Terry PL

Hi Everybody!

I haven't seen this discussed in recent threads so I though I would bring this up.

My wife and I have been tandeming for about 6 months and we absolutely love it! It's has really enabled us to spend quality time together (without the kids) doing something we both love (biking) but accomodates our unequal abilities.

Anyway, on the advice of another couple who tandem a lot, we got our hands on an intercom device made especially for tandem riders and we used it for the first time this weekend. At first, my wife was skeptical--"I don't like being plugged in to that thing" but after the first 15 minutes we both agreed that it really enahnced the experience. First, we didn't have to shout over wind noise, traffic, etc--so we could communicate important signals clearly and unambiguously. It also made it possible to have a constant dialog about traffic, road conditions, etc which made the ride much more safe. The best part was that we could talk about all sorts of other things that we often don't have time to talk about.

It kind of made the whole experience more intimate. We highly recommend it as a necessary part of a tandem team's equipment.

The device we used is called Tandem Talk, made by a little compnay in Ohio. There may be other similar products, but this was the first I came upon that was clearly made just for tandem riders.

I hope this is useful information for any other teams that want to better communicate on the bike.

Happy tandeming!

Terry Peet-Lukes

TandemGeek

More Info: https://www.tandem-talk.com/Tandem-Talk/index1.html

UncaStuart

My wife and I have been using a Tandem Talk for the last couple of years and have gotten really used to the ease of communication. I do have to carry an extra 9-volt battery in the saddlebag just in case the old one poops out. Unfortunately, this was the one thing I neglected to check before going out on the Davis Double Century this year, and when the old battery died at 5:30am in the dark, an hour after we had left the start, I had the chilling prospect of the next fourteen hours being one of strained conversation (if not icy silences) when I discovered no replacement packed away. Happily, about an hour later we went through a one-horse town with a single convenience store that was open and had a dusty 9-volt hanging on the wall. Whew!

RdRunner

Sounds like something we will be interested in. On our first ride, she mentioned that we needed a way to talk to each other because it was hard to hear. We checked out the link Mark posted and it looks promising to us.

Watson and Vicki
South Alabama

trevordog

This is great - now I know what we will need to put on our Christmas list! We have talked about something similar but couldn't find anything that would also be safe - to hear traffic etc.

Steve Katzman

We have now used our Tandem Talk on three rides and we love it. The only problem is getting the headset to hang firmly onto your ear. I would suggest adjusting it at home with a mirror before you take it for your first ride. It's not easy to get it right on a ride.

We talk about lots more stuff than when we had to shout to make ourselves heard over the noise of the wind. Good communication is important on a tandem. I can even hear my stoker breathing heavily on the hills, so I know when she's working hard.

Highly recommended!

disclaimer - Neither my wife nor I profit from TT sales.

PS: I posted a similar note on this thread last Thursday but it has been removed. Hacked? :confused:

UncaStuart

Nope, 50 hours of data lost while prepping for server change.

TandemGeek

Here are a few user-suggestions for either modifiying or finding replacement headsets:

Mark Russell (AZ) is a Quad captain (wife + 2 sons) and these are his mods:
https://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.as...10110.0331.eml

Shiela Hoffman (WA) stokes for hubby Spencer & they have gone to Radioshack:
https://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.as...10211.0249.eml

Piaw Na's comments regarding RadioShack & Jabra headset alternatives:
https://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.as...10303.0423.eml

Here is a link to the Jabra models that are designed for the 2.5mm plugs and other portable communications systems:

https://www.mobileplanet.com/private/...%5Fid=MP800956

https://www.mobileplanet.com/private/...%5Fid=MP800945

RadioShack's offerings:
https://www.radioshack.com/category.a...8%5F007&Page=1

Not a user, but once the hearing starts to go....