I was thinking about this six months ago. I decided to go with the phone. I solved issue #3 by getting the Topeak top tube bag that is waterproof and has a side opening for a cable from an external battery with I keep inside the bag. I’m not a racer but I ride over 300 miles a week. The external battery has solved the problem. I’m very happy with my solution. I use Cyclemeter to record my data that seamlessly uploads my rides to Strava.
I'm thinking of just getting a quad lock and using my iPhone 12 as I'm only doing rides for about 2 hours at a time so the battery life isn't an issue for me. Can I record heart rate data and possibly cadence on external sensors for strata?
I use my Iphone for Strava and Spotify. Since the quarantine and riding on my own, I play music while I am riding . It's nice to be able to keep track of my ride, and simply upload it to social media etc. No need to plug it into a computer. Also being able to quickly remove the phone to take a photo along your ride is great. I just don't think the Garmins are as necessary as they were before cell phones came out. I think a really good app that takes care of all the necessities of the ride is more important.
Sure it is ;) Garmin has developers trying to make them better yet still failing miserably because of the OS used. Wahoo has no developer support so it’s stuck with plenty of features that don’t exist. Companies like hammerhead and Leomo are technically there but just form factor and cost does not make them the ideal computer. If they had the financial backing. I think they would be a better option. But a 530 really doesn’t do anything different then a 510. It’s faster. Sure. Better display. Sure. But the display still looks shit and the OS is horrible
@@benpatterson8924 that's odd, to say the least. Seeing the power and possibilities of our mobile devices the killer app should already be out there. I'm not a dev otherwise I'd have the app ready to go for sure.
@@MaxRothFitness but that is very true just like graphing calculators have remained the same for years, yet people are willing to pay the asking price. If you wanna say otherwise to justify your purchase, then that's your problem.
I use Cyclemeter on my iPhone and love it. Most of my rides are two hours and battery life is no issue. I do have a small external battery I can bring along for rides long enough to challenge battery life. Charging during a breakfast or coffee stop will get you over the hump.
Hi mitchell i also use this app ..never had battery issue and use it on an old phone with sim taken out..no calls or text issues.then pack my normal phone in back pack and log ride with strava..cheap n cheerfull does what i want
I've been using a Quadlock case with the out-front mount for years and solved the battery problem with a top tube bag that holds a small power bank that has enough juice to keep my phone at 100% for the duration of my ride. I've used Strava in the past, but recently switched to "Ride with GPS" to be able to use my speed, cadence and HR sensors.
I use my iPhone as my bike computer. I mount it to the stem using a Quad Lock. Only real issue I've had is battery life on a longer ride (> 30 miles/50 kms). In those cases I either turn the screen off or tape a battery to the handlebars (a bodge, I know). For software I just use an app that I wrote myself, because I'm a big nerd. This way I get the screen and data just the way I like it.
As mentioned on your previous vlog, battery is an issue, and with that brightness. I used the quad lock it is rock solid. Good job Chris on summarizing the pros & cons.
Thanks Ravin, yeh I wasn’t making it easy on the phone by making sure I had everything (notifications, wifi, screen brightness) firing. Look it wasn’t miles away from being doable, another 20-30% battery save and I think it’s starting to be achievable. Chris.
Nice video! I'll replace my old Garmin with an iPhone XR with the mount you mentioned. 3 hour ride is more than enough for me, but you might want to try Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode on your iPhone if you want to extend your battery life, or add a battery case.
I ditched my old CatEye bike computer when its sensor died after 7 years of use. I now have my Pixel 7 mounted using the Quad Lock OFM. I happen to be using the Wahoo speed and cadence sensors with its mobile app, too. This setup works very well. I usually have DnD (Do Not Disturb) on while riding so I don't get annoying notifications.
Been using quadlock for years and years for cycling, motorcycle, photography and car. They're an excellent company. Their cases are very well made. As for battery life there's things you can do to squeeze some more juice out of it and/or use a portable battery bank for a quick top off to get you home.
Hey Trevor, yeh was super happy with the mount. Yeh I’m sure the external battery would be an option, but remember this was all about ‘loosing’ a device, so adding an external battery kind of goes against the remit for me doing this in the first place.
@@ChrisMillerCycling I completely understand. I am very very much enjoying your videos thank you. You can get lipstick size external battery so that might just be an extra hour of battery life for you. And let's face it do we ever leave home without our phones? Even if you could find the perfect cycling pewter I am pretty sure that you will take a cell phone with you, it's just our nature these days. I am old enough to remember that when we went cycling we had a bike, shoes, shorts and a shirt and that was it and it was glorious.
No your dead right Trevor. Given I never leave home on a bike without my phone, bike computer, camera on the bike, camera in my pocket, external audio recorder, selfie stick, tip pod mount, lens ND filter ... 😂😂
@@ChrisMillerCycling yeah man I didn't want to say it I'm glad you did. All in all though it's good that you are experimenting because what's life without testing? again Chris I just can't emphasize enough how much I'm enjoying your Channel. Back in the 80s I met an Australian working at a ski resort here in Canada and him and I became fast friends I miss him a lot and I see a lot of him in you so thank you.
I found way around that with my Quadlock. I use the GoPro mount on the QuadLock and jerry rig a mount on a battery pack with a short cable and you will have a charge all day long.
iPhone and quad lock was my first bike computer. Agree it’s brilliant for a new rider especially as I didn’t do such long rides back then. I still use the quad lock all the time though, but it’s purpose now is for the Zwift companion app rather than outside.
Hey Rob, I think you hit the nail on the head, in fact sounds like you are exactly the rider I was trying to describe as the VLOG. Question is, when will the app be developed that results in you (well you 6 months ago) not needing to buy a bike computer.
I use an out front mount for my computer, then use aQuad Lock pro mount on top of the stem, behind. That way the phone is not as exposed to the wind, and better protected if I stack...
Quad lock is superb. Used to use it exactly as you did but then got a bike computer. Now the quad lock is permanently on my trainer bike for the turbo.
Nice video Chris. I have been running a quadlock/phone set up both on road and off road for a few years. For many recreational cyclists it offers lots of features on something you already own i.e. a phone. I suspect that better apps and better phones are more likely than a super duper bike computer because the investment in phone development dwarfs that of bike computers. The market is so much bigger.
Things could get expensive if you take a tumble. Most phones aren't built for crashing, whereas most bike computers will survive an encounter with the floor.
Ona phone, if you keep the screen in a full brightness, non-hibernation mode, the battery dies quickly. Also after 9-10 am on longer rides, the sun's direct heat on the screen makes the phone overheat and go into auto shutdown. Discovered this on a BRM years ago.
Battery life is for sure the downer. I started carrying a charge pack in my top tube bag, it’s extra weight but the trade off is I can just plug in when the phone’s battery gets low and I’m good to go.
I use my iPhone 8 plus for navigation only. I have a padrone digital for speed and cadence. And the quadlock is really solid. I have the stem mount and it’s very effective.
I use a converted water bottle to hold some tools and a lipstick size power bank. Found a charging cable that is black and it’s barely visible. The XOSS ap uses far less power than the Fitbit I had been using. Seldom have to use power bank on three hour rides.
I am in the new bike rider category. I got a cheap bike mount that is doing a great job thus far. Got google maps and Bike Comp apps running on the phone. I wanted to hotspot my iPod but it has some lag. This is a temporary solution until I can get a garmin computer. My downside is the app doesn't read my cadence sensor all that well and the speed sensor is not needed because of the GPS but I have it as a back up for the GPS. The main metric I check is my speed and I can see it very well on the phone display.
