iBike Dash

[acc]

I started the morning looking for a case to put my phone in to keep it dry. After last week’s heat and accidental water hazard adventure I decided to find something better than a plastic zip-loc baggie to secure my phone. Well, why solve a problem in a simple, inexpensive manner when a much more complicated and expensive option exists? So I drove (in my car, an alternative to a bike) down to the Apple Store and purchased an iBike Dash. Yes, I was completely hypnotized by the ads during TDF. Over the last 24 hours I’ve managed to install it on my bike and turn it on. So far, so good. Installation was straight-forward but the glare from the screen is bright and I need to adjust the angle a bit. The case my i-phone rides in seems to be almost bomb proof. I’ll let you know as I gain experience with it how it works.

Happy trails,
ann

Topic

[CCrew]

I’m curious how well it’ll be visible in the sun. I dumped my iPhone for just that reason. It’s like that Kindle/iPad commercial

Pls keep us updated.

[Dirt]

I’ve used iBike’s other computers quite a few times. The Dash is different from their power meters, but there are some things that are the same. iBike’s customer service is some of the best in the bike industry. In addition, the community associated with iBike is super loyal and super helpful. Kind of a cool company.

[acc]

Funny you should mention brightness… In the usual course of things, like reading texts inside movie theaters, I keep my phone fairly dim. To me the thing is like looking directly into the sun. But for the bike I need to turn up the setting to “nuclear blast.” It’s easily readable and thank God or else I would have dumped myself looking at it as I was hopping weeds and crevasses on that “trail/donkey path.” But, it drinks the battery like a frat boy chugging beer so I will probably break down and buy another battery/charger because I can’t just drain it all on a ride. The kids might need to reach me, bill collectors, parole officers, etc.

ann

[CCrew]

@acc 6426 wrote:

and buy another battery/charger because I can’t just drain it all on a ride.

Hmm does it add an auxillary battery as part of the iDash or does it rely on the internal battery? You’re right, GPS eats batteries like no tomorrow. If it relies on the internal only it’s curtains for you as battery swap is an Apple store thing.

It’s pretty much the reason I went Garmin. If the bike crashes, I don’t have to worry if the phone survived, and if the gps goes dead, oh well, just don’t have the tracking info.

As to the crash part, still possible to lose one even if it’s not on the bike, but then it’s the detach from bike thing to go inside someplace scenario too.

[acc]

My highly skilled technical reply is there is a slot-thingy for an extra battery underneath the little gizmo the phone rides in. Think of the housing for the phone as an armored Humvee. It could definitely take a hit. If it gets destroyed, I’m probably right behind it so making a call would be the least of my worries. Garmin – Charmin. I don’t need another electronic gadget.

ann

[eminva]

I am also interested in hearing feedback — I went with the poor man’s (or cheap man’s) option. I have one of those old fashioned style bike computers on my handlebars (like the loser in the ad). I recently purchased the “Cyclemeter” app at the princely sum of $5 for my iPhone. I keep the phone in my pocket rather than on the bike. I’ve never broken a phone on my person in all my years of cycling (or cell phone use), although I don’t have access to the data during the ride
(but I do have the old computer).

Cyclemeter gives you all the benefits of GPS, but it does not give you cadence or heart rate (as far as I know). This is okay for me because I don’t really view myself as training for anything. But others might find that a significant limitation. Also, I assume when you download your Garmin data their website slices and dices the data in all different ways, whereas you have to do that yourself with the raw data with Cyclemeter.

Still, it gives me a nice little report after each ride with splits, which it also emails to my email address. Voila:

Finished Cycle: Jul 27, 2011 9:09:52 AM
Route: Commute
Import URL: http://share.abvio.com/d93a/e052/4e11/525f/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20110727-0802.kml
Ride Time: 59:54
Stopped Time: 7:17
Distance: 13.82 miles
Average: 13.84 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 32.49 miles/h
Behind Median Ride: 0:11
Ascent: 292 feet
Descent: 600 feet
Calories: 511

(It also gives you a map, which I deleted)

Yes, it uses lots of battery power, but it would have to be an awfully long ride to deplete it fully. After this hour long ride, I still have 88% battery left.

So, it’s something to consider if you are easily satisfied and want a low cost option. But I am still intrigued to hear how the iBike works out . . .

Liz

[Justin Antos]

I’m with Liz – I use “RunMeter” app on my iPhone. Seems pretty similar to CycleMeter – you can set up any number of “sports” like cycling, running, etc. and it’ll adapt accordingly. E.g., when running it reports speed as Minutes per Mile, and when biking it’s MPH. You can set it up to sync to your calendar too. One thing I really like is you can set it up to stop counting time if it senses you haven’t moved for like 30 seconds – accounts for stop lights, or breaks, etc.

It’s probably not good for training, but I like to use it mostly for fun, or if I ever get back from a ride and think, “I wonder how far/fast I just went?”

[Author]

Replies