My current setup: An iPhone 12 and Apple Watch SE, both running the Cyclemeter app. These plus a Wahoo cadence sensor. The watch feeds heart rate data to the phone app and the cadence sensor feeds cadence data. That's all I need. I never ride more than 2-3 hours, and the phone has more than enough battery life for that. If this kind of repeated use shortens overall battery lifespan, I can replace that battery multiple times before I've approached the cost of a decent cycling computer. My 67-year-old eyes need the largest possible display, which is my primary reason for sticking with the phone.
When you watch TH-cam and someone is talking to the camera, it’s the most natural thing to see. When you see someone randomly talking into the phone on the side of road is quite an unnatural thing to see! So funny seeing you get busted! Great to include the footage to give the audience a clue about how difficult it can be making content. Thanks Katie 💰
iPhone, with OS mapping app so you never get lost if no GPS signal, can use without if needed. When bikepacking I just use a son28 Dynamo hub to a sinewave revolution USB adapter and then plug my phone in and it keeps it topped up on long rides. Only use batter bank when camping at site. Also use a quad lock mount. 👍👍
That climb from Bury road up to Ashworth moor Res is a long tough one but I love the views at the top, know it well as I live in Norden. I found that my Garmin always lost GPS signal under the trees in the first section just after Bury road.
I’ve just got back from three days bikepacking in North Yorkshire, I use garmin on out front mount and iPhone on quad lock on stem with power pack in toptube bag connected whenever needed, great for navigation and no need to worry about battery life,also charge garmin with two inlets.👍🚴🏽♂️.
The phone is significantly better for navigation but the head unit gives you all the metrics you want in a tiny screen. I always have my phone and head unit on a ride. Another benefit is if your head unit battery dies you can switch over to Strava on your phone and then join the two GPX files after the ride so you can view the whole ride - and finally, I have not worked out how to use tap’n’go payments on my Garmin so my phone is essential if I want to buy something to eat.
Quadlock does excellent products! I use them and I am very satisfied. The only thing that can become an issue when using a phone as a bike computer is the battery life. If you use it for navigation and have a couple of external sensors hooked to it, the battery can drain pretty fast. I am often carrying around a small power bank that I use specifically for that purpose.
I've been using navigation in smartphones since 2008. Yes, back then it was Windows Mobile 5 or 6. Ozi Explorer app worked quite good. Then, having switched to Android, Osmand app works just fine and shows elevation gains, provides offline navigation and routing. If I needed cadense and speed, I would install Garmin sensors on a bike and the corresponding app in a smartphone. Maybe even arrange split screen, when Garmin and Osmand are displayed simulteneously. No need to use main smartphone for that, old one will do just fine.
For navigation only, I prefer the larger screen on my smartphone. There are many bike-dedicated apps available. Naviki is one of my favorites. If I don't need navigation I use my Sigma Rox 12, it does everything a Garmin does but for a friendlier price.
My phone just doesn't last long enough to be able to use it on longer rides (or even medium rides really), so I opted for a bike computer. I went for a Wahoo Bolt. I can now just plot the route with my phone, send it to the head unit, and turn off the functions of my phone that drain the battery. The only downside I found, is that the version of Bolt I own, doesn't allow for on-the-fly rerouting, so when I want/need a deviation from the current route, I either need to zoom out a bit to check the surrounding roads, or plot a new route. The new version of the Bolt luckily allows for rerouting, so for anyone in the market looking for a head unit, I can definitely recommend it! I really like having a separate device for cycling, since I usually already have my phone in front of me when I'm not cycling.
I use phone in a quad lock for most things. But for a very long ride / bike packing I would need a generator hub to keep it charged. There are cycling apps that will give you cadence, power, etc. Cyclemeter would be one of them.
I have only ever had cheap wireless 'Cateye ' computer and have had Memory Map digital OS maps for whole country for many years, and have used on a rugged android phone with multiple Quadlock mounts, for hiking, biking and in the car, so never really seen the need for Garmin for bike. I don't use data connection on phone as on cheap pay as you go,so battery life is good. But I guess I tend to ride for fun mainly using a Brompton for touring around. You can get a few metrics out of the tracks created. Good to compare,max speed total time, etc for a route on my different bikes.
Some apps are capable of connecting sensors such as HR, cadence and speed, There are two that I've tried. Cadence and Supercycle. Cadence has a free and a premium version. Supercycle is completely free (the author just asks to pay him a coffee if you want). Like someone said, I use a Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 and it works great. If you consider to buy a second hand phone, try to buy with a barometric sensor. Thus the gradient is accurate.
Hi Katie, a little while ago I bought the Garmin Edge 1030 plus, I know you ride a lot of long rides. Here is my experience with battery life that I believe would be of interest to you. A 216 km ride, a 8:30 hour ride (11 hour total on time) with navigation on the whole way, no sensors paired and it used 20% of the battery - Really Great !!
@@KatieKookaburra Yes I was also pleasantly surprised. I was not having the Map page shown all the time - most of the time I had a normal datapage on, but navigation was still running and navigation screen was popping up when a turn was comming. Other settings: GPS only (GLONASS and GALLIEO off) Backlight auto off after 15 sec, Bluetooth off (no phone connected) and as mentioned no sensors paired. I was comparing it to my old Edge 1000 which I also had along on the ride. The 5-6 year old Edge 1000 ran out of battery after approx. 8 hours. Whether or not the battery life is used linear and if you therefor can expect the battery to last 5 times the time of my ride (8:30 hours times 5), that I do not know - but still impressive. By the way when I got the Edge 1030 plus I was disappointed when turning it on inside my house, the screen is dimm as kind of washed out when you a inside, but outside in the daylight the screen is really clear and backlight is not needed, outside the screen on the Edge 1030 plus is better than my Edge 1000, but maybe not as clear as the Wahoo's, I have never seen them, but hear they are clear.