There’s a thing called sp mount which is used as a top cap and locks your phone in place. Could solve the aero problem cause the phone sits further back, which helps steering too, and saves some weight
Turn screen off and use 1km announcements to improve battery, you actually get to focus on breathing, the wheel in front and your surroundings, having the numbers on distracts you especially a screen of that size. And also make sure to use the Australian female voice. Ooo La La
Exactly what I have done for years. Keep screen off. I can run full Google maps directions with volume at max for voice prompts and run Strava or Cyclemeter and have no problem doing 5+ hour rides. Battery life is not an issue.
@Click Bait Adding an extra 100g+ to the setup is big enough deal for most cyclists I think. Also, where and how do you attach the power bank? It's certainly doable, but this would be the point where this "alternative solution" is starting to sound more like bodge than hack. At least to me. I prefer 1vs1ninja's idea.
I wish the iphone would work with the Garmin radar, which i cant ride without anymore... the peace of mind from that thing is like a heated seat, once you have it you cant do without. Btw, may companies making small portable “MagSafe” battery banks that would just piggy back on the phone. Trick is figuring out how to mount the whole thing,
At 81 my rides are now shorter and half fast. I turned my old no longer used IPhone into a dedicated GPS, with no cell service. GPS is free. I download my route and the little blue dot tells me exactly where I am on my route. After 3 hours I have 30% power left. I carry a small ebrick for backup, for an all-day ride.
Set your phone up with the button shortcut for a negative screen. Then the white wahoo readout is black and battery lasts forever. I do this on a 5 year old galaxy S6 and it lasts ~6 hours on quite high brightness
I have been doing this for several years now. I bought a Trac Phone J3. I did not ever activate the 'plan'. It has all the normal stuff, GPS and blue tooth. I use RidewithGPS and Wahoo apps. I bought a CooSpoo(?) cadence/ speed sensor and a Polar HRM. Bought a handlebar mount. The screen is large and bright, way better than those little Garmins. $99, cannot be beat. Only negative is that I have been unable to load a driver for ANT+. My Garmin HRM only has ANT+.
(almost) every Android phone has built in ANT + but no phone can replace bike computer for the size and the battery life IMHO but again: bike computer can be easily replaced by sport watch i.e Garmin or Suunto etc. for MOST of the riders road cyclist usually ride the roads they know in most cases so navigation is not a must - and if need be you still have your phone in the rear pocket - use google maps and set it to tell you when and where to turn - works for me ;-)
Good video Chris👍 My wife got knocked off her bike last Saturday morning. Broken collarbone, gash in her leg and 5 broken bones In her back 😞 After 4 days on a spinal board she is now in a back brace , it’s going to be a long recovery but she is alive . I was at home and received a text ‘crash detection alert’ from her 520 plus . The accident happened 1mile from our house , I was at the scene within a couple of minutes . I have a wahoo bolt and I love it , however I will now be switching back to a garmin due to the fact they have accelerometers within which enable this life saving feature . Not sure a smart phone can do this ?
your phone has an accelerometer built in to it; That's how it knows its orientation. It just doesn't have an app that associates a quantity of negative acceleration with an event
Really sorry to hear that Barry. A horrible incident for both of you. I wish her a speedy recovery. It’s a dangerous sport, especially in SYD. I nearly got cleaned up by a P plater this week - eating her breakky as she roared past me. I was 6” from disaster.
I use Bike Computer Pro on Android and it has emergency message setup and can also set the emergency detection threshold, the biggest bugbear of using a mobile phone as a bike computer is not being able to see anything on the screen in bright daylight.
As a person of simplicity the Wahoo ELEMNT is my choice. The pleasure of cycling for me is putting the phone away in the back pocket and heading out for the ride. With only calls coming through to me as a notification the rest (emails, apps) is ignored. If I could leave the phone at home, I probably would! Love your work Chris - really enjoying your videos.
I did 100km the other day and I got home battery was 45%? GPS was on Strava. It took me about 4.5 hours. I have an iPhone 11 and a battery pack as a backup. If you want, just put it in airplane mode and your are set. Bike computers are so freaking annoying and slow machines. Their navigation system is terrible and you need to get an expensive option to get a Navi built in. In his case, iPhone pro is huge.
I have the Quad lock for my phone, use it in the car and i have stem mount for the bike which i use when indoor training so i can run the Zwift companion app right by my fingers. By far the best phone mount i have ever had and being an all plastic case I can still use the wireless charger unlike most others that have metal and magnets.
Chris I think you're looking at it the wrong way round. Being on the bike is about putting your phone away, even if its in your back pocket its great to not be looking at it for a few hours. Hard to beat the Bolt for a computer that does everything and just works. Won't go back to Garmin as long as they stick with the hilariously ironic Garmin Connect software.
Hey Hugh, totally agree about the bike being a time away from devices, but mate that’s not always the case for me. If I have 2H to get a ride in but NEED to be contactable for those 2 hours, this might be an option. Remember this all came about because I wanted to take one less device with me, that device that was in my back pocket (the phone), I wanted it to be put to better use ... which for you guys might be a win, because it hopefully means I can carry a better camera with me.
I think the Hammerhead Karoo 2 is going to be a good contender. I have the first Karoo and the screen is brilliant, as is the smartphone-like user experience. Battery life isn’t too bad (finally had it die 8 hours into a ride today). The new version is on my shopping list when it’s available.
@@ChrisMillerCycling There's a few of us that managed to get one and it's a really interesting device! They ran out of stock before COVID and now they're holding off until the new model. I think the second version will be a killer!
Really like the cadence app. For the price it's a fraction of a bike computer and for as much as I ride, it works perfectly well for me. It's Varia compatible, so it's perfect so far.
Instead of getting a quad lock case, get a charge case & quad lock universal adapter. Make sure a the charge case is a hard pc or a abs hard plastic. It will not bond to Rubber, silicone TPU and soft touch coatings
Chris if you're anything like me you're waiting for a Heads Up Display that's slaved off a smart bikecam. Then viewing ride data and selecting when to activate the camera for filming footage becomes possible with the simple touch of a BLE handlebar mounted switch. Still no viable HUD on the market yet though; Everysight Raptor is about as close we have right now
Is everyone keeping their screen on while they ride? I run one navigation app and one tracker app and just turn the screen on when I want to see the whole map or change my route. It uses around 5% battery per hour, even with voice prompts for next turn. You can put the phone in airplane mode too which allows for GPS reception but cuts out energy consumption for transmitting data as well as annoying distractions. Of course if you want to stream a TV series in 4k on full brightness it's going to rinse the battery, but that is the case whether you do it on your bike or lying in bed at home. If you're just using the phone to navigate and log ride data I see no reason why it shouldn't last an entire day, even if your phone has a skimpy battery. NB I'm using OsmAnd with downloaded maps.
I found this super informative. Thank you. I am desperate to ditch my Garmin 830 for the simplicity of the phone. However: it seems that the phone apps don't recognise the power data from the cranks. Shame!
