Riding with mobile phones

JoeBlow

JoeBlow

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Where do you stash your mobile phone and car fob when riding gnarly, steep downhills? Personally I don't trust it on the handlebars even though I have a good Mous mount. Carrying in a side pocket does not seem like a good idea either. For a while I considered a lanyard but that seems unwise if you are wearing chest protection. I do not like carrying a pack except on long XC rides so that's out. I'm left with too options a phone pouch mounted on the down frame or a minimal bum bag. Finding a suitable pouch is proving difficult so for now I am using an Evoc Racebelt that works well if you resist the temptation to put more in it than just the phone and car fob.
 
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Bndit said:
Side pocket always.
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Not keen. I saw someone do some serious damage to his groin when he fell of with a mobile in a side pocket. Do you mean the ones that you sometimes get lower down the leg? That would also annoy me rattling about. It's a connundrum.
 
Usually depends on the weather …but never mounted on my bar. Since it’s used as a tracking device for Strava and Find My Friends I try to keep my phone in my trousers pocket, upper breast pocket, or the top part of my backpack.

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I have a stem mount for a GoPro or light but I just can’t put my phone out there. I find that too risky. My iwatch acts as a locator or emergency safety device also.

While working on a trail once, I laid my pac down with my phone in a zippered compartment. A bear snuck up and quietly took my pac (energy bars inside). My pac and phone were gone.

My son-in-law helped me track my phone, off the trail, about a 100m down a ravine. Thank goodness my phone was still in the pac. Energy bars were eaten but my phone was still in the compartment of my destroyed pac. No long distance calls were made 😉, but I found my iPhone. 👍🏻
 
JoeBlow said:
Not keen. I saw someone do some serious damage to his groin when he fell of with a mobile in a side pocket. Do you mean the ones that you sometimes get lower down the leg? That would also annoy me rattling about. It's a connundrum.
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Decent trousers/shorts and it won't rattle about. Always have mine in a side pocket in various Endura kit and never get bothered about to rattling about even in super steep/rough off piste Enduro stuff.

Key is normally in the other pocket 😂
 
iPone in SP-Connect Outdoorcase on Handlebar pro Mount MTB. It holds very strong an it's on even on black DH-Trails.
 
Hiltix said:
iPone in SP-Connect Outdoorcase on Handlebar pro Mount MTB. It holds very strong an it's on even on black DH-Trails.
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I'm sure my phone would stay on the bars in the event of a crash but that does not mean it would not get damaged. I only mount in on the bars when I'm doing some serious navigating and I'm not navigating in the middle of a gnarly down hill.
 
2WHLFUN said:
I a fan of bib shorts with pockets in the back then baggy shorts over that.
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I agree that the safest place is probably around the back but I couldn't wear it with bib shorts with a back pocket. a) I would feel the phone against my back b) I hate bib shorts.

Thanks everyone for the input I feel that my solution of the Evolve Race bum back is for me the best solution. I was interested to hear what others did but I none of them would suit me.
 
JoeBlow said:
Not keen. I saw someone do some serious damage to his groin when he fell of with a mobile in a side pocket. Do you mean the ones that you sometimes get lower down the leg? That would also annoy me rattling about. It's a connundrum.
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Yeah, I ment thigh pocket.
 
I broke two phones (chosen for their robust design) that had been in my shorts pocket. Those involuntary dismounts give no warning!
So now phone and car keys go in the upper part of my backpack.
My wallet stays in the car, but I carry £10 in my pack and a credit card in my zipped trouser pocket.
 
Just buy a small (8 ltr) backpack, you won't notice it after 5 minutes and your phone and keys can keep a lightweight waterproof and snacks company with no risk of the phone getting damaged or keys damaging you if they're in a hip or thigh pocket if you come off.
(I found a bum bag bounced around too much).
 