I've just been using my phone with wahoo app keep it in my pocket. I have speed, cadence sensor and heart rate. Seems to work okay and uploads to Strava. Used komoot on it as well when rode into London using voice navigation and didn't get lost.
always carry my phone, but I record my routes in both Strava and Komoot and the battery suffers a lot, sometimes I found out that the phone has just automatically switched off. So I decided to buy my first ever bike computer, the SIGMA ROX 11.1 EVO, as I love its intuitiveness and simplicity, and I also can save my phone now. It's also compatible with Garmin Varia
I started mountainbiking six months ago, and got me a second hand teasy one for 65 €. Rugged thing, free maps, happy with it. Very good mount as well. Battery life is defenitly a bonus.
I wear my Garmin Fenix 5 watch to record the ride to give me all the metrics. I have my phone on a garmin mount with displaying Strava for details such as distance and speed whilst I’m riding. It’s easy to switch between Stava and Google maps for exploring. My phone is mounted to my Garmin quarter turn mount by a 76projects widget (£9.50) stuck on the back of my phone case.
I've been debating this myself now that I'm getting back into cycling. It's just indoors for now because it's winter so I don't really need either and am trying out virtual riding apps like Zwift. But come spring I'll be riding outdoors again so I have to decide eventually. Based on my needs, budget and the kind of riding that I've tended to do, I think that for me a basic wireless bike computer without mapping is the way to go, with the phone either in my back pocket or also mounted in case I do need to look at a map, with the screen off most of the time. But when I ride I tend to go on known routes so I don't really need a map while riding, but do like to know my current speed, distance and cadence, and maybe the time. A basic computer will do that just fine, and I understand that newer ones also give weather and altitude readings. If I ever move past 20-30 mile typical ride length on a known route type of cycling then I'll consider a computer with mapping. But for now I think this will suffice for my needs.
There are many apps to get Bluetooth cadence and speed (wheel rotation x circum) with cheap sensors AND reliable. Wahoo is one. I use Cadence app to have sensor metrics AND mapped route in ONE phone splitt screen. AND it uploads the ride on Strava once done. Route prev. done with komoot, then imported in Cadence. Best of ALL worlds.
Couple of other aspects: Some bike computers have matte screens which avoids sun reflections and make the screen more visible than phones. Some phone apps allow you to prioritize bike lanes in plotting a route, and some are based on Open Street Map, which is updated much more frequently than bike computer maps, e.g. with newly built bike lanes, and pins for potholes and other potentially dangerous things on a route. Sure you can transfer a map made on a phone to a bike computer, but they'll loose the pins and bike lane highlights. Bike computers do better in the rain that phones. Getting a call in the middle of a ride will hide some if not all of the map on the phone, which can be a problem.
Just got my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt and love it! You mentioned battery life at the end of your video and thats what I like the most. I listen to music during my rides and my phone is paired with my jbl speaker so if I have strava and youtube running my battery runs out quickly. I actually got my Wahoo for bikepacking to download routes but I'm experiencing unexpected benefits, especially riding faster. I think seeing the speed you are going pushes you more. Im smashing all of my PR on Strava now. BTW your videos convinced me to get a Wahoo computer. Thanks!
Bar mounting a phone can cause vibration damage to the optical image stabilisation for the camera. This issue has been reported from both motorcycles and MTBs. Quadlock claims to reduce vibration by 90% with the optional vibration dampener and reviews seem to agree that damage is avoided. I wouldn't use any mount without dampening though.
I always thought bar mounting an iPhone can cause vibration damage was "fake news" propagated by bike computer companies. Like who needs an bike computer when you can use your old iPhone ?
Thanks! I live in the desert where the ground temps can hit 170°F so I always use a GPS unit when the temps are cooler and my Garmin watch under my sleeve when it's hot... don't want my $1000 phone burning up. Otherwise, I'd use Strava or Ride With GPS on my phone all the time.
Another excellent video! I have used several bike computers and currently have the Wahoo Element Roam...my favorite so far and likely the one I will be using for a long time. I also carry my phone with me for a number of reasons (most of which you mentioned). Your video was very timely because I have been looking at mounting systems for my phone and I like the Quad Lock. Many thanks and well done my friend. Have a great weekend!
Thanks for the vid. I did Norway to Spain with a phone and was thinking to invest in a Garmin for my next trip. I think I’ll take your advice with the quad lock. I never even knew they existed to be fair. Happy cycling 👍
Hi Katie. I have only recently stumbled on your TH-cam channel; great platform, you always give us valuable information and advice. Thanks for your contribution. I am an ex-Wirral engineer who retired to NZ after 11years working in remote mines in Western Australia. The top of the bucket list was to do LEJOG in July/August 2019 which was achieved at a steady plod in 19 days. Happy memories. I used my Garmin 1030 as the input into Garmin Connect and Strava. I was lazy and mainly used Google Maps for navigation; quite often I had conflicts on the choice of route and chose the "sweet talking" Google option. Quite a few days my Samsung +9 phone over heated and I had to depend on the Garmin. This is ironic since having had 11yrs of perfect/hot Perth weather never once did a Garmin or Samsung product let me down. For me to experience this in Cornwall/Devon certainly brought a smile to me. So, in addition to excellent battery life, I would include improved environmental performance for the Garmin 1030 compared with a mobile phone for navigation, etc. Regards. Charlie
I use Garmin eTrex for navigation, it lasts forever. On my phone I have Locus 4 map app, it has offline maps and can connect to speed, cadence, hr sensors, no problem at all. My phone for cycling trips is rugged 4 inch Cubot King Kong Mini, case has Garmin quarter turn adapter attached with 3m vhb tape, holds it very well.
I tend to use both , if I am working out a new route I google map it and use it to guide my garmin! I also use quad lock. It’s a bit steep but it’s a game changer! After I’ve worked out my route I mainly use my phone for a phone call/music for my capacitive 🎧. Good video agent, thanks!
Can i ask if had experience difference between iPhone and bike computer especially in distance . I ride EBike and it has a speed and distance etc etc and i start using as-well iphone by downloaded an app called B.iCycle but i found a big deference in kilometers distance . The problem is i dont know who is right and who is wrong between them or if it is the software . Thanks for sharing .
