has anyone tried the ihome bicycle speaker?

[Jaclyn]

I have used the iHome bicycle speaker a couple of years on our tandem bicycle (it is too long to fit in the limited space of my xsmall single bikes). When it works I'm happy with it. Unfortunately all the little bumps often cause it to loose connection. I've put paper shims in the holder for the iPod and that didn't help. I think the problem may be with the batteries shaking loose.

What I did like is the ability to quickly pause the tunes when approaching an intersection, so that we could hear any motorists while looking for them. Safety first!

Most people think it's cool and are even more motivated to draft behind our tandem, but we do have an occasional person feel that we are contributing to noise pollution. We try to be considerate and ask if it adds / subtracts from people's enjoyment of the ride.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Most people think it's cool and are even more motivated to draft behind our tandem, but we do have an occasional person feel that we are contributing to noise pollution.

I guess I'm one of those.

[jobob]

I have a Zen Stone Plus mp3 player with its own built in speaker. The sound quality & functionality aren't the greatest, but I got it for pretty cheap on ebay along with a rubberized skin that attaches to a lanyard, so it works well for its purpose.

I haven't done many long solo rides in remote areas in ages, but I'll be putting it to use again soon.

No worries Lisa, I won't be playing it around you.

[IvonaDestroi]

[QUOTE=Jaclyn;473184]I have used the iHome bicycle speaker a couple of years on our tandem bicycle (it is too long to fit in the limited space of my xsmall single bikes). When it works I'm happy with it. Unfortunately all the little bumps often cause it to loose connection. I've put paper shims in the holder for the iPod and that didn't help. I think the problem may be with the batteries shaking loose.

I read some other reviews and apparently there is a problem with using old ipods and ipod minis in these because they have an actual hard drive in them for memory. Hard drive + lumpy bumps = bad, apparently. Everyone seems to recomend either the ipod nanos or the newer ipod models that use a flash drive instead. maybe that might be part of the problem? They also come with a variety of inserts for each different model, perhaps you are using the wrong one?

My speaker came in a timely manner, but the ipod is taking forever! I can't wait to get on my bike and give it a shot... those horrible work radio songs are stuck in my head constantly, I need a bad music eraser, lol!!!!

I'll let you know how mine works out once I get the thing in the mail...

In terms of noise pollution, I never even really thought of that to be honest with you. My ride to work is urban and extra noisy anyways, so I doubt it would make any kind of difference around here. I'll keep it in mind if I'm ever in a quiet neighborhood though

[VeloVT]

There's a guy I see pretty regularly on the bikepath near my house who rollerblades carrying a boombox playing '80s music.

The bikepath is very peaceful and beautiful, and although I'm usually slightly amused by him (it's pretty goofy) it also always strikes me as extraordinarily self-centered for him to inflict his music on everyone else.

Just something to think about.