I live in Bogotá, Colombia, and the traffic is just insane. Usually most of the time the best way to go around for small trips is using a bicycle, which has been my ride for 15 years now. It was frustrating not being able to follow my trip on Sportstracker, until I read about a cradle ideal for sportstracker here on The Nokia Blog. It was exactly what I needed but according to Mark, it was a prototype and no one knows if it will hit the streets someday. Therefore, I made my own one with the materials I found handy.

Ingredients:

A cheap rear light support. (US$1, with rear safety light)

An old cyclocomputer bracket. I was very lucky: light support fits like a glove on this bracket.

An old inner tube. Just cut a 8″ x 0.5″ strip. Usually you can find this for free.

Instructions

Step 1

Glue rubber strip to metalic support. Reason for this is to avoid scratches due to vibration on your valuable Nok and also help to increase friction so it won’t fall. The press is just glue rubber to tin.

Step 2

Install cyclocomputer bracket the way it’s supposed to. Don’t forget to put the rubber strip below it and fasten it very tight. This is important.

Step 3

Insert metalic piece into plastic bracket. I want it to be removable, so I just insert it when I’m going to use sportstracker.

Step 4

Secure your Nok with the rubber strip using a double knot. Try not to press camera and gallery keys on the right side, with some practice you’ll do it without thinking.

And you’re ready to go. In this case I’m using Garmin Mobile XT to make my route.

To be honest, it’s really useful and secure. It also helps to keep keyboard open, as you may know GPS receiver is under it and it helps a lot to get a good satellite signal all time.

Video

In this video, you can see the cradle in action. As you can see, it is stiff and almost immune to vibration. You can also see Sportstracker data live the way it should be, and also helpful with the Nokia or Google Maps apps. Of course, use your common sense and brains while using it. Like any cyclocomputer: don’t put all your attention on it all the time. I wouldn’t go to high crime rate areas or in a downhill competition, but it’s up to you anyway.

Now I’m thinking on how to made an external battery because as you may know using Sportstracker will makie your Nokia phone’s battery last for about 3 hours tops.