Big screen and multi function is great. Power meters Bluetooth to dedicated phone apps. The clincher could be battery life, but if you're gonna carry 2 devices (eg phone & garmin), why not just carry phone and a (much cheaper) power pack to charge it? Just one question: when the rain kicks in, do you have to put your phone in your pocket, or is the quad lock case fully waterproof? Must admit, those quad locks look awesome - gotta get that
I use either a Garmin head unit or Garmin smart watch. I use the watch on the bike for my heart rate. Or like yesterday, screw up and leave my head unit at home. I have tried using my phone a couple of times to record the ride using Strava. How ever I keep forgetting how to record the ride as it's usually several years between using it. My phone has a 10300 mAh battery so I have now worries if it has a decent charge. A couple of months ago I was on a ride with my local club and a woman who has recently started coming out with the club after an 2 year hiatus. Was using her phone to record the ride. At the coffee stop she checked her phone and there was a message that Strava had stopped recording the ride due to the phone over heating.
what is the bike computer mount you have there ? I need a mount that can handle my bolt, but also at the bottom hold my light, but extend further out for the light only, so it doesn't interfere with wires.
I just got the Quadlock mount failing on me, and because of the peculiar circumstances, I lost the phone (long story, got stolen...). If you use a bike computer, where do you put the phone? In the rear jersey pocket? Somehow it doesn't feel very safe to me to put it there, but at the same time I don't like the idea of a front bag (because of the setup I currently have on the bike with the light) but then again, phones are too big for the saddle bags. :/ What people do?
I mostly track rides with a fenix 5 for known loops and I try to navigate myself from memory as much as possible. I have my phone with me for podcasts while riding using aftershokz Komoot gets me home if I get lost as I have a tendency to explore.
I always carried two phones when hiking to have an emergency back up. Now with new hobbie bikepacking specific routes I've started using komoot on my phones and have one I can power-packed charge when its on the bike stem while on the move. works OK. You can get great second handphones from magpie , a cheap pay as u go sim for a fiver which gives u a very useful spare emergency phone if required and a different better signal provider if required. . I still can't quite justify at moment a proper bike gps. With the phone u can also stick it on airplane mode and just use the GPS to improve battery etc , I also add sim data before a bike packride, and as u mentioned its really handy to use the phone for Google maps, os maps , shops, bike repairs and hotels 🙂 and zooming in out etc 😃👍
I'm using komoot and it's really cool app (we went to Cambridge, Oxford, Brighton etc from London with komoot and everything was ok) I'm always switching off data and leaving on GPS when riding so you can focus on the road. Also it's very helpful to carrying power bank for long rides 🚴♂️💨 and of course I'm using Quadlock - it's a great stuff!
I just found komoot! Even the free version is great, but you get some very nice features on the premium. I've been having so much fun just planning routes and looking through the POIs. Adding POIs to routes creates a kind of personalized tour guide for your route, which I find absolutely amazing for planning bike tours.
The wahoo app actually can connect to speed, cadence and heart rate sensors. You can also do laps on it - just see the feature, never really used it… BUT: there is a definite latency on Bluetooth talking to the app… so sometimes the data is a bit behind… better than nothing, but I also aiming for a dedicated bike computer. Hoping the new Wahoo bolt to be available here soon…
I use a Fitbit Ionic GPS equipped watch which downloads route & stats to the Fitbit phone app & Strava. It has stopped tracking on my 100 & 120km rides even with 30% battery left which was annoying, good for shorter rides. That Quad Lock looks interesting for the phone as I'd be worried mounting a phone with Australia's crappy & bumpy roads.
I switched to a Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt a while back for both indoor and.outdoor use. Something to consider on the battery life is battery degradation on iPhones. Continually using it as a bike computer will wear your battery out prematurely. It’s great to have as a backup but isn’t particularly practical for all the reasons you already stated. Better piece of mind using it for emergencies and extras. Definitely looking for a new mount now for my phone though so that it’s more accessible for taking pictures on rides
The advantage of using a gaming or other GPS unit is that you can play tunes more easily on your phone ... many Bluetooth speakers can fit in bottle cages
I always worry about battery on my phone. Oddly enough I use both karoo2 and phone attached so it’s easy to follow route but I can flick to phone should I need to easily find shops and stuff
I used to use my phone, but once I started to go on longer ride I switched to a computer since the GPS kills the battery and I like having my phone available,
Cyclemeter is an app for iPhones at least that show many of the stats that you mention - it can be paired with many/most sensors. It’s a very bike computer like app.
What are the rides you want to use it it for? Long? Short? Do you run as well? Do you need navigation? What battery life do you need? Some qs to consider :)
I have my Fenix 6x Pro to track data and record my ride, the Hammerhead Karoo2 bike GPS for navigation (and backup) and for me, it works well. I don't like the idea and mounting my phone on the bike I'd be worried the vibration would damage the cameras. I have heard of this happening on some expensive phones.
Tried a Garmin edge first time gps user got it to make a simple route convinced it was trying to kill me all the steepest climbs it could find and ended up in some farm with an angry horse galloping towards me, path way couldn't be cycled on....stupid thing. I've since learned you need other apps for routes.
As I'm not hardcore like you and only do less than 20 mile round trips along local canals I find using my phone ideal. I'm a long way off doing 100 mile rides
My first computer was a simple non-GPS speed/distance Cateye unit when I started riding last summer. Since then I’ve started using the Strava App on my phone to record my rides. Strava keeps recording with the phone asleep in my pocket so the battery life is OK unless I use the phone’s camera or other functions like maps then the battery runs down. Eventually, I’ll need a computer to navigate so I have my eye on the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 … apparently “coming soon” since a few months now? Do you carry an external battery for the phone?
Phone all the way. I have an UltimateAddons waterproof case for my Samsumg S10 and my motorcycles and MTB each have a RAM ball mount. I simply fix the UltimateAddons case to whichever bike I'm using and pop my phone in. I run the Komoot app for my MTB trips. In standard mode and screen on permanently, my phone battery depletes by around 12.5% per hour, so I lose around 25% per c25 miles. But in flight mode, and the app set to allow the screen to turn off and wake up when there's a voice command, the battery only depletes by around 5% per hour. I can easily ride for a day, checking in periodically for messages and missed calls. So depending on my trip, I take a battery pack or two with me. To use Komoot in flight mode you need to have maps installed for offline use.
