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Using a phone as a bike computer?

by bikedoofus
Sun, Sep 20, 2015 11:37
17

I ride with a mobile on me as an emergency backup and re record gps data to log my rides (I don't race, just like to track myself). I generally use my old Samsung S3 in a freezer bag for waterproofing. I've now been looking at bike computers like Garmin's Edge Touring model with turn by turn navigation, think this would be handy to go find new routes, particularly on 50-100 mile rides. I've been thinking, why not combine the two? Less weight, less complexity etc etc. There are a few waterproof android phones about, some of them nice and small and some ruggedised so could be attached to the bar/stem in place of a bike computer, with one of the various apps providing bike computer duties, strava recording the ride in the background and Copilot or google maps providing directions. Was thinking about the Jeep Z6+ phone;

http://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_197181.html?currency=GBP&gclid=CN...

This seems to be waterproof, has GPS, it's ruggedised which may save it in a prang, has dual sim slots so I can use two PAYG sims to have the best chance of actually getting network in the event that I ever have to phone for a taxi/wife, and being a little 4 inch screen would fit nicely strapped over my stem.

Problem is how to mount it to the bar/stem - no mount for this phone seems to exist, nor others particularly. Looks like there are various bar to phone mounts designed for motorbikes I could use however. The back plate appears to be screwed on to the device so I'm thinking I might epoxy a mounting plate to the back which I could then cable-tie to the stem.

Anyone done this or found any useful workarounds?

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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17 comments

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farrell | 9 years ago
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I'm not sure if it has been mentioned but the Finn mount has cropped up a few times, I've no personal experience of it myself but it may be of interest to some.

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deejaysee | 9 years ago
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No brainer using a phone as your bike computer surely

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fukawitribe replied to deejaysee | 9 years ago
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deejaysee wrote:

No brainer using a phone as your bike computer surely

All depends on what you want to do and what your phone can do.

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CGT | 9 years ago
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I tried it with a Motorola Defy + (waterproof, Android 2.something)
Too small and slow.

A Sony Experia Z or THL T6 Pro (chinese waterproof Android) would work better and be a decent phone for day to day stuff.

If you run in flight mode the battery lasts well.

I used the Viewranger app to follow pre-made GPXs (exported form Strava routes)
It was really good and the free version comes with OS Cycle Maps

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fukawitribe | 9 years ago
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..some previous computer/phone discussions which might be useful
http://road.cc/content/forum/108899-smartphones-and-long-rides-strategy
http://road.cc/content/forum/111842-gps-computer-or-smart-phone

..and DIY mount (Dave Atkinson comments and other links in the comments)
http://road.cc/content/review/131108-quad-lock-universal-bike-kit

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bikedoofus | 9 years ago
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This one looks to have the biggest battery of those I've found that look appropriate;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A9-Rugged-Android-QuadCore-Camera-Shockproof-I...

Also despite having a 4.3" screen this is slightly smaller than the Jeep phone.

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si.brown | 9 years ago
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+1 for the Quadlock universal mount. I ride with my iphone in a LifeProof waterproof case, works a treat!

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robjordan | 9 years ago
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I was considering something similar with an alternative cheap Chinese waterproof Android phone: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/231563449137

One minor snag: The GPS on these cheap phones don't pick up the GLONASS (Russian satellites), which recent Garmin models and most name-brand phones do. So you might find it takes longer to pick up a GPS fix, or accuracy may be slightly reduced. It's not the end of the world but made me think twice.

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bikedoofus replied to robjordan | 9 years ago
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robjordan wrote:

I was considering something similar with an alternative cheap Chinese waterproof Android phone: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/231563449137

One minor snag: The GPS on these cheap phones don't pick up the GLONASS (Russian satellites), which recent Garmin models and most name-brand phones do. So you might find it takes longer to pick up a GPS fix, or accuracy may be slightly reduced. It's not the end of the world but made me think twice.

Looks a good phone, though can't see battery capacity. Also it's larger, think I'd rather stick to 4 inch for a bike phone. Not using GLONASS shouldn't be an issue, we got on fine without it before!

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ConcordeCX replied to robjordan | 9 years ago
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robjordan wrote:

One minor snag: The GPS on these cheap phones don't pick up the GLONASS (Russian satellites), which recent Garmin models and most name-brand phones do. So you might find it takes longer to pick up a GPS fix, or accuracy may be slightly reduced. It's not the end of the world but made me think twice.

But if it is the end of the world and your gps isn't accurate enough to warn, you might fall off the edge...

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bigshape | 9 years ago
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i use my old android phone (htc one) without a sim card, on aeroplane mode strapped to my bars, and have my 'proper' phone in my jersey pocket with wifi hotspot turned on for data for maps etc.

i've disabled all non-essential apps (email, weather etc.) and set the screen backlight to minimum.

currently using strava to record rides mainly, and i also have an app called sports tracker which is pretty good as a bike computer - lots of stats over 5 screens. (duration, distance, current speed, average, energy, last mile speed, altitude, max speed)

battery seems to last ages this way - approx 70% left after 4hrs

i set it up a few weeks ago and have it secured pretty crudely at the moment in a cheap silicone case with a couple of holes cut in the back and small zip-ties attaching it to the stem - i can take the phone in and out easily if i stop, but probably need to look into a better solution as it's not waterproof...

sorry for the essay! 21

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Tintow | 9 years ago
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If you're prepared to stick something to the phone itself then the Quadlock is a neat solution as it's quick to lock/unlock from the stem.
I use a quad lock case and it's slim enough to use as a day to day phone case.

e.g. http://www.quadlockcase.com/products/universal-bike-mount-kit

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bikedoofus replied to Tintow | 9 years ago
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Tintow wrote:

If you're prepared to stick something to the phone itself then the Quadlock is a neat solution as it's quick to lock/unlock from the stem.
I use a quad lock case and it's slim enough to use as a day to day phone case.

e.g. http://www.quadlockcase.com/products/universal-bike-mount-kit

Looks interesting, way overpriced for what it is though (just the mount - I won't need a cover). I'll probably mcgyver a gopro mount or similar to do the same thing.

Edit: Actually having looked again the universal mount isn't too expensive in the UK and looks quite an elegant solution. Also additional mounts available if I change phone later etc. Looks a good bet!

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Chuck | 9 years ago
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Another, possibly significant advantage (as that review suggests, I don't have one!) is longer battery life than using your phone alone as the screen doesn't have to be on.

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bikedoofus replied to Chuck | 9 years ago
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Chuck wrote:

Another, possibly significant advantage (as that review suggests, I don't have one!) is longer battery life than using your phone alone as the screen doesn't have to be on.

The Garmin I was looking at was supposed to have 15 hours when using auto dimming, where the screen comes on only when there's a turn coming up. I would think with a 2500mah battery you'd get about the same with the screen auto dimming, especially if it's in airplane mode with all wireless units turned off and just GPS on.

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Chuck | 9 years ago
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Another approach is to have your phone effectively working as the guts of the bit on your handlebars, like this:

http://road.cc/content/review/123319-wahoo-rflkt-iphone-powered-bike-com...

I think they work with Android too now.

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bikedoofus replied to Chuck | 9 years ago
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Interesting, but still involves carrying two separate units and costs more than a cheap waterproof android mobile anyway. But it does solve the problem of fitting to handlebars I guess.

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