Road Cycling - Cellphone hands-free while riding??

Hello,

I was thinking maybe I could buy a hands-free kit for my cellphone for when I'm riding.

I will put the phone in one of my jacket/jersey pocket, and a cord will run from there, over the back of the pocket, then up the inside of my jacket/jersey, with a little microphone bit on it as it passes my neck, then an ear-piece to go in my ear.

I would put the ear piece in my left ear, as we ride on the left over here, and I would here cars better on my right. I would still be able to hear most things through my left ear too though.

What's your thoughts?

The thing is...do you NEED it. Just like the cadence computer...and MP3 player...and the digital camera....

:D:D

Brendon

The thing is...do you NEED it?

My thoughts exactly.

Surely you can set some time aside to be on your bike without jumping when other people want you to.

I admit that I often have my phone on in my back pocket when I ride but after 4 rings it goes to voicemail. When it rings it simply lets me know that someone has called. When it's convenient I get back to them rather than have them interupt my ride.

If you absolutely have to stay in touch then a hands free will work just fine. I've seen other cyclists use them.

The problem with always being available on your mobile is that other people dictate what you do with your time. There isn't much that is so urgent that it can't wait an hour or two for you to finish your ride is there?

Just think;

Don't buy the handsfree kit.

Don't spend the money on calls while riding.

Ride more because you aren't interrupted.

You have more money while being a better rider with less stress in your life. You win on all counts.

There are times... calls may be improtant..

What cell phone do you use? Does it have blue tooth capability? If it does, you can get blue tooth capable headset from your cellphone dealer..

If not, you can get a hands free headset for $5 bucks..

I got my nokia headset for my 8250 for less than $10, and for $60, you can get a camera w/ it (N6610, N7210, N6100, etc.).

I've got my phone with me 24/7 as I'm in medical center tech support. So maybe Im having to "think" a little more during the calls I get, but I find that trying to do those two tasks at the same time yields neither being done well. Much like those in their cars talking on the phone..they drive like... :mad:

I say if you need the cell phone fine, but stop
riding when you get a call. Same as in a car,
hands free is one thing, paying full attention to
road is another. Hands Free just means you can pay
less attention while still holding the bars.

Marty

I've often thought about getting a cell phone because I ride fairly remote mountain roads much of the time. However, the time I might have really needed one, it would have done me no good. My seat post bolt snapped. A motorcyclist stopped to lend me his cell phone, but he could not get a signal up there. Since the number I was calling was already in his phone, he said that he would call my home when he got down to the flats. He did that and within an hour I was picked up. While I was waiting I asked another cyclist if she had a phone and she said that she was not able to get a signal for several miles.

Since I've never had a problem getting to a phone on the flats, the moral of the story is: it's probably better to borrow a cellphone in remote areas than have one yourself.

Rich

I carry a cell for emergencies bit I NEVER talk on it while riding. If I am not expecting a call I let it roll to voice mail if I am expecting I pull over and stop to answer. Like cars it is a distraction from what you are doing. Of course I am also old school I remember a time when the service was not available it does amaze me how quickly things change
BTW: If you are on call get a pager in conjunction with your cell that way you safely pull over and call

We have a physician who rides in our training ride every Sat morning. He is hooked up in that manner.
There are also a couple of other riders in our group as well.....but they only love to yap.....nothing important...

George

If you absolutely have to take a call, the setup could work ok. I'd be very wary of using it in traffic, though, for the same reason I dislike the concept of using any phone, handsfree or not, in any vehicle - it takes your mind off the task at hand. I feel that keeping all of your concentration on driving is incredibly important, as the consequences of a lapse can be disastrous!

I carry my phone in my jersey pocket, but have a special ring assigned to the only person I take calls from during my ride - my wife. She know's I'm out cycling, and so would only ever call me if it was an emergency. If it's anyone else, I let it go through to voicemail. If their call is an emergency, they'll call my wife and she can then call me.

Saturday I was shopping in Trader Joes...Some woman in one isle, I thought was talking to herself.No one else in that island.Ignored her. Next isle, still talking. Couple islands later, same.
I know a person should not listen in..In a public place a conversation IS public...At the meat counter I paralled her for quite some time.....She was talking to someone. Every item she picked up she discussed things like price, quality, do we want lamb, beef. Sounded like she was doing dinner planning. Not business, mentioned all her children would be there for dinner.
This had to have gone on for at least 20 minutes. I just think a little advance planning might make a person a little more self reliant... Are cell phone minutes given away so cheaply? ...And this is not just an ocassional occurrence. ....Thank goodness, None of my bike group at least talks while riding........And don't get me going on the times conversations have been started in dark movie theaters, with the movie rolling.! They can turn the ringers off and go outside..I do not want to hear so much as three consecutive rings or chords from Brahms. And certainly no hello, excuse me..........

the poster asked if his setup would work, but many of you guys are reciting social commentary on cell phones and society.

anyway, sure. that setup will work fine. there are obviously safety concerns, but the biggest problem might be wind blowing on the microphone. the few times i've talked on the phone while riding, the other party has had a tough time hearing me due to the way mics totally fuz over when wind hits them.

pull over if you have to chat.

<snip> ...the biggest problem might be wind blowing on the microphone...<snip>

Good point.

Maybe less of a problem if the mic was placed under the jersey or some other fabric/foam/protector? Should alleviate the wind problem without affecting the microphones pickup ability too much.

My two cents worth:

I always cary a cell phone with me when I ride because of the semi remote area I ride in and the early morning nature of my rides (5:15- 6:30 AM). I want to be able to call for help if something happens!!

I am a bit of a fanatic about this, but what the H! STOP, GET OFF THE BIKE AND GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE YOU USE THE CELL PHONE!!!

I agree with several of the people above. It is not safe for you or the other people on the road for you to be distracted by talking on a cell phone while riding!! The tasks of driving a car on riding a bike are far too complicated and take too much attention (even the leasurly spins down deserted country roads require all your attention).

The other issue for ME is that my riding time is MY time!!! I don't concern myself with work or other concerns. It is a time for mental recharging and enjoying the world around me. Talking on the phone would distract me from all of that!!

Bill

Riding is a celebration of freedom. I really feel sorry for you if you must be shackled to some one else’s beck and call all day. Lose the phone and live your life. IMHO

yea I don't take many calls, but I'm one of those people who just HAS to answer the phone, no matter when or who it is. I thought I would post my idea and see what everyone thought. I think I'll think about it some more.