Jackware said:
Just buy a small (8 ltr) backpack, you won't notice it after 5 minutes and your phone and keys can keep a lightweight waterproof and snacks company with no risk of the phone getting damaged or keys damaging you if they're in a hip or thigh pocket if you come off.
(I found a bum bag bounced around too much).
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Tried that and I can with full confidence and experience disagree. Yes . most bum bags bounce around. My Evoc one does not but the reason I noticed it was because it was rubbing against bare skin. This morning I wore it over a lightweight wicking T-shirt and it was fine. I only put my iPhone and my car fob in it so no weight to speak of. If I put other things in like multi-tools, tyre levers, CO2 inflator it becomes noticeable.
 
You confidently disagree that I found it bounced too much when I was riding? 🤣
 
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In my long pants (Fox) I keep it in my zipped pocket, whilst in my shorts it’s either in a dedicated phone pocket or in my bum bag next to the bladder.
 
If I take it (which is not often) its in my camelbak waist pocket.

Normally I just take my watch (apple watch cellular) so I can stay in contact anyway and use it for strava/Bosch HR integration. Leave the phone at home

I despise having anything on the bars.
 
The Rapha trail shorts/trousers with zipped leg pockets with mesh inside are so good I sometimes think I've left my phone behind. It would be safer in my pack but then I literally wouldnt be available for a quick map check or photo so I'll take the risk.
 
Landscape mode on Quad Lock mounted on stem cap so really flush mount. Landscape used so screen doesn't protrude past bars. Significantly reduces chances of damage in a crash.

Plugged in to keep it fully topped up even with screen full brightness on. Displaying maps when necessary.

No wallet required as all banking, purchases and identification done with phone. A single Credit Card for emergencies behind phone cover. I used to keep a $20 note with card. Didn't use it in 5 years. Got rid of it.

Keys not required as Tesla operated with phone. If phone is damaged. I have a work Iphone in Camelbak with Tesla App as well. Work phone can also do Satellite Emergency Texting. Australia is a big uncharted country.

Both phones call my emergency contact if they detect a crash. The one on the handlebar has tried to call them once when I dropped off a big ledge, but as it was visible. I stopped the call.

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alancube said:
Always carry my phone in a belt mounted pouch which, for me, works for a ride
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Where did you get the pouch. I have had two and returned them. I felt that the straps were not satisfacory as they were reliant on velcro
Rus Ler said:
How about a small saddle bag, tucked up out of the way, less likely of damage in a stack.
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Doesn't really work well with a dropper post.
 
I wear a Kriega Hydro 3 hydration pack. I stuff my keys, wallet and cell phone in a separate pocket on the pack. I can get a few tools in there as well. I’m thinking about trying one of those Arctic hydration packs that is worn on the hips. They seem to have more storage.
 
I found this one the best for me. Real thin and keeps my Iphone Pro Max, a thin wallet with my license, credit card, health card, $20 cash, and car key fob real tight to my body. You won't even know you're wearing it. It's for men or women. The pictured camel toe is optional 🤣

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Expidia said:
I found this one the best for me. Real thin and keeps my Iphone Max, a thin wallet with my license, credit card, health card, $20 cash, and car key fob real tight to my body. You won't even know you're wearing it. It's for men or women. The pictured camel toe is optional 🤣

View attachment 166739
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The trouble I found with a pack similar to this is that because there is no pouch/extra material the items are always pressed up against your body and personally speaking I can feel this. The best I've found is the Evoc Rage belt. It has a phone size area of extra material and over a T-shirt I can't feel a thing.
 
Expidia said:
I found this one the best for me. Real thin and keeps my Iphone Max, a thin wallet with my license, credit card, health card, $20 cash, and car key fob real tight to my body. You won't even know you're wearing it. It's for men or women. The pictured camel toe is optional 🤣

View attachment 166739
Click to expand...
Since I use/wear glasses …could you post a closeup pic instead. 🙏
 
Peak Design Motorcycle Bar Mount

Simply the best.
- Quick phone mount/remove
- Vibration damping
- Wireless charging

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