Fifty Plus (50+) - Bikers on cell phones

I live near a bike trail (no cars) that goes from the foothills, through town alonside a creek and goes out to the edge of San Francisco Bay. It is a nice ride for an 50+ guy with incredible scenery all the way. Yet I regularly see people riding their bikes and talking on their cell phones. It seems to me they miss part of the point. Quiet solitude & a beautiful place. Is this the coming thing? Is the call that important? As a non cell phone person, I would not have a clue. Happily clueless brian.

I live near a bike trail (no cars) that goes from the foothills, through town alonside a creek and goes out to the edge of San Francisco Bay. It is a nice ride for an 50+ guy with incredible scenery all the way. Yet I regularly see people riding their bikes and talking on their cell phones. It seems to me they miss part of the point. Quiet solitude & a beautiful place. Is this the coming thing? Is the call that important? As a non cell phone person, I would not have a clue. Happily clueless brian.

Same with the idiot ladies (and men) in their SUV's with the CP welded to their ear.

Now they have some sort of device that one wears on their ears constantly, and using bluetooth or something like that, they are wirelessly connected through voice recognition dialing.

I want to do a survey:

What in the heck are you talking about and to whom?

Yes, I have a CP, but I DON'T talk on my bicycle or while driving in the car!

Maybe they are bragging to someone about the scenery :>)
I am in total agreement with you on cycling to "get away from it all" and especially phone calls. I have a cell phone but to not take it while riding......spare tube, patch kit, tools, and large portion of enthusiasm instead.
The Bay Area scenery is breathtaking and awe inspiring!

I carry a cell phone while cycling, but have never turned it on. I only carry it for a possible emergency, like if a cougar starts eating my leg, or something...

I carry a cell phone while cycling, but have never turned it on. I only carry it for a possible emergency, like if a cougar starts eating my leg, or something...

+1

Well, I'll admit that I could have been seen today riding and talking on my cell phone but I had a good excuse!! We had a rider in our group "get lost" and I was circling back trying to find him. I was using the cell phone to try and contact this person and to get status reports from the staring point to see if he had showed up.

The folks on the other end hard a hard time hearing as the 20+ mph breeze blowing across the microphone on the phone though!!

Otherwise I'd agree it certainly takes away from the experience!! It's also not the best thing to do while riding in a group......

Has anyone ever wanted to butt in or offer advice when business or other seemingly private conversations are conducted loudly in your ear while in a restaurant, grocery store or whatever?

I wish I could think of a snappy phrase to say loudly next to someone while they are on the phone - I.e.,

"Hey, the DOW just dropped 500 points."

or

"Is that your SUV they are towing away?"

Cycling to get away from it all. What a radical, un-American concept. I like it. No, I really like it.

I remember a few months ago, on a relatively busy windy road, approaching a lady on a hybrid bike. First thing I thought "no helmet, ah well, her choice" and could hear her talking and thought at first she was singing.

Then as I was about to pass her (had to wait a while because of the taffic), I realized she was talking in her cell phone that I could not see behind her long hair.

I could not believe it, then I thought that instead of yelling "on your left!", it would have been more appropriate to shout "hang-up and ride!", .. but I am too polite for that :o . I guess it's her life after all..

Hmmm, I can't recall ever seeing anyone talking on a cell phone while riding on a mountain bike trail. Maybe the trees get in the way of the 'reception'.

Restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters, while cycling, walking the dog, etc. I think it's ridiculous. If you need to call home to check on the brand of cereal, fine. But to walk through the market yakking all the while is just plain tacky.

What happened to the good old days when people smiled and greeted one another and maybe even had a little conversation?

I hate cell phones. I have one, for emergencies, but I have the cheapest plan and even then don't use all my minutes.

I travel a fair amount, and I am so sick and tired of being on a plane getting ready to take off, or just landing, or in the shuttle, and hearing three or four conversations going on cell phones around me. I hate having to listen to people repeat everything; I hate having to hear, "Yeah, we just landed," or, "Yeah, I'm about to get on a plane," or whatever.

I see four teen age girls at a restuarant having lunch. They're all on their phones talking to someone else.