Hmmmm. I’m debating one of the other… bike computer are pricey… and I carry a phone and battery anyways… down side of the phone… network speed For people more experienced in pigeon navigation… computer less of an issue. I don’t mind getting lost on long 100km rides. For novices…. If you have navigation fear.. more useful But i def see the advantage of it
Hi Katie nice scenery L go for computer the phone to big on the handle bars mine in my back pocket l only take my phone if something happens to my bike l like your sense of humour
Can never quite see the Phone on my bike with the glare I find. Love ashy valley - I know it’s not cycling - but use to run from Morrison’s in Heywood up though Ashworh valley and up on to knowl hill and back.
Love my bike quad lock and can say that my quad lock and phone survived a crash that my helmet did not. I have recently got a quad lock for my car and it is best thing ever.. you should get one for your van 😉
A here I thought that I was the only one that used Quadlock, ha ha, at least in North Dakota anyway. You should buy the tripod to phone adapter for filming purposes. It works great!
I already have it!!! It’s bloody awesome. To be honest it’s one of those things like I said that I didn’t really think I would use / need but actually it’s so useful for so many things :)
Strava certainly could pull in all the data with their app, but it seems that they decided to not compete with cycling computer manufacturers. Otherwise it would have dark mode, support for power meter and cadence, and perhaps even a customizable stats screen. At least it does heart rate
I don’t have a bike computer yet and use my iPhone on a out front mount. But what is pointing me towards a computer is that it’s completely waterproof. I worry that my iPhone will get wet in heavy. rain.
Wish I could afford one but once I got the money to buy it and realize that it was the same price as the bike I wanted so o decided to buy the bike first 😬
Mtb is more fun in the winter lol... But man do I hate the cold... Not to bothered with numbers anymore, it's more just getting out the door, which I manage most days when work allows, but away until November.. Meh....
I wanted a Quadlock setup but couldn't justify the cost. I use an eBay garmin copy bracket, and sticker on a spare tpu phone case. Cost around £15 all-in. Works well-enough, though I did have to replace some plastic standoffs with steel ones.
Buying a garmin was the best thing I did! No more worrying about my phone dying or needing to carry a battery pack. Definitely not necessary but so much more convenient for me. I found my phone died really quickly when using it to navigate compared to the garmin.
Is anyone else’s bike near silent when coasting? I love that. What’s with noisy freewheels? I thought that was just cool for the bmx kids, bloody racket 😜😂
@@GMSlash A rider on the recent Loch Ness Etape followed me for around 7 miles, kept coasting, honestly hurting my head LOL 🐝 I understand some can’t be cured but these types are deliberate, really loud. Each to their own 🤷🏻♂️🚴🏻
Depends what gear the IGH is in. Mind you, I can notice when I’m about to passed by roadies with carbon wheels, as you can hear them ‘rumbling’ up from behind.
If I'm not mistaken, the louder the freewheel the bigger the gear ratio? I have a 105 setup and it's not too noisy but I've heard that loudness before, good god!
I have a suunto watch which has 6 day battery life full gps and heart rate and cadence and power recording if you have a power meter works a treat it’s waterproof and weighs nothing
Computer for me. Battery life is just so much better if you want to do active navigation (not just recording). Phone is for calling for help in emergencies, maybe taking photos, and looking up some food supplies. (Which with the right maps you may be able to locate on the computer). I bought a cheap smaller phone for cycling so I don’t have to risk my biggish Samsung. Just swapping the sim over, and off we go.
Phone is great until whatever data you have constantly displayed on the screen burns into it .. my OLED Samsung got ruined by this and for that reason bike computer always.
My current setup: An iPhone 12 and Apple Watch SE, both running the Cyclemeter app. These plus a Wahoo cadence sensor. The watch feeds heart rate data to the phone app and the cadence sensor feeds cadence data. That's all I need. I never ride more than 2-3 hours, and the phone has more than enough battery life for that. If this kind of repeated use shortens overall battery lifespan, I can replace that battery multiple times before I've approached the cost of a decent cycling computer. My 67-year-old eyes need the largest possible display, which is my primary reason for sticking with the phone.
When you watch TH-cam and someone is talking to the camera, it’s the most natural thing to see. When you see someone randomly talking into the phone on the side of road is quite an unnatural thing to see! So funny seeing you get busted! Great to include the footage to give the audience a clue about how difficult it can be making content. Thanks Katie 💰
I use a crow, excellent battery life and occasionally he brings me shiny trinkets
I use a C.R.O. terrible battery life but very good E.K.G.
iPhone, with OS mapping app so you never get lost if no GPS signal, can use without if needed.
When bikepacking I just use a son28 Dynamo hub to a sinewave revolution USB adapter and then plug my phone in and it keeps it topped up on long rides. Only use batter bank when camping at site.
Also use a quad lock mount.
👍👍
That climb from Bury road up to Ashworth moor Res is a long tough one but I love the views at the top, know it well as I live in Norden. I found that my Garmin always lost GPS signal under the trees in the first section just after Bury road.
I’ve just got back from three days bikepacking in North Yorkshire, I use garmin on out front mount and iPhone on quad lock on stem with power pack in toptube bag connected whenever needed, great for navigation and no need to worry about battery life,also charge garmin with two inlets.👍🚴🏽♂️.
The phone is significantly better for navigation but the head unit gives you all the metrics you want in a tiny screen. I always have my phone and head unit on a ride. Another benefit is if your head unit battery dies you can switch over to Strava on your phone and then join the two GPX files after the ride so you can view the whole ride - and finally, I have not worked out how to use tap’n’go payments on my Garmin so my phone is essential if I want to buy something to eat.
Quadlock does excellent products! I use them and I am very satisfied. The only thing that can become an issue when using a phone as a bike computer is the battery life. If you use it for navigation and have a couple of external sensors hooked to it, the battery can drain pretty fast. I am often carrying around a small power bank that I use specifically for that purpose.
