Bluetooth headsets for Cell while cycling?
 

Does anyone know of a bluetooth headset for cell phones that works at a decent speed? I have the Moto H500, and it doesn't work above 5 mph--wind noise cuts out the mic.

If your suggestion is something really clever like "Don't ride your bike while talking on your cell", then I thank you in advance for your sagacity. :p

...then let me be the first (of what is going to be many) to write:

Get back on your meds and don't ride your bike while talking on your cell.

Sure. Can I knock over all the cyclists I see talking with their buddies while riding, who don't even look where they are going?

If you've ever looked over your shoulder to chat while riding, or for that matter if you've EVER uttered a word on a moving bike, don't be throwing stones at the guy who rides with his eyes front while talking. Before we get into the whole "Cell phones are the Devil" kneejerk, think about what I am asking, and what the mechanics would entail. A hands-free headset is less distracting than holding a phone to your head, and certainly less dangerous than riding two abreast while chatting and not even looking where you are going.

I do thank you for your suggestions, though.

I just blast mine through my boombox speakers.

http://lga01.umicache.com/p/purevolu...ox_bicycle.jpg

Finally, a suggestion I can use! :p

You have my permission to knock them over. The chance of your knocking me over is low as virtually 100% of the time I spend on my bike I'm by myself going back and forth to work.

Not throwing stones and on the face of it, using bluetooth on a bicycle seems a lot safer on a bicycle than holding a phone to your head. However, there is recent research showing that, at least for motor vehicles, using handsfree technology did not reduce the increased risk of mobile phone calls while driving.

Be safe.

You too. That's actually what I do--commute solo, so my distractions are already minimal. Thanks for the link--interesting read. My goal isn't to have long philosophic discussions, but to know over the next couple months if my pregnant wife needs me home ASAP. Unfortunately, the ringers are never loud enough for me to hear while riding, so Bluetooth seems like a reasonable alternative to get the "Honey, it's time" call.

You need to be able to hear very subtle sounds... car wind noise, car engine revs (especially as they slow down, getting ready to right-hook you), car tires running off of the road onto a gravelly shoulder.

No earphones of any kind, please !!!

I'd be curious if there wasn't some sort of solution within the motorcycle community. For example, I see touring motorcyclists and also of course police on motorcycles with a headset chatting away.

Really, thanks--good points all. Any suggestion on which Bluetooth headset would work best while cycling?

Most motorcycle comm units I've seen are buillt into a full face helmet, but it is worth checking out. Thanks.

Look for the Jabra brand, then look for the model with a noise cancelling mike. Truck drivers use them. It is pretty noisey in their cabs. $$$$$$

When I have had to be out on a bike at the same time that I can't miss a call, which yeah does happen, I set my Razr to the 'vibrate like a biotch' mode, slip it in a little ziplock bag that my cycling computer can in, and slide it in under my bike shorts so that it sits wedged in place on the top of my thigh. Once my leg gets a little sweaty it might as well be glued into place. I can pull over take my call and then head back home to meet up the cable guy or to take over with the kids if the wife has been called in.

But for taking a call while in motion, pass. One thing that daily commuting has taught me time and again, whenever you tempt the cycling gods they are more than happy to oblige.

Do you get strange looks from passing cars as you have a conversation with your knee ?

From a purely technical side think of those big blobs of sponge foam on boom mikes at outdoor
TV shoots. Try sticking a bit of open-cell foam on the microphone to reduce wind noise.

Those sponge foam wind screens on microphones are only effective on the mildest of winds. Film and TV sound guys use much more advanced solutions for the 15-30mph wind you'd experience commuting. Their solutions might make talking on the phone get a little bit "hairy". ;)

http://www.mvsvideo.co.uk/rycotesoftie2.jpg

On a more practical solution, this headset touts its wind/noise cancellation and looks mighty small:

http://www.phonemag.com/index.php/we...700_bluetooth/

My hats off to you for being so good-natured towards those who ignored your attempt to forestall their safety concerns. Sorry I don't know the answer, but I'd like to! It would be nice to talk with distant friends and relatives while taking a leisure ride, and I think I can decide for myself which situations present an acceptable risk.

Its one ear, It'll be fine.
Now if you can find one that sounds awesome while playing a phones mp3's, then voice activates the phone when a call comes in, id be interested.

Talk about timing: (From Jabra)

"The BT620s is a hi-fi stereo headset that switches off to calls when to they come in. With 16 hours of talk time and 14 hours of music, it retails for $130."

Those are those behind the neck style earphones, very uncomfortable with a helmet.

Couple more years, its still early technology.
heck i still dont even own a cellphone...

I have to disagree. When I've tried to use my headset on my bike, I find that even at moderate speeds the wind noise completely drowns out the cell phone and I can't hear it at all. If I can't hear it, it's hard to believe it's impacting my hearing in a meaningful way.

Maybe it's just the shape of my ears.

False. I ride with one earpiece all the time. I have ACTUALLY TESTED and I can hear vehicles approaching as far back with the headphone as without. In both cases I can hear the car at least 20 seconds before it reaches me when at speed.

Have you actually tested, or are you just assuming?

Besides, a good mirror is way more useful than hearing anyway. As someone here recently said, a car getting ready to pass you sounds exactly like a car getting ready to hit you.

What do you use?

In case anybody happens upon this post and wants to discuss the original question and not argue the saftey. I think something like this might work if you were to solder on some new earbuds:
http://www.cardosystems.com/us/scala...scala-rider-fm
Thoughts?

I would just avoid it altogether.

IF I somehow get a call or need to make a call, I'll find a place to pull into and take care of it. I just look at is as one more distraction that you don't need...for the sake of safety. As far as music goes, I'll take my cell phone and start the music player before I begin my ride and zip it inside my jacket's chest pocket. It is audible enough for me to hear it yet not so loud that I can't hear the traffic.

Best noise cancelling headset on the market is the Aliph Jawbone.

http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CEEQ8wIwAg#

I have two that I use on my bike... A jabra bluetooth that hangs like a pendant and uses standard stereo headsets.... the mic is on the pendant. If I wear that part (Which has multimedia controls to control the media player on my phone) inside my coat or jersey the wind noise is low enough to carry on a conversation under most conditions... ... if you're listening to the media player, the music is automatically muted when the phone rings and throughout a call. I also have a Plantronics Voyager Pro... It has a windscreen, and it works under most conditions, but if the wind is coming from just the right directions it will go right through the windscreen.

this is the correct answer.