I've been almost hit by cars while cycling and you guessed it -- most were on their damn phone.

WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE TALKING TO? How did we manage before cell phones? And why do they have to have ridiculous rings to them, like songs, and what not?

I hate cell phones.

Has anyone ever wanted to butt in or offer advice when business or other seemingly private conversations are conducted loudly in your ear while in a restaurant, grocery store or whatever?

I wish I could think of a snappy phrase to say loudly next to someone while they are on the phone - I.e.,

"Hey, the DOW just dropped 500 points."

or

"Is that your SUV they are towing away?"


"Officer, I SWEAR she said she was 18".


I see from the description that this is the Alameda Creek Trail. I wouldn't be chatting away on a cell phone while doing those underpasses on a narrow trail.

I hate cell phones. I have one, for emergencies, but I have the cheapest plan and even then don't use all my minutes.


I hate cell phones.

The ones I hate are the ones that have a remote earpiece. They always seem to be near me and talking very loud and I just wish I could hear the other end of the Conversation. I have a cell phone but we have pay as you go in the UK. You pay for phone calls before you use them, and 5 years ago I was handed down my wifes old phone. I bought £20 of calls in advance and I still have £18.64 credit on the phone- and that was probably the call I made last year when the Tandem needed recovering.

One of my group is occasionally on call at weekends and he has received calls on the ride. As he says- Its Sunday- no one available to call to sort the problem, plus I am 10 miles from nowhere, so call me at the office tomorrow. Plenty pointless taking one out with him.

Next: solar powered cell phone implants

I carry a cell phone on rides with me in case of an emergency. I keep it turned off. I actually had to use it last summer when I came upon a small group of riders at a very sharp corner coming directly after passing under a dark overhead railway bridge. One of the riders hit the gravel patch, went down, and in addition to lots of road rash, it looked like she broke her collar bone. I stopped, and called for the EMTs. Was really glad I had the phone with me then.

On one hand I can appreciate the distaste for public cell phone use, although I also dislike having a group of other riders pass me while talking about some topic I find offensive... especially if I'm almost out of breath trying to keep an 18 - 20 mph pace and they fly by me while talking!!! In any event, I try to be tolerant and let others live their lives that best way they can. Besides if I get too worked up over other people, I don't enjoy my ride.

I carry a cell phone while cycling, but have never turned it on. I only carry it for a possible emergency, like if a cougar starts eating my leg, or something...

I don't need a cell phone because I can carry on an entirely satisfying conversation just with the voices that live inside of my head.

This invitation to rant is going quite well. bk

No offence to anyone out there, but good golly we all talk too much.
I'm also tempted to add that we all type too much, but then I would really be pushing my luck. Har. Har.

Cell phones! Today it is breast implants, liposuction, and facelifts (even for guys) and with the rate of useage of cell phones and the size reduction I am expecting an announcement of the 1st successful implant of a cell phone any day now.
When I used to watch a homeless individual chatting with themselves I would take pity but, today I just pass it off as someone with one of those tiny ear fitted cell phones. I take a cell phone for emergencies...and leave it off.

No offence to anyone out there, but good golly we all talk too much.
I'm also tempted to add that we all type too much, but then I would really be pushing my luck. Har. Har.
Well, it is better than Miss Mavis isn't it...?

I don't need a cell phone because I can carry on an entirely satisfying conversation just with the voices that live inside of my head.
Just don't take the conversation out loud or we might begin to worry.

I have one and I carry it everywhere and it is turned on. But I don't use it unless there is a real need and I don't walk around jabbering on it all the time. I use it for communication and work and safety. Not for recreation. Even then, I hate that I feel safer with it, but I do.

I could swear I heard a news byte that they were working on a cell phone implant!

I find it difficult and hard on my back to hold the phone in one hand and the other hand on the bar. Therfore, I ride no hands so I can sit up straight, be comfortable, and use my cell phone effectively and safely.