Yeh, I think this is yeh big problem. Plus to see the screen you need lots of brightness and always on in bright conditions. Battery is burnt quickly.
@@NeilLavittnot with the new iPhone 15 pro
I've been using navigation in smartphones since 2008. Yes, back then it was Windows Mobile 5 or 6. Ozi Explorer app worked quite good. Then, having switched to Android, Osmand app works just fine and shows elevation gains, provides offline navigation and routing. If I needed cadense and speed, I would install Garmin sensors on a bike and the corresponding app in a smartphone. Maybe even arrange split screen, when Garmin and Osmand are displayed simulteneously. No need to use main smartphone for that, old one will do just fine.
For navigation only, I prefer the larger screen on my smartphone. There are many bike-dedicated apps available. Naviki is one of my favorites. If I don't need navigation I use my Sigma Rox 12, it does everything a Garmin does but for a friendlier price.
My phone just doesn't last long enough to be able to use it on longer rides (or even medium rides really), so I opted for a bike computer. I went for a Wahoo Bolt.
I can now just plot the route with my phone, send it to the head unit, and turn off the functions of my phone that drain the battery.
The only downside I found, is that the version of Bolt I own, doesn't allow for on-the-fly rerouting, so when I want/need a deviation from the current route, I either need to zoom out a bit to check the surrounding roads, or plot a new route.
The new version of the Bolt luckily allows for rerouting, so for anyone in the market looking for a head unit, I can definitely recommend it!
I really like having a separate device for cycling, since I usually already have my phone in front of me when I'm not cycling.
I use phone in a quad lock for most things. But for a very long ride / bike packing I would need a generator hub to keep it charged. There are cycling apps that will give you cadence, power, etc. Cyclemeter would be one of them.
Or a small powerbank?
I have only ever had cheap wireless 'Cateye ' computer and have had Memory Map digital OS maps for whole country for many years, and have used on a rugged android phone with multiple Quadlock mounts, for hiking, biking and in the car, so never really seen the need for Garmin for bike. I don't use data connection on phone as on cheap pay as you go,so battery life is good. But I guess I tend to ride for fun mainly using a Brompton for touring around. You can get a few metrics out of the tracks created. Good to compare,max speed total time, etc for a route on my different bikes.
Some apps are capable of connecting sensors such as HR, cadence and speed, There are two that I've tried. Cadence and Supercycle. Cadence has a free and a premium version. Supercycle is completely free (the author just asks to pay him a coffee if you want). Like someone said, I use a Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 and it works great. If you consider to buy a second hand phone, try to buy with a barometric sensor. Thus the gradient is accurate.
Hi Katie, a little while ago I bought the Garmin Edge 1030 plus, I know you ride a lot of long rides. Here is my experience with battery life that I believe would be of interest to you. A 216 km ride, a 8:30 hour ride (11 hour total on time) with navigation on the whole way, no sensors paired and it used 20% of the battery - Really Great !!
Stop it!!!! Literally 20% ?!!! That is insanely good!!!!!
Thanks for that appreciate it x
@@KatieKookaburra Yes I was also pleasantly surprised. I was not having the Map page shown all the time - most of the time I had a normal datapage on, but navigation was still running and navigation screen was popping up when a turn was comming. Other settings: GPS only (GLONASS and GALLIEO off) Backlight auto off after 15 sec, Bluetooth off (no phone connected) and as mentioned no sensors paired. I was comparing it to my old Edge 1000 which I also had along on the ride. The 5-6 year old Edge 1000 ran out of battery after approx. 8 hours. Whether or not the battery life is used linear and if you therefor can expect the battery to last 5 times the time of my ride (8:30 hours times 5), that I do not know - but still impressive. By the way when I got the Edge 1030 plus I was disappointed when turning it on inside my house, the screen is dimm as kind of washed out when you a inside, but outside in the daylight the screen is really clear and backlight is not needed, outside the screen on the Edge 1030 plus is better than my Edge 1000, but maybe not as clear as the Wahoo's, I have never seen them, but hear they are clear.
I've just been using my phone with wahoo app keep it in my pocket. I have speed, cadence sensor and heart rate. Seems to work okay and uploads to Strava. Used komoot on it as well when rode into London using voice navigation and didn't get lost.
always carry my phone, but I record my routes in both Strava and Komoot and the battery suffers a lot, sometimes I found out that the phone has just automatically switched off. So I decided to buy my first ever bike computer, the SIGMA ROX 11.1 EVO, as I love its intuitiveness and simplicity, and I also can save my phone now. It's also compatible with Garmin Varia
I started mountainbiking six months ago, and got me a second hand teasy one for 65 €. Rugged thing, free maps, happy with it. Very good mount as well. Battery life is defenitly a bonus.
I wear my Garmin Fenix 5 watch to record the ride to give me all the metrics. I have my phone on a garmin mount with displaying Strava for details such as distance and speed whilst I’m riding. It’s easy to switch between Stava and Google maps for exploring. My phone is mounted to my Garmin quarter turn mount by a 76projects widget (£9.50) stuck on the back of my phone case.
Going to give this a try, lovely little phone hack👌👍💪
I use Apple Watch but also quadlock just to install my phone on the bike.
I've been debating this myself now that I'm getting back into cycling. It's just indoors for now because it's winter so I don't really need either and am trying out virtual riding apps like Zwift. But come spring I'll be riding outdoors again so I have to decide eventually.
Based on my needs, budget and the kind of riding that I've tended to do, I think that for me a basic wireless bike computer without mapping is the way to go, with the phone either in my back pocket or also mounted in case I do need to look at a map, with the screen off most of the time.
But when I ride I tend to go on known routes so I don't really need a map while riding, but do like to know my current speed, distance and cadence, and maybe the time. A basic computer will do that just fine, and I understand that newer ones also give weather and altitude readings.
If I ever move past 20-30 mile typical ride length on a known route type of cycling then I'll consider a computer with mapping. But for now I think this will suffice for my needs.
