Cellphone Cyclists

[silver]

I carry my cell phone with me, but my family knows if I'm out riding I'm not answering. Leave a message. If they have an emergency call once, hang up and then call again. I'll stop as soon as it's safe for me to and call back. Otherwise, I'll stop at my next planned stop.

I mean really! what's that important?

Side story regarding emergencies:

one morning I was doing a practice tri training. We had a television station come out to interview us. I left the phone in the car. When I got back to the car, I had 6 messages. My Mother-in-law had fallen and had to go to the hospital by ambulance. I went straight to the hospital. I showed up covered with mud from the muddy lake we were swimming in and sweaty! Uggggg! I comforted my MIL and then asked the nurse if they had a shower for me. They immediately found one for me and brought me towels and soap.......LOL....I must have smelled really bad. As much as I would have liked to have been there earlier, I couldn't have done anything. EMS had been called and did their work and the world continued to revolve without me.

[Aggie_Ama]

DH and I have some heated discussions over this. I will usually hit mine to send it voicemail because it rings and vibrates. He will answer it and keep riding. ARGH!!! If I decide to answer it I pull over. Most people know if the sun is up and I am not at work I am potentially on my bike.

DH also has been working on balance and riding with no hands. DRIVES ME CRAZY!! Usually we are in the middle of no where, but every once in a while he just does it on a road I know a car could come up on us at any point. I have been encouraging him to be a safer cyclist for my sanity.

[Kano]

Mine rides in my backpack, and each of my kids has her own ringtone, so I know which one it is who "needs" me, and can decide from there. I keep meaning to find a special ring-tone for work, so I know for SURE that I don't want to answer! I can't grab the phone while riding, so if I'm going to respond, I pull over -- but while it's ringing, I LOVE listening to their tunes! It's the only time music is playing while I ride -- at least where I am, and it's always a delightful surprise!

(better than a honk!)

Karen in Boise

[VeloVT]

I always have my cellphone with me when I ride, but I also always turn the ringer off before I go (not to vibrate, but to "all sounds off").

Hey I can always check voicemail at stops if I need to.

Sometimes I forget to turn the ringer back on and people get mad at me though ...

I often see people "exercising" on the bike path -- rollerblading, running, etc -- while talking on their phones. In my opinion if you can hold an intelligible cellphone conversation you're **probably** not breathing hard enough to be getting much exercise.

[Python]

Bluetooth headsets anyone?

I carry my mobile (cellphone) usually either in my pocket or in my backpack. My most embarrassing moment was a couple of weeks ago I'm happily riding to work when this catchy tune starts playing, and gets louder and louder. People turned to see where the music was coming from and the looks on their faces I'd only forgot to switch off the alarm clock on it so it kept going off and as it was in my backpack I couldn't reach it I did stop eventually and switched it off.

[Zen]

Maybe they thought it was the ice cream man

[Veronica]

I talk on my phone while I ride. I don't wobble. I don't careen down hills. I also reach for and drink from my water bottles while riding, open up food packets while riding, take off my bolero while riding. That one is a bit tricky. Oh, and if I put my bottles in backwards, water in the front instead of Sustain, I'll switch them while riding. So both bottles out of their cages at the same time. I also ride with no hands on occasion.

Have you ever watched the pro peloton? I aspire to have bike handling skills like theirs. It doesn't happen if you are white knuckling your handlebars. Don't be afraid to take a little risk every now and then. You'll become a better bike handler.

Just yesterday as I was commuting to work, riding up our hill, I realized I hadn't asked Thom to check on our neighbor's cat during the day. Without looking I reached back and grabbed my phone from my saddlebag and called him, talked for a few minutes, until I reached the top of the hill and put the phone back in the saddlebag.

The only person who calls me during a ride is Thom, so if possible, I'll answer the phone. He usually wants to know how long until I get home so he can start the grill.

I suppose that makes me evil.

V.

[Aggie_Ama]

Actually Veronica, my husband aspires to be like the pro peloton. I love how they are cruising along at 30 mph, no hands on the bars and digging through the lunch bags!

