Vel CNC Straight Bar Mount

The Vel CNC Straight Bar Mount is machined well and allows both a Garmin and GoPro to be mounted simultaneously, but the positives beyond that are a bit lacking, though that partly depends on what size computer you have.

• Pros: High quality finish
• Cons: Minimal adjustability prevents use of larger Garmins when mounted under the handlebar

It may not be the sexiest accessory, but the bike computer mount has fast become a staple addition to the cockpit. You'll want something that is secure, adjustable and reliable to hold your possibly very expensive computer, and yet somehow the Vel Mount manages to fall down on the majority of those points.

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Let's start with some positives. The mount is Garmin compatible, with a GoPro attachment on the underside for a neat setup. The handlebar end is hinged, making for easy fitting with only a single bolt to worry about. It's well made, too, with a good quality black anodised finish and smart looking laser etched logos. However, the fact that 'laser etched logos' was deemed enough of a selling point to put on the box worried me, and rightly so.

Personally, I find straight mounts that are attached alongside the stem frustrating. You're never looking straight down on the computer and something always feels off. There is the positive of angle adjustment, which you can't get with stem bolt mounts, but I would still prefer a central position. In fairness to Vel, it does offer an angled bar mount if you're willing to spend a little more, but remember you're already dropping nearly £30 as it is. Granted, there are even more expensive K-Edge mounts out there that won't hold your GoPro, but still, yikes. That said, the Topeak Ridecase is £36.99.

Design-wise, I'm disappointed. If fitted above the handlebar, as per Vel's own marketing, the mount sits really high. If you then add the Garmin on top of that it suddenly turns a clean front end into a protruding mess. So you might think, 'no problem, it's adjustable, just put it below the handlebar', but the length of the mount arm is too short to fit the longer Garmins, like the 810 I still use. I like the idea that it can be fitted above or below the handlebar, but because of how the mount arm is bolted to the clamp, fitting it below the handlebar massively reduces the reach, preventing me from being able to twist my Garmin into the mount. This wouldn't be the case for a smaller Garmin, but still a missed opportunity.

Vel also claims an 'adjustable reach' for the mount; again, a great idea in concept. However, the slot for the bolt has been machined with rounded ends. Not a problem for the bolt itself, but underneath is a square section, to ensure the mount remains straight, in a similarly round ended slot. So although the slot is 1.8cm from end to end, in reality the adjustment is just 4mm at best, which seems a little pointless. And if, like me, you try to force it a little further, you end up damaging what turns out to be a pretty soft alloy.

The other issue with allowing 'adjustability' is the need for bolts, which in turn can rattle loose. On two of my rides I found my Garmin flailing around up front. Granted, that might have been me not having tightened it well enough, but I'd be concerned that, over time, that could happen regardless. Trying to learn from my mistakes, I tightened it significantly more but scratched the nice anodised finish in the process.

Using a GoPro in the mount, it creates some shaky footage since it's fixed rigidly to the handlebar, but that has always been an issue with bar-mounted GoPros. The GoPro mount is removable (by screws) if you wanted to do so.

> Read more road.cc reviews of computer/phone/camera mounts here

The plastic Garmin insert makes for a satisfying and secure snug fit with your device. No rattling where that is concerned. Although the Garmin insert is removable, Vel doesn't sell a Wahoo insert directly, but with a little research you could perhaps find a replacement from elsewhere.

All in, the Vel CNC straight bar mount is a bit disappointing. Out of the box it looks nice, but its features to improve functionality don't seem to have been fully thought through. If you have a small Garmin, want it mounted below the bar and have no need to adjust the reach, then this will do nicely. But in reality, Vel hasn't achieved what it was trying to here, and the selling points don't match up to reality.

Verdict

Disappointing results for its selling points