Road ID

[Trekhawk]

Looking at buying Road ID and wondering if any one has a preference between the one you hang around your neck and the wrist one. Hoping to eventual do some longer rides and wonder if one would be more comfortable than the other.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I have both the RoadID that you wear around your neck and the one that goes on your shoe. I use the Shoe ID on my running / walking shoes, and I use the Fixx (the one that's worn around your neck) when I ride. Two of the guys I work with use the RoadID that goes around the ankle when they ride.

They all work - I think it comes down to personal preference.

Also - it is possible to get information on both sides of all of the IDs - but if you want to do that you'll need to order over the phone. In case you need ideas of what to put on your id other than your name & phone numbers for family and/or friends, here's what I have on my RoadIDs: on one side: my name, city, state, name & cell number for a friend, name & home phone number for same friend, name & home phone for a family member. On the reverse side: info on medical history, allergies, the name of my health insurance company, my year of birth (apparently emergency personnel like to know how old you are before they start treatment), the fact that I am an organ donor, and the name and phone number of my doctor.

--- Denise

[julbee]

That's a great question!
You have reminded me that my husband need Road ID, too!
It keeps slipping our minds!

I have Medic Alert. I'd chosen a necklace, as I didn't think I'd like a bracelet style hanging on my wrist... and I reserve my wrists for a watch or a HRM... the other side for my LIVESTRONG bracelet. I am fond of the LAF and of Lance himself. (We have lost young family members and young friends to cancer.)

I'll be interested in the replies, as we'll be ordering soon, too!

[betagirl]

I have the one you put on your shoe. I guess if I lose my shoe I'm up a creek, but I figured I had enough tan lines :D

On mine I have my name, city and state, contact phone #, doc name, that I have crohn's disease, my doc's name and the important to know med I'm on.

[Gabby]

I'll have to add a laminated card with contact numbers, I always carry my drivers license with me when I ride.

[latelatebloomer]

I need to do things super-cheaply. Just was thinking that the cheap ID tag from the pet store - done while-you-wait. Okay, maybe they'll think Lynda Gene is a stupid name for a dog, but they can fit a lot of info on those things!

[julbee]

There are definitely many very inexpensive ways to have pertinent info. with you! :)

[Technotart]

I have the shoe tag...It just stays on my shoe and that way I dont have to remember to put it on each time I go out to ride.

One other thing I saw recently though - In your cell phone, enter the word ICE (In case of emergency) in front of the people you want contacted in case something happens. Emergency personnel are starting to look for that designation to know who to call. Sometimes a cell phone is the only thing a person has that keeps them from ending up a jane or john doe. The problem with relying on it as a form of ID is that the cell phone can be rendered non-functioning in an impact or if they get wet. If it can't be turned on, it's no good.

Laminated cards and such are good too but in a very bad accident, the jerseys get cut off at the scene and left behind - pockets may not be checked before they haul you off.

If you can't afford the road ID, the dog tag at the pet store would be the way to go. Don't bother putting your Drivers License number on it though. Name, phone numbers and medical info are more useful! Just be sure to get a new one if the phone numbers change.

EDTA - if you get the shoe one, you can get a wrist or ankle strap for it too.

[Squirrel 2]

I use the ankle ID -- I had a hospital emergency episode involving my husband 2 yrs ago, and wrist or ankle ID would probably be noticed more so than shoe (in the ER they seem to pull the shoes off quickly & throw them in a bag with other clothing items, not sure if they give them much of a look). But it's also a matter of personal preference, I can't stand to have anything around my neck, & I don't want something on my wrist getting caught up with glove removal. I wear the ankle ID on my left foot to keep it away from the chain.

[mtbdarby]

I just got an ankle ID myself. It's engraved both sides and I love it! I don't like anything around my neck either and the less on my wrists the better. I just don't like to feel it so on my ankle over my sock works best for me.

[SpinSis]

Helpful thread. I usually just stick my license in my seat bag, but that doesn't have my allergies or ICE #s, not to mention the bike doesn't come to the ER with me!

Does anyone have a website or company name for the ID tags being mentioned? Or where are you getting them? I know about MedicAlert but have no idea where to start with these other items being mentioned.
Thanks.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Does anyone have a website or company name for the ID tags being mentioned?

RoadIDs can be ordered at http://www.roadid.com. As I mentioned above, if you want information on both sides of your id you will need to order it over the phone as opposed to via the web site.

