Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount Review: The Multisport Athlete’s Secret Weapon

There’s a moment every cyclist who uses a GPS watch knows all too well. You’re deep into a ride, heart pounding, legs burning, and you need to check your pace, distance, or maybe the map for that next turn. The instinct is to flick your wrist up, a simple gesture when running, but a potentially hazardous manoeuvre on a bike. I’ve been there, navigating a fast, winding descent, trying to wrestle a long sleeve out of the way while keeping one hand on the bars and my eyes darting between my wrist and the rapidly approaching hairpin turn. It’s awkward, unsafe, and it breaks your concentration and form. For years, the choice seemed binary: either risk the wrist-glance or shell out hundreds for a dedicated, bar-mounted bike computer. This complication left a significant gap for multisport athletes who love the versatility of their Forerunner or Fenix but need a better on-bike solution. What if there was a third way? A simple, elegant, and affordable solution that could transform the powerful device already on your wrist into a fully functional cycling computer. This is the exact problem the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount promises to solve.

What to Consider Before Buying a GPS Watch Mount

A GPS watch mount is more than just a piece of rubber; it’s a key solution for unlocking the full potential of your existing sports watch. For cyclists, triathletes, and even golfers using a trolley, it bridges the gap between a wrist-worn convenience and a dedicated, at-a-glance dashboard. The main benefit is leveraging the powerful GPS, heart rate tracking, and performance metrics of a device you already own, saving you the significant expense of purchasing a separate bike computer like a Garmin Edge or Wahoo ELEMNT. It enhances safety by keeping your data in your line of sight, allowing you to keep both hands securely on the handlebars.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who already owns a compatible Garmin watch (like a Forerunner, Fenix, or Venu) and participates in multiple sports, including cycling. It’s for the triathlete practicing quick transitions, the weekend warrior who rides and runs, or the commuter who wants to track their journey without another device to charge. However, it might not be the best fit for elite cyclists or data-obsessed racers who require a larger screen for complex mapping, advanced power meter analytics, or Varia radar integration. For those users, a dedicated head unit is likely a better long-term investment. For everyone else, a simple mount offers immense value.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Compatibility & Fit: First and foremost, ensure the mount works with your watch model. The Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount boasts incredible compatibility across dozens of models. Secondly, consider your bike’s handlebars. Most mounts are designed for standard diameters (25.4mm or 31.8mm), but issues can arise on bars that taper significantly in width near the stem, as noted by some users. Measure your intended mounting location to ensure a snug, level fit.
• Security & Stability: The entire purpose of the mount is to hold your expensive watch securely. Look for a design that grips the handlebars tightly and provides a stable platform that won’t vibrate excessively or shift on bumpy terrain. We found that the flexible, high-friction material of the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount, combined with the tension from the watch strap itself, creates a surprisingly robust system, even without the included zip ties. This is crucial for mountain bikers and gravel riders.
• Material & Durability: The mount will be exposed to sunlight, rain, and stress. A high-quality, UV-resistant silicone or rubber is ideal. It should be flexible enough to stretch over the bars without tearing, yet firm enough to hold its shape and dampen vibrations. Cheaper plastic alternatives can become brittle over time and may not offer the same level of shock absorption, potentially harming your watch’s internal components over thousands of miles.
• Ease of Use & Versatility: How quickly can you install, remove, or transfer the mount between bikes? A key advantage of a tool-free design is the ability to swap it from your road bike to your mountain bike in seconds. This is a feature we, and many other users, deeply appreciate. A mount that requires permanent zip ties or tools sacrifices this versatility, effectively dedicating it to a single bicycle.

While the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models for navigation, especially for powered two-wheelers, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions and Key Features: Deceptive Simplicity

Upon its arrival, the first thing that struck us was the packaging. In a market flooded with third-party accessories that often arrive in a simple plastic bag, the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount came in a genuine, professionally branded Garmin box. This was a pleasant surprise, confirming its authenticity and giving immediate confidence in the product’s quality—a sentiment echoed by users who were expecting a generic alternative. Inside, the product itself is the epitome of simplicity: a single piece of moulded, semi-flexible black plastic or dense rubber, and two black zip ties. There are no moving parts, no screws, and no instruction manual, because none is needed. Its shape is intelligently designed to cradle the back of a watch, with a curved underside to conform to handlebars. The material feels robust and grippy, not flimsy or cheap. It has just enough give to stretch over a thick handlebar but is rigid enough to create a secure platform. This initial hands-on experience dispels any notion that this is “just a piece of rubber”; it’s a thoughtfully engineered accessory designed for a very specific, and very important, job. You can see its full feature set and user reviews to get a better sense of its build quality.