Like many of you folks, I tote mine and only turn it on at my discretion. Having lived the “on-call” life for many years, it’s my turn to govern the metrics of my accessibility. It’s come in handy “out there” betimes. I’ve reported accidents and once called in whitetail deer poachers in a national park in real-time. [Mind, I have no great love for those damned four-legged-Lyme-infested locusts, but the idea of idiots popping .45-70 rounds past my head really burns me, especially in a place where I’m supposed to be free of such concerns.]

Ever get a load of the “content” of most folks’ cell conversations? My favorite is getting off the plane on arrival. “We’ve landed”. “I’m standing in line waiting to get off the plane.” “They haven’t lowered the gate yet.” “I’m in the terminal.” “I’m headed to the parking lot”.

Here’s the thing, I rarely see any expression of joy in the faces of folks on cells. They remind me of devices on IT networks where a huge amount of traffic is merely acknowledgement, “I’m here. . .you there? I’m here. . .you there?” Another case of the medium being the message.

=
Here’s the thing, I rarely see any expression of joy in the faces of folks on cells. They remind me of devices on IT networks where a huge amount of traffic is merely acknowledgement, “I’m here. . .you there? I’m here. . .you there?” Another case of the medium being the message.


Kind of like posting on fourms?

I could swear I heard a news byte that they were working on a cell phone implant!

A few years ago while experimenting early webcams and mikes for video-conferencing, one of my workmates joked: "look at all this parapharnelia on our desks, I can't wait for the day all this will be imbedded in my eyelashes" :) . I guess she was a visionary ;)

Wouldn’t it just be a much nicer world if you could just force people to conform to your way?

Wouldn’t it just be a much nicer world if you could just force people to conform to your way?

Indeed! Why didn't I think of that? :p

I carry a cell phone in my seat pack, just for emergencies or if I know I am taking a long ride, I will stop and call my wife at the halfway point and let her know that all is safe. I can't say that I have ever seen anyone riding and speaking on the cell.
As for the comments about being on a plane and overhearing calls upon landing, I must admit I am guilty of this. The reason is simple, usually I have people meeting me in their cars. In todays airports with distant parking and drive up security etc. It is difficult for dirvers to hang around waiting on flights. So upon arrival I call the person I am meeting and let them know I have landed so figure 10 - 15 minutes until I am out in front on the roadway. They are ususally in a distant lot either a restuarant or hotel lot and can plan the time needed to reach the arrivals pick up spot just when I will be coming out.
Yes, there are alot of rude people on cell phones, I also hate being next to someone on the plane getting in his or her last words before the door closes especially as they all seem to have loud voices.
The cell phone is like any tool it can be used wisely or not, it all depends upon the user!

Mine is almost always turned off. I got one about two years ago, after I realized that almost all of the pay phones I used to see on my regular riding routes have been removed. (side note: A verizon tech told me that the company is eventually going to remove all of them, except for the pay phones that are inside airports, movie theaters, and the like. Reason: They are simply too expensive to maintain, and keeping up with vandalism is damn near impossible. )

I keep wondering just what it is these people are talking about, what is it that is just so damned important. Better yet, how did some of these people ever survive twenty five years ago? (if they were around then)

I've seen the gizmos you wear in your ear. All I can think of is Lt. Uhura on Star trek.

What are some snippets of conversation you all have heard? My favorite is this one, heard in a grocery store: "I'm in the stewed tomatoes now. What? the sixteen ounce can? is that what we buy? The italian? No,, The sixteen ounce can?

I could almost feel that guy's I.Q. decreasing.

I went for a nice ride yesterday and was to meet my wife for lunch in the middle of my ride.

My wife was coming from a MD's appt of unknown length, and our cell phones helped greatly in coordinating our meeting together at approximately the same time.

My wife and I use the CP quite a bit in meeting and coordinating times, and my son also has my number. I cherish the times I get to talk to him on the CP when he tells us exciting (and sometimes breaking) news about some aspect of his law practice and his more interesting cases.

During my heart stuff last year it was very handy to be able to talk with the MD's directly when they called, rather than having to play phone tag with the MD's.

So, I carry one and it is turned on. Very few folks have my number, and when it rings it is always someone I want to talk with. If I am bicycling, I pull over and answer it. If I am driving, I generally also pull over as soon as I can for always a BRIEF (30 seconds or less) conversation.