Apart from specific training sessions, are you riding a bike or driving a space ship? What information do you need when you're not on a training session? Enjoy the ride, or measure your suffering. Have a listen to Ted King's podcasts, specifically episodes six and eleven (I think), he explores bikes and gadgets. Personally, I like to be able to measure and hold to a specific training plan, to maximise training benefit, but other rides, I turn off the screen and enjoy the ride. I download the file afterward, and go, gee whiz, that was fun, but during the ride I enjoy the roads and company and coffee stops and all that makes riding so wonderful. I also have mastered the art of planning a ride, and 8 times out of ten, not getting lost. When I do, it's just a new adventure. Followed the TDF route a couple years ago, turns out that we didn't need Garmin to tell us where to go. These blokes in a van put up the arrows the day before, just follow them. Sooooo much nicer than having Garmin or Wahoo or some other computer telling us. Enjoy the ride, don't get drawn into your devices, and loose focus on your surroundings. There is plenty of time for analysis afterward or at work or....
what would be amazing is if someone could make a way to turn your riding into charge for what ever devices phones light etc the used to years ago have bike lights that where power by wheel movement
Id say you need a Smaller Iphone. Forget the case and have it raw. Stick the Quadlock thing on the phone itself and lock that to the handlebar. Is there any new apps available? Im gonna do the setup mentioned with small iphone.
ty for the video! just ordered a mount from Quad Lock! unfortunately they currently don't have a case for my specific phone (Samsung Galaxy A71) so I will have to use the universal mount but that should still be fine if it holds as good as they claimed it would!
Hey man, there several things you can do to extend battery life, turn off apps, change settings, turn down screen light ect.. TH-cam it for tutorials. 👍🌱🚴♂️
A phone could be so much better than any computer. There are a few things that would make it work, the screen is what probably drains most of the power so an app that uses a black background would probably save energy? But imagine how good an app could be if it linked strava to tell you the section times, accepted multiple different cadence, speed, power meters, heartrate monitors and watches such as garmin, wahoo, polar, etc. Plus on top of that you could use navigation with cycle paths etc. The aero is a minor difference to a cycle computer. If quadlock made a mount with a clamp on each side of the stem it would allow a longer reach so the phone could be mounted inline with the bars, then have an optional attachment for a light bracket under the phone or in front of it the aero issue is pretty much completely solved.
as a quadlock user the phone is less of an aero problem if you mount it on the stem rather than having it hang way off the front of the bars. as an activity recorder strava used to be great until they removed bluetooth and Ant accessory support 🙄
Suggest you try IpBike on your phone. Connects to sensors with both ANT+ and BLE. Very customizable as to how and what data you collect. Uploads to any number of web services including Strava, Cycling Analytics, TrainerRoad, etc...
I use an called IP Bike on my Samsung Note 10. Samsung has Ant+ built in so can use all my sensors that way. IP Bike has an absolute ton of features, only issue is the UI looks like it was developed in 1999
You can get way better battery by using a Samsung phone with OLED screen and set it up with white text on a black background. The black pixels completely turn off.
The biggest problem I ran into using my cell as a cycling computer was when sweat would drop onto the touchscreen, it would send my cell into a frenzy. It would stop and start my ride, turn the screen on and off and sometimes end the ride completely. I also wound up water damaging my phone when I ran into a downpour on a long ride. It's just not worth the risk when it is so important for so many other reasons. Almost forgot how I might need my phone, for pictures, connecting with someone or in an emergency, but my battery is dead.
I'm currently using my phone (Samsung Note 4) for GPS directions. It's relatively a big phone. Since I ride between 10-12hr straight trip monthly, I stick with the Samsung Note4 with Removable Battery! I'm going to look for a decent cycling GPS computer as a back up, but if I don't get it I don't sweat because I always have an extra battery standby to swap in after 9hrs. If the batteries go bad after a few years, I just replace them at cheap dirt prices. Heck, you can get a few more for extras! Thank you my faithful removable battery phone!
I used my phone exclusively until the Strava dummy spit of taking that way of recording off their platform. I had the SP connect mount which was ok and did the job. I now have a Bryton rider 15 simple unit and just does the job. I also have the Lezyne mini, tiny but with lots of features. Tempted to go for the Lezyne Maxi. I get lots of people who moan about Garmins, which was enough for me to not buy one. Anyhow keep up the good work.
I use an iPhone with OLED Display and invert the screen, so I have an all black screen with white numbers on it (Strava), which supposedly uses less power. I am happy with battery life thus far (iPhone Xs). 2-3 hours ride maybe takes up 30-40% battery.
Great video, Chris. Urban Biker is a great app for those with Android phones. I use my Samsung phone as a bike computer all the time. Long battery life and it supports Ant+ and Bluetooth.
I think Leomo's Type-S bike computer is an Android phone with Ant+ connectivity and a bit more? Shane Miller (GP Lama) did a little thingo on it a while back.
I've been using Quadlock for years, and the only drawback is they only make covers for Galaxy S, iPhone and Pixel. They desperately need to pick a midrange brand like OnePlus (example !).
I bought the universal stick on 3m mount for the back of my Samsung A51. No way it comes off then attach it to the quad lock . Had to creatively cut out the back of phone cover to fit around the mount but works perfectly. I know what you’re saying though!
How about put phone in driving mode, turn to silence and turn off all notifications. Also put phone in low power mode and start ride with 100% battery life….. will this help?
Great piece, love my Quad lock, you didn’t mention, 1) the weight might be elsewhere on your person, “if” you take your phone on the ride, as most seem to do (in my circle anyway:). 2) What about the great video and selfies you can take from you phone, if of course you adjust the angle of the dangle ;)
Any technology less than a phone seems ancient to me now. Im using the last Samsung Note 20 ultra series and I have this capability available to me to basically dual view and launch two apps side by side at the same time on the screen. like lets say you tube on the top half and text message at the bottom half. This is separate from picture in picture form. This is like having a dual monitor setup with your desktop. when im on the treadmill at the gym, i am watching my youtube while texting my friends while doing cardio. This is exactly what I need. garmin or wahoo or bike computer reminds me on atari compared to nowdays smart phones.
It always comes back to battery. But if you aren’t concerned with notifications and you use offline mode in ride with gps an iPhone 11pro lasts all day (how many people ride more than 6 hours) i prefer to have one device (my phone)
I don’t have any devices other than my phone with free strava app and now free wahoo app but was thinking about getting an Apple Watch so I don’t miss calls from work or important messages
You have to think outside of the box.......a long charging cable...with the battery bank in a small saddle bag......is enough for your bike ride.....it's not that hard of thinking...it's nothing wrong with using the phone as a bike computer.....I love Garmin products...but I invested in a product...(my Samsung note 9 phone)..that can do many things.....so I choose to use my phone...Garmin have so many products on the market for air sea and lands....I can't even think straight....so I let my phone do the thinking...... for me ... My phone ,A GREAT MULTIPLE TASKS MANAGER...
For the 'What will happen first?' question at the end, my perspective is that it will always be harder to really bridge the gap between either option, because the perfect 'discussion-ending' device is probably gonna described as a Cyclo-computer that's become a little more like a phone than before, or it's a phone that's become a little more like a Cyclo-computer than before. Though, I guess I'd personally think if we were adjusting a phone, we'd need a little more hardware changes than just having an app that does everything that a bike computer can, so basically I feel that it's easier to build up a bike computer to resemble a phone more than it would be to do the other way around given that it's already targeting an amount of users who don't necessarily need potentially too much extra demands from their phone/cyclo-computer and so it can have hardware that doesn't need to run fast-paced mobile games and so it's going to become more efficient, have better battery life, etc... If you wanted a bigger and more-responsive screen on your Garmin, then that's something that can happen, while it would be harder to market a device that was smaller than usual, couldn't run these big mobile games, etc.... As a phone, when ultimately it's just a more feature-packed Cyclo-computer.