In the Saddle: A Deep Dive into the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount’s Performance

An accessory’s true worth is only revealed through real-world use. We put the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount through its paces on a variety of bikes—a carbon road bike with 31.8mm bars, a hardtail mountain bike for trail riding, and even an indoor spin bike—to see how this simple piece of engineering performs under pressure. Our testing focused on the three aspects that matter most to a cyclist: how easy it is to set up, how stable it is in motion, and how practical it is to use during a ride.

Installation and Versatility: From Box to Bike in 60 Seconds

The genius of the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount lies in its utter simplicity. The installation process is so intuitive it feels like an exaggeration to even call it a “process.” You simply choose a spot on your handlebars, stretch the mount’s open-ended design over the bar, and position it. That’s it. On our road bike’s 31.8mm handlebars, it was a snug fit that required a firm pull, which inspired confidence from the start. Once on, it stayed put. The high-friction material gripped the bar tape tenaciously.

A frequent debate among users is whether the included zip ties are necessary. The box includes two, with clever little recessed channels on the underside of the mount for them to sit flush. For a permanent, “fit-and-forget” setup on a primary bike, using the zip ties provides ultimate peace of mind. One user even noted they ran their brake cable through the mount before zip-tying for an exceptionally clean look. However, for our testing, and for anyone who owns multiple bikes, we found them to be completely optional. We mounted a Fenix 6 Pro by simply wrapping the watch strap around the mount and cinching it down just as we would on our wrist. The tension from the strap alone was more than enough to lock the mount in place, preventing any rotation or slippage. This tool-free method allows you to move the entire setup from a road bike to a mountain bike in less than 30 seconds, a massive benefit for multisport athletes that simply cannot be overstated. This versatility is a feature that really sets it apart from more permanent mounting solutions.

Rock-Solid Stability: Putting the Mount to the Test

With the mount installed on our mountain bike, we headed for our local trails, featuring a mix of rocky singletrack, root-latticed sections, and fast, bumpy fire roads. This is where any weakness in a mount is brutally exposed. We were thoroughly impressed. The Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount held our Fenix watch with unshakable stability. The dense, rubbery material serves a dual purpose: it grips the bars and it absorbs a significant amount of high-frequency vibration. The watch screen remained clear and readable, not a vibrating blur, even when rattling over rough terrain. There was no hint of the watch or mount shifting, rotating, or threatening to come loose.

This directly confirms the experiences of numerous users who praise its security on MTB and gravel rides. The watch is held firmly in the mount’s cradle, and the watch strap, wrapped around the entire assembly, makes it physically impossible for the watch to pop out. The design creates a closed loop of security. Unless your handlebar snaps or your watch strap fails, your device is not going anywhere. This level of security in such a minimalist package is a testament to Garmin’s design prowess. It completely beats trying to strap a watch to a bare handlebar, where it will inevitably slip, rotate, and scratch both the bar and the watch casing. The mount provides a stable, protective, and purpose-built platform that elevates the entire experience.

Ergonomics and Usability: A Cyclist’s-Eye View

The most common critique we encountered in user feedback, and a point we carefully evaluated, is the viewing position. Because the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount sits directly on the handlebar, the watch face is positioned lower and closer to the rider than a typical “out-front” bike computer mount, which projects the device ahead of the stem. Does this matter? The answer is: it depends. Yes, it requires a more deliberate downward glance to read your data compared to an out-front mount. For a competitive road racer in a peloton, that split-second difference could be a valid concern. However, for the vast majority of riders—triathletes in training, fitness enthusiasts, commuters, and trail riders—it is a non-issue and a monumental improvement over looking at your wrist.

