jrisles

Hi Guys

Just wanted to know what experience people have had with certain communication devices for communication between captain and stoker??

There are a couple of devices i have found just by doing a little hunting around on the internet.

Here is what i have been able to find;

1. Eartec Wireless TD 900

2. Tandem-Com Wireless
I think this is actually the same as number 1 but rebadged??

3. Oakley/Motorola Glasses Utilising Bluetooth Technology?
Now this is a good idea. Incorporating both Blue Tooth technology and glasses. Using Bluetooth not only would it be possible to use this technology as a 2 way radio you & your stoker can also still be plugged into your mobile phone and take calls independantly if need be. And with the same phone you can also play back you mp3's whilst riding out in the country air.

4. Motorola HS830
More bluetooth technology

Does anyone know of any other devices?? I would prefer to be able to get a mouthpiece that is a bit more discrete. Like those very small clear plastic tubes.

cheers
Jeff

Brian

We use a combination of bells and whistles. She rings the bell and I whistle at her. Ok, we both have bells which we use as a kind of warning to each other to listen up. Most of the talking is done when we stop for a cuppa. By the way, I just got some 2800mm gear wires in. Let me know if you need any spares.

zonatandem

We use actual voice communications.
Works fine for us: no wires, no batteries, no ear pieces and we can change the volume at will, if necessary.

Bruce Rosar

We like our Tandem Talk. I set the volume just high enough so that we each can be heard over the average ambient noise without the other person being aware that the voice is being amplified

The TANDEM-COM appears to be a similar, but more modern (fancier?), version of the Tandem Talk.

radiocycle

None of your links are any good any more....

Dean V

+1

WNY tandem

Thats because the posting was from 2005.

JanMM

Zombie Thread!
I like the bells and whistles post and also Zonatandem's post.

Ritterview

I think Zombie threads are cool, they add historical perspective.

We use the Cardo BK-1 DUO, seen in action here. It works pretty well. Its best for having the captain communicate with stoker, which is difficult unless the captain can swivel his head around 180 degrees like Linda Blair.

gracehowler

We use SENA, a bluetooth device, however, it does take some rigging to work on bicycle half helmets.
R&J

JanMM

Cardo states the range is 500 meters, which should be adequate for a tandem team. That would also make it pretty useful for two separate bikes riding more or less together.

ahultin

We also use the Cardo BK-1. Initially I bought it for the tandem where it works great but as JanMM mentioned it really accells in a small group setting. We now have four and use them on family rides. My son knows when he can no longer hear us he has gotten too far ahead plus I can give directions/call out traffic hazards/etc.

SlowJoeCrow

Interesting, I'm familiar with various radio setups on motorcycles where full face helmets and wind/road/engine noise make it hard to talk to each other but I've never run into this on a bicycle. I guess we are slow enough that we can just talk unaided and I've never seen another tandem crew with an intercom but I suppose it would be useful in situations with more wind noise, or for bike to bike comms.

Sprout97 

I think ours is Tandem-Talk. We picked ours up 5-6 years ago from Precision Tandem. The wireless has generally been trouble-free. Only issues has been picketing. When we used them on our half-bikes, they have a range of about .3 miles, line of sight. A number of manufacturers have come and gone over the past several years. The BK-1 is the latest & greatest. Alternative forms of communication: actually talking and beating on the captain's back & helmet.

StephenH

We don't use anything special, just talk.

I see two issues here. One, we're doing randonneuring rides, most of those are either out-and-back or a loop. So sometimes it can be hard to talk when we're riding into a headwind, but we normally don't have headwinds the whole way. So we get plenty of talking time in on a ride, even if it's not easy to talk the whole ride. If you were doing a tour or something, where you rode into headwinds all day somedays, that'd be different. Or if you were half again faster than us, it'd be different!

Second thing, we get on a few roads where we're riding on the shoulder of a busy road with fairly continuous traffic passing us. That makes it hard to talk, but our mileage in those situations is very limited, so it's not a problem in the big scheme of things. But, if you were riding half a day on a road like that, I can see doing something different.

And if either party were having hearing problems, I can see doing things differently.

tridpdeng

We use Cardo BK1 duo too. I noticed that the battery runs down pretty quickly.

Ritterview

It lasts long enough for us. If not, we'd just recharge using an accessory battery charger, thats de rigeur on bike now for keeping phones, Garmins, etc charged.