Mastodawn

Phil (ascentale)

@skyfaller asks:

Q3. What communications systems do people use for talking with other bicyclists while riding?

We used these Bluetooth helmet "radios" by Sena, and they were extremely helpful on long rides where we couldn't bike side by side, such as when we moved house by bike. But these were mediocre helmets, if either the Bluetooth or helmet dies you must replace both, and annoyingly you had to pair the helmets every time.

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter cc @bikenite

Phil (ascentale)11h ago

@skyfaller @bikenite A3. I'd been really curious about the bluetooth radio systems, but they seemed expensive, and the use case seemed sorta shaky at best, so I didn't go for it.

@Heyweldon might have a good answer for how Kidical Mass volunteers coordinate.

@ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite A3. Some larger group rides I've been on - especially Critical Mass rides that are on major streets - have used Walkie Talkies for the leader to communicate with the sweepers, and vice-versa.

Other than that, most of the time it's just "yell loud enough to be heard."

But if you've got good balance, you could have a one-way conversation with cyclists behind you using semaphore. Or ring your bell for Morse code...

Richard W. Woodley ELBOWS UP 🇨🇦🌹🚴‍♂️📷 🗺️11h ago

@yantor3d @ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite

Whistles can work for the sweep to get the riders up ahead to stop to regroup or to let them know there is a mechanical or worse an injury.

cognitively accessible math 8h ago

@yantor3d @ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite and the "RIDE YOUR BUTT OFF" to get to the front to tell the leader to slow down a little :P

@yantor3d @ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite you jest, but I have used a simple bell code with groups in busy places: one ring for yes / go, two for no / beware, continuous for a mechanical or inflation problem needing a stop.

Other than that, I talk fairly loud and it works fine. This seems to be more of a problem for people who ride wearing dodgy hats with straps in front of their ears that deafen them with extra wind noise.

Chu 朱 11h ago

@ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite

I live in the city and bike w my kids as our primary mode of transportation. It has never occured to me to do anything other than yell loudly at them.

Hmmmm 🤔

@ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite A3: I've tried these dirt-cheap Midland handheld FRS radios, and they had real value to it. They hardly cost anything, either - before tariffs, they were like $30 for three and still actually good. It's $45 last I checked, which is still $15 a radio.

With very slightly more, you could get ones that take headsets, and I think those would be just about perfect.

Ellie Kennard 11h ago

@ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite
A3.
We use the Sena Bikom20's and love them. They work well for quite a distance. Really good noise cancellation for the wind unless it's extremely strong.They're even pretty good going around corners and bends, but going around corners where there are buildings will, of course block the transmission. They were quite expensive, but when we had a few issues, tech support was extremely good and helpful in sorting out what might be the problem. We only bike the two of us, so I don't know how well they work with groups of people, but apparently they're supposed to do very well. They clip to the helmet strap, with the only issue we've encountered so far being that we've each lost one of the wind noise foams. Although they come with spares, I can see those won't be enough, and they're impossible to buy as replacements within Canada. When we called support in the USA, they actually sent us two replacements. I would have actually liked to have bought more. But that wasn't an option. Now that we're aware that this can happen, we take extra care.
They are really lightweight at 20 GM.
You can listen to music with them, but of course it's not great, as it's only one ear. That's fine for podcasts or audiobooks.
They charge quickly and last for up to 8 hours.
We'd but them again.
More info here:
https://www.sena.com/product/bikom-20/
I hope this helps.

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@elliek @ascentale @bikenite The Sena Bikom20's are what we were intending to try next, so it's good to hear you had a positive experience. Thank you for the details :-)

Ellie Kennard 9h ago

@skyfaller @ascentale @bikenite
Let us know if you want any more info. Also @StevenKennard will be happy to help.

Kevin B 11h ago

@ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite

I use Sena radios for motorcycling with friends and:
- you can move the radio to a new helmet, if you buy a moveable one, and
- you shouldn't have to pair each time. Just turn on and "connect".

If Sena is cheaping out on its bicycle radios, that's a bummer.

Bob Jonkman 11h ago

#BikeNite A3: Shouting.

I've been thinking how group ride leaders can stay in touch with the sweeps and corkers. Maybe a group call on cell phones? But not everyone has an unlimited cell phone plan.

Maybe whistles? The sweep can whistle twice to get the leader to slow down (spreading out too far is the most common problem I see on group rides), maybe three times for a full stop.

Are there standardized whistle codes for this kind of thing? ( #BikeNitePQ ?)

@ascentale
@skyfaller @bikenite

Weldon Bradstreet 11h ago

@ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite

A3. We use handheld FRS radios to communicate during #eastbaykidicalmass rides, and we use them just like another poster mentioned - comms between leader/sweepers/corkers/mechanics/medics. Basic, cheap, rechargeable radios that are easy to use.
#Bikenite #BikeTooter

@Heyweldon @ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite A3) In case it helps, UK equivalent might be PMR 446, Australia has UHF CB (set to low power). #BikeNite

Gemma ⭐️🔰🇺🇸 🇵🇭 🎐11h ago

@ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite #BikeNite A3. I wave at them, as we pass each other, if it's safe to do so, and smile.

AI6YR Ben 10h ago

@ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite

#BikeNite A3. So, I haven't done this, but several bicycling radio amateurs I know have adapted extremely effective amateur radios, attaching microphones and speakers to their helmets and connecting them to handheld radios mounted on their bicycles. The range is essentially line of sight (ie miles) between cyclists, if you wanted, or through local "repeaters" you could talk to people 50 miles away. It's strictly DIY, but it's very, very good. The one thing you have to do is really cover the microphone with wind protection (ie "cat fur" and foam) #hamradio

Solo la 🌍 salva a la 🌎10h ago

@ai6yr @ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite

Wait, serious question. How possibly have you not done this? It seems, like, the perfect intersection.

AI6YR Ben 10h ago

@jakebrake @ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite Well, MOSTLY, it's because I still bicycle at full attention to the traffic/terrain/etc. to avoid being run over!

@ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite yelling and hand waving but it's been more than a decade since i've had other people to ride with.

@ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite A3. Just my voice. Never been on a ride that was fast enough to need talking to others over a distance that wind noise blocked voices.

Ben Zanin 6h ago

@ascentale @skyfaller @bikenite A3: I thought I could be clever with a Zello account, a handlebar Bluetooth push-to-talk button (Pryme BT-PTT-ZU), bone conduction headphones to maintain peripheral awareness (Shokz), and a motorcycle throat mic (iAsus GP3-R) to take wind noise out of the picture.

It works perfectly.

Absolutely no other human on earth can be convinced to rig up / wear this setup so it is useless.