Opposite, it would make a lot more Sense, to improve phones for the cyclo computer use. Why? Because you, like anyone else, allready got a phone. What HARDWARE do cyclo computers have, that Phones lack? Maybe better battery life, other then that: NONE! NOTHING! All you gotta do, is to make the phone software better and more compatible with the Toys that Pros like to use (power Meters and crap like that). But I suppose we still have navigational device these days. They aren't used by car drivers anymore (in general), but truck drivers use them. Do those devices have ANY Feautre, that a Phone lacks? FUCK NO. Those devices are crappy build, slow devices with decade old tech, sold overpriced. Why? Because they release the Truck Maps on those devices alone. Why? Because you'd be a fucking retard if you bought those shit devices otherwise. So there is your answer. Add feautres to Phones, it makes a lot more sense. If they don't make phone (apps) compatible with pro cyclists toys, it'll be just like the truck maps on navigational systems. They are there ONLY so that you spend more money. Easy as that.
Now as watchOS 10 is out, you should redo the video. With my Apple Watch Ultra and iPhone 13 I calculated I could get almost 10 hours of riding. The best feature with the watchOS 10, if you can make your own training programs and also and a power meter.
I’ve been using quad lock and my iPhone as bike computer with wahoo fitness app for a couple years. It would be perfect for me except the auto-pause function doesn’t work. Anyone else experience this?
I use the wahoo app on my phone while it’s in my back pocket recording my data and during the ride I just watch my super cheap speedometer. iPhone lasts forever if the screen is off. Even listening to music the whole time. Do have a quad lock mount and it is great. I just find when my phones on the bars I keep turning it on and the battery dies a lot faster. Some day maybe I’ll get a wahoo computer. Just keep finding better ways to spend that kind of money.
Check out Mophie battery cases (Apple Store sells them). I had one for my iPhone 7 (which I used on the bike) and it roughly doubled the battery life. It also serves as a shock-resistant case protecting the phone. Downside: it's not waterproof, because Mophie didn't license the Lightning connector from Apple and so had to use a micro USB port. This may have changed in the couple of years since I used this setup, dunno.
Hey Paul, thanks for the suggestion but I won’t be buying another mount for the phone, this quad lock one is just what I wanted. You can get an adapter that adds an external battery to the mount, but remember this was all about me ‘loosing’ a device for the bike, so I’m kind of against adding accessories.
@@ChrisMillerCycling Sorry Chris, somehow I thought that the phone side of the Quadlock was a piece that one bonded to the back of the phone or its case. Looking at the Quadlock website, I see that it's molded into the back of their phone cases, so no way to use a Mophie case. For a year or two I used an iPhone 7 in a Mophie clipped to the handlebars. When the iPhone 7 started having problems I traded it in for an iPhone 8, not too big for my back pocket. Rather than buy another Mophie to fit the iPhone 8, I caved and got a Garmin. Partly because I had begun using the phone for calls, checking emails, and browsing WHILE RIDING, a REALLY bad idea. Plus with the clip I had it looked clunky and got in the way when I got out of the saddle. The Garmin isn't ideal - wading through all the features I don't need was a pain - but it works well enough for my needs/wants and battery life is no longer an issue. Then I got a Varia, which is wonderful and coupled perfectly with it (although now there is an iPhone Varia app). I carry the iPhone 8 in my rear pocket, often muted, mainly for emergencies. Not a problem, though if there were a cheaper, smaller iPhone available I might consider getting one just for cycling. Speaking of "losing accessories", what's up with your handlebar purse? It vanishes and then reappears. What do you carry in it?
Your phone is sticking too far out front. They make some that'll mount further back and therefore doesn't mess with your steering as much when the wind blows. It's giving the wind extra leverage turning your front wheel the way you have it. Otherwise, great review!
Just a point to mention Chris, I live in a major city and riding inner city with a £1000 phone on the handlebars,,,, no chance, one twist and a pair of running shoes( try running in cleats) and the thief's off👍😁
Great video Chris. I run a Garmin 820, it’s great for performance (power, hr, speed etc), right size etc but it’s absolutely rubbish for navigation and the interface (file upload/download, set up etc) is archaic. When I head somewhere new, I now also run Strava routes on my iphone11+ (quadlock). Looks silly on the bars imo, but the navigation is vastly superior. Hoping that the karoo2 strikes the right balance.
Hey Rhys, yeh Strava routes is the perfect route app, such a pity they dropped sensor support. I don’t really know what the end game is there for strava, given they looked set to develop the perfect app for the phone. Is it to soon for me to be suggesting a conspiracy here; bike computer manufacturers never developing a perfect UI, app developers never developing perfect support = we have to buy both as the consumer 🤔
Completely missing the point on form factor. You don't buy a phone to use as a bike computer. You already have a phone (mandatory to carry with you for safety). Can it be put to good use other than sitting in your back pocket as dead weight?
Hey man. Thanks for the comment. That was very much my point, I certainly didn’t buy my phone to be a bike computer, this was more an attempt to retrofit it into that role. Like I said in the video, It’s certainly not a bad fit either, just needs a few tweaks.
Surprised as a bike tech geek you have not got at Leomo Type S, a bike computer (with extras and IPX7 waterproofing) than can be used as a phone. ps a few episodes back questioned making $20k a year racing crits in US got watch/listen Justin Williams on the latest Trainer Road podcast, (plus interesting stuff on teams)
The risk of crashing with the phone at the head of the bike is too scary a thought for me, and then a warm day with direct sunlight on your screen with a static display does not sound ideal.
Wow that is terrible batter life.. I used my pixel 7 pro on a 3 hour gravel bike and by the end I was well over 50% with strava and garmin app running the whole time
used my oneplus 6 for a 7hr trip as a navigator with komoot and the battery went from 100 to 40...in 7 hr so i think that the last point higly depends on the size of the battery
I was thinking about this six months ago. I decided to go with the phone. I solved issue #3 by getting the Topeak top tube bag that is waterproof and has a side opening for a cable from an external battery with I keep inside the bag. I’m not a racer but I ride over 300 miles a week. The external battery has solved the problem. I’m very happy with my solution. I use Cyclemeter to record my data that seamlessly uploads my rides to Strava.
I'm thinking of just getting a quad lock and using my iPhone 12 as I'm only doing rides for about 2 hours at a time so the battery life isn't an issue for me. Can I record heart rate data and possibly cadence on external sensors for strata?
@@teeambird2079 yes you can
300 miles per week? That means you average 42.8 miles per day…that’s awesome man! 👍🏻👊🏻
I use my Iphone for Strava and Spotify. Since the quarantine and riding on my own, I play music while I am riding . It's nice to be able to keep track of my ride, and simply upload it to social media etc. No need to plug it into a computer. Also being able to quickly remove the phone to take a photo along your ride is great. I just don't think the Garmins are as necessary as they were before cell phones came out. I think a really good app that takes care of all the necessities of the ride is more important.
I can't believe we are in 2020 and the bike computers are basically the same as they were in 2015 from Wahoo and Garmin, nothing has changed.
That is not true at all.
Sure it is ;) Garmin has developers trying to make them better yet still failing miserably because of the OS used. Wahoo has no developer support so it’s stuck with plenty of features that don’t exist.
Companies like hammerhead and Leomo are technically there but just form factor and cost does not make them the ideal computer. If they had the financial backing. I think they would be a better option.
But a 530 really doesn’t do anything different then a 510. It’s faster. Sure. Better display. Sure. But the display still looks shit and the OS is horrible
@@benpatterson8924 that's odd, to say the least. Seeing the power and possibilities of our mobile devices the killer app should already be out there. I'm not a dev otherwise I'd have the app ready to go for sure.
@@MaxRothFitness but that is very true just like graphing calculators have remained the same for years, yet people are willing to pay the asking price. If you wanna say otherwise to justify your purchase, then that's your problem.
bike computers are men to be simple with long battery life we don't need to be functional like phones
I use Cyclemeter on my iPhone and love it. Most of my rides are two hours and battery life is no issue. I do have a small external battery I can bring along for rides long enough to challenge battery life. Charging during a breakfast or coffee stop will get you over the hump.
