DIY: $5 bicycle dashboard and GPS
Riding my bicycle for over an hour a day as I make my way to work and back and around the city, I've often felt the need for a GPS. At other times, I would want a speedometer, so I'd have some idea at what speed I'm taking that slope.
In this post, I'll show you how to safely attach your cell phone to your handlebar for less than $5.
Ever since I got my Nokia 5800, it dawned on me that this device would be a great addition to my bike. Like many other smartphones, it has a built in GPS and a huge screen. If only there were some way of easily and safely attaching it to the bike...
In my search for a solution to this need, I found this cheap universal cell-phone mount and went and ordered it. Unfortunately, this mount is really bulky and as a result shakes wildly with every bump in the road. I did not feel safe having my phone in it. In addition, its big thumb screw makes it an easy target for thieves. This was clearly not the solution for my needs. I envisioned the phone flush with the handlebar. This was far from it.
I ended up making my own phone-mount, and it was as easy and cheap as can be. I took a detachable flashlight mount (similar, though not identical to this one), and glued it onto a silicone case I bought for my phone.
Remove the clamp that's meant to hold the flashlight. I used a pair of scissors to cut off most of the unneeded plastic, and then sanded the rest down with a leatherman. If you buy this one ($2.98, free shipping), it looks like the clamp unscrews, and you can use it for some other project (attach it to your helmet, maybe?)
I lightly sanded down the area on my silicone case where I was planning to glue the mount, in order to make sure the surface was free from chemicals & coatings, and to make it a little rougher, so the glue sticks better. Apply a thin, even layer of superglue, and firmly press the mount into place. Let it dry for about 20 minutes, and slide your phone into your new bike accessory.
You can find good silicone cases for almost every imaginable phone here; many for under $2.
So what does one do with a large-screen dashboard on one's bike? I've used MGMaps to get directions and navigate unfamiliar neighborhoods; Nokia Sports Tracker as a big-lettered speedometer and odometer (and as a bonus, it records your route so you can later analyze and share it); and Waze for voice turn-by-turn navigation. In addition, having your phone on your handlebar rather than your pocket allows you to see who's calling you. Video calls also work with the phone on the handlebar, pointing up at you.
I've been stopped by fellow cyclists on several occasions and asked about the GPS on my bike. I hope that this guide will get some of you guys out there to try this for yourselves. Just the bewildered looks you'll get from drivers around you will be worth it.
REL
December 1st, 2009 at 16:18 #
Amazing!
Was looking for that for awhile.
I have just the same usage for my 5800xm
and thought about mounting tham to my bike foe some time.
Thanks!
Thad
December 1st, 2009 at 16:23 #
Awesome man!
I’ll be doing this asap with my Iphone.
On the Iphone I recommend MotionX GPS. I tired 6 or 7 other apps and this one is awesome. If you only need to save 1 track at a time it is also free.
אילן
December 1st, 2009 at 16:31 #
כל הכבוד על הייצוג ב-lifehacker!
physio
December 1st, 2009 at 17:01 #
I’d be a little concerned about the effect of the constant vibrations on my iPhone. Even with good front suspension I’d think this could cause problems eventually.
How many miles have you put on with your phone attached?
Tad Annoyed
December 1st, 2009 at 19:16 #
How about using good old fashioned velcro. Cheaper and just as reliable. And thieves? When you get off your bike, take your phone with you.
Amol
December 1st, 2009 at 20:02 #
to all people about to try this.. can I ask you to please stay off youtube while on your bikes.
death by moron cyclist would not be my choice of method to leave this world.
Ethan
December 1st, 2009 at 20:08 #
The problem with Velcro is that is doesn’t grip the phone as firmly, and there’s nothing preventing it from rolling around the bar away from you.
When I had my previous phone (a Sony Ericsson W530i with an HGE-100 GPS headset), I’d strap it onto my gloved wrist with a reflective velcro strip. For a screen-only phone, however, I think that this solution is better.
sunil
December 1st, 2009 at 20:28 #
Great stuff! Next step, waterproofing against the great british rain…! Anyone any thoughts?!
Ethan
December 1st, 2009 at 20:31 #
I’ve recorded some 75 km Nokia Sports Tracker, so I’d say I’ve had my phone mounted to the bike for approximately 100-150 km in total. Most all of this was on the road, of course. Though I do feel this is safe enough for a dirt trail, I would not do any aggressive biking with it.
As for damage to the phone, I think the soft silicone offers some shock absorbing. In addition, the brace attaching it to the handlebar is rather tight, but not so tight I can’t rotate it by hand. so there’s some shock absorbing there as well.
Ethan
December 1st, 2009 at 20:36 #
Sunil, in the past, I’ve placed my phone in a condom in order to waterproof it (when going on a hike that included neck-deep rivers). You should be able to put your phone in a (non-spermicidal) condom inside the silicone case.
My concern then would be that you’re not keeping your eyes on the road while biking in the rain.
Lo
December 1st, 2009 at 20:53 #
I center mounted my Sony Ericsson W760i on my road bike and after a few rides it’s proved to be quite solid. I use sportstracklive.com (used veloxgps.de before sportstracklive.com – both work very well) to plot my track and get my speed/altitude stats on my rides. Google maps gives me real time location plus full access to all the phone’s functions.
Mount: http://tinyurl.com/yfp4oxn
Ingredients:
1 reflector
1 plastic plate
1 hardcase cell phone
zip ties
velcro
Remove the reflective piece and mount a plastic base plate (I found a random piece and shaped it with a dremel), drill 4 holes thru the plate and reflector base and zip tie together. Hooks on the base plate, loops on the hard case. Done!
It’s not waterproof, but then again, I try to avoid riding in the rain at which point I’d just put the phone elsewhere. As far as shock, the velcro seems to do well with road biking, I can’t speak to mountain biking. Additionally, I’m going to supplement the power (GPS can drain the battery) by adding a small AA battery powered under the mount.
AA power: http://tinyurl.com/yhehfdf
Cheers!
Mount Your Phone To Your Bike For $5 | Lifehacker Australia
December 1st, 2009 at 22:29 #
[...] DIY: $US5 bicycle dashboard and GPS [Angered Brackets] Tagged:bicyclesfitnessphones [...]
pavan
December 2nd, 2009 at 00:02 #
nice idea. but i guess this increases of accidents. what if the rider jump onto facebook and forget that he is riding?!!
Bike GPS | BikeHacks
December 2nd, 2009 at 06:07 #
[...] Photo credit goes to Ethan [...]
Geile Sachen » Blog Archiv » Weil man ja heutzutage nicht mehr einfach eine Radtour machen kann
December 2nd, 2009 at 23:29 #
[...] Bastelanleitung, ist tatsächlich ganz simpel. Nur der Akku wird unterwegs Probleme machen. [...]
Roey
December 16th, 2009 at 11:50 #
I think this will fit in your project as well:
(Mobile phone dynamo charger)
http://www.ikonglobal.com/