There are many apps to get Bluetooth cadence and speed (wheel rotation x circum) with cheap sensors AND reliable. Wahoo is one. I use Cadence app to have sensor metrics AND mapped route in ONE phone splitt screen. AND it uploads the ride on Strava once done.
Route prev. done with komoot, then imported in Cadence. Best of ALL worlds.
Couple of other aspects:
Some bike computers have matte screens which avoids sun reflections and make the screen more visible than phones.
Some phone apps allow you to prioritize bike lanes in plotting a route, and some are based on Open Street Map, which is updated much more frequently than bike computer maps, e.g. with newly built bike lanes, and pins for potholes and other potentially dangerous things on a route. Sure you can transfer a map made on a phone to a bike computer, but they'll loose the pins and bike lane highlights.
Bike computers do better in the rain that phones.
Getting a call in the middle of a ride will hide some if not all of the map on the phone, which can be a problem.
Just got my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt and love it! You mentioned battery life at the end of your video and thats what I like the most. I listen to music during my rides and my phone is paired with my jbl speaker so if I have strava and youtube running my battery runs out quickly. I actually got my Wahoo for bikepacking to download routes but I'm experiencing unexpected benefits, especially riding faster. I think seeing the speed you are going pushes you more. Im smashing all of my PR on Strava now. BTW your videos convinced me to get a Wahoo computer. Thanks!
Bar mounting a phone can cause vibration damage to the optical image stabilisation for the camera.
This issue has been reported from both motorcycles and MTBs.
Quadlock claims to reduce vibration by 90% with the optional vibration dampener and reviews seem to agree that damage is avoided.
I wouldn't use any mount without dampening though.
I always thought bar mounting an iPhone can cause vibration damage was "fake news" propagated by bike computer companies. Like who needs an bike computer when you can use your old iPhone ?
Thanks! I live in the desert where the ground temps can hit 170°F so I always use a GPS unit when the temps are cooler and my Garmin watch under my sleeve when it's hot... don't want my $1000 phone burning up. Otherwise, I'd use Strava or Ride With GPS on my phone all the time.
Another excellent video! I have used several bike computers and currently have the Wahoo Element Roam...my favorite so far and likely the one I will be using for a long time. I also carry my phone with me for a number of reasons (most of which you mentioned). Your video was very timely because I have been looking at mounting systems for my phone and I like the Quad Lock. Many thanks and well done my friend. Have a great weekend!
I found a 3m product that’s a quad for the garmin mount attached to my phone. Much less expensive and holds very well
Thanks for the vid. I did Norway to Spain with a phone and was thinking to invest in a Garmin for my next trip. I think I’ll take your advice with the quad lock. I never even knew they existed to be fair. Happy cycling 👍
Hi Katie. I have only recently stumbled on your TH-cam channel; great platform, you always give us valuable information and advice. Thanks for your contribution. I am an ex-Wirral engineer who retired to NZ after 11years working in remote mines in Western Australia. The top of the bucket list was to do LEJOG in July/August 2019 which was achieved at a steady plod in 19 days. Happy memories. I used my Garmin 1030 as the input into Garmin Connect and Strava. I was lazy and mainly used Google Maps for navigation; quite often I had conflicts on the choice of route and chose the "sweet talking" Google option. Quite a few days my Samsung +9 phone over heated and I had to depend on the Garmin. This is ironic since having had 11yrs of perfect/hot Perth weather never once did a Garmin or Samsung product let me down. For me to experience this in Cornwall/Devon certainly brought a smile to me. So, in addition to excellent battery life, I would include improved environmental performance for the Garmin 1030 compared with a mobile phone for navigation, etc.
Regards.
Charlie
@Ralph Reilly ha ha. She must have soooooo many comments in the inbox. No dramas.
I use Garmin eTrex for navigation, it lasts forever. On my phone I have Locus 4 map app, it has offline maps and can connect to speed, cadence, hr sensors, no problem at all. My phone for cycling trips is rugged 4 inch Cubot King Kong Mini, case has Garmin quarter turn adapter attached with 3m vhb tape, holds it very well.
I tend to use both , if I am working out a new route I google map it and use it to guide my garmin! I also use quad lock. It’s a bit steep but it’s a game changer! After I’ve worked out my route I mainly use my phone for a phone call/music for my capacitive 🎧. Good video agent, thanks!
thanks for the video. which computer lasts longer for rides: Garmin or iphone? just curious
Can i ask if had experience difference between iPhone and bike computer especially in distance . I ride EBike and it has a speed and distance etc etc and i start using as-well iphone by downloaded an app called B.iCycle but i found a big deference in kilometers distance . The problem is i dont know who is right and who is wrong between them or if it is the software . Thanks for sharing .
Big screen and multi function is great. Power meters Bluetooth to dedicated phone apps. The clincher could be battery life, but if you're gonna carry 2 devices (eg phone & garmin), why not just carry phone and a (much cheaper) power pack to charge it?
Just one question: when the rain kicks in, do you have to put your phone in your pocket, or is the quad lock case fully waterproof? Must admit, those quad locks look awesome - gotta get that
The wahoo fitness app connects to power meters, and gives you all the power data like time in particular zones etc.
Great vid, thanks for your advice, hope you are getting better regarding the injury, and your having a lovely weekend.
I use either a Garmin head unit or Garmin smart watch. I use the watch on the bike for my heart rate. Or like yesterday, screw up and leave my head unit at home. I have tried using my phone a couple of times to record the ride using Strava. How ever I keep forgetting how to record the ride as it's usually several years between using it. My phone has a 10300 mAh battery so I have now worries if it has a decent charge. A couple of months ago I was on a ride with my local club and a woman who has recently started coming out with the club after an 2 year hiatus. Was using her phone to record the ride. At the coffee stop she checked her phone and there was a message that Strava had stopped recording the ride due to the phone over heating.
what is the bike computer mount you have there ? I need a mount that can handle my bolt, but also at the bottom hold my light, but extend further out for the light only, so it doesn't interfere with wires.
It's a K-Edge :)
I just got the Quadlock mount failing on me, and because of the peculiar circumstances, I lost the phone (long story, got stolen...).