I also take a lot of pictures with it and share with you folks! ANd, if I want, I can email a picture to my son and daughter-in-law right from the phone - nice when you want to show them a picture of scenery on a trip, etc. I can (and do) also check my email when I want to.

I think they are very useful if not abused.

I agree with you, Denver, but here's what frosts my hide...

Standing in the aisle on the plane, having some idiot standing DIRECTLY behind me, yacking away into MY ear because he's on HIS cell phone. And yes, he's saying, "We've landed."

Standing in line at Starbucks (or wherever) and waiting to pay for something, and having the line held up because the current customer is on her cell phone AND being attended to by the cashier, who is waiting for her to tell her what she wants.

Trying to enjoy my lunch in a restaurant somewhere, only to have three workers from a construction company with their walkie talkie cell phone blasting away two tables away. If you say anything, they think YOU are being rude.

Being behind someone's car who won't enter the intersection, or make a turn, or whatever, because the driver is on the cell phone and doesn't realize it's time to go.

Cell phones are just tools, and used responsibly I think they're wonderful. But increasingly common courtesy is simply a matter for nostalgic people, because it isn't common practice. I would think everyone would be courteous enough to turn their damn phones off in theatres, or in confined areas, or anywhere that other people might find them offensive, but no. WAY too many people just aren't like that, and their attitude towards people like me is: "Get with the program, this is the 21st century."

So now, along with our loss of privacy and civility and everything else, we have to adjust to the loss of manners.

Frosts my hide.

:::::Rant out::::::

Cell phones are just tools, and used responsibly I think they're wonderful. But increasingly common courtesy is simply a matter for nostalgic people, because it isn't common practice. I would think everyone would be courteous enough to turn their damn phones off in theatres, or in confined areas, or anywhere that other people might find them offensive, but no. WAY too many people just aren't like that, and their attitude towards people like me is: "Get with the program, this is the 21st century."

So now, along with our loss of privacy and civility and everything else, we have to adjust to the loss of manners.

Frosts my hide.

And you know what?

There is not a darn thing you(we) can do about it!

I read an article in the paper about text messaging in high school (during classes), and how one girl's parents only allowed her 1,500 text messages a month! Sad story. :D

And you know what?

There is not a darn thing you(we) can do about it!

I read an article in the paper about text messaging in high school (during classes), and how one girl's parents only allowed her 1,500 text messages a month! Sad story. :D

Oh, there are lots of things to do about it but the FCC and Miss Manners would not approve. I have never seen anyone in any bike club I have ridden with use a cell phone. Once I saw a person in another club use a CP to call 911 when a granny left-hooked her car thru their group seriously injuring a rider. Just keep telling people that it is not cool. If someone in a restruant is celling and the manager stops them when you request it, tip the staff generously. Any other sugestions?

I take my cellphone on every ride, and use it when I need to. Once I took a work call to make it seem like I was still at work. Mostly I talk to people about meeting up along the trail to ride together. A couple times I had to call the SAG wagon (wife) because a bike part fell off and I couldn't find the part, etc. I have the holder attached to the handlebars with speakerphone on, the wife can call and check on the boys, ask what we want for dinner.

Mostly cellphones are useful for people who have someone they need to talk to. ;)

it seems these days; concentrating on one thing at a time is a lost art, everyone wants to multitask. being alone with ones own thoughts, is passe; we have to bounce our thoughts off someone else, for validation. nature abhors a vacuum so along comes the perfect device for this age, the cell phone.

Cell phone's a g*****n curse--I wish the things had never been invented. I have one (my daughter gave it to me when I refused by get one on my own), but it's rarely turned on and I don't think I've ever taken it on a bike ride. One of the reasons I ride, especially my mountain bike, is to get way from distractions and annoyances.
A couple of years ago I hiked from Yosemite Valley up to the top of Yosemite Falls, and all along the way we heard people trying to find cell service (there was none in the valley at that time, though I think there is now). You'd take a few steps, stop to look at the view and some moron would come up next to you shouting, "Hey, I've got service! No, I lost it. Do YOU have service?" Gaah.