Phone Connected Computers?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Northeastern MA, USA
Posts: 1,678
Bikes: Garmin/Tacx Bike Smart
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 646 Post(s)
Liked 289 Times
in
191 Posts
Phone Connected Computers?
Are there any cycling computers that simply connect to your smartphone and use the GPS and display stats, speed, etc? Any that work well?
#2
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,988
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6193 Post(s)
Liked 4,810 Times
in
3,318 Posts
1) Yes.
2) Depends.
2) Depends.
#3
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,988
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6193 Post(s)
Liked 4,810 Times
in
3,318 Posts
The cycling stats are already given by the bike computer itself. The same things can usually be gotten from your phone via an app and without the need of a bike computer.
So what exactly are you wanting one to provide the other?
So what exactly are you wanting one to provide the other?
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 2,190
Bikes: Ti, Mn Cr Ni Mo Nb, Al, C
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Liked 527 Times
in
349 Posts
Wahoo (I have no experience with Garmin) has its own GPS unit and tracks speed, cadence, and whatever you have a sensor for. It connects to your phone via BT to upload the data...so it is not using your phones resources during the ride.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,883
Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3240 Post(s)
Liked 2,086 Times
in
1,181 Posts
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2,537
Bikes: yes
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1281 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
329 Posts
The Wahoo Mini does this.
No idea if it works well, although I have several Wahoo products and I'm mostly happy with them.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,883
Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3240 Post(s)
Liked 2,086 Times
in
1,181 Posts
Wahoo Mini. About $99
Comes with a speed sensor (wheel mounted) that will allow the unit to function as a basic bike computer without needing a smartphone connection to be present and running during a ride.
But note that as Wahoo requires the companion app be installed on a smartphone to do an initial setup, that app can then be used to connect to the Mini and accesses the phone GPS receiver. That then gets you a position map and GPS track that can be uploaded to Strava, RWGPS, if you use them as fitness trackers. It does not, as far as I can determine, allow you to generate a route from a 3rd party such as RWGPS to have a pre-planned navigable route to follow. The Bolt, Elemnt, Elemnt Roam and assorted Garmins, Lezyne and Polars do all this but are more expensive.
Comes with a speed sensor (wheel mounted) that will allow the unit to function as a basic bike computer without needing a smartphone connection to be present and running during a ride.
But note that as Wahoo requires the companion app be installed on a smartphone to do an initial setup, that app can then be used to connect to the Mini and accesses the phone GPS receiver. That then gets you a position map and GPS track that can be uploaded to Strava, RWGPS, if you use them as fitness trackers. It does not, as far as I can determine, allow you to generate a route from a 3rd party such as RWGPS to have a pre-planned navigable route to follow. The Bolt, Elemnt, Elemnt Roam and assorted Garmins, Lezyne and Polars do all this but are more expensive.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Northeastern MA, USA
Posts: 1,678
Bikes: Garmin/Tacx Bike Smart
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 646 Post(s)
Liked 289 Times
in
191 Posts
This
I'm looking for a head unit to simply reflect what's on the phone. Why bother with two computers when you already have a pretty powerful one in your pocket?
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 2,190
Bikes: Ti, Mn Cr Ni Mo Nb, Al, C
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Liked 527 Times
in
349 Posts
If you're asking for opinions of why a computer over a phone: 1. Battery limitations, 2. Ensuring phone is available for emergencies and not dead because it's been tracking a ride.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Northeastern MA, USA
Posts: 1,678
Bikes: Garmin/Tacx Bike Smart
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 646 Post(s)
Liked 289 Times
in
191 Posts
Definitely not looking for a mount for the phone, for the very reason you mentioned. Looking for a connected head unit to use the phone's tracking features without having to keep the phone "live" for the entire ride.
#11
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,111
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3432 Post(s)
Liked 3,567 Times
in
1,793 Posts
ridewithgps: Apple Watch
#12
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
Yup. I use an older model Wahoo sensor set with my iPhone 4s on my old steel road bike for indoor trainer. There are still plenty of unsold new/old stock Wahoo Fitness Bike Pack kits for iPhone 3 to 4 models that include:
Costs a whopping $15. Retail was $150 when this kit was new in 2012. Still works fine. But it's heavy and bulky so I only use it on the indoor trainer.
