Road I'D - Compare & Contrast

[7rider]

Hi Road ID wearers.
With our friend's recent death and just the fact that DH and I are out there so often on our bikes, amongst the haters in cars, I'm starting to think that a Road ID would give us a little more piece of mind should something bad happen. So I wanted to query users....which one to get?
Wrist? Ankle? Dog tag? Elite? Sport? Interactive or not?
What have you found to be the pros/cons of your selection? What DID you get and why?
If you had to choose again, would you get the same one?
Thanks!

[channlluv]

First, I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

I got the dogtag style for both my daughter and myself. It slips on easily, tucks into my sports bra, and doesn't leave a tanline. I put all of my contact info and brief medical info on the tag itself because someone here (I forget who, but she had something to do with EMT or ER or something) said that in an emergency situation, you don't want to have to rely on your personnel having an Internet connection, and they don't have time to go look it up anyway, especially if it could be right there for them to access easily.

And with the dogtags, you get to choose a graphic design to put on the back. I chose the female cyclist for myself, and a paw print for DD because she's an animal fan. I also got her the lime green silencer. She wears it every day, ride or not.

Roxy

[HillSlugger]

I use the ankle strap; when I bought it the interactive version wasn't available.

[Ann G]

I'm sorry about your loss. I got the non-interactive wristband version a couple of years ago. I remember reading about the same issue involving internet access, and decided to just get the regular one. I'd do the same thing again, but I'd get a medium instead of a small.

[Catrin]

I have the interactive wrist id. It has my main health problems on the band, and then if they need to follow up with more detailed information at the hospital then they can do that as well.

[tctrek]

Dog tag! DH and I both have them and we just keep them on most/all of the time. Mine is about 3 years old and still shiny.

[rubywagon]

I have the wrist ID elite and I would get the same thing, should I need to ever order another. Waterproof, adjustable to your particular wrist size, easy to see. It is great.

[Cataboo]

I got the ankle - anything around the wrist aggravates my wrist. I can use it to hold my pants away from the chain.

Sorry about your friend

[bmccasland]

If you have a medical condition - the other option is a Medic Alert tag. I've been wearing a dog tag when I ride for years. Tag has medical information, then medical people can phone in for your other info if you're unable to speak.

Just thought I'd mention it.

[Aquila]

I got the ones that fit on shoes (one on my riding shoes, one on sandals I tend to wear to kayak and such). BUT, I've heard that if things are really bad, the emergency folks take off your shoes. So I've been thinking about getting a dog tag one. But I don't like the feel of stuff around my neck or wrist or ankle, so maybe I wouldn't like it?

[moonfroggy]

i have the dog tag kind. i generally hate jewelry type stuff but i never really notice it when i am wearing it. i have heard the bracelet ones are best because that is where they look first. i have a green silencer on mine and an pretty picture on the back.

[Tri Girl]

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. We lost a cyclist in my community today to a hit and run.
I have the wrist ID. A friend of mine who is a paramedic said it's the most visible spot for EMT's to look when someone is down. He also said the ankle would be his second choice, and the dog tags third. He said the shoe ID is not the most practical for running/cycling because shoes often get knocked off (in especially violent accidents). Just my thoughts. I think if you have one- any kind- it's a good thing.

[ny biker]

I have the wrist Road ID. I'm planning to buy a new one so I have one for taking walks (including walking to the gym) and a second to keep in my bike bag so it's always there for bike rides. I'm planning to get the regular non-interactive kind again.

So my big decision is what inspirational words I should have on the last line. So far I'm considering:

Suitcase of courage
What would Stuey Do?
HTFU

[loopybunny]

I have the interactive and a bunch of the different color wrist ID bands and a couple of different colors of the ankle bands (Road ID was the presenting sponsor of Levi's GranFondo last year and everyone got gift certificates).

I chose the interactive because my medical info changes rather frequently, but there really isn't anything that I'm taking that should cause a severe allergic reaction so they don't need immediate access to my medical records. It's more so I can have more emergency contacts and update numbers as people change them.

The ankle ID is made of a more foamy material. The original wrist one is made of a nylon type material and isn't as soft. Depending on which one you like the look of more or which material is more comfortable, you can wear them wherever you want. Both Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer are wearing ankle Road IDs on their wrists at the Tour de France (or have been that I've noticed, but I haven't noticed it every day). You may need a larger wrist one to fit on your ankle or a smaller ankle one for your wrist.

[LoriO]

I have the wrist ID because in an accident the wrist is one of the first places the Medics are going to look for a medical ID/etc. I have the interactive bracelet since I use my bracelet for more then bike riding. I also use it when I go horseback riding alone and have additional information on my interactive page with who can be contacted to take care of the horse and what barn we are from.

The good thing about the interactive is that it can be accessed not just by internet but also by phone. So unless you are in a cell phone dead area, emergency personnel can access that information from just about anywhere.

On the front of my bracelet I have my full name and then I have my drivers license number listed. I went with my license number because any police department in the country can run that number and get my name, date of birth and current address off of that. As a 911 dispatcher, I can tell you that the first thing an officer is going to look for is an ID and run it so I figured I would make it easy for them! On mine it looks like this

CT Driv Lic#12345678

Pretty much any police officer will recognize that for what it is.