Bike Map Holders! A photo essay.

Participating in a BEAST adventure race doesn't require a lot of specialized gear-- you can usually make do with what you have. One item you might be missing, though: a map holder for your bike! Mounting your map to your bike makes it easy to take quick glances at the map so you can navigate efficiently as you ride. (Only when it safe to do so, of course.)

Some have kept their maps in their pockets or stuffed into the leg of their shorts-- but stopping every few minutes to pull out your map can get old and slow you down.

Solutions to this challenge are numerous! Here are some homegrown and retail options I witnessed at the 2012 BEAST Union Bay event:

This looks like an excellent purchasable option. It has all of the desired bike map holder features:

1. The mount to the bars is unobtrusive; it leaves room to mount lights, computer, etc.
2. The map is held high, so you don't need to lean over to read map details.
3. The map board can rotate, so you can always keep your map 'oriented.'
4. The plastic cover makes it quick to insert a map and protects the map from the elements.

7/9 EDIT: Ordinarily available to order at GearZone.com, but currently out of stock.

Clip boards are popular home grown solutions! Not sure what that roller is for, though..

Just a simple $8 soft map holder by BarMap will do!

They're available in several sizes, including a fold-out version.

The big downside is that they cannot be rotated.

Also doubles as a cutting board, should you want to prepare a salami and cheese platter mid-race.

Looks like this one rotates and mounting the map is extra-quick, but you'll want to put your map in a plastic bag to protect it from the elements. Plastic map sleeves are often, but not always, provided at events.

7/9 EDIT: Available online at MPGEAR.com-- based out of Mercer Island, WA!

Another clip board adaptation. Interesting how this one is at a steep angle for quick reading.

I looked at the bottom of this one-- it's the "Kirkland Signature" brand. ;)

Held on by zip ties. One-time use only. But it works!! CHEAP!

A Miry map holder! Miry holders are top quality and top dollar.

7/9 EDIT: Available to order in the USA at 866gaiters.com

Looks like this one has been mounted to a Topeak BarXtender in order to mount it lower to the handlebars.

The added benefit of Miry holders is that the board itself is flexible, so that when mountain biking in technical terrain, you are less likely to hurt yourself on your map board.

This is the map holder (without the Topeak addition) that I use. A full review on that to come!