My homemade bicycle widgetry

Reid Priedhorsky said:

Folks,

A long while back I asked for ideas about handlebar-mounted maps, and a
short while back I asked about a non-crappy mirror. Neither of these
queries resulted in any commercial products that seemed to be what I
wanted, meaning that I had an excuse to make the widgetry myself. 🙂

I made a map holder and a rear-view mirror mount and would like to share
them with the group. Pics are available at:

http://reidster.net/pics/2004-09-05/

Comments and questions welcome.

Reid

Hi Reid,

I can only say that whenever I have tried mirrors that are attached to
the bike, once underway they present only a vibrating buzz of
confusion.

Attached to my helmet, they work well...

All the best,

--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

"Reid Priedhorsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Comments and questions welcome.

I can't imagine why you would want to strap a clipboard on to your bike.
Can't you just keep the map in your pocket, and when you wanted to refer to
it, just take it out and look at it? Seems like overkill to me.

Plus, honestly, it doesn't do much for the appearance of your bike, if that
means anything at all to you. And don't you think it will have an adverse
impact from an aerodynamic standpoint?

Dave

Obviously your mirror works for you, or you wouldn't have posted it. If
helmet or spectacle mirrors work better for some other riders, then that's
what they should use. For those who prefer bar-mounted mirrors, as I do, I
am happy to see a workmanlike solution, and AI am glad you offered it.

In relation to the map board, I think I would have trouble reading a map
while trying to ride, and I agree that a pocket seems adequate. Another
solution occurs to me, as well: How about a transparent map-holder, with
the map properly folded inside it, held to the front of your jersey with
Velchro? Pull it off--read it--stick it back. If you can read it while
riding, so much the better.

Reid Priedhorsky said:

Folks,

A long while back I asked for ideas about handlebar-mounted maps, and a
short while back I asked about a non-crappy mirror. Neither of these
queries resulted in any commercial products that seemed to be what I
wanted, meaning that I had an excuse to make the widgetry myself. 🙂

I made a map holder and a rear-view mirror mount and would like to share
them with the group. Pics are available at:

http://reidster.net/pics/2004-09-05/

Comments and questions welcome.

Reid

What is the glue holding the aluminum bar to the clipboard?
Personally, I'd reinforce that with bolts. Vibrations can be nasty on
any glue on a bike, and having the clipboard fall into the wheel could
be distracting at the least.

Raoul Duke said:

I can't imagine why you would want to strap a clipboard on to your bike.
Can't you just keep the map in your pocket, and when you wanted to refer to
it, just take it out and look at it? Seems like overkill to me.

I love my BarMap ( http://www.cycoactive.com/bike/bmh.html ). When
following a cue sheet for a route I really like knowing what is coming
up and not having to stop to check. Despite using graduated bifocals I
find I can read a cue sheet while riding.

Pam

"Reid Priedhorsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Folks,

A long while back I asked for ideas about handlebar-mounted maps, and a
short while back I asked about a non-crappy mirror. Neither of these
queries resulted in any commercial products that seemed to be what I
wanted, meaning that I had an excuse to make the widgetry myself. 🙂

I made a map holder and a rear-view mirror mount and would like to share
them with the group. Pics are available at:

http://reidster.net/pics/2004-09-05/

Comments and questions welcome.

Reid

If I were to mount a clipboard on my bike (which I wouldn't - but hey -
that's me) I think I would have used a plastic or lucite clipboard as
opposed to one of those old particleboard ones. The plastic ones would
shed the rain (or road water) better...I think the one you have will soak up
water and expand and crumble.

On Sun, 05 Sep 2004 17:31:40 -0400, pam_in_sc <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Raoul Duke said:

I can't imagine why you would want to strap a clipboard on to your bike.
Can't you just keep the map in your pocket, and when you wanted to refer to
it, just take it out and look at it? Seems like overkill to me.

I love my BarMap ( http://www.cycoactive.com/bike/bmh.html ). When
following a cue sheet for a route I really like knowing what is coming
up and not having to stop to check. Despite using graduated bifocals I
find I can read a cue sheet while riding.

Pam

That's kinda cool. How does it attach to the bar?

-B

On Sun, 05 Sep 2004 17:31:40 -0400, pam_in_sc <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Raoul Duke said:

I can't imagine why you would want to strap a clipboard on to your bike.
Can't you just keep the map in your pocket, and when you wanted to refer to
it, just take it out and look at it? Seems like overkill to me.

I love my BarMap ( http://www.cycoactive.com/bike/bmh.html ). When
following a cue sheet for a route I really like knowing what is coming
up and not having to stop to check. Despite using graduated bifocals I
find I can read a cue sheet while riding.

Pam

That's kinda cool. How does it attach to the bar?

-B

In article said:

"Reid Priedhorsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Folks,

A long while back I asked for ideas about handlebar-mounted maps, and a
short while back I asked about a non-crappy mirror. Neither of these
queries resulted in any commercial products that seemed to be what I
wanted, meaning that I had an excuse to make the widgetry myself. 🙂

I made a map holder and a rear-view mirror mount and would like to share
them with the group. Pics are available at:

http://reidster.net/pics/2004-09-05/

Comments and questions welcome.

