How I can safely use a phone while riding?

rodgers73
rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
edited July 2012 in Road general
As in, while having both hands on the bars? Can you buy throat mics for Nokias? Would a bluetooth work or would wind noise be too much of a problem?

I'm planning a 24hr ride and reckon being able to talk while riding would help keep me awake at some stages

Comments

  • TheEnglishman
    TheEnglishman Posts: 587
    Use a bluetooth headset. Cycling at 15mph isn't going to cause wind noise issues.

    Battery life is your problem - how much talking are you planning on doing?
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  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    Cycling 240ish miles (Doncaster to South West Wales). Talking - not sure, probably till battery runs out or the other person gets bored!
  • edenchristopher
    edenchristopher Posts: 58
    You can't.
  • Secteur
    Secteur Posts: 1,971
    edenchristopher wrote:
    You can't.

    +1
  • Defyand
    Defyand Posts: 49
    You can't.


    +2
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    Damn. Does the bluetooth thing not work at all? Would a clingfilm covering keep some of the wind noise down but still allow sound to be picked up?
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    Bluetooth will work - but you can not use a phone while riding and be safe is what people are saying to you.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • bottom_bracket
    bottom_bracket Posts: 76
    agree with the others on safety but if you need your phone to be available for the whole time and are worried about a flat battery I got one of these for a very long walk and can recommend:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005 ... 04_s00_i00

    It means you can GPS track your whole ride...
  • TheEnglishman
    TheEnglishman Posts: 587
    rodgers73 wrote:
    Damn. Does the bluetooth thing not work at all? Would a clingfilm covering keep some of the wind noise down but still allow sound to be picked up?


    Can someone quote me - I think I'm on ignore.
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  • bottom_bracket
    bottom_bracket Posts: 76
    TheEnglishman wrote:
    Use a bluetooth headset. Cycling at 15mph isn't going to cause wind noise issues.

    Battery life is your problem - how much talking are you planning on doing?

    This man knows what he is talking about. 15mph wind will not affect your bluetooth performance much. (Unless you're riding into a 30mph head wind)
  • Secteur
    Secteur Posts: 1,971
    did someone say something?

    thought not...


    ;-)
  • TheEnglishman
    TheEnglishman Posts: 587
    Secteur wrote:
    did someone say something?

    thought not...


    ;-)


    :P
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  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    So, when you're tired and need to concentrate the most, you want to use the phone which will distract you from the road.
    Not a good idea if you ask me.
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    TheEnglishman wrote:
    Use a bluetooth headset. Cycling at 15mph isn't going to cause wind noise issues.

    Battery life is your problem - how much talking are you planning on doing?


    I heard you ok :wink:

    But 2 other people after you said the opposite - hence my reply

    If I'm cycling for 24hrs+, which is the plan, I need to stay awake. If I were riding next to someone I'd be talking to them for the same reason. Not sure why a voice in my ear from an electronic device would be any more hazardous.
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    Hmm, in general it's obviously not a good idea, but to be honest I can't see how it's any worse than trying to unwrap an energy bar, and if you had asked if it was OK to eat when riding I'm sure most people would say that it was fine and just a skill you have to learn..
  • TheEnglishman
    TheEnglishman Posts: 587
    rodgers73 wrote:
    If I'm cycling for 24hrs+, which is the plan, I need to stay awake. If I were riding next to someone I'd be talking to them for the same reason. Not sure why a voice in my ear from an electronic device would be any more hazardous.

    Many many many many studies have shown this not to be the case. Talking on the phone is significantly more distracting than listening to the radio or chatting to another passenger. Which is why it's illegal and listening to the radio isn't.

    But anyway, back to the battery issue.

    If you want a phone to last you'll either have to buy a fairly chunky additional battery pack or use a dynamo. Personally I'd get an old mobile phone that has really good battery life and uses changeable batteries and get a few. I think the Nokia 6210 lasted all week when I had one. And hard wire an earpiece/microphone that comes with them - talking loudly in the middle of nowhere isn't going to be a problem.

    And the other people were talking about safety, not phone functionality :wink:
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  • Dan_Giant
    Dan_Giant Posts: 72
    Its illegal in a car to hold the phone. Not use one. Plus that has no relevance here as he is on a bike and afaik that's not illegal yet.

    I don't see how it's any more distracting on a bike than talking to someone riding with you. He will still hear traffic and be aware of his surroundings.

    A decent Bluetooth headset should have good noise cancelling properties though. You will probably struggle with battery life of your phone and the headset though if turned on for 24 hours.
  • Tom Dean
    Tom Dean Posts: 1,723
    What is your goal here? to ride for 24 hours or 240 miles?

    I don't think using a headset is dangerous per se. Continuing to ride while you're struggling to stay awake however...
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    I wouldnt rely on the phone to stave off sleep when tired. It would be more of an aid earlier in the trip. As much about morale as about staying conscious.

    The goal is to ride the distance non-stop
  • Tom Dean
    Tom Dean Posts: 1,723
    It depends what you class as a stop I suppose, but you will need to stop at some point.
  • hotdiggitty
    hotdiggitty Posts: 28
    these could be pretty good

    Don't know if you've heard of them but they're designed to conduct sound through your cheekbones, thus leaving you free to hear ambient sound (traffic, companions etc).
    This particular version has an in-line mic (in the style of iPhone headphones) so will certainly be better battery-wise than a Bluetooth headset ...but I'm not commenting on wind-reduction!
    Bonus is you can also listen to music through these as well

    http://www.aftershokz.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=AS301
    Roadie: Cannondale CAAD10
    Commuter/everything else: Custom build Genesis Croix de Fer
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    Looks an ingenious solution!

    Maybe a bit steep at £60 though
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    Tom Dean wrote:
    It depends what you class as a stop I suppose, but you will need to stop at some point.

    Yes, meal breaks, power naps etc planned but no overnight sleeping type stops involved
  • ubiquitous
    ubiquitous Posts: 60
    I use http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-MX-680i-High-Performance-Integrated/dp/B003VJ1O34/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

    They are not "in ear" as much as the ear canal ones, the remote function works well with the iPhone and the mic picks up speech through the fabric of my jersey. It also means you can listen to music without drowning out the traffic around you. I only have one earpiece in at a time though - not too dissimilar to pro cyclists and their team radio

    I tend to use it when on rural rides or to tell my folks to put the kettle on when I cycle down to see them.

    Before anyone flames me for the above, it's something I've done for 20+ years (music wise) and as long as it's done with common sense then there are no issues - the music is background, traffic is foreground, just avoid any songs with car sound effect in them!!
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Well the 24hr TTers seem to manage with no power naps and no phone use allowed ?

    240 miles shouldnt take anywhere near 24 hours I reckon. Just hope your position is comfy on the bike !

    Good luck

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