I know this adds to the mess of gadgetry I have going on the handlebars of my Brompton, however, I’ve always wanted to have the convenience of using my phone, without having to stop and take it out of my bag. Safe to say, I think I’ve found a solution when it comes to having a versatile and secure phone mounting solution that actually works well with the Brompton. This post will cover the TaoTronics universal phone mount, which I’ve attached links to if you want to check it out yourselves (CAN: http://amzn.to/2hUqrqq; USA: http://amzn.to/2zqnaGg).
When it comes to Bromptons, one of the issues I’ve found is that it’s hard to find accessories that are compatible due to their unique shape and size, and more importantly, their fold. So it when it comes to finding accessories to throw on, the product has to likewise, be versatile.
My personal criteria/checklist for accessorizing my Brompton are as follows:
- Does not hamper the folding (or the process of folding)
- Does not increase the footprint of the Brompton when folded
- Actually does what the product is intended to do
That being said, I was more than happy to find that it met all of my criteria.
In terms of the actual functionality of the phone mount, I was actually a bit skeptical of how it would hold the phone. However, once you have a chance to actually hold the phone mount you’ll realize that it’s solidly built and extremely rugged. The mount utilizes a combination of spring-loaded stainless steel clamps in conjunction with these integrated silicon grips that hold the phone firmly in place at each of the phone’s corners.
It also has silicon padding at the base of the mount to protect the phone from rattling and any vibrations from the road. In addition to all of this, it can be swiveled freely from portrait to landscape by simply turning it without having to use any tools. This is really useful when trying to look at maps on your phone and having the convenience to quickly switch to landscape (even while riding), to have an enlarged view of the map.
To install the mount on the handlebars, it only takes a matter of seconds. Add the fact that it doesn’t require any tools whatsoever, and you have an extremely versatile phone mount, that you can easily switch between bikes. It fits around the handlebar via a silicon-protected clamp that is tightened via a quick-release lever and can fit numerous handlebar sizes.
As seen in the photo, one of the nifty features is that you can still access your camera while riding and have it function similar to a car’s dash-cam. (or if you feel inclined, you have full access to your front-facing camera for those awesome mid-ride selfies).
Based on the product description on Amazon, it can accommodate an array of phones as large as the iPhone 6s Plus. From what I’ve tested, it held the Samsung Galaxy securely and at no point was I afraid of it coming loose from the mount. I tested it on the road (I usually try to avoid minor potholes, but this time I purposely went over them for this test), the sidewalks, and decided to go one step further and go over some gravel trails and railroad tracks. Throughout all of that, the phone never budged (thankfully)! So I would say, with normal riding practices, I am confident that this phone mount would do just fine.
If I were to be critical of this though, I think my only concern is if you have physical buttons on the side of your phone that are positioned in the center of your phone. Seeing as how it secures your phone around the middle and corners, it would press into whatever button you have that is situated in the middle of your phone. Other than that, I would highly recommend this product as it is very sturdy and relatively cheap.
I hope this helps shed some light on mounting your phone to your Brompton like it did for me! I still have loads more mods for me to cover, so please stay tuned for more!
Abs
#Brompton #MyBrompton #BromptonMods
Abs and Brat 