Hi mitchell i also use this app ..never had battery issue and use it on an old phone with sim taken out..no calls or text issues.then pack my normal phone in back pack and log ride with strava..cheap n cheerfull does what i want
I use both. Wahoo computer dedicated for the ride & phone mounted on quad lock to play music, take calls, notifications, etc. Best of both worlds
The stem mount helps with the aero on the bigger phones. It pushes the phone further back and makes the bars more stable.
That’s a great point Steve, hadn’t thought of that.
I've been using a Quadlock case with the out-front mount for years and solved the battery problem with a top tube bag that holds a small power bank that has enough juice to keep my phone at 100% for the duration of my ride. I've used Strava in the past, but recently switched to "Ride with GPS" to be able to use my speed, cadence and HR sensors.
I use my iPhone as my bike computer. I mount it to the stem using a Quad Lock. Only real issue I've had is battery life on a longer ride (> 30 miles/50 kms). In those cases I either turn the screen off or tape a battery to the handlebars (a bodge, I know). For software I just use an app that I wrote myself, because I'm a big nerd. This way I get the screen and data just the way I like it.
As mentioned on your previous vlog, battery is an issue, and with that brightness. I used the quad lock it is rock solid. Good job Chris on summarizing the pros & cons.
Thanks Ravin, yeh I wasn’t making it easy on the phone by making sure I had everything (notifications, wifi, screen brightness) firing. Look it wasn’t miles away from being doable, another 20-30% battery save and I think it’s starting to be achievable. Chris.
Nice video! I'll replace my old Garmin with an iPhone XR with the mount you mentioned. 3 hour ride is more than enough for me, but you might want to try Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode on your iPhone if you want to extend your battery life, or add a battery case.
You could also do a focus just for cycling.
I ditched my old CatEye bike computer when its sensor died after 7 years of use. I now have my Pixel 7 mounted using the Quad Lock OFM. I happen to be using the Wahoo speed and cadence sensors with its mobile app, too. This setup works very well. I usually have DnD (Do Not Disturb) on while riding so I don't get annoying notifications.
Been using quadlock for years and years for cycling, motorcycle, photography and car. They're an excellent company. Their cases are very well made.
As for battery life there's things you can do to squeeze some more juice out of it and/or use a portable battery bank for a quick top off to get you home.
Hey Trevor, yeh was super happy with the mount. Yeh I’m sure the external battery would be an option, but remember this was all about ‘loosing’ a device, so adding an external battery kind of goes against the remit for me doing this in the first place.
@@ChrisMillerCycling I completely understand. I am very very much enjoying your videos thank you. You can get lipstick size external battery so that might just be an extra hour of battery life for you. And let's face it do we ever leave home without our phones? Even if you could find the perfect cycling pewter I am pretty sure that you will take a cell phone with you, it's just our nature these days. I am old enough to remember that when we went cycling we had a bike, shoes, shorts and a shirt and that was it and it was glorious.
No your dead right Trevor. Given I never leave home on a bike without my phone, bike computer, camera on the bike, camera in my pocket, external audio recorder, selfie stick, tip pod mount, lens ND filter ... 😂😂
@@ChrisMillerCycling yeah man I didn't want to say it I'm glad you did. All in all though it's good that you are experimenting because what's life without testing? again Chris I just can't emphasize enough how much I'm enjoying your Channel. Back in the 80s I met an Australian working at a ski resort here in Canada and him and I became fast friends I miss him a lot and I see a lot of him in you so thank you.
Great video up until you said “hey Siri” and my iPad decided it was me talking and overroad you. 🤣🤣
I found way around that with my Quadlock. I use the GoPro mount on the QuadLock and jerry rig a mount on a battery pack with a short cable and you will have a charge all day long.
iPhone and quad lock was my first bike computer. Agree it’s brilliant for a new rider especially as I didn’t do such long rides back then. I still use the quad lock all the time though, but it’s purpose now is for the Zwift companion app rather than outside.
Hey Rob, I think you hit the nail on the head, in fact sounds like you are exactly the rider I was trying to describe as the VLOG. Question is, when will the app be developed that results in you (well you 6 months ago) not needing to buy a bike computer.
I use an out front mount for my computer, then use aQuad Lock pro mount on top of the stem, behind. That way the phone is not as exposed to the wind, and better protected if I stack...
Quad lock is superb. Used to use it exactly as you did but then got a bike computer. Now the quad lock is permanently on my trainer bike for the turbo.
Nice video Chris. I have been running a quadlock/phone set up both on road and off road for a few years. For many recreational cyclists it offers lots of features on something you already own i.e. a phone. I suspect that better apps and better phones are more likely than a super duper bike computer because the investment in phone development dwarfs that of bike computers. The market is so much bigger.
Been using a light/usb charger combo with my phone, a cadence sensor, and Garmin watch while riding. That's everything I need!
Things could get expensive if you take a tumble. Most phones aren't built for crashing, whereas most bike computers will survive an encounter with the floor.
Ona phone, if you keep the screen in a full brightness, non-hibernation mode, the battery dies quickly. Also after 9-10 am on longer rides, the sun's direct heat on the screen makes the phone overheat and go into auto shutdown. Discovered this on a BRM years ago.
Battery life is for sure the downer. I started carrying a charge pack in my top tube bag, it’s extra weight but the trade off is I can just plug in when the phone’s battery gets low and I’m good to go.
Bought a Quadlock because of this video, and am very happy with it. Good job and thanks! :)
I use my iPhone 8 plus for navigation only. I have a padrone digital for speed and cadence. And the quadlock is really solid. I have the stem mount and it’s very effective.
I use a converted water bottle to hold some tools and a lipstick size power bank. Found a charging cable that is black and it’s barely visible. The XOSS ap uses far less power than the Fitbit I had been using. Seldom have to use power bank on three hour rides.
Excellent video.
The quad lock system is a thing of beauty. I use it in the car, when I run and pop it on bike.
I am in the new bike rider category. I got a cheap bike mount that is doing a great job thus far. Got google maps and Bike Comp apps running on the phone. I wanted to hotspot my iPod but it has some lag. This is a temporary solution until I can get a garmin computer. My downside is the app doesn't read my cadence sensor all that well and the speed sensor is not needed because of the GPS but I have it as a back up for the GPS. The main metric I check is my speed and I can see it very well on the phone display.
There’s a thing called sp mount which is used as a top cap and locks your phone in place. Could solve the aero problem cause the phone sits further back, which helps steering too, and saves some weight
Turn screen off and use 1km announcements to improve battery, you actually get to focus on breathing, the wheel in front and your surroundings, having the numbers on distracts you especially a screen of that size. And also make sure to use the Australian female voice. Ooo La La
Exactly what I have done for years. Keep screen off. I can run full Google maps directions with volume at max for voice prompts and run Strava or Cyclemeter and have no problem doing 5+ hour rides. Battery life is not an issue.
@Click Bait Adding an extra 100g+ to the setup is big enough deal for most cyclists I think. Also, where and how do you attach the power bank? It's certainly doable, but this would be the point where this "alternative solution" is starting to sound more like bodge than hack. At least to me. I prefer 1vs1ninja's idea.
I wish the iphone would work with the Garmin radar, which i cant ride without anymore... the peace of mind from that thing is like a heated seat, once you have it you cant do without.
Btw, may companies making small portable “MagSafe” battery banks that would just piggy back on the phone. Trick is figuring out how to mount the whole thing,
At 81 my rides are now shorter and half fast. I turned my old no longer used IPhone into a dedicated GPS, with no cell service. GPS is free. I download my route and the little blue dot tells me exactly where I am on my route. After 3 hours I have 30% power left. I carry a small ebrick for backup, for an all-day ride.
