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EB13: O-Synce Adds Handlebar Mounted Bluetooth Smartphone Remote Control, Hints at Strava-Enabled Bluetooth Cycling Computer

Written by Tyler Benedict
11 Comments
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O-Synce bicycle handlebar mounted bluetooth remote control for Magic Maps smartphone app

O-Synce cycling computers have a new handlebar mounted Bluetooth LE (low energy) smartphone remote control. The unit uses a few small buttons to let you control your music, answer a call or, at launch, toggle and zoom through Magic Maps’ cycling app.

The new collaboration with Magic Maps lets you keep your hands on the bars while offering full control of that brand’s iPhone/Android app. The MM app combines cycling data and GPS maps, and the remote lets you zoom/scroll the map and cycle between it and the ride data screens.

The remote shown above is a wired version that was linked to the computer, not the phone. The actual unit won a Eurobike award and is shown just after the break along with more good news for those of us who don’t put our phones on our bars…

O-Synce-Bluetooth-LE-handlebar-mount-smartphone-remote-control

The remote was also developed to work with an upcoming BT display (cycling computer) that’ll show data from a smartphone app like Strava, etc., letting you keep the screen off and tucked safely in your pocket. It’ll retail for about €50 / $69 and be available in December.

O-Synce new 3T stem mount integration for cycling computer

They’re also working on a new faceplate option for the 3T Integra stem, putting their computers out front.

O-Synce.com
Tyler Benedict
11,282 articles

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com, where he’s been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel and ride in new places.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler also loves the Vanlife & family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part and off-grid adventure.

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11 Comments
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Jason
Jason
11 years ago

Such a filthy iPad mini on display… a lot of air bubbles under the screen… If you want to attract buyers, get a shiny, clean iPad. How things are presented IS a marketing tool

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Gunnstein
Gunnstein
11 years ago

Garmin Edge and similar big bike computers are already threatened by smartphones, and things like this might kill them off entirely. A shame, because the always-on screen of the Edge is great.

What I want more than this is a slave screen: A unit that’s just a screen, of the always-on Edge kind but larger and more hi-res, which mirrors whatever my phone is doing, and transmits touches to the phone. So we get smartphone functionality with very low battery usage.

What I *really* want is a HUD. Not like Google Glass which places an opaque display box in one corner of my view, but a transparent, 180 degree display. Done right that will be great. For example, speed/distance etc. could be shown over the horizon. When navigating, direction arrows can be overlaid on my view of the road. Done wrong it will be a terrible traffic hazard of course.

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Eyal
Eyal
11 years ago

Awesome, more Garmin competition. I want to see Garmin kicked out of the cycling biz. They make mediocre over priced stuff!

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Mindless
Mindless
11 years ago

Yes, because more distractions when riding and driving is what we all need.

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mateo
mateo
11 years ago

@Jason – Good luck keeping the screen clean at a trade show.

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PDXFixed
PDXFixed
11 years ago

@Jason That’s the tiniest iPad I’ve ever seen.

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Jack
Jack
11 years ago

seriously…. just ride and enjoy. If being out on the bike is not enough stay home on the XBOX.

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NASH
NASH
11 years ago

Here is the thing, if you want a map print it off and stick it in your back pocket, or if your really skilled write the road names on the back of hand and follow that. There are also these big blue boards with arrows and road names posted on the side of the road that direct you where you want to go.
The really fun part of riding a bike is getting a bit lost and finding secret places and amazing little pubs/ scenery or new street spots if you like a bit the BMX thing. The only person who should have this monster on there handlebars are bike couriers and most of those know their cities very well.

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Gunnstein
Gunnstein
11 years ago

Dear techno-fearing neo-luddites: You all ride penny farthings, yes? Certainly not bikes with (the horror) multiple gears? If you don’t understand why some people prefer new tech to old tech then do yourselves a favour and stay away from bikerumor. All the new things here can only harm your sensibilities.

For the record, getting lost, finding new places and beautiful scenery is perfectly possible even with all kinds of high tech. I’m primarily a tourer, so been there, done that, so many times. Having the tech doesn’t force you to use it constantly. It just very nice to have sometimes. I wouldn’t want a HUD to be on at all times either, just when I need it.

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Mindless
Mindless
11 years ago

@Gunnstein: You do not get it. It is not a fear of technology. It is the sheer lunacy and danger of using it inappropriately. Stuffing multiple computers on handlebars is an inappropriate use of technology. . Same reason your are not allowed to text or watch movies when driving a car.

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Gunnstein
Gunnstein
11 years ago

@Mindless: Wrong, and not a relevant example. You should not text or watch movies when driving, nor when cycling. Glancing down at a bike computer every now and then, is the same as glancing down at a car speedometer. Having a standard simple bike computer plus an Edge for navigation, is the same as having a navigation GPS in a car in addition to your normal dashboard. Both are safe when used right.

Why two computers? Because on my commuter I only occasionally use the GPS, but I always want a computer on it for speed/distance. (On my tourer I use just the GPS.) Do not assume that two computers equals twice the time spent looking at them.

Also you may not have read the article fully. The point of the remote buttons and secondary display is that it lets you use the phone while it’s in your pocket. So only one screen on the bars, if that’s what you want.

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