Bicycle phone holders: types and choices

The need to install a phone holder on a bicycle in the age of gadgets does not surprise anyone - the modern industry offers many accessories for different types and sizes of models of mobile devices. With the help of such a device, you can significantly facilitate your life on the road and daily travel, not to miss an important call or message. Besides, With the right holder, you can easily turn your smartphone into a bike navigator or tracker when traveling.

But how to do it without errors? Without studying the features of bicycle mounts for a smartphone, it can be difficult to navigate the offers on the market. How to choose a handlebar or frame stand? What is the difference between the different fixation options? Before choosing the right mount for your smartphone, it is worth considering all the available offers and understanding how they suit the riding style of a particular rider.

A bicycle mount phone holder is a holder in the form of a case or frame into which a mobile device is inserted. It would seem that this device should often be found on two-wheeled vehicles, but so far such accessories often appear on the pages of thematic sites and magazines.

Riders are not yet too eager to acquire phone holders - most prefer not to take risks, fearing vibration exposure, shock or the risk of breaking the smartphone if dropped.

However, the benefits of having an attachment still outweigh the potential risks.The holders help expand the bike's capabilities and make it safer to use your smartphone on the go.

When is the use of bicycle phone holders absolutely necessary?

• When using your phone as a navigator. In this case, the device should be in front of the rider's eyes. Keeping it securely at the right angle is also an important part of the successful transformation of a smartphone into a navigation system. In this case, instead of a separate microcomputer, a mobile device can be installed in a horizontal position. You don't even have to worry about it, leaving the bike unattended - you just need to remove the phone from the mount.

• If necessary, be constantly in touch. If a missed call or message threatens the loss of customers or other risks, you should consider using a special holder. It is placed vertically in the field of view. In this case, the phone will be convenient to use in combination with a headset, and if it is not there, you can always stop and answer the call.

• When monitoring sports performance. Using a smartphone instead of a tracker allows you not to acquire unnecessary gadgets, as it clearly demonstrates all measured parameters in real time. With the help of the holder, it is easy to fix the device in a convenient position, connect sensors to it and receive useful information on biological parameters, distance traveled along the way and other important characteristics.

Essentially, a phone bike carrier is a convenient accessory that can significantly facilitate the life of a lover of walks on two-wheeled vehicles.

All bike racks can be categorized by mounting method, grip type and size. A smartphone stand can be of several types.

• Universal. In this case, the fasteners are adjusted for specific parameters, shifting their edges in a horizontal or vertical plane. The bracket frame is fixed with special bolts.

• For Android smartphones or iPhone. An individual bike holder is more reliable and allows you to fix the device more firmly in the place chosen for it. But when you change the model and brand of the device, you will have to buy an accessory that does not have adjustable elements.

• Waterproof. It is produced in both universal and individual versions, with fixation on the steering wheel or frame. Suitable for use on expeditions and travel.

The stand can be fixed in one of several ways, depending on which fastener is selected. Most often, this is an ordinary plastic clamp that squeezes the steering wheel. To fasten it, screws or special keys are used, which allow you to quickly dismantle the bike holder.

Mounts on the frame are made in the form of a bag or a rigid block, which allows you to securely fix the device... In this case, the smartphone will not be used as a navigator, but will be in the access zone for calls and messages.

Contact pad model most often found among the offers from the most famous brands. This mount is combined with the case and allows you to secure the smartphone most reliably. It is this option that is used by true cycling enthusiasts who prefer country routes to driving on a flat highway.

Bicycle phone holders can vary in how they fit into the stand. The most common option is the classic "frame" with elastic or rigid sliding sides, clamped with a screw lock.

Full-fledged covers are no less in demand. - they allow to reliably protect the structure of the device from moisture and dirt, do not cover the screen - it can be used as a navigator, tracker. But answering a call without a headset will be quite difficult.

Some manufacturers experimentally suggest installing on bicycles vacuum Velcro - they hold the phone by pumping air out of the space around it. It is difficult to call such a mount reliable, but it is quite suitable for use when riding in the park.

Flexible elastic bands grab the steering wheel and attach the smartphone to the corners. Not the most reliable option, but on the road in an emergency it can help out.

Among the materials suitable for making a bicycle holder for a phone are the following options:

• Silicone. Practical and non-slip option. The transparent silicone case is usually made for devices that require all-weather protection. In addition, it is used to make "elastic bands" - express fixers that easily take the desired shape.

• Plastic. Holders from it are made mainly with a mount on the handlebars. Polymer materials have low strength, but they are cheap and practical. Special soft polymers are used to create contact areas where the smartphone body can hit or rub against the stand.

• Leather. It acts as an element of the general design of a closed case, in front of such a product there is always a silicone transparent insert. Leather is considered a premium material and is often used by well-known firms.

• Metal. Today this material is rather seen as auxiliary. But the metal holder can use existing fasteners. For example, be part of a bottle holder or a place for a pump on a frame.

Many well-known brands make bike holders for your phone today. The most popular models include the following.

• GUB G-83. The universal holder can be mounted on the stem or the handlebar itself, the manufacturer encloses detailed instructions. The stand is plastic, the bracket is aluminum, there are polymer crimp sleeves. Swivel bracket, can be in 4 positions. On the stem, fixation is made with a screw included.

• Life Proof. The company creates mounts for iPhone, universal, for motorcycles or bicycles. Can be mounted to hold the apparatus horizontally or vertically.

• Scoche HandleIT. Model of universal type for mounting on the steering wheel. Conveniently fixed with a screw that adjusts the intensity of the clamp. The mount itself has restraints on 3 sides, it can expand to fit the required dimensions of the mobile device. Convenient button for quick phone extraction is included.

• BioLogic. Not the most budget-friendly model, but one of the most versatile to use. The mount is equipped with a rigid block in the form of a case with a transparent front panel. Access to the ports is protected from moisture, the entire structure successfully cushions any shocks and other external influences.

• Arkon Slim-Grip. The handlebar mount model is considered universal, suitable for fixing most smartphones and phones, and is adapted to bicycles of different designs. The set includes a head that supports 180-degree rotation and guarantees precise positioning of the device. The model is equipped with an additional seat belt for better fastening.

Also noteworthy are the phone holders of the companies. Wahoo, Satechi, iCarry Bike-S, Joy Factory... These companies regularly update their assortment and take into account the peculiarities of new models of mobile devices.

When choosing a bicycle holder for a mobile phone or smartphone, the following points should be considered.

1. Vehicle type. To travel over rough terrain on a mountain bike or fat bike, it is better to choose closed covers from the very beginning, from which the device will not fly out when moving. For city and road models, open and plastic universal mounts are suitable.
2. The number of closed sides. There should be at least 3 of them, otherwise, if the wheel hits a bump, the device may simply fly out of the holder. Redesigned car mounts for phones are most often reversible.
3. Smartphone type... If the processor of the device gets very hot during operation, it is better to forget about completely closed sealed covers. This problem is most common on Android smartphones.
4. Mount type... If you just need to have your phone within reach, you can get by with the usual frame mount. But in the case when it comes to using the device as a navigator or you need to quickly answer calls, it is better to give preference to open structures located on the steering wheel.

With these important points in mind, you can choose the holder that is most comfortable to use on the go and attach it securely to your bike.

The following video provides an overview of 8 models of GUB bike phone holders.