If you use a bike computer, where do you put the phone? In the rear jersey pocket? Somehow it doesn't feel very safe to me to put it there, but at the same time I don't like the idea of a front bag (because of the setup I currently have on the bike with the light) but then again, phones are too big for the saddle bags. :/ What people do?
Front bag or back jersey pocket.
I mostly track rides with a fenix 5 for known loops and I try to navigate myself from memory as much as possible. I have my phone with me for podcasts while riding using aftershokz Komoot gets me home if I get lost as I have a tendency to explore.
The gardin 1030 is almost £600 at least here in Sweden
I've just had call from Walter the worm, he said he thought you only had eyes for him 🤣🤣 great video by the way 👍🏻
Can’t get no Walters for bloody ages :(
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus whit my own openstreetmap 😉
What's your advise for getting stronger at climbing !
I always carried two phones when hiking to have an emergency back up. Now with new hobbie bikepacking specific routes I've started using komoot on my phones and have one I can power-packed charge when its on the bike stem while on the move. works OK. You can get great second handphones from magpie , a cheap pay as u go sim for a fiver which gives u a very useful spare emergency phone if required and a different better signal provider if required. . I still can't quite justify at moment a proper bike gps. With the phone u can also stick it on airplane mode and just use the GPS to improve battery etc , I also add sim data before a bike packride, and as u mentioned its really handy to use the phone for Google maps, os maps , shops, bike repairs and hotels 🙂 and zooming in out etc 😃👍
I'm using komoot and it's really cool app (we went to Cambridge, Oxford, Brighton etc from London with komoot and everything was ok)
I'm always switching off data and leaving on GPS when riding so you can focus on the road. Also it's very helpful to carrying power bank for long rides 🚴♂️💨 and of course I'm using Quadlock - it's a great stuff!
I just found komoot! Even the free version is great, but you get some very nice features on the premium. I've been having so much fun just planning routes and looking through the POIs. Adding POIs to routes creates a kind of personalized tour guide for your route, which I find absolutely amazing for planning bike tours.
@@kalleniemi6316 i got premium ones and I'm very happy with that app.
I’m surprised by how limited the smartphone is. Why can’t an app like Komoot pair with an HR monitor or power meter???
The wahoo app actually can connect to speed, cadence and heart rate sensors. You can also do laps on it - just see the feature, never really used it… BUT: there is a definite latency on Bluetooth talking to the app… so sometimes the data is a bit behind… better than nothing, but I also aiming for a dedicated bike computer. Hoping the new Wahoo bolt to be available here soon…
I use a Fitbit Ionic GPS equipped watch which downloads route & stats to the Fitbit phone app & Strava. It has stopped tracking on my 100 & 120km rides even with 30% battery left which was annoying, good for shorter rides. That Quad Lock looks interesting for the phone as I'd be worried mounting a phone with Australia's crappy & bumpy roads.
Issue i find with my wahoo, is that when plotting a route on komoot sometimes takes a while to then transfer across to the computer!
I switched to a Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt a while back for both indoor and.outdoor use. Something to consider on the battery life is battery degradation on iPhones. Continually using it as a bike computer will wear your battery out prematurely. It’s great to have as a backup but isn’t particularly practical for all the reasons you already stated. Better piece of mind using it for emergencies and extras. Definitely looking for a new mount now for my phone though so that it’s more accessible for taking pictures on rides
The advantage of using a gaming or other GPS unit is that you can play tunes more easily on your phone ... many Bluetooth speakers can fit in bottle cages
I always worry about battery on my phone. Oddly enough I use both karoo2 and phone attached so it’s easy to follow route but I can flick to phone should I need to easily find shops and stuff
I used to use my phone, but once I started to go on longer ride I switched to a computer since the GPS kills the battery and I like having my phone available,
You're a pleasure to watch! ❤️
Cyclemeter is an app for iPhones at least that show many of the stats that you mention - it can be paired with many/most sensors. It’s a very bike computer like app.
Yes. Cyclemeter is very capable app and it works well with both iPhones and/or Apple Watches.
Trying to decide quadlock with Strava and a garmin forerunner 45 vs a garmin 530 :(
What are the rides you want to use it it for? Long? Short? Do you run as well? Do you need navigation? What battery life do you need? Some qs to consider :)
I have my Fenix 6x Pro to track data and record my ride, the Hammerhead Karoo2 bike GPS for navigation (and backup) and for me, it works well. I don't like the idea and mounting my phone on the bike I'd be worried the vibration would damage the cameras. I have heard of this happening on some expensive phones.
Katie Garmin make the Egde 1030 PLUS which cost over £500!! Ouch
Perfect for my backyard
Tried a Garmin edge first time gps user got it to make a simple route convinced it was trying to kill me all the steepest climbs it could find and ended up in some farm with an angry horse galloping towards me, path way couldn't be cycled on....stupid thing. I've since learned you need other apps for routes.
👍 on the quad lock
As I'm not hardcore like you and only do less than 20 mile round trips along local canals I find using my phone ideal. I'm a long way off doing 100 mile rides
My first computer was a simple non-GPS speed/distance Cateye unit when I started riding last summer. Since then I’ve started using the Strava App on my phone to record my rides. Strava keeps recording with the phone asleep in my pocket so the battery life is OK unless I use the phone’s camera or other functions like maps then the battery runs down. Eventually, I’ll need a computer to navigate so I have my eye on the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 … apparently “coming soon” since a few months now? Do you carry an external battery for the phone?
Just read Apple Watch now connects to Bluetooth enabled sensors and the Lock Screen on your paired iPhone phone can be setup as a head unit.
Cyclemeter can connect to power and cadence meters and can use an Apple Watch for heartbeat.
Thanks for this Katie, helpful as I'm on the fence about phone or computer.
Well hope this helps you decide :)
@@KatieKookaburra Indeed it did :)
Phone all the way. I have an UltimateAddons waterproof case for my Samsumg S10 and my motorcycles and MTB each have a RAM ball mount. I simply fix the UltimateAddons case to whichever bike I'm using and pop my phone in. I run the Komoot app for my MTB trips. In standard mode and screen on permanently, my phone battery depletes by around 12.5% per hour, so I lose around 25% per c25 miles. But in flight mode, and the app set to allow the screen to turn off and wake up when there's a voice command, the battery only depletes by around 5% per hour. I can easily ride for a day, checking in periodically for messages and missed calls. So depending on my trip, I take a battery pack or two with me. To use Komoot in flight mode you need to have maps installed for offline use.
