Velocomp LLP, the makers of the iBike Dash and iBike Phone Booth line of iPhone/iPod Touch cases and cases that convert your iPhone into a cycling computer, is pleased to announce that Apple Computer views their products worthy of selling in the Apple Retail and Apple Store online. On May 9th, they announced that Apple has decided to offer the iBike Dash Cycling Computer, iBike Dash Cycling Computer Deluxe and iBike Phone Booth online and at all of the retail locations. As you might expect, this is big news for a company breaking into the iPhone and iPod accessory market – especially with the recent news that Apple is now considered the most expensive brand in the world. Personally, this is no surprise as the representatives at the iBike Dash booth eluded to being in ‘talks’ with Apple during the 2010 Interbike tradeshow in Las Vegas last September. The surprising part is that it took eight months to get this existing product into the Apple Stores.
You maybe unfamiliar with the iBike Dash and iBike Phone Booth – they are rugged cases designed to work with all generations of the iPod Touch, the iPhone 3/3GS and the iPhone 4. The iBike Phone Booth is strictly a hard sided plastic case that iPod Touch or iPhone device slips into then the user is able to securely attach it onto their bicycle. It offers some of the best weather protection on the market while still allowing the user to operate the device while riding their bike.
The iBike Dash is not only the same rugged case as the Phone Booth, but it is also converts your iPhone into a cycling computer… and quite a powerful one at that. The Apple Store offers just the iBike Dash and iBike Dash Deluxe along with the iBike app located at the iTunes Store. If you never even visit the iBike Sports website and only visit the Apple Store, you will still get a product that offers speed, distance, time, maps and more with just the iBike Dash. If you opt for the iBike Dash Deluxe, you will also get a battery built into the case to extend the battery life of your iPod Touch/iPhone, cadence and heart rate monitor strap.
If you decide to get straight to the iBike Sports online store, you will be greeted with what seems to be an endless list of options and accessories. Wind meters, a version that works with Training Peaks WKO+, additional mounting kits, extra batteries, extra speed sensors, and more. Plus if you upgrade your iPod Touch/iPhone you can also purchase conversion kits at the iBike Store. If you are in the market for the iBike Dash, it seems to make more sense to skip the Apple Store all together and go straight to the iBike Sports website to have the most options. Even if you do purchase your iBike Dash from the Apple Store you still may need to shop at the iBike Sports online store for accessories, especially if you have multiple bikes. Though the iPhone does have the GPS like capabilities, the iBike Dash does use a speed sensor on the bike to guarantee the most accurate speed and other readings.
To even consider using the iBike Dash or iBike Dash Deluxe, you must be an iPod Touch or iPhone owner. If you do not currently own an iPod Touch or an iPhone, you may want to also visit the iBike Sports website first if your plan is to also use your new device as a cycling computer. There are features that are only available while using an iPhone that you will never be able to use with the iPod Touch due to the use of the cellular connection that the phone uses. Both the iPod Touch and iPhone do have the ability to store and download your riding data to your Mac or PC, but there will be less information with the iPod Touch. One major function missing from the iPod Touch is elevation and elevation gain (GPS only) – you have to have an iPhone to utilize this feature.
The iBike Phone Booth retails for $69 and the iBike Dash starts at $199 from the Apple Store or directly from iBike.