FrenchFit 

I am not associated with Road ID.

I noticed a post on ******: Road ID's pre-Christmas sale is offering 25% off...next 16 hours. https://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx

ItsJustMe

Meh, unless you're using their medic alert online stuff, pet tags do the same thing and cost about $3 each.

howsteepisit

Hummmm, Road ID, Helmets, banning earpods as too dangerous, and going off to was. Maybe bicycling is so risky as to preclude my participation. Nahhh what a bunch of 'fraidy cats.

Note to the OP - I am not picking at you, just seems like there is this pervasive marketing based fear spreading over bicycling.

Edit - How many of you have suddenly dropped so disoriented they needed anything more than a normal ID while cycling? Bet the risk is less than 1 in 1,000,000 miles ( made up number no support available it my opinion).

CbadRider

I don't like to carry my driver's license every time I ride. The ID bracelet makes things easier in that it has a phone number listed for an emergency contact. My driver's license doesn't have that.

ItsJustMe

I don't carry normal ID when cycling; I'm not sure why I would need it. I have some pet tags, one in the laces of my shoes, one around my neck.

dougmc

Your drivers license would have that if you added it. Just put the phone number on a sticker, stick it to the back of your license.

Or you could include a card with your contact information next to your drivers license. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you're unconscious and they're looking at your drivers license -- they'll check the back, and other cards they find with it too.

If you like the bracelet, fine, but there are other ways to do it. Though if you do ride without your drivers license (and presumably no other cards), I'd suggest at least having your health insurance information with you. And some cash.

Just never look to see how much safety equipment, procedures and laws cars have -- if you do, you might have to swear of driving entirely!

RoadID is trying to carve out their own little niche -- and they seem to have succeeded, as their products are at least well known.

ItsJustMe

Why? You're going to get treated the same in the ER, and they'll get your info soon enough.

bbbean 

You know, I wear seat belts, have a fire extinguisher, take self defense precautions, keep extra food and cash in the pantry, etc. not because of the liklihood of trouble, but because of what the consequences of being unprepared for trouble would be.

I've never had to be identified by paramedics or cops while unconscious, but if it ever happens, I'd just as soon my family know about it pretty soon. So if a $20 bracelet makes me easier to identify, I'm in. One less thing for me to worry about while I'm riding. I did once get hauled out of the woods by a rescue squad while in shock. Had I not been with my climbing partners, I might have had a hard time coming up with phone numbers and names and medical history.

Of course, if you don't like the idea, you could just not wear one.

BB

dougmc

Yes, but if they know your insurance they may be able to put some effort into making sure your care is in-network. If it's a life threatening emergency, they won't put any thought into that, but once you are stabilized it might become important.

Also, having proof of insurance may lead to better care -- the ER may be legally required to stabilize you whether you can pay or not, but even so ... knowing that they won't be eating the cost could affect their decisions.

rydabent

Alway be prepared. BTW I get almost indestructable regular old military dog tags at local air shows.

genec

How many of you have been knocked clear of your bike and all your belongings and left your wallet behind in the panniers attached to the bike while you took a ride to the hospital?

Yeah, call it paranoid... until it happens.

I got my wallet and bike back from the police station a few days after I was out of the hospital. I was wearing one of my old USN dog tags at the time.

Chris516

Since the main subject of this thread, is about RoadID, and since you mentioned helmets, I will reply on both.

A cyclist can never have too much ID(for that matter, the same goes for a motorist).

When I hit a pothole on Wisc. Ave. in DC, in front of the Vice Presidential residence. The first-responders were not 911, but the U.S. Secret Service who's detail were the first-responders. They saw my RoadID bracelet. Along with looking at my state ID, and my Medic Alert necklace. If I didn't have any of the three that day, the U.S. Secret Service agents' would not have known who I was.

Now, In terms of helmets. I have been in a number of bike accidents over the years. But every time I have had a bike accident while I was wearing a bike helmet, I have fared far better, than if I hadn't. A couple months ago, I tripped in my yard, an hit my head into an old wood fence. I was not wearing a helmet at the time, and the affects of that fall, have been far worse, than any bike accident I have had, while wearing a bike helmet.

howsteepisit

Chris, why not just get tattooed with your ID information? In your world that would seem prudent. Saves wearing all the jewelry.

walrus1

OP thanks for posting this! I wear road ID when I run since I don't carry my wallet. I've been impressed with the quality of the bracelet.

bbbean 

It's worth noting that the Road ID folks also do a good job of supporting the sport, offering materials and sponsorships to races, charity rides, etc.

FrenchFit 

I sense you are not a runner. Frankly, I want someone to be able to contact my spouse immediately if I go down on the trail, that's the value of the bracket - I'm won't be carrying anything else. When I'm Tri cycling, I won't be carrying a wallet in a back pocket.

Chicago Al 

GP

What happens if you get a divorce? Do you artistically have the tattoo changed or just hope that your ex doesn't say "let the mother****er die" when the hospital calls?

goldfinch

I would have thought that they would recognize you, Mr. Biden.

catonec 

I carry my insurance card and license rubber banded to my phone in my jersey pocket when I ride. I also have a small piece of paper with my emergency contact info taped to the inside of my helmet. maybe someone would see it???

the fly

Actually, 2 weeks ago today, I came unclipped while I was trying to turn my rear light on, lost my balance, and fell. Don't remember falling, destroyed helmet, in pretty severe pain and would have gladly laid where I was, if it weren't for the guy I was with and a good samaritan telling me I needed to get out of the road. I couldn't get up, so I just rolled off to the side. If I had been by myself I would have been in deep you know what. I hate to think what would have happened to my head had I not been wearing a helmet. That's the second time this year I've hit the deck and made use of my helmet. As it was, all I had was a fractured tailbone, a painful back from a previous injury, and being somewhat dazed for a minute or two.

After this, I was really looking into the RoadID, I've known others that had them, but didn't really see a need. Now I see a need for either that, a pet tag, or something similar.

ModeratedUser150120149

What kind of ID seems to be a repetitive subject. Maybe the first things to think of is When and Where you would need ID?

First, would be if you were stopped for some reason by law enforcement and needed to prove who you are. Pretty unusual in this day and age for anyone to take your word for your identity. Depending on circumstances nothing short of government issued picture ID will work. If you live in a state that issues a State ID carryiing it with you solves the problem

Second, would be where you were injured and were unable to to respond to First Responders and/or Emergency Medial Care. There a simple dog tag with name, Social Security number and maybe a contact phone number is ideal. In that situation, from experience, notifying relatives is way down the priority list.

Where to carry? From long experience the military requires dog tags to be on the body. A chain around the neck is best. Putting ID Tag in a pocket, shoe, or any other place just does not do the job. Of course, if you are involved in a law enforcement stop you will be able to talk so putting your picure ID in a pocket is probably OK for most situatiions.

Road ID, as has been posted, has done a good marketing job. But, their products don't do either job very well and are expensive.

bbbean 

Are you familiar with Road ID? Ther primary model is a wrist band - worn in the same place medics look for med alert info. Their second most popular model is a dog tag.

I-Like-To-Bike

I don't ride with pedals that can foul up my balance, and stop my bike if I have to make adustments to the bike that aren't on the handlebars. I haven't ever fallen off my bike while riding and haven't suffered any injuries in a one bike accident. The fact that I don't wear a h****t doesn't mean a thing.

Anyhow, get well soon and the safety lesson to be learned isn't necessarily only about Road ID.

bbbean 

Well there you go! If only we were all such superior riders, we'd have complete control over the universe at all times and there would be no accidents or injuries. Thanks for your shining example.

BB