Since the majority of the training has now moved indoors due to the pandemic, I thought it would be helpful to share solutions for mounting phones on bike trainers.
After years of trying different off the shelf phone mounts, none has solved all of my concerns and wishes.
So I came up with a simple, minimal phone mount solution by using a phone adapter and a magnetic mount. I’m calling it “Magnetic Sandwich Mount.” The magnet is sandwiched between the phone and the mount. Here is what it looks like:
If you are interested in a step-by-step guide on how to make this “magnetic sandwich mount” yourself, check it out here:
It looks great, but don’t the magnets mess with the phone’s function? It may be something stupid that’s inherited from the days of good ol’ desktops with floppy disk readers running on Windows 95, but I had an idea that magnets put close to electronic devices could harm them.
And meanwhile, I just did some jerry rigging with a car GPS holder and some duct tape, it looks like a Mad Max prop made by a homeless person, but it does the trick.
I have been using magnetic mounts inside my car for years without any issues. My old iPhone 5s has been sitting on the magnet mount for the last 2 years 24/7 and has no issues that I can detect.
One of the concerns is that magnets might affect the camera, but you’ll need a giant magnet to do so, not a consumer product mount sold as a phone mount. Also, phones these days are very resilient. They are designed to handle drops with forces much greater than that of a magnet.
Duct tape is a miracle tool just like zip ties and velcro! All are harmless for phones.
Using a Garmin out front mount, I got a male 1/4 turn mount, dremeled a bit off, glued a magnet on it and it magnetized to my Rokform phone case that has a magnet.
Not strong enough for the road, but works indoors.
Trainerroad has something similar on their blog gluing the 1/4 turn mount to a phone case.
Lots of 3d printing options as well for Garmin mounts, gopro mounts etc that can be hacked together.
Plus, plenty of cheap mounts made to mount phones to bikes.
All great ideas. I’m really hoping that one of the bike accessories company will take a bet and make a product out of it. It is just so convenient use already existing 1/4 turn mount to mount the phone. I can see it flying off the virtual shelves for $20 or so.
For indoor riding? I just “mount” it on the table next to me… For outdoor riding I “mount” it in my back jersey pocket
Yup. I put mine on an angled wireless charger on the table right in front of/ next to me. I finish the ride without missing a thing and my phone is charged.