I also have the Wahoo Tickr heart rate monitor. I wore it constantly for a month but now only wear it on workouts. It pretty much confirmed what I already knew. However in the couple of months I've worn it I have noticed a slight uptick in my maximum ticker rate, so it wasn't a complete waste of money. But pricey at $50. The older Wahoo HR monitor would have been a better buy for my old iPhone.
I don't bother with this stuff on outdoor rides for various reasons. I just use the Wahoo Fitness and Strava apps. The phone is in my pocket, not on the handlebar:
I do have a good cheap bike computer, wireless, no interaction with my smartphones or GPS. Cost about $12. Weighs next to nothing. I might put it on my carbon bike. Mostly it's helpful to confirm my average speed, distance, etc., in case there's a GPS sync glitch with my phone and/or fitness apps. When I used the bike computer on the handlebar it usually matched my GPS data, within a few nths -- close enough for my purposes.
If I got serious about training for time trials I might consider a power meter, but it's difficult to justify the cost. My bikes don't even cost more than $200, so I can't justify $500 for a power meter. I already know I'm on the low performance rung among guys my age. If I improve to where I can keep up with other serious amateur 60somethings, then I might be ready to finesse my training. But I'd rather rent one or work out in a gym with a cycling coach.
- ANT+ adapter in a weather resistant case
- Speed sensor (for rear wheel where it's most useful if we use our bikes on rollers or Cycleops type trainers)
- Cadence sensor
Costs a whopping $15. Retail was $150 when this kit was new in 2012. Still works fine. But it's heavy and bulky so I only use it on the indoor trainer.
I also have the Wahoo Tickr heart rate monitor. I wore it constantly for a month but now only wear it on workouts. It pretty much confirmed what I already knew. However in the couple of months I've worn it I have noticed a slight uptick in my maximum ticker rate, so it wasn't a complete waste of money. But pricey at $50. The older Wahoo HR monitor would have been a better buy for my old iPhone.
I don't bother with this stuff on outdoor rides for various reasons. I just use the Wahoo Fitness and Strava apps. The phone is in my pocket, not on the handlebar:
- My cadence is like clockwork, 90 rpm once I'm warmed up. I don't need a device to remind me.
- Speed? Meh, don't really care. My training routes are on windy rolling prairie. The wind can affect my speed differently every day. I just go by perceived effort. And in group rides I ride the group pace, so I don't need to know my speed. Can I keep up with the group or my riding buddy? I'm fast enough.
I do have a good cheap bike computer, wireless, no interaction with my smartphones or GPS. Cost about $12. Weighs next to nothing. I might put it on my carbon bike. Mostly it's helpful to confirm my average speed, distance, etc., in case there's a GPS sync glitch with my phone and/or fitness apps. When I used the bike computer on the handlebar it usually matched my GPS data, within a few nths -- close enough for my purposes.
If I got serious about training for time trials I might consider a power meter, but it's difficult to justify the cost. My bikes don't even cost more than $200, so I can't justify $500 for a power meter. I already know I'm on the low performance rung among guys my age. If I improve to where I can keep up with other serious amateur 60somethings, then I might be ready to finesse my training. But I'd rather rent one or work out in a gym with a cycling coach.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 5,585
Bikes: 2017 Colnago C-RS, 2012 Colnago Ace, 2010 Giant Cypress hybrid
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 408 Post(s)
Liked 122 Times
in
85 Posts
__________________
HCFR Cycling Team
Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily
2017 Colnago C-RS
2012 Colnago Ace
2010 Giant Cypress
HCFR Cycling Team
Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily
2017 Colnago C-RS
2012 Colnago Ace
2010 Giant Cypress
#14
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,988
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6193 Post(s)
Liked 4,810 Times
in
3,318 Posts
Don't you have an old smartphone that you can put something like a quad lock on?
Old phones sitting in your drawer are still usuable as wifi only devices and you can load whatever cycling app floats your boat.
Old phones sitting in your drawer are still usuable as wifi only devices and you can load whatever cycling app floats your boat.
Likes For Iride01:
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Mid Atlantic / USA
Posts: 2,115
Bikes: 2017 Specialized Crosstrail / 2013 Trek Crossrip Elite
Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1002 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
155 Posts
Even the models from 3-4 years ago are massively overpowered to handle any kind of biking related app. GPS tracking, music, dashboard odometer, etc. You can even set up up with free offline mapping.
