That bolt only sets the pre-load on the bearings of the headset. You should have 1-2 bolts on the stem that are holding the stem, forks, and headset all together. Although its not that hard to buy a longer bolt from the local hardware store. The last thing you want is that bolt backing out and your phone going bump, crash, bang, break, down the trail.

 

That bolt only sets the pre-load on the bearings of the headset. You should have 1-2 bolts on the stem that are holding the stem, forks, and headset all together.

Yes, I have two bolts.

Forgive my ignorance (Im a newbie), but are you suggesting that the preload will not require the extra 6mm that I'll lose if mounting the phone holder ?

Although its not that hard to buy a longer bolt from the local hardware store. The last thing you want is that bolt backing out and your phone going bump, crash, bang, break, down the trail.

My only hardware stores are 'big box' stores, and all the screws, bolts etc are sealed in blister packs. Since I don't know the thread dimensions, I would have to eyeball the right size. But I might drop in to my LBS today to see if they have a longer bolt. I wouldn't want my phone to go flying !

I have not been using a phone while local riding so far, but I have a five day regional trip planned in a few days time (specifically to get into some forest trails), and the cockpit navigation will be handy for getting around, as I plan to do a lot of country road riding as well, and have never been to this destination before.

 

As long as the star nut that is inside is not deeper than what you have left on the bolt you will be fine.

The preload required is usually low, snug + 1/2 turn.
That being said, if you haven't touched the 2 bolts on the stem that is holding the fort in place, the preload is already set.

So you should be fine to add that and snug it back down.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

As long as the star nut that is inside is not deeper than what you have left on the bolt you will be fine.

The preload required is usually low, snug + 1/2 turn.
That being said, if you haven't touched the 2 bolts on the stem that is holding the fort in place, the preload is already set.

So you should be fine to add that and snug it back down.

Right. Well, with the phone holder installed above the cap, from the first engagement with the internal nut, I'm getting 2.5 full turn revolutions before it feels sufficiently tightened (I can't give you an Nm, as I don't have torque tools).

With your comment in mind, it's not likely the bolt's going to 'back out' as the earlier guy mentioned. But I'll keep an eye on it for the first few rides and pack the allen key just in case.

It's a relief to know that it has no impact on keeping the whole neck/fork assembly in place. That would be a serious mechanical hazard !

 

Top Cap bolts are usually M6

the little baggie the bolt comes in will have M6 printed on the bag.

 

Thanks mate. You are correct. I can confirm that the bolt is M6. Nothing written anywhere, but I bought some stainless M6 nuts and bolts last week for an unrelated DIY project, and compared them.

For the sake of adding information to this thread, the allen key head is #4

Haven't been to the hardware yet, and I'm leaving for my trip at 3am in the morning, but maybe I'll find a store somewhere near my destination.

 

as long as you do not loosen the 2 handlebar stem bolts, that attach the stem to your fork tube, you wont mess with the bearing preload

Just attach cap bolt back on and snug it up, and your good to go

 

are you absolutely certain that you need to carry your phone on the bike? can you just carry the phone in your pocket or a bag like everyone else? what do you need to see on your phone all the time while you're riding? I am sure some people have their reasons and that's fine, but place consider the possibility that this is not worth the risk of breaking your very expensive phone or being distracted so you can play Candy Crush while riding.

 

Candy Crush, eh ? How dare you. I need the phone to play Pokemon GO while riding !

Seriously though - I've not bothered with a phone since I started riding a couple of months ago, opting to enjoy a break from technology and enjoy the surroundings. But I'm embarking on a 1,300 kilometre solo road trip for a week (I've just extended my getaway by a few more days), taking in several small regional townships that I'll be riding around in the three places I'll be staying in. The cabin I'll spend most of my time in is 20+km from the closest village, which I'll also be commuting between. So some on-board navigation would be of great assistance, since I have never been to this part of the country. For this I will use Google Maps.

And of the trails I'll be hitting, I have no prior MTB experience and will be doing by myself, deep in the bushland. Again, no prior exposure to these tracks, so having some on-board navigation might save me from taking on too long a run, or ending up lost in the wilderness (it is winter in my part of the world, I don't fancy spending the night in sub-zero temperatures under the stars).

I'm also not keen on the idea of stopping every time I reach a junction, getting my phone out of my backpack, wondering where to turn next.

