Tandem Cycling - Review - BlueAnt Interphone & other bicycle intercoms

For any who are interested, I've just finished writing my review of the available intercom systems on the market including the BlueAnt InterPhone. It's fairly long, as it also includes a pictoral "how-to" on making your own neckband for the InterPhone, since it was originally designed for motorcycles. It's located on our personal tandem blog:

http://billnmaggi.tandemrides.com

Oh, and I suppose I should say that I am not employed by, paid by, nor have any interest whatsoever in this company. Just think they have a good product. :)

Thanks for doing this. I have some ideas about a helmet attachment (instead of the neck strap). Did you pursue this at all?

Thanks for doing this. I have some ideas about a helmet attachment (instead of the neck strap). Did you pursue this at all?

Only mentally! Universality and simplicity of manufacture were the goals. I and a couple others I talked with on the project had envisioned a "flip up" mount of sorts. However, since bicycle helmets are so varied, the problem was figuring out how to make an attachment that would be universal. I didn't think you could do a flip-up with just a velcro or an adhesive attachment, and couldn't come up with any other method that didn't include the phrase, "Simply screw this into the side of your $160 helmet"! So I kept coming back to a neckband.

Which doesn't mean it can't be done! Just that I ran out of patience and ideas! :D If you make one and it works, please let us know!

So for now, the neckband hits the universal target, but I missed my mark on number 2 when I had to resort to a Dremel tool. Wanted to use nothing but common household tools. Oh well.

Bill (or Maggi)-
I bought and combined the devices you describe here, and they worked superbly.
I got the neckbands from Radio Shack, and they only had on of the model you used, so I got a Radio Shack version for the other, and it actually was easier to work on.
The speaker well is deeper than on the Sony, so I filled the well with caulking (I was out of pourable epoxy or I would have used that), and smoothed it out. After mostly drying, I sunk the velcro backing into the caulk and assembled the two devices. I didn't need to grind out the well contents as with the other one.

I agree that an included neckband blank made to fit would be the best option, and I sent Peter the recommended email.

Thanks again for taking the time to write this up. I have looked for something like this for years.
-Mike

Thanks again for taking the time to write this up. I have looked for something like this for years.
-Mike

My pleasure. Countless others have freely given their knowledge to me over these 35+ years of cycling, so I was just trying to pay some back.

Disclaimer: I have no interest in this company, nor any firsthand experience with the product. I just happened across it on my travels down the superhighway, and thought it might be of interest.

Does anyone have any experience / information / thoughts on the Callpod Dragon (http://callpod.com/products/dragon)? It's claimed to be a noise-cancelling Bluetooth earphone / headset intended for use with cell phones, computers, etc. But it has the additional feature that two of them will 'pair' to one another, allowing them to work in walkie-talkie / intercom mode, without the use of a phone or other device.

Reviews on the electronic sites seem to swing between 'terrific' and 'lousy,' which is always interesting to try to figure out. If they managed wind noise, it might be something. That you could also use them with phones, etc when not on the bike would be an added plus.

They seem to be $60-80 ish per, which doesn't seem out of line (if they worked.)

That said, I've not yet found need on the tandem for an intercom. Could be useful on the singles, though.

I saw this a couple of months ago and I contacted the company. The response was:

I'm sure that's a possible use for the Phoenix multi- conferencing device.

For frequently asked questions and specs please visit www.callpod.com/products/phoenix for further details.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions.

I wasn't convinced, and I never pursued it.

Does anyone have any experience / information / thoughts on the Callpod Dragon (http://callpod.com/products/dragon)?

Ain't it always the way? Lots of neat features and accessories, (like the Callpod Phoenix that's battery powered, small enough to carry along, and will connect 5 Dragons together!), but unfortunately, it doesn't work for cyclists!

The consensus is that ANY of these bluetooth devices that are originally designed to be just "hands-free" cell phone accessories won't work in a motion sports environment because of:

A. Moisture, (both sweat and getting caught in the occasional shower), and
B. Noise cancellation. They all have it, but at the level of a light breeze while you're walking around chatting on your cell outside Starbucks. The units that have been successful at 12 to 15 mph+ all have directional boom mikes.

That having been said, if you rarely ride above a jogging pace they may work for you anyway. Let us know.

Personally, I'm not getting off my BluAnt setup until someone shows up with a throat-mike setup off an F-22 Raptor that's waterproof and bluetooth capable!

How about it TG? Can you tighten me up there? :D

We bought a pair of the Dragon headsets at Fry's, paired them up, and they are great under 10mph or so. They just don't have the volume. Returned them and got the Tandem.com, which is great if you like messing with wires. Still much better than the yelling/less safety. Having good communication is much safer for us. I would like to try the BlueAnt as long as they have the volume at +20mph.
I used to talk to myself, but I cannot do that anymore...

I would like to try the BlueAnt as long as they have the volume at +20mph.

They do. With the Blueant's you don't even start to hear any significant wind noise until about 25-30mph. Keep in mind they were designed for motorcycles, and *claim* to be good up to 80mph. I doubt that, but I know we can still communicate in excess of 40mph.

We use the Interphone setup as described by Onegun. We notice a bit of wind noise from air moving around the earphone and helmet straps. It is not enough to be a problem. It is just something we can hear in our right ear that is not heard in the left ear. We have not had any issue with the microphone picking up and transmitting wind noise.