Then you should carry such a device, as it makes you “feel” safer.

I’m not crash-prone and neither am I like you when it comes to such devices. I have no desire to “perceive” myself safer merely by carrying such a device. In the remoteness of the mountains where I ride, reception is poor to non-existent as proven via my friend’s wireless device. So carrying such a device has proven itself rather pointless.

Question for you: What do you think solo bicyclists did before the days of no wireless communication devices?

Answer: They rode cautiously, they enjoyed themselves, and they were prepared to accept whatever consequences.

I’m of that same making, from the same generation of people that grew up without such devices and you know what; I liked those days much better than these current times of being hounded to death by cell phone calls, e-mails, texts, pager alerts, telemarketers, surveyors, etc… For me, silence is golden.

Besides, being that the majority of people carry a cell phone, someone would eventually call 911 if such was necessary, that is, if they could acquire reception in those virtual dead zones.

I don’t ride in fear of the unknown rather, I ride for the thrill of the unknown.

It would be lovely if the thread ended with your quote - priceless! However, I just extended it again! Here, let me put it on the bottom

THE END

I'm sure bicyclists got by without pneumatic tires and LED lighting systems too.

I see the cell phone as helping to eliminate one more reason why people might be reluctant to commute. Knowing that you can have a mechanical issue or a breakdown and that you can call for help is reassurance you can avail yourself of or not.

Modern technology has helped me eliminate phone calls from a surveyors or telemarketers. More likely than not, if it's a number I don't recognize or not in my contacts, it goes to voicemail.

Besides, the on-off switch is something that can help eliminate most of your complaints.

No reason to allow the cell phone to control you; just turn it off...

That sounds crazy to me. You are probably the only one and I'd keep quiet about it, if I were you.

you're right, there's no good reason.

Well, I don't own a cell phone so I certainly commute without one. But I'm actually thinking of getting one, not for commuting, but primarily to have on hand when I do long solo rides. I don't particularly want a smart phone, but being able to call for help or notify people that I'm going to be late in the advent of a flat is pretty appealing, particularly since pay phones are now rarer than hen's teeth.

winston63 - check into prepaid, the various MVNOs are perfect for what you're looking to do. I'm not closely familiar with the providers, but check in-store at places like Target or Walmart for the ones serving your area. Turn the phone off except when you need to make a call and you'll likely only need to charge it once every week or two (or as needed).

We actually ported our home phone landline to Walmart's Straight Talk Wireless Home Phone. Instead of $53/mo we now pay $16.01 including taxes & fees. $70 box (maybe $80?) paid for itself in under two months, plugs into the house phone wiring and also our cordless phone base is plugged into it. It's going over Verizon's cell network.

Thanks for the info! That's exactly the sort of thing I'm thinking of - something prepaid which I'll rarely use but have on hand for those times when it would be a Really Good Idea to let someone know where I am. My wife does have a prepaid phone that doesn't cost her much. I think I'll follow her lead here.

You sound like a bit of a Luddite, nttawwt, but I'm curious why you are using a computer to communicate on a public forum.

Just a hunch...but like people didn't drive 100 miles to work 40 years ago, I suspect most people didn't commute to work on their bikes by riding 50 miles a day back in the days before cell phones either.

Originally Posted by ItsJustMe ...I commute without a bag of pistachios...


You've got it backwards, it is something to boast about and post on BF!

Commuting without a bag of pistachios marks that person as one of those wild and crazy guys who impress everyone, especially the ladies at work.

Riding without a cellphone fine . . . been doing it for the past 40+ years . . .

Maybe that's what I've been doing wrong!

1) No one cares that you do 250mi mountain rides. Have fun with those.

2) Sucks for you when you need to call 911 on a ride (hope it never happens, mind you) and are without a useless ballast which could potentially save your life or another's. I've happened upon 3 nasty car wrecks for which I was the first responder, all of which I called 911 for while assessing the occupants of the wrecked vehicles. One of those accidents was an overturned SUV in the median of a 70mph highway with children in the back seats.

Oh, but since it's never happened to you, and since you're too good for a cell phone, then of course you have no reason to prepare for the worst.

You're criticizing the ability to potentially call for help? Dick move.

Pretty sure that's just you misinterpreting what von trail is saying. In no way did von trail even insinuate that a phone is a preventive measure, he explicitly outlines it's potential use in reacting to a hypothetical situation.

This is always such a stupid argument to make. So, since we did so well with x technology before, we should therefore go without it now. Well damn, we got along well enough without bikes, so why are you even using one? Do you own a car? Why not a horse-drawn cart? Why are you using the internet when we used to have carrier pigeons? Why use a toilet when you could just dig a hole a hole in **** there?

You're making two big assumptions here:

1) That those with a cell phone would make the call.

It's nice that you live in this happy little fantasy world where strangers around you care enough to stop and give you the benefit of their help. It doesn't always work that way, you may be the only stranger who cares enough to lend a hand. How do you not know this?

Stabbed hero dies as more than 20 people stroll past him | New York Post


2) That those with a cell phone would be around to witness whatever it is that requires a call.

As I mention in a previous post, I've happened upon 3 auto wrecks for which I've called 911 as the first responder. One of those was in the dead of night at an empty intersection and no one was around but me. During the time that I stuck around for EMS to arrive, still no one came by.

You are a tool. Because one carries a cell phone during a commute that makes him scared of the unknown? So, when I carried narcotics, a surg kit, and tourniquets as a medic in Iraq, that must have made me scared of the unknown? Because I use puncture resistant tires and thick tubes on my commuter, that makes me scared of the unknown? How about when I called 911 on my unresponsive grandmother? Was I scared of the unknown because I had my cell phone on me at the time?

Again, you are a tool.

You mean in the remote wilderness of Southeastern Pennsylvania?

I AGREE WITH YOU 100% IN ALL THAT YOU SAID!!! Screw what the others think about what you said which is so truthful they can't stand it so they have to rage against you.

What kind of cyclist goes "wilderness" riding with a friend, especially one who carries a wireless device? You wanna be remote and experience the "thrill of the unknown"? - Leave the friends at home!

I LOVE reading all the comments here. I asked if any of you are like me in the "no cell phone" regard. I didn't say there was anything wrong with carrying one.

Nonetheless, many of you have made assumptions about me and the intentions of my original post. Many of you expressed distaste for this thread and yet, you posted here anyhow, perpetuating the thread. Some of you attacked me, some mocked me, some of you gave me your personal opinion of my screen name.

I see no reason to defend myself. Still, the comments are interesting.

Back to stir the pot a little?

Your first two posts included these comments:If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

Too windy to start a fire with flint and steel to send smoke signals?

Phone is hardwired, so is this thing.

This thread is amusing to me, I'm a bit of a Luddite, I didn't have a computer or cell phone until 2004. I now have both and recognize they are useful tools that don't control me or need to be feared.

The cavemen may resume their chest thumping.

I stand by those comments. You're affirming what I said by quoting my own words.