5 Best Places to Mount a GoPro for Mountain Biking

Many people go with the two most common spots to mount their gopro for mountain biking, the helmet and the chest. However, there are other options. And knowing the right place to set your GoPro can make all the difference.

So, where should you mount your GoPro on a mountain bike? Here’s the rundown of the top 5 best places to mount a GoPro for mountain biking and the benefits each entails.

Where Should I Mount My GoPro for Mountain Biking?

Here are our top 5 locations to mount your gopro. Depending on the type of riding you do and what feels comfortable to you will make the ultimate decision.

1.    Chest

The chest is undeniably one of the best places to mount your GoPro. This is the mounting spot of choice for many mountain bikers as it has several benefits.

Advantages

• Perhaps the most significant benefit of a chest mount is the wider FOV is that it offers. With a chest mount, you can see both the rider’s handlebars and the trail ahead.
• Another reason why these are so popular is the distributed weight. Although most GoPros are designed to be lightweight, it’s not uncommon to find heavier ones. And it only gets worse as you add accessories to the camera.
• By strapping the camera around your chest, you’re taking a lot of weight off your head and handlebars. In addition to making the ride a lot more comfortable, this also reduces drag that would cause handling issues.
• And since your chest remains relatively steady as opposed to your head or handlebars, you get smoother footage.

Disadvantages

• One of the most significant disadvantages of chest mounts is the “flat” terrain effect. Since the terrain is right up ahead in the footage, it takes away depth and makes the footage less interesting.
• Another disadvantage is the discomfort. While chest mounts take away weight and strain from other parts of your body, they can be constricting. Therefore, it’s not the best place to mount a GoPro for mountain biking if you have chest pain and breathing issues.
• You may also find that your FOV is significantly reduced during turns. And that turns in the footage don’t appear as exciting or dynamic as they would if the GoPro was mounted somewhere. Again, this is related to the flat terrain effect discussed previously.

GoPro Chest Mount

Price:	$38.80* Price correct at time of publishing. Check latest price.
Perfect for:	Budding Youtubers or just wanting to capture the perfect angle
Categories:	Top Rated Under $50 For Teenager
Our Rating:

Our Verdict: GoPro are the market leaders and the chest view is great for mountain biking.

  View On Amazon (paid link)

2.    Handlebar – Front

Handlebars are another great place to mount a GoPro. They provide a POV almost on the same line as your chest, but their FOV is limited in width. This makes it better for people who want to record the trail instead of the handlebars.

When mounting a GoPro to the handlebars, there are two ways you can mount it. You can either mount it on top of the bars or below the bars.

The on-top position provides the best footage as the POV is higher. But you’ll want to avoid this if you’ve got other things mounted to the handlebars. On-top handlebar mounts can even obstruct your headlights.

Advantages

• Arguably, the biggest advantage of a handlebar mount is the ability to read license plates. You might be wondering, what’s the point of this when you’re off the road? But many off-road vehicles require license plates, such as off-road motorbikes and 4WD cars.
• In terms of footage, handlebar mounts provide a better perspective. The trail and other riders appear closer. And you get the full shot of the trail.
• With that, there’s another benefit that many people overlook – the ease of using the camera. When you mount a GoPro for mountain biking on the handlebars, it’s easier to use the buttons. Of course, this becomes a bit more challenging when the camera is under the handlebars. But it’s much better than, say, chest or helmet mounts.

Disadvantages

• Front-facing handlebar mounts can be shaky, and I mean, very shaky. Also, the footage will be less than pleasant since you’re constantly turning the handlebars, even if it’s just to swerve around an obstacle.
• This doesn’t mean the footage is useless. On the contrary, some people prefer the dynamic movements of the camera since it makes the journey a lot more interesting. But since the handlebars take the full shock of any bumps on the road, expect less than perfect footage.
• Handlebar mounts also have a narrower FOV. However, unlike a chest mount, they don’t allow you to see the trail at the side of you. As such, the perspective can feel claustrophobic.

GoPro Handlebar/Seatpost Mount

Price:	$29.99* Price correct at time of publishing. Check latest price.
Perfect for:	Unique GoPro angles at a bargain price
Categories:	Top Rated Under $50 For Teenager
Our Rating:

Our Verdict: Great price, easy to use

  View On Amazon (paid link)

3.    Seat Post

One of the least popular places to mount your GoPro is on the seat post. These mounts are best used in the rear position. They provide a unique perspective that’s perfect for showcasing the steepness of hills.

Advantages

• When used in the rear position, seat post mounts provide a good perspective of the trail behind you. In addition, there aren’t a lot of places where you can mount a GoPro at the back of the bike. Hence, the seat post is the best choice for this.
• Since the GoPro is mounted at the seat post, the rear (or front) tire position will be visible. This makes it easier to translate the steepness of a climb into the footage truly.
• As the camera is under the seat, it won’t distract and block your view.

Disadvantages

• If you don’t need to shoot behind you, then this type of camera is the worst. For one thing, there’s more of the bike in the footage than the trail.
• Additionally, the camera is placed under the seat.
• To further worsen that, since the seat post is more in contact with the ground, the footage will be very shaky.