I used the phone before I got a bike computer, works for a lot of folks I am sure. ALso great to use the quad lock and phone while on the trainer
I use strava for recording and Google maps for navigation. It's all good.
Set your phone up with the button shortcut for a negative screen. Then the white wahoo readout is black and battery lasts forever. I do this on a 5 year old galaxy S6 and it lasts ~6 hours on quite high brightness
I have been doing this for several years now. I bought a Trac Phone J3. I did not ever activate the 'plan'. It has all the normal stuff, GPS and blue tooth. I use RidewithGPS and Wahoo apps. I bought a CooSpoo(?) cadence/ speed sensor and a Polar HRM. Bought a handlebar mount. The screen is large and bright, way better than those little Garmins. $99, cannot be beat.
Only negative is that I have been unable to load a driver for ANT+. My Garmin HRM only has ANT+.
(almost) every Android phone has built in ANT +
but
no phone can replace bike computer for the size and the battery life
IMHO
but again: bike computer can be easily replaced by sport watch i.e Garmin or Suunto etc. for MOST of the riders
road cyclist usually ride the roads they know in most cases so navigation is not a must - and if need be you still have your phone in the rear pocket - use google maps and set it to tell you when and where to turn - works for me ;-)
Good video Chris👍
My wife got knocked off her bike last Saturday morning. Broken collarbone, gash in her leg and 5 broken bones
In her back 😞
After 4 days on a spinal board she is now in a back brace , it’s going to be a long recovery but she is alive . I was at home and received a text ‘crash detection alert’ from her 520 plus . The accident happened 1mile from our house , I was at the scene within a couple of minutes . I have a wahoo bolt and I love it , however I will now be switching back to a garmin due to the fact they have accelerometers within which enable this life saving feature .
Not sure a smart phone can do this ?
your phone has an accelerometer built in to it; That's how it knows its orientation. It just doesn't have an app that associates a quantity of negative acceleration with an event
Really sorry to hear that Barry. A horrible incident for both of you. I wish her a speedy recovery. It’s a dangerous sport, especially in SYD. I nearly got cleaned up by a P plater this week - eating her breakky as she roared past me. I was 6” from disaster.
I use Bike Computer Pro on Android and it has emergency message setup and can also set the emergency detection threshold, the biggest bugbear of using a mobile phone as a bike computer is not being able to see anything on the screen in bright daylight.
Sorry to hear Barry. I've had the same experience. My Garmin 520 told my wife I had crash and gave her my location. So crucial.
As a person of simplicity the Wahoo ELEMNT is my choice. The pleasure of cycling for me is putting the phone away in the back pocket and heading out for the ride. With only calls coming through to me as a notification the rest (emails, apps) is ignored. If I could leave the phone at home, I probably would!
Love your work Chris - really enjoying your videos.
yes - Elemnt Bolt ticks the 3 boxes doesn't it? Touch screens are a waste of time in the wet/cold UK
@@adriansmith38 Have to agree! Touch screens have a tendency to be terribly frustrating, particularly in the wet/cold or sweaty Aussie summer.
I run without a phone, but I cycle with one 🤷🏻♂️
An old smartphone is like half the price of a wahoo- no cell service/emails/notifications, so much more functionality
I did 100km the other day and I got home battery was 45%? GPS was on Strava. It took me about 4.5 hours. I have an iPhone 11 and a battery pack as a backup. If you want, just put it in airplane mode and your are set. Bike computers are so freaking annoying and slow machines. Their navigation system is terrible and you need to get an expensive option to get a Navi built in. In his case, iPhone pro is huge.
I have the Quad lock for my phone, use it in the car and i have stem mount for the bike which i use when indoor training so i can run the Zwift companion app right by my fingers. By far the best phone mount i have ever had and being an all plastic case I can still use the wireless charger unlike most others that have metal and magnets.
It’s a real quality product, sounds like you are having a very similar experience.
Chris I think you're looking at it the wrong way round. Being on the bike is about putting your phone away, even if its in your back pocket its great to not be looking at it for a few hours. Hard to beat the Bolt for a computer that does everything and just works. Won't go back to Garmin as long as they stick with the hilariously ironic Garmin Connect software.
Hey Hugh, totally agree about the bike being a time away from devices, but mate that’s not always the case for me. If I have 2H to get a ride in but NEED to be contactable for those 2 hours, this might be an option. Remember this all came about because I wanted to take one less device with me, that device that was in my back pocket (the phone), I wanted it to be put to better use ... which for you guys might be a win, because it hopefully means I can carry a better camera with me.
I think the Hammerhead Karoo 2 is going to be a good contender. I have the first Karoo and the screen is brilliant, as is the smartphone-like user experience. Battery life isn’t too bad (finally had it die 8 hours into a ride today). The new version is on my shopping list when it’s available.
Hey David, I think you are right. The Karoo really didn’t get much traction here in Australian, so it kind of flew under my radar.
@@ChrisMillerCycling There's a few of us that managed to get one and it's a really interesting device! They ran out of stock before COVID and now they're holding off until the new model. I think the second version will be a killer!
Really like the cadence app. For the price it's a fraction of a bike computer and for as much as I ride, it works perfectly well for me. It's Varia compatible, so it's perfect so far.
Instead of getting a quad lock case, get a charge case & quad lock universal adapter. Make sure a the charge case is a hard pc or a abs hard plastic. It will not bond to Rubber, silicone TPU and soft touch coatings
Chris if you're anything like me you're waiting for a Heads Up Display that's slaved off a smart bikecam. Then viewing ride data and selecting when to activate the camera for filming footage becomes possible with the simple touch of a BLE handlebar mounted switch. Still no viable HUD on the market yet though; Everysight Raptor is about as close we have right now
Is everyone keeping their screen on while they ride? I run one navigation app and one tracker app and just turn the screen on when I want to see the whole map or change my route. It uses around 5% battery per hour, even with voice prompts for next turn. You can put the phone in airplane mode too which allows for GPS reception but cuts out energy consumption for transmitting data as well as annoying distractions. Of course if you want to stream a TV series in 4k on full brightness it's going to rinse the battery, but that is the case whether you do it on your bike or lying in bed at home. If you're just using the phone to navigate and log ride data I see no reason why it shouldn't last an entire day, even if your phone has a skimpy battery. NB I'm using OsmAnd with downloaded maps.
I found this super informative. Thank you. I am desperate to ditch my Garmin 830 for the simplicity of the phone. However: it seems that the phone apps don't recognise the power data from the cranks. Shame!
Very good advice. Would be lovely to see if things have changed and the phone became even more attractive.
Hey mate. Working on that now for you.
@@ChrisMillerCycling any updates :)? Finding an app with watt, heart rate & navigation is not easy to fine. Greetings from Germany.
Apart from specific training sessions, are you riding a bike or driving a space ship? What information do you need when you're not on a training session? Enjoy the ride, or measure your suffering.
Have a listen to Ted King's podcasts, specifically episodes six and eleven (I think), he explores bikes and gadgets.
Personally, I like to be able to measure and hold to a specific training plan, to maximise training benefit, but other rides, I turn off the screen and enjoy the ride. I download the file afterward, and go, gee whiz, that was fun, but during the ride I enjoy the roads and company and coffee stops and all that makes riding so wonderful.
I also have mastered the art of planning a ride, and 8 times out of ten, not getting lost. When I do, it's just a new adventure.