--- Denise

[mom2twins]

SpinSis you can order a Road ID tag here http://www.roadid.com/ I had one when I used to run but I can't find it now. I guess I should order another one.

btw, I had the dogtag style that goes around the neck and it never bothered me when I ran so that's probably what I'll get again.

[Soggy]

I have utilized both Road ID wrist/necklace styles. I prefer the necklace style over the wrist because the velcro band on the wrist style was always irritating and "itchy". It's a terrible thought, but often times in traumatic accidents a persons shoes can be knocked right off their feet. I think the necklace style might offer more security as far as retaining ID. in any type of serious accident. The Road ID website www:RoadID.com has great advise and info. One thing they recommend is incorporating your City and State of residence...BUT not the actual physical address. The saved space can be used to add more useful information/contact numbers. This is pasted from their website:

"if you need room to list other important information on your Road ID, you can easily omit your Address - it's just not that important. Why? In the event of an accident, you Name and Emergency Phone Numbers are going to supply the first responders with the majority of the information they need. If, for some reason, the authorities need to locate your home address, they will be able to easily find it with your Name, City and State - all of which should be on your ID. If, however, you want to list your street address, please feel free to do so."www.RoadID.com

[Trekhawk]

Thanks Everyone
I think I will go with the Fixx which goes around your neck. Denise thanks for the tips on what info to provide.

[bikerchick68]

trekhawk... I ordered from Road ID and was very happy with the product... more expensive than the pet store but worth it IF something happens to know my family will be able to be called asap!

I ordered the necklace one for vanity reasons... the wrist one would just add ANOTHER tan line to my already large collection! :eek: :D The necklace one I just tuck into the front of my jersey and I never really notice it...

I ride alone a lot so this is important for me... just in case!

[Trekhawk]

bikerchick68 - Good to hear you were happy with the id I will definitely go with the neck one. I always ride on my own so it will make me feel safe and happy knowing if I keel over someone will know who to ring.

Thanks Trekhawk

[RoadRaven]

I have made little business card sized things with name, birth date, contact phone numbers, doctor, cycling club and blood groups on and had them laminated for the cyclists in this house. They live in the under-seat bags with the spare tyre and cell phone. That way we don't have to remember to take ID - its alwys there.

But I must admit, I hadn't considered necklace or bracelet ID - might look into that too

Good discussion - thanks ladies

[Dogmama]

I have made little business card sized things with name, birth date, contact phone numbers, doctor, cycling club and blood groups on and had them laminated for the cyclists in this house. They live in the under-seat bags with the spare tyre and cell phone. That way we don't have to remember to take ID - its alwys there.

But I must admit, I hadn't considered necklace or bracelet ID - might look into that too

Good discussion - thanks ladies

I have been told that cops, paramedics, etc., never look in bike bags because they don't think there is anything in there (besides tubes and half eaten, sticky power bars) so an ID on your body is the best way to go.

That comes from my husband (retired cop) and his two kids (both paramedics.) As somebody else said - in an emergency they don't think to check for things like shoe IDs, pack, IDs & the like. If it's an ID that is hanging from your bod, it's a little tough to miss.

PS - I vote for the ankle ID.

[SadieKate]

I have been told that cops, paramedics, etc., never look in bike bags because they don't think there is anything in there (besides tubes and half eaten, sticky power bars) so an ID on your body is the best way to go.

That comes from my husband (retired cop) and his two kids (both paramedics.) As somebody else said - in an emergency they don't think to check for things like shoe IDs, pack, IDs & the like. Why? If I were a pedestrian and hit by a car so my purse was lying several feet away, would they ignore it? I'm sorry, I just don't get why they wouldn't scan all the detritus near by. Helmets even have little bitty stickers inside so you can write your name there. If a body is thrown from a car, don't they look in the car for ID?

[Technotart]

Yes they gather SOME things - but when things are scattered far and wide, land in tall grass or over the side of a ravine, and you are needing to be lifted out fast, they leave a lot of stuff behind. Not everything is found. They arent going to waste time trying to find stuff when the priority is getting you out of there and to a place where the right help is available.

12 years ago I was in a minivan, and was hit by a drunk driver at 70 mph head on - my eyeglasses were found nearly 75 yards down the road...by someone who knew me...a few days later...

Unless the shoes are absolutly knocked off - the shoes go along and I can say from an er nurses perspective that if the person was a runner or a biker we did check shoes!