Customer Reviews

iPhone Bike Holster on stem (IPhone4 Must Remove Protection Cover to fit in)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was looking for a sleek, easy, cheap, solution to mount my iPhone to my road cycle. This is it. I use the cyclemeter app to track my rides and this is very convenient to see all the info. It's not waterproof. If it looks like rain, I'll bring a sandwich baggy, throw the iPhone in it and then place it inside. This works great. Sturdy mount on the stem. I've done 5 metric centuries and 2 imperial centuries with my iPhone in this holder. So far 3,000 miles, with plenty of potholes, climbs, and descents (51 mph). In fact, I've gone through 2 tires and 4 flats and this mount is perfect. Just make sure everything is mounted properly and snapped in snug.

I was initially very impressed with this product. It is well constructed from quality materials and the method it uses to fix the mount to the bike is simple (one single bolt that goes into the headset) and effective. I have used the mount on my road bike and had no issues on the first few rides with it. On the last ride that I did I was enjoying a very fast downhill section, there was a little vibration from the road surface but nothing excessive - next thing I knew the phone and holster had separated from the mount and my phone was bouncing down the road. Clearly, the clip that attaches the mount to the holster is not substantial enough. The number one design specification for a product like this should clearly be that the phone will not depart the bike - unfortunately that is not the case. I am sure I can adapt the product with a rubber band etc to ensure it doesn't happen again but that should not be required.

When my package arrived and it was so small and light I thought "this can't be good". My first reaction was like others, an over sized leather luggage tag, but it works great. I bought it to use on my bike with an iphone and an App called Sporty-pal-Bike and the combination couldn't work better. I installed the Bike Holster in about 3 minutes and adjusted it to the perfect angle to view during my ride. The holster holds my iphone securely in place and it easy to put on and take off with the push of a button under the phone. For under $20.00 this product does everything the $50.00 holsters do and is very light weight. I would recommend this simple, inexpensive solution to anyone wanting to ride a bike and secure an iphone at the same time.

Great product. Works with a case on the phone too. Works with iPhone 3-3g, and the iPhone 4 also...

I had to redo my review of this product because I initially gave it such a high ranking and after using it 2 times, I felt that was well over deserved. I went for a long bike ride on a fairly straight inclined bike path. While riding my Iphone 4 went flying off my handlebar mount a total of 5 times. Unless you are riding slow and steady this device WILL NOT hold your phone, I repeat WILL NOT hold it. My only saving grace was that the cover the phone slides into saved my screen from shattering, however, the corners weren't so lucky.

The main problem with this device is the "click in" mechanism. It works by placing your phone into a nylon case with a plastic front. The back then clips into the mount attached to your handlebars via screws. This clip, however, does NOT work at all. When you clip something in it should not release unless you un-clip it. This is not the case here. With a very simple pull at the phone you can take the thing right off. This means that if you are riding up hill or pedaling harder than normal a simple movement of your bike from left to right will cause your phone to be ruined. This product is a piece of crap. I am now forced to use a rubber band to hold it in place. I haven't tested this method yet, but I have read other reviewers who used it and said it worked. If it works it works, but you shouldn't have to use MacGiver tactics to use a product you spent over 20.00 on.

DO NOT PURCHASE UNTIL COMPANY FIXES MECHANISM

consider yourself forewarned.

I have a slim plastic case on my iPhone 4, and it grudgingly slides into the holster. So even though the product description warns that you have to insert a case-free iPhone 4, that may not be the case. So to speak...

Mounting the holster takes only a few minutes using 1 or 2 allen (hex) wrenches, not supplied but common sizes. The holster comes with a long bolt, which you may or may not need depending on the length of the existing bolt. Just make sure your bike has a cap on top of the steering fork column with a bolt/screw holding it down, and this unit can probably fit your bike.

Once you arrive, you can unclip the holster containing the iPhone from the mount, or you can remove the phone from the holster.

The clear plastic allows you to easily see the screen and still maintain touch control (taps, swipes, pinches, etc.). It also protects the phone from rain, a nice improvement over open-face units.

There is room to attach the headphone cord, and the charging cord (although that seems unlikely in a bike-mounted configuration).

The power switch at the top of the iPhone 4 is slightly hard to press since the leather holster covers half of that particular button. But the home button (the round one at the bottom of the front of the iPhone) is accessible through the plastic, and that's the one you use to "turn on" the phone unless you have it totally powered down. So, this is not an issue.

Mounting angle depends on the form factor of your handlebars. On my hybrid bike, I set it as far down as I could, which luckily is a perfect angle. On a road bike, you'd have even more flexibility to adjust the angle.

Overall, a great product. As soon as my wife saw it, she asked for one for her bike.

P.S. Oh, the acid test of "does it pop out during a ride or when you crash?" There is almost no way the *phone* is coming out of the holster, which has a snap closure on a leather tab extending over the top of the unit. I cannot imagine the *holster* coming unclipped during any ride. Even during a crash, it seems more likely the holster/clip interface would have to break from a direct impact, than for the holster and phone to come out due to jarring g-forces. So, bottom line, I expect the phone will stay attached to the bike.

I had an issue with the bolt coming loose and eventually falling off but that was my fault for presuming since it was cheap it was made cheap. It's built well enough though that it doesn't fall apart right away. The sellers were so awesome that they sent a new part (neck piece) free of charge. :) It fits you iphone/itouch with a thin case on too.

I bought two-- one for my wife's bike and one for mine. I looked at iPhone holsters for awhile-- they can get really expensive! This one seemed to be in my budget. I knew I was compromising on a couple things, but they're really not a big deal...

- I have to take my iPhone 4 out of its normal case in order to fit it in the Ibera holster. My wife has an iPhone 3gs that fits in the holster fine too, but same thing-- she has to take it out of her normal case.
- It's not waterproof (also not a big deal. I rode in the rain with this by putting my iPhone in a sandwich baggy before putting it in the holster. Worked great and kept it dry)

I know there are waterproof/larger cases out there, but I didn't want to deal with trying to mount them on the handlebars somewhere using their velcro or rubber strap. I also didn't want something heavy and bulky, as I have enough other stuff on my bike. It also seemed like the waterproof cases out there were like $50-$80 whereas I got this one for around $20.

The Ibera was super easy to mount and it feels like it's part of the bike. Good location for reading data (I use the Cyclemeter app for the iPhone)

At first, when you unpack the item, it begins to resemble a luggage tag and you think you are going to send it back. But once you give it a chance you realize it is truly well designed and thought out and serves its purpose quite well.

This review is for the Ibera iPhone holster mounted to a Giant road bike. Installation was simple, but read the instructions because I fist removed the stem cap and was not suppose to. It comes with a longer stem screw so use it. The unit mounts over the stem cap. Others have reported the clip coming undone easily but I have not had that problem after aprox. 200 miles of rough city and country roads. A major problem is the glare you get from the plastic shield but polarized sunglasses help. I contemplated removing the shield but it seems there would be a very high chance it could come out through the front. I use this holder in conjunction with the MotionX GPS app for the iPhone. A few times I have needed to adjust the volume while riding but there is no access to the volume buttons while in the case. I have used the iBike dash but was very unhappy with the bulkiness and price. In my opinion this is simplest, most cost effective and least bulky option for an iPhone holster. However I would not recommend is for mountain bike use as I would not trust the mount to handle the heavy jostling and bumps of off road trails.