Full color. Big screen. Totally customizable for your specific needs. $50 on Craigslist for a model that's a few years old. (Free if you have 6 of them sitting around the house like the rest of us) Just need to make sure the screen is okay, the wifi works (so you can install your apps at home without a SIM card) and the GPS works. I'm still running Android 5.1 on my bike computer. Crappy and massively outdated version of Android....still runs anything I need for the bike just fine.
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Northeastern MA, USA
Posts: 1,678
Bikes: Garmin/Tacx Bike Smart
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 646 Post(s)
Liked 289 Times
in
191 Posts
No phone
Two issues with phones: battery life and overheating. I'd rather use a bike computer.
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Northeastern MA, USA
Posts: 1,678
Bikes: Garmin/Tacx Bike Smart
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 646 Post(s)
Liked 289 Times
in
191 Posts
Shoot
Wahoo made a unit a few years ago called the Wahoo RFLKT and RFLKT+. It did exactly what you are asking and displayed the data from certain phone apps. It did not show any maps, just data. I used one for several years and loved it. Unfortunately, Wahoo discontinued them when they introduced the Elemnt bike computer. Amazon is showing one left for $54.99 but it's used. At the moment, the only cycling apps that I know of that still supports the RFLKT is Cyclemeter and the Wahoo Fitness app. Both apps allow you to customize the RFLKT's screen layout to your liking but Cyclemeter gives better customization. Cyclemeter is $10,00/year, Wahoo Fitness is FREE.
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Northeastern MA, USA
Posts: 1,678
Bikes: Garmin/Tacx Bike Smart
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 646 Post(s)
Liked 289 Times
in
191 Posts
Two issues
Best option here is to just use an older smartphone as a dedicated bike computer.
Even the models from 3-4 years ago are massively overpowered to handle any kind of biking related app. GPS tracking, music, dashboard odometer, etc. You can even set up up with free offline mapping.
Full color. Big screen. Totally customizable for your specific needs. $50 on Craigslist for a model that's a few years old. (Free if you have 6 of them sitting around the house like the rest of us) Just need to make sure the screen is okay, the wifi works (so you can install your apps at home without a SIM card) and the GPS works. I'm still running Android 5.1 on my bike computer. Crappy and massively outdated version of Android....still runs anything I need for the bike just fine.
Even the models from 3-4 years ago are massively overpowered to handle any kind of biking related app. GPS tracking, music, dashboard odometer, etc. You can even set up up with free offline mapping.
Full color. Big screen. Totally customizable for your specific needs. $50 on Craigslist for a model that's a few years old. (Free if you have 6 of them sitting around the house like the rest of us) Just need to make sure the screen is okay, the wifi works (so you can install your apps at home without a SIM card) and the GPS works. I'm still running Android 5.1 on my bike computer. Crappy and massively outdated version of Android....still runs anything I need for the bike just fine.
BTW, I'm one of the exceptions who only has one phone, provided by my company. And they take the old ones back...
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Mid Atlantic / USA
Posts: 2,115
Bikes: 2017 Specialized Crosstrail / 2013 Trek Crossrip Elite
Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1002 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
155 Posts
All true, but when you have a phone in some sort of protection with the screen live for the whole ride, well, it dies too soon and overheats, as well. I have an iPhone 8 and even that didn't work for me on longer rides.
BTW, I'm one of the exceptions who only has one phone, provided by my company. And they take the old ones back...
BTW, I'm one of the exceptions who only has one phone, provided by my company. And they take the old ones back...
Also you want to pick a phone with a good size battery in good working condition. Some phones have tiny batteries. Some phones have huge ones.
So any phone will work. But some phones work a little better than others depending on what you want to do.