Followed the TDF route a couple years ago, turns out that we didn't need Garmin to tell us where to go. These blokes in a van put up the arrows the day before, just follow them. Sooooo much nicer than having Garmin or Wahoo or some other computer telling us.
Enjoy the ride, don't get drawn into your devices, and loose focus on your surroundings. There is plenty of time for analysis afterward or at work or....
what would be amazing is if someone could make a way to turn your riding into charge for what ever devices phones light etc the used to years ago have bike lights that where power by wheel movement
Id say you need a Smaller Iphone. Forget the case and have it raw. Stick the Quadlock thing on the phone itself and lock that to the handlebar.
Is there any new apps available? Im gonna do the setup mentioned with small iphone.
ty for the video! just ordered a mount from Quad Lock!
unfortunately they currently don't have a case for my specific phone (Samsung Galaxy A71) so I will have to use the universal mount but that should still be fine if it holds as good as they claimed it would!
Worked awesome on my Samsung A51 no way it would come off with the 3M tape attached
Hey man, there several things you can do to extend battery life, turn off apps, change settings, turn down screen light ect.. TH-cam it for tutorials. 👍🌱🚴♂️
A phone could be so much better than any computer. There are a few things that would make it work, the screen is what probably drains most of the power so an app that uses a black background would probably save energy?
But imagine how good an app could be if it linked strava to tell you the section times, accepted multiple different cadence, speed, power meters, heartrate monitors and watches such as garmin, wahoo, polar, etc. Plus on top of that you could use navigation with cycle paths etc. The aero is a minor difference to a cycle computer. If quadlock made a mount with a clamp on each side of the stem it would allow a longer reach so the phone could be mounted inline with the bars, then have an optional attachment for a light bracket under the phone or in front of it the aero issue is pretty much completely solved.
as a quadlock user the phone is less of an aero problem if you mount it on the stem rather than having it hang way off the front of the bars. as an activity recorder strava used to be great until they removed bluetooth and Ant accessory support 🙄
Suggest you try IpBike on your phone. Connects to sensors with both ANT+ and BLE. Very customizable as to how and what data you collect. Uploads to any number of web services including Strava, Cycling Analytics, TrainerRoad, etc...
You can flip the mount to have it over the stem for better aerodynamics
I use an called IP Bike on my Samsung Note 10. Samsung has Ant+ built in so can use all my sensors that way. IP Bike has an absolute ton of features, only issue is the UI looks like it was developed in 1999
You can get way better battery by using a Samsung phone with OLED screen and set it up with white text on a black background. The black pixels completely turn off.
The biggest problem I ran into using my cell as a cycling computer was when sweat would drop onto the touchscreen, it would send my cell into a frenzy. It would stop and start my ride, turn the screen on and off and sometimes end the ride completely. I also wound up water damaging my phone when I ran into a downpour on a long ride. It's just not worth the risk when it is so important for so many other reasons. Almost forgot how I might need my phone, for pictures, connecting with someone or in an emergency, but my battery is dead.
Why can't they make apps with DARK mode (absolutely black background) to make battery life better?
Oh that’s a clever thought Ed
I'm currently using my phone (Samsung Note 4) for GPS directions. It's relatively a big phone. Since I ride between 10-12hr straight trip monthly, I stick with the Samsung Note4 with Removable Battery! I'm going to look for a decent cycling GPS computer as a back up, but if I don't get it I don't sweat because I always have an extra battery standby to swap in after 9hrs. If the batteries go bad after a few years, I just replace them at cheap dirt prices. Heck, you can get a few more for extras! Thank you my faithful removable battery phone!
I used my phone exclusively until the Strava dummy spit of taking that way of recording off their platform. I had the SP connect mount which was ok and did the job. I now have a Bryton rider 15 simple unit and just does the job. I also have the Lezyne mini, tiny but with lots of features. Tempted to go for the Lezyne Maxi. I get lots of people who moan about Garmins, which was enough for me to not buy one. Anyhow keep up the good work.
I use an iPhone with OLED Display and invert the screen, so I have an all black screen with white numbers on it (Strava), which supposedly uses less power. I am happy with battery life thus far (iPhone Xs). 2-3 hours ride maybe takes up 30-40% battery.
Great video, Chris. Urban Biker is a great app for those with Android phones. I use my Samsung phone as a bike computer all the time. Long battery life and it supports Ant+ and Bluetooth.
I think Leomo's Type-S bike computer is an Android phone with Ant+ connectivity and a bit more? Shane Miller (GP Lama) did a little thingo on it a while back.
I bought a quad lock yesterday and it is awesome. Cannot believe I haven’t bought one earlier.
They really are great aren’t they!
I've been using Quadlock for years, and the only drawback is they only make covers for Galaxy S, iPhone and Pixel. They desperately need to pick a midrange brand like OnePlus (example !).
I bought the universal stick on 3m mount for the back of my Samsung A51. No way it comes off then attach it to the quad lock . Had to creatively cut out the back of phone cover to fit around the mount but works perfectly. I know what you’re saying though!
yeah gotta cut it out and jerry rig in onto another case
Option 2: hammerhead Karoo 2 coming in a few months and probably will be what you are looking for...
How about put phone in driving mode, turn to silence and turn off all notifications.
Also put phone in low power mode and start ride with 100% battery life….. will this help?
Great piece, love my Quad lock, you didn’t mention, 1) the weight might be elsewhere on your person, “if” you take your phone on the ride, as most seem to do (in my circle anyway:). 2) What about the great video and selfies you can take from you phone, if of course you adjust the angle of the dangle ;)
That's was subtle! 😎😁😎
Probably be a Melbourne app designer, just like the quadlock!
Any technology less than a phone seems ancient to me now. Im using the last Samsung Note 20 ultra series and I have this capability available to me to basically dual view and launch two apps side by side at the same time on the screen. like lets say you tube on the top half and text message at the bottom half. This is separate from picture in picture form. This is like having a dual monitor setup with your desktop. when im on the treadmill at the gym, i am watching my youtube while texting my friends while doing cardio. This is exactly what I need. garmin or wahoo or bike computer reminds me on atari compared to nowdays smart phones.
It always comes back to battery. But if you aren’t concerned with notifications and you use offline mode in ride with gps an iPhone 11pro lasts all day (how many people ride more than 6 hours) i prefer to have one device (my phone)
I don’t have any devices other than my phone with free strava app and now free wahoo app but was thinking about getting an Apple Watch so I don’t miss calls from work or important messages
You have to think outside of the box.......a long charging cable...with the battery bank in a small saddle bag......is enough for your bike ride.....it's not that hard of thinking...it's nothing wrong with using the phone as a bike computer.....I love Garmin products...but I invested in a product...(my Samsung note 9 phone)..that can do many things.....so I choose to use my phone...Garmin have so many products on the market for air sea and lands....I can't even think straight....so I let my phone do the thinking...... for me ... My phone ,A GREAT MULTIPLE TASKS MANAGER...
For the 'What will happen first?' question at the end, my perspective is that it will always be harder to really bridge the gap between either option, because the perfect 'discussion-ending' device is probably gonna described as a Cyclo-computer that's become a little more like a phone than before, or it's a phone that's become a little more like a Cyclo-computer than before.
Though, I guess I'd personally think if we were adjusting a phone, we'd need a little more hardware changes than just having an app that does everything that a bike computer can, so basically I feel that it's easier to build up a bike computer to resemble a phone more than it would be to do the other way around given that it's already targeting an amount of users who don't necessarily need potentially too much extra demands from their phone/cyclo-computer and so it can have hardware that doesn't need to run fast-paced mobile games and so it's going to become more efficient, have better battery life, etc... If you wanted a bigger and more-responsive screen on your Garmin, then that's something that can happen, while it would be harder to market a device that was smaller than usual, couldn't run these big mobile games, etc.... As a phone, when ultimately it's just a more feature-packed Cyclo-computer.