[Kano]

I talk on my phone while I ride. I don't wobble. I don't careen down hills. I also reach for and drink from my water bottles while riding, open up food packets while riding, take off my bolero while riding. That one is a bit tricky. Oh, and if I put my bottles in backwards, water in the front instead of Sustain, I'll switch them while riding. So both bottles out of their cages at the same time. I also ride with no hands on occasion.

V.

I'm impressed!

First time I tried moving my hands around the bars a bit while at a relatively high speed, DH was behind me and saw: NO MORE MOVING YOUR HANDS he said. I knew there was a reason it's better to be behind him! I can practice stuff and he can't see. I have to admit, though, it was a bit spooky that first time!

I'm still working on pretty basic stuff -- no bottle cages yet, I'm happy with my camelbak. If I EVER get to no hands, I'm going to be amazed. DH will probably drop over dead with fright. (speaking of that tipping over thread!) I'll stick to focusing on riding OR talking for now!

Karen in Boise

[crazybikinchic]

DH and I were talking about this very subject on Saturday. I was doing a rally, and he noticed someone talking on a cell phone. When I'm on my bike, I do not and will not answer my phone. That is MY time and no one can disturb my time. I ONLY carry my cell phone for safety purposes.

Hang Up The Darn Phone!!!

[teigyr]

Count me in as one of the people who isn't graceful enough to talk and ride at the same time. I can retrieve my water bottle AND drink but that's about it. I've never been able to ride with no hands, even when I was young. I do carry my phone with me when I ride but it's on vibrate. If it rings and I'm at a chance to stop, I will unless I'm having a great ride and don't want to

I guess I don't know why people have to do it. I understand if there is something going on (like when my dad was in the hospital, I had my phone with me at all times) but rambling conversation? I also don't understand why people don't care that we hear all of it

Dunno. I don't want to judge but then again there is nothing worse than hearing a loud monologue about somebody's friends STD. And yeah, I will talk on the phone but I'll go lurk in a corner or something -- I just feel goofy walking around talking to nothingness.

[lizbids]

I hate hate hate cell-cyclists. I find they put themselves and everyone else in danger by not being totally focused. I feel the same way about drivers of cars.

I will say, if you are expecting a super-important call, then pull over safely. Between phones and iPods, people just tune out their surroundings. And don't get me started on no helmet-riders crusing against traffic, blowing stop signs and red lights, etc...

I always feel I am a target if I have my iPod on. In fact, when I get off the train to get to work in the morning, I purposely put it away in my bag, as the area I work in is known for muggings.

I don't mean to offend other cyclists who choose to join in this recreational-type behavior, but I do think it's wise to consider eliminating it. We can't be 100% sure of our saftey all the time, but we can certain improve our odds for successful, safe rides, correct? Safe riding!

[Veronica]

I hate hate hate cell-cyclists. I find they put themselves and everyone else in danger by not being totally focused. I feel the same way about drivers of cars.

You hate me and you don't even know me.

V.

[Zen]

I hate hate hate cell-cyclists. I find they put themselves and everyone else in danger by not being totally focused. I feel the same way about drivers of cars.

I will say, if you are expecting a super-important call, then pull over safely. Between phones and iPods, people just tune out their surroundings. And don't get me started on no helmet-riders crusing against traffic, blowing stop signs and red lights, etc...

I always feel I am a target if I have my iPod on. In fact, when I get off the train to get to work in the morning, I purposely put it away in my bag, as the area I work in is known for muggings.

I don't mean to offend other cyclists who choose to join in this recreational-type behavior, but I do think it's wise to consider eliminating it. We can't be 100% sure of our saftey all the time, but we can certain improve our odds for successful, safe rides, correct? Safe riding!

I agree wholeheartedly.
When someone is engaged in a cell phone conversation they are not mentally focused on the situation at hand which in turn endangers others. Not even the "hands-free" laws that are being implemented can resolve this.