Reid

If I were to mount a clipboard on my bike (which I wouldn't - but hey -
that's me) I think I would have used a plastic or lucite clipboard as
opposed to one of those old particleboard ones. The plastic ones would
shed the rain (or road water) better...I think the one you have will soak up
water and expand and crumble.

And with small cue sheets you can see through to watch your tire rolling along.

Raoul Duke said:

I can't imagine why you would want to strap a clipboard on to your bike.
Can't you just keep the map in your pocket, and when you wanted to refer
to it, just take it out and look at it? Seems like overkill to me.

Before I kept it in my trunk bag. The convenience of having it available
right in front of my face at every intersection (it's not really intended
for reading while riding) is indeed a big win.

The BarMap does look handy. I'll have to look into it.

Quoted message said:

Plus, honestly, it doesn't do much for the appearance of your bike, if
that means anything at all to you.

Nope, that doesn't bother me at all. Besides, the crazier I look, the
wider berth I get from drivers, right? 😉

Quoted message said:

And don't you think it will have an adverse impact from an aerodynamic
standpoint?

Yes, but not a significant one for my purposes. The bike started out at 24
pounds anyway, and there's a lot of other stuff I could do that I haven't,
including leaving the extra water and tools at home, to improve
performance.

Reid

Raoul Duke said:

I can't imagine why you would want to strap a clipboard on to your bike.
Can't you just keep the map in your pocket, and when you wanted to refer
to it, just take it out and look at it? Seems like overkill to me.

Before I kept it in my trunk bag. The convenience of having it available
right in front of my face at every intersection (it's not really intended
for reading while riding) is indeed a big win.

The BarMap does look handy. I'll have to look into it.

Quoted message said:

Plus, honestly, it doesn't do much for the appearance of your bike, if
that means anything at all to you.

Nope, that doesn't bother me at all. Besides, the crazier I look, the
wider berth I get from drivers, right? 😉

Quoted message said:

And don't you think it will have an adverse impact from an aerodynamic
standpoint?

Yes, but not a significant one for my purposes. The bike started out at 24
pounds anyway, and there's a lot of other stuff I could do that I haven't,
including leaving the extra water and tools at home, to improve
performance.

Reid

Dan Daniel said:

What is the glue holding the aluminum bar to the clipboard?

It's JB-Kwik epoxy.

Quoted message said:

Personally, I'd reinforce that with bolts. Vibrations can be nasty on
any glue on a bike, and having the clipboard fall into the wheel could
be distracting at the least.

Hmmm, good point. Bolts would get in the way I think, but I'll do
something to keep it out of my wheel if it does come off.

Thanks,

Reid

Badger_South said:

That's kinda cool. How does it attach to the bar?

-B

Velcro straps that loop around the bar. It sags down a bit, depending
on the shape of the stem, but going fast it flattens out in the wind.

Pam

Reid Priedhorsky said:

Folks,

A long while back I asked for ideas about handlebar-mounted maps, and a
short while back I asked about a non-crappy mirror. Neither of these
queries resulted in any commercial products that seemed to be what I
wanted, meaning that I had an excuse to make the widgetry myself. 🙂

I made a map holder and a rear-view mirror mount and would like to share
them with the group. Pics are available at:

http://reidster.net/pics/2004-09-05/

Comments and questions welcome.

Reid

Your clip board idea works, but I would hate to fall on that thing.
What happens when it rains? Here's are a few places that seem
interesting. Some commercially available and one home made.

http://www.windchill.com.au/Mapholder.htm
http://www.felixwong.com/openroad/bike_projects/map_holder.html
http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FBMP
http://www.macson.com.au/miry.html
http://www.velotique.com/bag.htm

I personally like the one from Velotique (scroll about half way down
the page). The plastic case straps right to the handle bars, don't
interfere with anything, and is very light... and waterproof. Got it
for Christmas last year and have used it a few times with satisfying
results.

Chuck

Reid wrote:
....

Quoted message said:

I made a map holder and a rear-view mirror mount and would like to share
them with the group....

I used to have the commercially-available
chip-clip-attached-to-velcro strap device, but decided that a couple
of clips on my cables work better.

http://www.jgwhyte.com/cloclips.htm

HTH

--Karen M.

Reid Priedhorsky said:

Raoul Duke said:

I can't imagine why you would want to strap a clipboard on to your bike.
Can't you just keep the map in your pocket, and when you wanted to refer
to it, just take it out and look at it? Seems like overkill to me.

Before I kept it in my trunk bag. The convenience of having it available
right in front of my face at every intersection (it's not really intended
for reading while riding) is indeed a big win.

The BarMap does look handy. I'll have to look into it.

An advantage of the BarMap is that Velcro based, you dont have to
worry about being impaled by a piece of bar stock aluminum in the
event of a crash.