$750 Bike ‘Computer’ Little More Than an iPhone Case
The trouble with using your iPhone as a bike computer is that it is vulnerable to rain, salty road spray and even the occasional unexpected drop onto the asphalt. What you need is a waterproof and shock-resistant mount so your phone survives long enough to call an ambulance when you fall off yourself.
That mount is the iBike Dash. It’s a case and computer in one, and like many bike accessories, it has a price that bears almost no relation to what you get. There are two models. The plain Dash encases your iPhone (3, 3GS or 4) and allows it to hook up to a variety of (optional) inputs: heart rate monitor, cadence sensor, and also speed input from a magnet on the wheel. The Dash + Power adds a power meter and actually includes the sensors in the box. The models cost $300 and $750, respectively.
The oddest part of the product page is that it keeps touting the touch-screen, the GPS and the powerful computer inside. It takes some digging to find out that these are all supplied by your phone.
The cases also come with a companion app, called iBike (free in the app store). It gives GPS tracking, as well as access to all the metering functions of the iBike units. It’s not the prettiest cycling computer app out there, but it looks like it does the job, and offers lots of customization.
But really, it comes down to the ridiculous prices of those waterproof bike mounts. Sure, they offer a connection between phone and sensors, but is an interface dongle really worth $300, let alone $750?
iBike Dash [iBike Sports]
See Also:
Dahon iPhone Bike Mount Is Waterproof, Shockproof
$100 LiveRider Kit Turns iPhone into Bike Computer
Five iPhone Apps That Replace Bike Hardware
Fuente: Gadget Lab