This is a satellite snapshot with track overlay on one trail network I'll be using. I'm not sure I can commit this to memory as I ride....

 

fair enough, do you want want. turn-by-turn navigation is notoriously inaccurate on phones, especially if you're under a canopy of trees. How big is that trail system, and what are the consequences of taking a wrong turn? I find that the best way to get to know a trail system is to just go ride it, get "lost" (assuming that getting lost is not also going to get you killed), and find your way again. some of my best adventures on the bike involve taking a wrong turn down some deer trail and getting a bit lost, then finding my way back out. eventually, you get to know your way around and it's no big deal.

on the other hand, I still have a lot of Pokemon to catch, so I might look for a phone holder myself.

alternative idea-look for a top tube bag that has a clear window on top. it's much more secure and you can hold snacks and stuff in them.

There are a ton of these on the market, but this Lezyne one looks nice. they make an XL version if you need something for a bigger phone. Timbuk2 makes the Goody Box. there are a bunch of others.

full-sized GPS computers for bikes are not all that expensive, especially since they are built tough and purpose built for that and save you the potential loss of your phone. the Wahoo Element is $230 USD and might do a much better job than your phone.

I have not used it for a long ride yet, but if you have a smart watch, you might be able to hack it with a third party app that supports turn-by-turn like dwMap.

 

When you say "I have no prior MTB experience", do you just mean on those trails, or that you actually have no mtb experience?

 

I bought my bike a couple of months back, and have been riding sealed tracks in my area. This trip will be my first real exposure to dirt track. My week away has been planned specifically to gain some experience - well that, and to escape the city and clear my head. To be clear though, I'm not planning on jumping straight into black trails ! For now, it will be green lines and fire access tracks. That probably sounds boring to you guys, but I'm not rushing head first into it.

 

No f*cking way would a mount that looks like that go anywhere near my bike. Protruding pieces of metal are a HUGE no-go.

I bookmarked this old thread awhile ago.

https://forums.mtbr.com/california-.../california-norcal/rider-down-cnbiker-thurs-night-gap-ride-disaster-280805.html

tl:dr, guy crashed. his GPS mount (with protruding piece of metal) mashed his face in, spent time unconscious, spent a few days in the ICU, with some pics.

Also this one: severed femoral artery from a brake lever. This is a freak wreck, and it's safer having brake levers than not...but I'm not putting something on my handlebars that gratuitously adds pointy metal bits.

https://www.bikemag.com/videos/video-cedric-gracias-brush-with-death/

 

No f*cking way would a mount that looks like that go anywhere near my bike. Protruding pieces of metal are a HUGE no-go.

Damn. I don't think I want to visit that thread, but I get what you're suggesting - it has been something that's played on my mind a little bit, and it's the reason I wanted to mount this on the stem rather than the handlebars. Maybe I should keep the phone in my backpack after all, while on dirt trails. I'll be leaving in the next hour so it's too late to look in to buying a top-tube soft mount like mack_turtle suggested, but that's something for me to keep in the vault for a future purchase.

 

I've crashed the least over the years on harder trails. most of my crashes, and the ones with the biggest wounds, have occurred in the easiest terrain. Do not let a low trail rating make you complacent about your risk while riding a bike. That risk is always there. Protruding metal prongs on your phone mount have no place on a bicycle. ever. If you want your phone up front, get a soft carrier, or something plastic with rounded edges, or something with no hard materials at all. But IMO, the best place for a phone is tucked away where there are fewer chances for problems with it. Whether it's on the bars or stem doesn't make that much difference. Phones are big enough these days that they're going to stick out no matter what and you're going to hit it one way or another.

 

I have a pair of fox shorts that I wear and the cell phone pocket is lower in the leg, but toward the back of the shorts, so the phone sits more toward the back of the leg. I don't even know it is there. Might think of that option. I also have a little dakine stealth hip pack that is just big enough for a phone, keys and a clif bar or two. It works well and easy to access.

 

Yeah, I usually use a cargo pocket on my shorts, too. Have to watch out for the screen orientation, though, because sweaty fabric will activate the screen and chew through battery. Make sure the screen faces away from your body.

 

Be honest with us, mack. It was the Pokemon suggestion that swayed you.

 

Gotta catch 'em all!

 

Oh and one of the staff I chatted with at my LBS switched me on to the Trailforks app the other day. It looks like a brilliant way to find tracks !