Cycliq Fly 12 CE

Here is the latest generation of the Cycliq Fly 12 CE, which is an integrated front camera and front light. The first generation was called just the Fly 12, and it was a rather bulky unit. It was useful as a front camera to record incidents, and also as a front light.

However, it was always a pain to charge the original Fly 12, as there was no quick release mechanism to release the Fly 12 from the bike, in order to charge it. I had to park the bike next to a power socket, and connect the USB cable directly to the Fly 12. Also, the Fly 12 had to be loosened at the Gopro-style mount, in order to swivel it to access the charging port at the rear.

The alternative was to loosen the Gopro-style mount and remove the Fly 12 entirely, but it was troublesome as the interface was tight, and the angle had to be set again every time I removed it from the mount.

I mainly used it on my commuting bikes, the Avanti Inc 3 and then the Fabike C3. It is just too bulky and ugly to use it on my road bike, the Canyon Endurace.

Finally, the Fly 12 was retired ingloriously when the power button finally broke after long usage. Despite my best attempts to fix it, it only got worst after more usage. I finally decided to give up on it with little regrets.

Now, the second generation Fly 12 CE is out (June 2021), and it looks much smaller in size. Also, more importantly, there is now a quick release mount which will allow me to detach the Fly 12 CE easily for charging.

New Fly 12 CE!

Specifications of this new Fly 12 CE, with a more powerful front light.

Accessories that are inside the box for the Fly 12 CE. There is the Universal Adapter (middle) and the handlebar mount (right).

The locking shape of the Universal Adapter may look similar to the Garmin design, but it is not the same.

Before I installed the Fly 12 CE on the Focus Paralane, there was only a Garmin mount upfront for the Edge 530.

Comparing the Cycliq Duo Mount (aluminium) with the stock Garmin mount (resin).

New Fly 12 CE is more compact and squarish compared to the first version.

Camera and light positioned side by side

Charging port, SD card slot and reset buttons can be found under a waterproof trapdoor at the side. Much easier to access compared to the first generation design.

Power and Q button located at the side for easy access, as opposed to at the rear for the first version.

At the rear, there is only some holes for the beeping sounds to emerge.

Quick release tab located at the bottom of the unit, for easy removal from the bike. Very important feature.

Cyclic Duo Mount weighs 48 grams

Universal Adapter will be mounted to the Cycliq Duo Mount with a bolt using a Gopro-style interface.

Fly 12 CE unit itself weighs 195 grams, about 50 grams or 20% less than the previous version.

The total additional weight would be around 250 grams, which is roughly the weight difference between Ultegra and Dura-Ace. It is worth the additional weight if you want to record traffic incidents, or just record your ride.

Mounted under the Garmin, on the Cycliq Duo Mount.

Looks more compact compared to the first generation Fly 12. A big improvement.

Looks better with an all-black exterior, as compared to a large silver strip on the first version.

There are many noticeable improvements for this new Fly 12 CE, compared to the first generation. From the more compact size to the improved appearance, quick release function, easily accessible ports at the side as well as easily accessible buttons, it is much better.

Also, there was another issue with the first generation Fly 12, where the front light always turns on when you run the camera. It was not possible to use just the camera alone, without the light draining the battery unnecessarily. With the Fly 12 CE, the camera and light modes can be set independently.

I mostly use it as a camera only mode, as it ensures that the battery life will last the longest. I already have other front lights, so the Fly 12 CE front light only serves as a backup. 

It might seem like a waste to use this Fly 12 CE as only a front camera, when there are alternative cameras that are much cheaper. However, which other front camera can last more than 6 hours on one charge like this Fly 12 CE?

Overall I think that this is a good device to add to your bike, even though it is a pricey one.

Cycliq Duo Mount - For Garmin + Fly12

When I ordered the Cycliq Fly 6 CE, I received a free Cycliq Duo Mount as I was one of those who made the pre-order. It was a nice surprise as I did not know that when I placed the order. Also, the mount is apparently quite expensive so it was a good offset from the price of the Fly 6 CE.

The funny thing is that this Cycliq Duo Mount was shipped separately from the Fly 6 CE, and it actually arrived before the Fly 6 CE! When I first received it, it looked just like any other ordinary combination mount, which I already have a few.

Almost all combination mounts have an interface on top for a Garmin cycle computer, while the bottom side has a GoPro type of mounting for your camera. This is good enough if you are using a Garmin on top and a GoPro or similar camera. However, what happens if you are using a Cateye cycle computer instead?

I found that there are actually a few different adapters for the top mount, so that you can install different cycle computers on it. Other than the most common Garmin type, it also has those less popular types such as Cateye, Polar, Wahoo, etc.

The only bike where I have a chance to use this mount would be the Avanti Inc 3, but it already has a REC Mount which allows me to install a Cateye cycle computer on top and the Cycliq Fly 12 front camera/light at the bottom.

One problem I had with the REC Mount is that the mount itself prevents me from accessing the Fly 12 charging port easily. Since I already have this new Cycliq Duo Mount, I might as well give it a try to see if it is better.

Packaging for Cycliq Duo Mount, with the other adapters visible. 

As stated, it comes with optional mounting disks (adapters) to make it compatible to a wide range of cycle computers. 

Weighs 43 grams without any adapters installed. It feels strong and rigid as it is designed to withstand the weight of the Fly 12. 

With the Cateye adapter and the fixing bolt at the bottom, the weight comes up to 59 grams. 