Years ago, there were Garmin smartphones, and there was a Garmin app. But I guess it ate into their navigation and bike computer range too much.
Opposite, it would make a lot more Sense, to improve phones for the cyclo computer use. Why? Because you, like anyone else, allready got a phone. What HARDWARE do cyclo computers have, that Phones lack? Maybe better battery life, other then that:
NONE!
NOTHING!
All you gotta do, is to make the phone software better and more compatible with the Toys that Pros like to use (power Meters and crap like that).
But I suppose we still have navigational device these days. They aren't used by car drivers anymore (in general), but truck drivers use them. Do those devices have ANY Feautre, that a Phone lacks? FUCK NO. Those devices are crappy build, slow devices with decade old tech, sold overpriced. Why? Because they release the Truck Maps on those devices alone. Why? Because you'd be a fucking retard if you bought those shit devices otherwise.
So there is your answer. Add feautres to Phones, it makes a lot more sense. If they don't make phone (apps) compatible with pro cyclists toys, it'll be just like the truck maps on navigational systems. They are there ONLY so that you spend more money. Easy as that.
Get a battery case. That will increase your phone’s battery capability. I use switch into a morphie case whenever I cycle.
Now as watchOS 10 is out, you should redo the video. With my Apple Watch Ultra and iPhone 13 I calculated I could get almost 10 hours of riding. The best feature with the watchOS 10, if you can make your own training programs and also and a power meter.
I’ve been using quad lock and my iPhone as bike computer with wahoo fitness app for a couple years. It would be perfect for me except the auto-pause function doesn’t work. Anyone else experience this?
So we need a „Powerbank“ stem 🤫
I bought a small power 🔋 bank 2000mh and attach it the stem with some inner tube. My Garmin 820 is old now so after 4 hours it needs a little boost.
Quadlock for using zwift / sufferfest etc.....seems perfect...
Loving the vlogs chris....
I use the wahoo app on my phone while it’s in my back pocket recording my data and during the ride I just watch my super cheap speedometer. iPhone lasts forever if the screen is off. Even listening to music the whole time. Do have a quad lock mount and it is great. I just find when my phones on the bars I keep turning it on and the battery dies a lot faster. Some day maybe I’ll get a wahoo computer. Just keep finding better ways to spend that kind of money.
Check out Mophie battery cases (Apple Store sells them). I had one for my iPhone 7 (which I used on the bike) and it roughly doubled the battery life. It also serves as a shock-resistant case protecting the phone. Downside: it's not waterproof, because Mophie didn't license the Lightning connector from Apple and so had to use a micro USB port. This may have changed in the couple of years since I used this setup, dunno.
Hey Paul, thanks for the suggestion but I won’t be buying another mount for the phone, this quad lock one is just what I wanted. You can get an adapter that adds an external battery to the mount, but remember this was all about me ‘loosing’ a device for the bike, so I’m kind of against adding accessories.
@@ChrisMillerCycling Sorry Chris, somehow I thought that the phone side of the Quadlock was a piece that one bonded to the back of the phone or its case. Looking at the Quadlock website, I see that it's molded into the back of their phone cases, so no way to use a Mophie case.
For a year or two I used an iPhone 7 in a Mophie clipped to the handlebars. When the iPhone 7 started having problems I traded it in for an iPhone 8, not too big for my back pocket. Rather than buy another Mophie to fit the iPhone 8, I caved and got a Garmin. Partly because I had begun using the phone for calls, checking emails, and browsing WHILE RIDING, a REALLY bad idea. Plus with the clip I had it looked clunky and got in the way when I got out of the saddle. The Garmin isn't ideal - wading through all the features I don't need was a pain - but it works well enough for my needs/wants and battery life is no longer an issue. Then I got a Varia, which is wonderful and coupled perfectly with it (although now there is an iPhone Varia app). I carry the iPhone 8 in my rear pocket, often muted, mainly for emergencies. Not a problem, though if there were a cheaper, smaller iPhone available I might consider getting one just for cycling.
Speaking of "losing accessories", what's up with your handlebar purse? It vanishes and then reappears. What do you carry in it?
Your phone is sticking too far out front. They make some that'll mount further back and therefore doesn't mess with your steering as much when the wind blows. It's giving the wind extra leverage turning your front wheel the way you have it. Otherwise, great review!
I use an old compact sony xperia phone. It's relatively small.
My solution: Z1 compact (waterproof, small, cheap) + quad lock + wahoo fitness
Just a point to mention Chris, I live in a major city and riding inner city with a £1000 phone on the handlebars,,,, no chance, one twist and a pair of running shoes( try running in cleats) and the thief's off👍😁
Great video Chris. I run a Garmin 820, it’s great for performance (power, hr, speed etc), right size etc but it’s absolutely rubbish for navigation and the interface (file upload/download, set up etc) is archaic. When I head somewhere new, I now also run Strava routes on my iphone11+ (quadlock). Looks silly on the bars imo, but the navigation is vastly superior. Hoping that the karoo2 strikes the right balance.
Hey Rhys, yeh Strava routes is the perfect route app, such a pity they dropped sensor support. I don’t really know what the end game is there for strava, given they looked set to develop the perfect app for the phone. Is it to soon for me to be suggesting a conspiracy here; bike computer manufacturers never developing a perfect UI, app developers never developing perfect support = we have to buy both as the consumer 🤔
I got a quadlock a few months ago for my road bike, and I love it, super high quality, getting one for my MTB too
Does it budge off especially when you ride on bumpy surfaces?
Bayani San nope it’s super solid hasn’t come off once this year
Last question man,
When you are cycling, does your phone get hot?
Like it’s super sturdy?
@@bayanisan484 i have a iphone X and havent really notcied it get hot , i do notice the battery drains quicker though.
@@bronxxneho thanks man!
Would recommend App called OruxMaps. Does it all including offline navigation.
Completely missing the point on form factor.
You don't buy a phone to use as a bike computer. You already have a phone (mandatory to carry with you for safety). Can it be put to good use other than sitting in your back pocket as dead weight?
Hey man. Thanks for the comment. That was very much my point, I certainly didn’t buy my phone to be a bike computer, this was more an attempt to retrofit it into that role. Like I said in the video, It’s certainly not a bad fit either, just needs a few tweaks.
Good video here, I often wonder if the phone is a good replacement for an actual bike computer!
We need an app thats blocks most of hardware io, only turning on gps. I use my phone in aircraft mode, so I got more hours in usage.
Surprised as a bike tech geek you have not got at Leomo Type S, a bike computer (with extras and IPX7 waterproofing) than can be used as a phone. ps a few episodes back questioned making $20k a year racing crits in US got watch/listen Justin Williams on the latest Trainer Road podcast, (plus interesting stuff on teams)
Does the phone connect to a power meter for your watts?
Have a dedicated phone without cellular data and just connect on hotspot when you need it
Bryton computers are the best value on the market for cycling computers
Hey Shane, I’m not familiar with them too be honest.
The risk of crashing with the phone at the head of the bike is too scary a thought for me, and then a warm day with direct sunlight on your screen with a static display does not sound ideal.
Wow that is terrible batter life.. I used my pixel 7 pro on a 3 hour gravel bike and by the end I was well over 50% with strava and garmin app running the whole time
used my oneplus 6 for a 7hr trip as a navigator with komoot and the battery went from 100 to 40...in 7 hr so i think that the last point higly depends on the size of the battery