Sram Quick View Computer Mount

SRAM's Quick View Computer Mount is a simple and sturdy mount for a Garmin, Quarq or Bryton computer that frees up space on your handlebar or stem by placing the computer out in front of the bars. Not the first to market this idea, there's now several on the market, as we discovered in this article of alternative Garmin mounts.

It's made from a single piece of glass-filled nylon with smooth chamfered edges, and weighs just 20g. It also eliminates unsightly rubber bands with a single T25 stainless steel bolt clamping it solidly in place. I left the bolt just loose enough to permit angle adjustment on the first ride, and once I settled on a favourable position, cinched up the bolt a little more. It's a very stable clamp; even on rough roads it doesn't rattle and shake about.

I used it with a Garmin Edge 500 - it'll work with any computer that uses the circular twist-and-lock interface. The computer clicked into place with the same authority as the regular Garmin mount.

The Quick View - and the many other out-front mounts currently available - essentially float the computer just ahead of the handlebars. Why would you want to do this? The regular computer mount works just fine, you might be thinking. And you'd be right. But the Quick View frees up space on your stem or handlebar which could be used for other things. And some computers, especially the bigger ones like the Edge 810, might not fit happily on shorter stems.

As I run a 12cm stem, fitting a computer to the stem has never been a problem. Since riding with the Quick View however, I've realised there's another very good reason for using them. When riding hard, with hands deep in the drops, your head hovers further over the front of the bike. Checking the computer screen in such a position requires a bit of a reshuffle. Not so with the Quick View mount, as it's placed further forwards I find it very easy to just glance down at the screen to keep an eye on my heart rate or power output.

For most people the Quick View doesn't really solve a problem, but I know some people with particular stem/handlebar setups that will appreciate its space-saving design. I'm not sure personally I like the look of a bike with one of these alternative mounts - and they are very popular at the moment - but that's purely a personal thing.

Which just leaves the cost, £14.99, which is roughly half the price of most of the other similar mounts, so SRAM are undercutting the competition quite aggressively. It's still more than a regular Garmin mount, £9, which comes supplied with the GPS unit anyway. And I suspect only SRAM fans are going to be interested in adding a SRAM logo-ed product to their handlebars.

If you're short of space though, the Quick View is a valuable method of freeing up some space. It also has the advantage of placing the computer screen in a position that is easier to view when you're riding the bike, which is a good enough reason to use it. It's also more secure than any clamp that relies on rubber bands.

Verdict

Simple, light and sturdy mount that frees up space on your bar/stem and offers easier viewing of the computer screen.