Cellphone Cyclists

[Veronica]

When I was a kid I loved to ride without holding on to my handle bars, but I can't do it anymore. Guess I don't have that balance anymore.
How do you guys eat while riding? I can't get things out of my seat pack while riding?

When I want to ride no handed, I first push back to the rear of my seat. On my bike that seems to be a better balancing point. Experiment with where yours is on your bike.

I keep my food either in a Bento Box or my jersey. I also have a small handlebar bag. It is hard to get Advil out while moving.

V.

[Jo-n-NY]

I reach for my water bottle and drink from it while riding. I haven't mastered being able to do much more than that. When I was a kid I loved to ride without holding on to my handle bars, but I can't do it anymore. Guess I don't have that balance anymore.
How do you guys eat while riding? I can't get things out of my seat pack while riding?
I hold on and move my hands around but I don't think I white knuckle my bars. I have a water bottle on my bars and down below that I reach for and drink from, but like I said, I cannot do much more than that.
Wish I had the balance.

I am just like you Donna, except even as a kid I could not ride with no hands. I didn't come from a very athletic family and to this day the only way my father can swim is by doing the doggie paddle, lol.

The one thing that is very bothersome for me is, I cannot make signals with my left hand because my right arm is not stable enough to control the handlebar. I am a right handed person. I cannot remember if this was a problem before I fractured my shoulder. Like Veronica has mentioned in other areas, maybe I should keep practicing.

~ JoAnn

[Hammer]

I haven't read the whole thread yet. I had been on a multiday ride the last couple days... I didn't get to finish because of a crash. I saw several people on the phone. Usually they seemed to stay straight and true. However, I watched someone ride across a set of railroad tracks while on the phone. The same tracks that I had just crashed on. That made me cringe.

I hate getting calls when I'm on my bike. Though sometimes it is necessary for me to have the ringer on. I do stop before I answer it though.

[VeloVT]

Bugs.



It's not so much the issue of whether one CAN ride bike while holding a cell phone in the other hand- most people can easily drive a car one-handed too. I feel it's the mental wandering part of it that is dangerous- again, just like when driving a car.

I agree with this. I'm perfectly capable of reaching into my jersey pocket while riding, opening my phone and talking on it, without significant swerving -- it's just that while you're concentrating on the conversation, you're not paying as much attention to what's going on around you -- and if you're riding in an area with traffic, that can be dangerous.

[Python]

Talking on a mobile phone and driving in the UK is illegal (although it doesn't stop people doing it) and you can get fined if caught. If you use a Bluetooth headseat or similar that's perfectly legal though. I've always used a headset when driving (used to be a taxi driver) but if I forget to charge up my headset or leave it at home I just let the phone ring and phone back whoever when I stop.

[indysteel]

I agree with this. I'm perfectly capable of reaching into my jersey pocket while riding, opening my phone and talking on it, without significant swerving -- it's just that while you're concentrating on the conversation, you're not paying as much attention to what's going on around you -- and if you're riding in an area with traffic, that can be dangerous.

That's what bugged me about the woman who answered her phone during Sunday's group ride. I don't really mind if people talk on their phone while riding since it is possible to multitask as Veronica and Liza point out. But in this situation, she had someone (namely, me) on her wheel. She slowed down quite a bit when she answered the call and was then distracted from the wheel in front of her. In that situation, I'd rather people either let the call roll to voicemail or pull out of the paceline.

K-

[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.

[chickwhorips]

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

V.

I still like ya.

[ace]

Apropos of this discussion, I was amazed when I was in Florence (Italy) recently that despite the INSANE traffic, I observed a fair number of cyclists riding while both talking on their cellphones and smoking cigarettes, and yet narrowly avoiding death. Impressive. I tried to get photos, but I never had my camera at the ready when I saw one of these folks. The best one I saw was a guy riding his bike, talking on his cellphone, and LIGHTING HIS CIGARETTE WITH A MATCH without slowing down. Viva Italia!

The weirdest part is that very few Italians seem to smoke anymore. I think I saw more smoking cyclists than smoking pedestrians.