem-cap mount makes the most sense.

I use a Quad Lock case and mount with a Zagg screen protector. Very tough, very sturdy, no complaints. It is mounted to my stem. LINK

I did this with an Otterbox Defender, it worked fine, but when I got a new phone I decided to spring for the actual Quad Lock case. The bump on the back doesn't bother me at all and the case material is easily as tough as the Otterbox was.

+1

I have a bike and windshield mount. Great system.

You bring up some good points on safety! My problem is when I put it in my pocket and need my phone to say turn on music or volume, etc then I take it out of my pocket without stopping and have dropped my phone or take my eyes off the road. Really what I need to do is pull over and stop riding to mess with my phone! Thanks for the good safety reminder! :)

I use a RokForm case and their stem mount.

The magnet in the case is insanely handy in many situations. Especially working on equipment in the field.

My QuadLock has been doing a great job. I picked up a 2nd mount so I have an outfront one that stays on my road bike and the one that came with it that is just attached with those round rubber bands that I switch between bikes. Very sturdy, and the case itself is very well made.The rain poncho it comes with works well too when you find yourself in some wet conditions. It's a bit of a pain but I only bring it along if it is supposed to rain

The only one I've tried for my bike is the QuadLock and I've been very happy with it. I went with the universal one that I stick to my own case. Picked up an Otterbox Symmetry case off Amazon to use with it for $15.