Installing the Cateye adapter was an interesting process. The adapter uses two countersunk bolts to attach the adapter to the aluminium mount. However, the Cateye adapter layout is such that the design gets in the way of the second bolt (refer to picture below).

 

First bolt for Cateye adapter installed easily. How do I install the second bolt? Can I do without it?

I tried using the adapter with only one bolt installed. The adapter is not loose, however the Cateye button does not work. For those who have used Cateye cycle computers before, the bottom of the Cateye screen is actually the "button". Pressing that area will cause a bump on the adapter to push the actual button located at the back of the Cateye cycle computer.

However, on this adapter, as the bump which is located on the plastic tab is not supported from below (refer to picture above), the Cateye button cannot be activated. I realised that the only way to make it work was to install the second bolt UNDER the bump on the Cateye adapter. Therefore I had to bend the tab on the adapter by almost 90 degrees so that I can slip the second bolt underneath and tighten it, all the while praying that the tab does not snap off. This is quite a strange design as it can fail easily, but I could not see any other way around it.

After installing the second bolt under the tab with the bump, the Cateye cycle computer can be activated! Luckily the thin plastic did not break off. 

With the Fly 12 also installed underneath the mount. Looks to be a much cleaner and tidier arrangement as compared to using the REC mount. 

The clamp for the mount is located on the left side of the stem, which is good as it does not interfere with the Alfine Di2 Digital Display which is mounted on the right side.

With this Cycliq Duo Mount, the one-armed mount construction no longer obstructs access to the charging port of the Fly 12. Also, everything just looks neater, compared to the utilitarian design of the REC mount. Overall, I am pleased with the Cycliq Duo Mount as it is a better mount. Best of all, it came free of charge!

Cateye Padrone+ Cycle Computer and REC Mount (Cateye/GoPro)

Most combination mounts available in the market are designed for a Garmin on top and a GoPro type mount below. There are very few mounts that can cater for other cycle computers on top, such as a Cateye.

As I did not want to get another Garmin unit for the Avanti Inc 3, and also did not want to share the Garmin Edge 510 with the Avanti Inc 3, I decided to get a Cateye cycle computer as a standalone cycle computer for the Avanti Inc 3.

Prior to that, I searched on Taobao to find a combination mount with Cateye on top and GoPro type mount below. There were a few, and I bought two of them to try out, since they were not too expensive. However, the quality of the Cateye mounts from Taobao were quite dreadful.

As you may know, most Cateye computers are activated by pressing the bottom of the screen, which tilts the whole unit to depress the small button at the back of the unit. However, after inserting into the first Cateye mount, I could not press down the screen at all. The design is flawed and this makes the Cateye computer useless as I could not interact with it at all.

As for the second mount of a different brand, I could barely depress the button after inserting the Cateye computer. Worse still, upon removing the Cateye, the snap fit arm of the mount broke! This is really poor quality. Either the button does not work, or the mount breaks. Seems that it is not so easy to copy and make the Cateye mount...

I have no choice but to get a mount of a higher quality in order to ensure that it works properly. I found the REC mount which is designed and made in Japan, which should work better since Cateye is also from Japan. It can be found at The Bike Settlement.

In any case, I decided to get a large screen Cateye computer to match with the new REC mount. Last time, when I first saw the Cateye Padrone, I thought it was ridiculous as the screen was so much bigger than the Cateye Strada that I have.

However, I recently realised that it is actually very useful, as it makes it so much easier to read the numbers on the screen. Besides, the Garmin computer also has a large screen.

The Cateye Padrone+, which has backlight compared to the non-plus version of the Padrone

Comes with the standard Cateye sensors which I have already installed so many times

Comparing the size to my hand, it does not look so big...

...but compared with the Cateye Strada, it is huge!

The user manual which is the usual Cateye style. Highly detailed but also utterly confusing.

The backlight function can be set so that it only activates during a preset timing, such as when it is dark. I set it to activate at 6pm and deactivate at 7am.

Small but useful backlight

Weight of entire speedometer setup is only 53 grams

At the same time, I also got the REC mount which has a Cateye mount on top and a GoPro mount below. Having tested it at the shop before buying, the Cateye mount works well like the original. It has to work, since it is actually more expensive than the Cateye Padrone+ cycle computer!

REC mount for Cateye. Garmin mount is also available as an interchangeable piece as seen above.

The dazzlingly array of mount combinations and types available from REC mount

Close up look at the mount. Very minimalist design.

See how thin the clamps are!

You can change the mounting bolts to black ones (supplied) if you prefer

A spare Garmin mount is supplied

The Cateye mount is actually an adapter that allows the Cateye to be fixed onto the standard Garmin mount

Big Cateye Padrone screen on the slim REC mount

Mounting hardware for the GoPro mount at the bottom

Bottom of the REC mount for mounting the GoPro mount or other light mounts (sold separately)

Position adjustment is possible by using alternative mounting holes or by flipping the whole mount upside down

REC mount weighs 77 grams on its own

Cateye on top, Cycliq Fly12 below 

Still looks bulky from the side 

From the top view and rider's point of view, at least it still looks quite neat, with only the Cateye and the Spurcycle bell visible.

With the installation of this REC mount completed, the Cateye and Fly12 can now share the same mount, and take up much less space on the handlebar. Not a commonly used combination, which is why it was difficult to find a suitable mount to fix these items onto the bike.