We found the display perfectly visible and accessible. Starting and stopping activities, changing data screens, and hitting the lap button were all easily accomplished with one hand while the watch was mounted. The screen was clear and legible in various light conditions. For indoor training, one user offered a brilliant tip: mounting it on a small piece of 1-inch PVC pipe placed across the aero bars of their spin bike to achieve a perfectly centered position. This highlights the mount’s adaptability. Ultimately, while it may not offer the “head-up” display position of a premium K-Edge or Garmin’s own out-front mounts, it provides a safe, stable, and clear view of your metrics, transforming your watch into a capable cycling computer for a fraction of the cost. The immense value and utility it provides make the slightly lower viewing angle a very minor and acceptable trade-off. For any Garmin watch owner who rides a bike, the decision to add this mount to their kit is an easy one.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the sentiment from fellow riders is overwhelmingly positive, often tinged with pleasant surprise. A recurring theme is the confirmation of its authenticity. One user stated, “Very surprised that they are genuine Garmin mounts. They come in a Garmin box as well… I was expecting just the rubber bike mount in a plastic bag.” This speaks to the quality and confidence the official branding provides. The simplicity and security are the most praised aspects. Comments like, “Very easy to install and no tools required,” and “it is very secure on the bike… no way that your watch can fall off,” are extremely common.

Many users explicitly frame the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount as a smart financial decision, allowing them to use their expensive GPS watch to its full potential “without having to spend more money on a dedicated bike GPS unit.” This value proposition is the core of its appeal.

Constructive criticism is consistent and fair. The most cited drawback, which our testing confirmed, is the viewing angle. As one rider noted, “you have to lower your gaze a lot to monitor your ride and you lose attention on the road.” Another minor issue mentioned is the fit on non-standard handlebars: “the drop bars taper up in diameter towards the stem, so the mount sits unevenly which slightly distorts its shape.” These critiques are valid but represent trade-offs for the mount’s universal, simple design rather than fundamental flaws.

Is the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount Your Best Option?

The question of whether this mount is the right choice depends entirely on your starting point. If you already own a compatible Garmin watch, it is almost certainly the best and most cost-effective solution for on-bike data. However, if you’re starting from scratch, the landscape changes. Here’s how the mount fits into the broader ecosystem of Garmin GPS devices.

1. Garmin Approach S10 GPS Golf Watch

Comparing the bike mount to a dedicated golf watch like the Approach S10 highlights the importance of use-case specificity. The Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount is for a multisport athlete who already has a multisport watch. If your primary activity is golf, buying a Forerunner and a bike mount makes no sense. The Approach S10 is purpose-built with preloaded courses and hazard information, offering features a Forerunner can’t match on the links. This comparison clarifies who the mount *isn’t* for: the single-sport specialist whose sport isn’t cycling. It’s a reminder to buy the right tool for your primary job.

2. Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Running Watch

The Forerunner 45 represents the ideal entry point for someone new to the Garmin ecosystem. It’s a fantastic, affordable GPS running watch. For a new runner who is also starting to cycle for cross-training, the combination of a Forerunner 45 and the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount is perhaps the most powerful and budget-friendly multisport setup you can buy. This duo provides all the essential metrics for both sports—GPS tracking, heart rate, pace, and distance—for significantly less than the cost of a mid-range dedicated bike computer. This makes the mount an enabler, turning an excellent running watch into a dual-sport powerhouse.

3. Garmin Forerunner 255S GPS Running Smartwatch

The Forerunner 255S is a significant step up, aimed at serious athletes who crave more data, such as running power, triathlon modes, and advanced recovery insights. For a user with this level of watch, the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount serves as a perfect bridge. It allows them to leverage the 255S’s powerful cycling metrics (when paired with power meters or other sensors) without immediately needing a top-tier Edge computer. They get a huge amount of data displayed on their handlebars for a minimal investment. For this user, the mount might be a long-term solution for training days or a stop-gap before they commit to a dedicated head unit for racing.

The Final Verdict: An Essential Accessory for the Garmin-Equipped Cyclist

After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion is clear: the Garmin Forerunner Bike/Trolley Mount is a brilliantly simple, remarkably effective, and exceptionally high-value accessory. It flawlessly executes its one job: to securely hold your Garmin watch on your handlebars, transforming it from a wrist-based tracker into a functional bike computer. Its robust build quality, tool-free installation, and rock-solid stability, even on rough terrain, make it a product we can recommend without hesitation. While the viewing angle is lower than an out-front mount and the fit may be tricky on some exotic bar shapes, these are minor compromises for the immense convenience and value it offers.

If you own a compatible Garmin watch and you ride any kind of bike, this mount is not just a nice-to-have; it’s an essential piece of kit that unlocks the full cycling potential of your device. It saves you money, enhances safety, and simplifies your tech setup. For a minimal investment, you gain a massive upgrade in functionality. Stop glancing at your wrist and give your Garmin the dashboard it deserves. You can check the latest price and secure your mount today.