For battery life alone a wahoo or garmin should win out. Using Strava or Komoot on your phone is just gonna run your battery down
Lovely views skinny K amazing vlog hope ur legs better x
Hmmmm. I’m debating one of the other… bike computer are pricey… and I carry a phone and battery anyways… down side of the phone… network speed
For people more experienced in pigeon navigation… computer less of an issue. I don’t mind getting lost on long 100km rides.
For novices…. If you have navigation fear.. more useful
But i def see the advantage of it
Leo the lions are the one! And they're like 85p! I haven't brought any Percy pigs since discovering them! :)
Hi Katie nice scenery L go for computer the phone to big on the handle bars mine in my back pocket l only take my phone if something happens to my bike l like your sense of humour
Can never quite see the Phone on my bike with the glare I find.
Love ashy valley - I know it’s not cycling - but use to run from Morrison’s in Heywood up though Ashworh valley and up on to knowl hill and back.
What about antiglare film screens?
Love my bike quad lock and can say that my quad lock and phone survived a crash that my helmet did not. I have recently got a quad lock for my car and it is best thing ever.. you should get one for your van 😉
Love the size of your mob screen . That on a cycling comp would b my ideal. Would probably have to sell my bike to afford it tho!!! 😬
Just use your phone :)
A here I thought that I was the only one that used Quadlock, ha ha, at least in North Dakota anyway. You should buy the tripod to phone adapter for filming purposes. It works great!
I already have it!!! It’s bloody awesome. To be honest it’s one of those things like I said that I didn’t really think I would use / need but actually it’s so useful for so many things :)
I use both too, and quad lock is also a favorite of mine, the best phone holder! Btw, I think we have the same bike? Trek Alpha 2.1? Cheers!
Awesome product eh! I have a Ribble Endurance SL :)
Thanks for sharing this with us. Very informative and interesting.
Another great informative vid from the Kooks
Strava certainly could pull in all the data with their app, but it seems that they decided to not compete with cycling computer manufacturers. Otherwise it would have dark mode, support for power meter and cadence, and perhaps even a customizable stats screen. At least it does heart rate
I found using my iPhone the mapping can be sketchy off road, but on road it's fine, where as using a Garmin, mapping off road is much more accurate.
You didn't mention which is best for spotting sheep and cows. :)
Thanks for explaining. Now I know that I really have no use for this bike GPS computer.
Quadlock is the way to go.
I don’t have a bike computer yet and use my iPhone on a out front mount. But what is pointing me towards a computer is that it’s completely waterproof. I worry that my iPhone will get wet in heavy. rain.
Wish I could afford one but once I got the money to buy it and realize that it was the same price as the bike I wanted so o decided to buy the bike first 😬
Mtb is more fun in the winter lol... But man do I hate the cold... Not to bothered with numbers anymore, it's more just getting out the door, which I manage most days when work allows, but away until November.. Meh....
I wanted a Quadlock setup but couldn't justify the cost. I use an eBay garmin copy bracket, and sticker on a spare tpu phone case. Cost around £15 all-in. Works well-enough, though I did have to replace some plastic standoffs with steel ones.
I think you can connect Bluetooth bike sensors to your smart phone ironically Garmin have a phone app
Buying a garmin was the best thing I did! No more worrying about my phone dying or needing to carry a battery pack. Definitely not necessary but so much more convenient for me. I found my phone died really quickly when using it to navigate compared to the garmin.
I use my phone aswell. I did buy a garmin cycling computer but too lazy to learn how to use it! Ha ha! Great video katie 👍
I think both are suitable.
I use my phone and wahoo. Just make sure you have a battery bank.
Is anyone else’s bike near silent when coasting? I love that.
What’s with noisy freewheels? I thought that was just cool for the bmx kids, bloody racket 😜😂
I would definitely prefer a silent freewheel over a noisy one.
I don't need to sound like I'm being attacked by a swarm of angry bees 😅
@@GMSlash A rider on the recent Loch Ness Etape followed me for around 7 miles, kept coasting, honestly hurting my head LOL 🐝 I understand some can’t be cured but these types are deliberate, really loud. Each to their own 🤷🏻♂️🚴🏻
Depends what gear the IGH is in. Mind you, I can notice when I’m about to passed by roadies with carbon wheels, as you can hear them ‘rumbling’ up from behind.
If I'm not mistaken, the louder the freewheel the bigger the gear ratio? I have a 105 setup and it's not too noisy but I've heard that loudness before, good god!
@@rollandjoeseph Ah so it’s an easy way of knowing who’s not got the leg power for climbing LOL
I have a suunto watch which has 6 day battery life full gps and heart rate and cadence and power recording if you have a power meter works a treat it’s waterproof and weighs nothing
I use my Apple Watch to track my rides.
It works well enough for me
Computer for me. Battery life is just so much better if you want to do active navigation (not just recording). Phone is for calling for help in emergencies, maybe taking photos, and looking up some food supplies. (Which with the right maps you may be able to locate on the computer).
I bought a cheap smaller phone for cycling so I don’t have to risk my biggish Samsung. Just swapping the sim over, and off we go.
If you're a true cycling nut, you have the phone going in your back pocket and then have 4 or 5 cycling computers on the handlebars.
Ay if you’re riding 8848m for the first time, no WAY am I gonna lose that ride!! 🙂
@@KatieKookaburra always over prepare I say
Phone is great until whatever data you have constantly displayed on the screen burns into it .. my OLED Samsung got ruined by this and for that reason bike computer always.
hi Katie...aah Ashy! (my fave climb too) what ratios are you using on the three ramps please?
Garmin every time. My phone stays tucked away
Have been waiting for this video for ages! Thanks for doing it! I think in time I would like to invest in a Wahoo..