Pros and Cons of iPhone Mount on handlebars
#1
Thread Starter
I need more cowbell.
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,182
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From: Reno, Nevada
Bikes: 2015 Specialized Sirrus Elite
Pros and Cons of iPhone Mount on handlebars
I'd love to hear the pros and cons and people's experience mounting an iPhone on the handlebars. Also, if there's a particular mount you'd recommend (or avoid) love to hear that as well. While I hope to get a Garmin 510 one day, for now I'm happy using the Cyclometer app on my phone - but I think I'd like to see the screen as I ride. Right now, I keep the phone in my jersey pocket.
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2015 Sirrus Elite
Proud member of the original Club Tombay
2015 Sirrus Elite
Proud member of the original Club Tombay
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 263
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From: Canada
Bikes: 2013 Trek 8.4 DS
I thought about doing this, but considering I can hardly see my screen in direct sunlight, I doubted it would be very useful pointing straight up at the sun while cycling! I have a Samsung however, perhaps that iPhone is a bit better, but here is what I am talking about:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqnosPs1_zo
Other issues will include battery life when you switch the screen to "always on at full brightness". Probably no more than an hour when fully charged, and then you have a dead phone after your ride.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqnosPs1_zo
Other issues will include battery life when you switch the screen to "always on at full brightness". Probably no more than an hour when fully charged, and then you have a dead phone after your ride.
#3
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 8
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From: South fla
Bikes: 15' Specialized Sirrus Comp Disc
I have a quad lock mount for my iPhone 6. It's mounted on my stem. I have 0 issues with visibility and I burn about 10% of battery life per hour running cyclometer and pandora simultaneously. I just make sure I'm at full charge before longer rides. I haven't been riding that long but so far it hasn't been an issue.
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 263
Likes: 2
From: Canada
Bikes: 2013 Trek 8.4 DS
Your phone can go for 10h while the screen is always on at full brightness??? Or do you tap it every time you want to look at it?
#5
Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: West Palm Beach, FL
Bikes: Giant Escape 3
I have a quad lock mount for my iPhone 6. It's mounted on my stem. I have 0 issues with visibility and I burn about 10% of battery life per hour running cyclometer and pandora simultaneously. I just make sure I'm at full charge before longer rides. I haven't been riding that long but so far it hasn't been an issue.
I had a clip on mount before and I never felt 100% comfortable with my phone on it especially every time I went over a bump. But the Quadlock is totally secure. I'd definitely recommend it.
#6
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: sconnie
Bikes: BMC alpenchallenge AC01 IGH8
I got this last week and it's attached via the supplied stem cap mount. I took it on a 12 mile ride over various surfaces and no issues.
Topeak RideCase with Mount - iPhone 6 Plus - REI.com
Topeak RideCase with Mount - iPhone 6 Plus - REI.com
#7
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
My wife and I have used the SlipGrip holders for 4 years now with no problems. I don't know if i would trust it on a mountain bike but we have ridden off curbs and even on cobblestone for a short distance and the phone stayed in. I got my SlipGrip to fit my phone while holding a silicone cover. It holds it in good!
#8
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 8
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From: South fla
Bikes: 15' Specialized Sirrus Comp Disc
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 92
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From: South Jersey
Bikes: 2014 Novara Strada - 2013 Cannondale Quick 4 - 2015 Ghost Tacana 3
I love mounting my phone in a Stem Mount and my road bike and hybrid. I use a Delta Smartphone Caddy (https://www.amazon.com/Delta-HL6100-P.../dp/B00L34959O)
I do not have the screen on, but I will play some tunes or answer a call if i had too on speaker. VERY STABLE and no slippage, I highly recommend this mount!
I do not have the screen on, but I will play some tunes or answer a call if i had too on speaker. VERY STABLE and no slippage, I highly recommend this mount!
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Cheap ended up being best for me on this subject. I found exactly what I wanted at Target for cheap.
Schwinn Smart Phone Holder- Gray : Target

It works great, offers a little protection from rain, doesn't cause my Samsung to shut down from overheat and the little Target bluetooth speaker next to it works good too. I put my wallet in the other compartment. phone slips in and out easily. working the touch screen trough the clear plastic is not perfect but not horrible. the side buttons are a little PIA. I can use speaker phone through the plastic, but not perfect.
Cyclometer kills my samsung windows phone battery so I stopped using that and just ride. pandora is all use now.
My wife has the I-phone/pad 6 super big thing. If needed, I could see if it fits in there. she got a holder from he bike shop that is a sealed plastic bag and her phone shuts down of hot days.
Schwinn Smart Phone Holder- Gray : Target
It works great, offers a little protection from rain, doesn't cause my Samsung to shut down from overheat and the little Target bluetooth speaker next to it works good too. I put my wallet in the other compartment. phone slips in and out easily. working the touch screen trough the clear plastic is not perfect but not horrible. the side buttons are a little PIA. I can use speaker phone through the plastic, but not perfect.
Cyclometer kills my samsung windows phone battery so I stopped using that and just ride. pandora is all use now.
My wife has the I-phone/pad 6 super big thing. If needed, I could see if it fits in there. she got a holder from he bike shop that is a sealed plastic bag and her phone shuts down of hot days.
#11
Senior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 113
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From: Gulf Coast of Florida
Bikes: 2015 Giant Sedona DX Hybrid
I use this with the handlebar bracket.
Delta Smart Phone Caddy II For iPhone or Android - BlueSkyCycling.com
It works great. I run MapMyRun with screen in constant on mode. For long rides I have a power bank I plug into the phone and drop it into a small handlebar bag on the bike. It keeps my phone fully charged for hours.
Delta Smart Phone Caddy II For iPhone or Android - BlueSkyCycling.com
It works great. I run MapMyRun with screen in constant on mode. For long rides I have a power bank I plug into the phone and drop it into a small handlebar bag on the bike. It keeps my phone fully charged for hours.
#12
I used a mount simply to keep my phone somewhere besides my pocket, since I save battery by turning the screen off, it isn't to look at the display.
For the display, what I am usually interested in is on my Pebble that I wear on my wrist while riding (running Map My Ride on the phone). I just switched to a handlebar bag so I could carry my DSLR, and it has a clear map section on the cover that they have relabeled in the documentation as a cell phone holder so I keep the phone there, but again, I don't typically have the display on.
For the display, what I am usually interested in is on my Pebble that I wear on my wrist while riding (running Map My Ride on the phone). I just switched to a handlebar bag so I could carry my DSLR, and it has a clear map section on the cover that they have relabeled in the documentation as a cell phone holder so I keep the phone there, but again, I don't typically have the display on.
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Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
#13
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2
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I'm using Koomus BikeGo 2 https://www.amazon.com/Koomus-BikeGo-.../dp/B00MLS8IU8
I would highly recommend it. Very solid, doesn't move even on bumpy rides and the phone feels very secured!
I would highly recommend it. Very solid, doesn't move even on bumpy rides and the phone feels very secured!