GoPro Handlebar/Seatpost Mount

Price:	$29.99* Price correct at time of publishing. Check latest price.
Perfect for:	Unique GoPro angles at a bargain price
Categories:	Top Rated Under $50 For Teenager
Our Rating:

Our Verdict: Great price, easy to use

  View On Amazon (paid link)

4.    Helmet

Mounting your GoPro on the helmet is also a common trend. Mountain bikers have the option to either mount the camera on top of the helmet or under the chin.

On top of the helmet, the view is great, but the camera’s weight may be irritating. Under the chin is a more common mounting spot as it provides both stability and a more comprehensive range of view.

Advantages

• Helmet mounts are some of the very few stable mounts for GoPros. Since they stay on the helmet, they move with your head, so whatever you see, the camera sees.
• This also makes the footage a lot more dynamic. Looking over to your friend? So, is your camera. Need to check the rear of the bike? Now your GoPro is following you too. The footage will be more unique and will pique the interest of viewers.
• Helmet mounts are great for getting the details of other drivers. As the camera is on your helmet and not the bike, it will continue to record even if you get off the bike. This will provide very important footage of the driver’s license plate and face if an incident occurs.
• Additionally, when you want to hop off the bike to get a good view of your surroundings, your camera will follow suit. That means seamless shots of valleys and canyons that would otherwise be very hard to capture with other mounting positions.

Disadvantages

• Unfortunately, mounting the GoPro on the helmet has its cons, apart from the more creative camera angle. One of the biggest cons is that the GoPro can be intrusive.
• In addition to that, the camera will put some weight on your head. And accessories only make it worse.
• Since the camera is on top of your head, it’s going to be near impossible to change the settings mid-ride.
• Another interesting disadvantage is that the camera tends to give a bird’s-eye view of the terrain. Some people, significantly taller riders, don’t like the uncanny perspective.

GoPro Helmet Mount by Super Visor

Price:	$29* Price correct at time of publishing. Check latest price.
Perfect for:	Stable POV angle GoPro footage
Categories:	Top Rated Under $50 For Teenager
Our Rating:

Our Verdict: Quality product with a great angle for footage.

  View On Amazon (paid link)

5.    Handlebar – Rear

If you don’t want to mount a rear-facing GoPro on the seat post, you can always use the handlebars. This position is preferred by riders who want to get professional-looking selfie shots.

Advantages

• The most major advantage of a rear-facing handlebar GoPro is that it can be used for selfie shots. These make for some creative footage and can be incorporated into your regular front-facing footage.
• Besides the creative aspect, there’s also an essential legal aspect. Unlike a seat post camera, a handlebar camera shows how close vehicles get to you.
• In addition to that, the camera will also capture you making any hand signals, which could make all the difference.

Disadvantages

• This isn’t the best place to mount GoPro for mountain biking if you only have one camera. No one wants to see just your body throughout the shot.
• Rear-facing handlebar GoPros have minuscule success at identifying license plates. In addition, the vehicles coming from behind you will have a lot of windshield glare, which can interfere with the footage.
• Additionally, if you were to mount the camera on the edge of the handlebar, you’ll be faced with a lot of shaking.

GoPro Handlebar/Seatpost Mount

Price:	$29.99* Price correct at time of publishing. Check latest price.
Perfect for:	Unique GoPro angles at a bargain price
Categories:	Top Rated Under $50 For Teenager
Our Rating:

Our Verdict: Great price, easy to use

  View On Amazon (paid link)

Where Do You Mount a GoPro on A Bike?

If you ask for our suggestion, we’d say either a helmet or chest mount is best for front-facing cameras. These mounts are some of the most stable and follow the rider even the rider gets off the bike.

Handlebar cameras are good for getting a better view of the trail. But I wouldn’t recommend them since they’re shakier and don’t follow the rider when they get off.

Spots for rear-facing cameras, I’d recommend a handlebar mount. In this position, you can see behind you and if you’re giving any hand signals.

Which GoPro Mount Is Best for Mountain Biking?

If you want a good GoPro chest mount, I recommend the official GoPro Performance Chest Mount. It’s lightweight and flexible, so it doesn’t press down on your chest too much. And the quick-release buckle lets you take it off with ease for setting up.

For head mounts, the official GoPro Head Strap is a great choice. It’s reliable and resilient. And it comes with a Quick Clip to make the setup easier.

And finally, for a handlebar or seat post mount, try the GoPro Handlebar/Seatpost/Pole Mount. It’s compatible with all GoPro cameras and goes well with front and rear-view mounts.

And obviously a good gopro like the GoPro HERO10 Black which is waterproof with a LCD camera. This is the gopro of choice if you want solid videos that are 1080p and ultra HD.

Conclusion

Not everyone knows where to mount a GoPro for mountain biking to get the best shot. But luckily, you now know all about the right spots to mount your GoPro.

In reality, you’ll find that having more than one GoPro on your person is a lot more convenient. At the very least, one front-facing and one rear-facing camera is the standard for most mountain bikers.

Regardless of which positions you choose, it’s important to know which ones give the best angles. After all, the right angle and perspective can take your shots to the next level.