[tbc] Walkie talkies?

[rhall918]

Lisa and TBC:
Let me offer a different view on using "walkie talkies" and other hand held devices while biking. They seem to be a good idea at first but they will have problems on the road. First, battery life is not great. Be prepared to take a lot of batteries in your luggage. The models I have seen take four AA batteries. Their range is not good either. It may be advertised as five miles but in hills, it may be less than one. More importantly, they are a another distraction and we do not need more of those riding bikes. Most of us have followed someone in a car talking on a cell phone, going 10 miles an hour under the speed limit, weaving in and out of traffic. I consider bike riding to be more of a "hands on" activity than even driving a car. You have to look out for pot holes, railroad tracks, gravel hazards, road conditions, other cyclists and motorists, dogs, etc, etc. And the other person you are talking to has to look out for those things, too. Do we need another distraction? A cell phone may be a somewhat better solution if you pull off the road while you talk with your friend. Cell phones are more easily rechargeable and may serve as a more useful tool in an emergency situation or just to phone home during the week of FreeWheel.

Richard Hall
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lisa Frankenberger 
  To: tbc at rootwizard.net 
  Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 3:27 PM
  Subject: [tbc] Walkie talkies?


  Hi everyone,

  The other day me and a friend were riding and as I'm sure you all know we were doing the yell at each other thing, the what thing, then the forget it or pull over thing.  Many times I feel like riding beside my riding buddies just so we can talk, but then there is the problem of being a nuisance to cars.  I was wondering if anyone had tried walkie talkies and if there are any good hands free types that would be worth it?  It sounds like a good idea, but I wanted some input before I went and got some.

  Thanks!!
  Lisa


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