#21
Senior Member
An old phone may not be compatible with newer bike 'puter apps, and visibility was intermittent with the phones I tried; that's aside from battery issues. Lezyne Macro and Mini are usually available for $80 new from ebay sellers. Bryton and IGPSport start lower. I really tried to like using my phone; I'm really glad I finally got a computer.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 567
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 241 Post(s)
Liked 232 Times
in
153 Posts
Wahoo made a unit a few years ago called the Wahoo RFLKT and RFLKT+. It did exactly what you are asking and displayed the data from certain phone apps. It did not show any maps, just data. I used one for several years and loved it. Unfortunately, Wahoo discontinued them when they introduced the Elemnt bike computer. Amazon is showing one left for $54.99 but it's used. At the moment, the only cycling apps that I know of that still supports the RFLKT is Cyclemeter and the Wahoo Fitness app. Both apps allow you to customize the RFLKT's screen layout to your liking but Cyclemeter gives better customization. Cyclemeter is $10,00/year, Wahoo Fitness is FREE.
The Edge 130 just works, like the old Wahoo Fitness App/RFLKT+ combo did. Yeah, it was more money, but I've found it to be much more accurate than the GPS in the iPhone, and the display is much clearer than the RFLKT+, something these old eyes really appreciate. It is the same size as the RFLKT+ with the same mount, and works with either ANT+ or BLE sensors, so I can use it on all my bikes with all my existing sensors and mounts. I'm still riding with the iPhone, but now have it in a much more secure pocket in my jersey.
About the only downsides are that I now need to get a new phone in order to get the Garmin Connect app to work on the iPhone (nbd, I need a new phone anyways,) and I need something to track my running & skiing.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 5,585
Bikes: 2017 Colnago C-RS, 2012 Colnago Ace, 2010 Giant Cypress hybrid
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 408 Post(s)
Liked 122 Times
in
85 Posts
I used a RFLKT+ for about 4-5 years with an iPhone 5c and 6 SE. I bought one for me and one for my wife. I would still be using the RFLKT+ today if it didn't start dropping connections to the phone. It got to the point where it had difficulties connecting at all. That's when it got tossed and the I got the Bolt, since the RFLKT was no longer available. My wife is still using her RFLKT+ and is not having any connection issues. Both of us used Cyclemeter as the phone app. Both had a Wahoo TICKR, and Wahoo speed and RPM sensors connected to the phones. The phones were optimized for battery life using some hacks I read about on the web and we only had Cyclemeter running while riding. Doing that, I was able to ride century rides and not run out of battery life on the iPhone and still had enough battery life left to make several phone calls, if needed. I'm looking at the Wahoo Mini, for the wife, if her RFLKT ever dies but at this point, I'm still hearing a lot of major issues among its users on the support forum.
__________________
HCFR Cycling Team
Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily
2017 Colnago C-RS
2012 Colnago Ace
2010 Giant Cypress
HCFR Cycling Team
Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily
2017 Colnago C-RS
2012 Colnago Ace
2010 Giant Cypress
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 567
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 241 Post(s)
Liked 232 Times
in
153 Posts
I used a RFLKT+ for about 4-5 years with an iPhone 5c and 6 SE. I bought one for me and one for my wife. I would still be using the RFLKT+ today if it didn't start dropping connections to the phone. It got to the point where it had difficulties connecting at all. That's when it got tossed and the I got the Bolt, since the RFLKT was no longer available. My wife is still using her RFLKT+ and is not having any connection issues. Both of us used Cyclemeter as the phone app. Both had a Wahoo TICKR, and Wahoo speed and RPM sensors connected to the phones. The phones were optimized for battery life using some hacks I read about on the web and we only had Cyclemeter running while riding. Doing that, I was able to ride century rides and not run out of battery life on the iPhone and still had enough battery life left to make several phone calls, if needed. I'm looking at the Wahoo Mini, for the wife, if her RFLKT ever dies but at this point, I'm still hearing a lot of major issues among its users on the support forum.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 5,585
Bikes: 2017 Colnago C-RS, 2012 Colnago Ace, 2010 Giant Cypress hybrid
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 408 Post(s)
Liked 122 Times
in
85 Posts
Delete the RFLKT+ from the iOS Bluetooth, then pair to it again. It should fix the dropping issue. FWIW, from what I've heard from our mobile app developers, this is an Apple/iOS issue, not a Wahoo issue. iOS sometimes gets confused with BLE devices, having it pair again seems to fix the issue.
__________________
HCFR Cycling Team
Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily
2017 Colnago C-RS
2012 Colnago Ace
2010 Giant Cypress
HCFR Cycling Team
Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily
2017 Colnago C-RS
2012 Colnago Ace
2010 Giant Cypress