Road I'D - Compare & Contrast

[PscyclePath]

I've worn the standard wrist ID for the past five years... this is Arkansas, after all, and internet access and cell phone service is spotty to non-existent once you get away from the larger towns. My faithful old yellow one finally wore out last winter, and I replaced it with an updated red band (& updated the emergency contacts as well), with a new yellow band in my things box in reserve ;-)

Haven't had to really use it just yet, but it's a comfort having it there. I also wear it when I'm simply travelling out of town as well, so it serves double duty ;-)

[7rider]

I just ordered the wrist bands for DH and myself.
He got black (per his request). I got red.
Yellow seemed like it would get dingy and dirty really fast (judging from how quickly my Kindle's cover got dirtied up which is also yellow - actually closer to "buff".).

[Norse]

FWIW, I have the yellow wrist band. No dirty problems - I just give it a rinse wash now and then and it looks fine.

[GLC1968]

I know you've already ordered, but I'll add my two cents. I've moved a bunch of times since I got my first RoadID, so I've had opportunity to replace them often enough. I have no special medical conditions so mine has only my name, address and contact numbers.

I originally bought the wrist one because it seemed the smartest, but to be honest, I found it uncomfortable and often didn't wear it. Then I bought the shoe tag and just left it on my road shoes. That was fine except that it was pretty useless once I started running! Again, since mine didn't carry any critical health info, I wasn't worried about being 'separated' from my info in an accident as I assume that my bike would be searched for ID info on me anyway.

Now I have the neoprene ankle band. It's awesome. I wear it whenever I go anywhere (without my purse) alone. Perfect for biking, hiking, running...I never even know it's there. I'm even thinking that I ought to wear it on my ankle when I swim at the pool in case something happens. No one knows me, and with all my stuff in my locker, how would they ID me if I was unconscious?

I also like that it doubles as a timing chip strap for races AND that it's reflective.

[Pedal Wench]

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

Took everything thing i had NOT to put HTFU. It would be my luck I would have to explain it to my mom. Or someone's kid. I really, REALLY wanted to do that one.

I have the RoadID Elite wrist band. I really like it, find it to be comfortable even in high heat. It gets in the way a bit with armwarmers/suncoolers, but worth it for peace of mind.

[OakLeaf]

Took everything thing i had NOT to put HTFU. It would be my luck I would have to explain it to my mom. Or someone's kid. I really, REALLY wanted to do that one.

I don't know why someone's kid would be looking at your RoadID.

As far as your mom... a few years ago my parents were visiting for the holidays and I dropped something in the kitchen and broke it, and the same word that's being abbreviated up there just FLEW out of my mouth.

My mom's an elementary school teacher, and that prompted a good discussion about how she keeps words from flying out of her mouth in similar situations. Your mom has probably heard that word before, too.

[ny biker]

OTOH, I don't find the wristband to be at all uncomfortable. I wear it loose around my wrist.

I have the yellow one and it's probably not as bright as it was when it was new, but rinsing it under the tap keeps it clean enough.

[Catrin]

Took everything thing i had NOT to put HTFU. It would be my luck I would have to explain it to my mom. Or someone's kid. I really, REALLY wanted to do that one.

I have the RoadID Elite wrist band. I really like it, find it to be comfortable even in high heat. It gets in the way a bit with armwarmers/suncoolers, but worth it for peace of mind.

Good to hear the Elite is comfy, I have the regular one (interactive version) but it gets a little scratchy. May try it and risk the metal clasp.

HTFU....for the life of me I can't think of what this might mean. I assume that FU is obvious, it is the first two letters that I am wondering about - "hold the"? It is probably something very nice my warped brain is twisting it...

[XMcShiftersonX]

I have the dog tag one and I like it. When it's under your jersey you don't even feel it, so it's not annoying or restrictive. It's also pretty and shiny, and you can get a little saying on the front - I have the century creed, "There will be days when I don't know if I can ride a century. There will be a lifetime knowing that I have." On really hot days when I unzip my jersey, it does flap around a little bit, but I get used to that pretty quick and it doesn't bother me.

-Jessica

[ny biker]

Good to hear the Elite is comfy, I have the regular one (interactive version) but it gets a little scratchy. May try it and risk the metal clasp.

HTFU....for the life of me I can't think of what this might mean. I assume that FU is obvious, it is the first two letters that I am wondering about - "hold the"? It is probably something very nice my warped brain is twisting it...

http://velonews.competitor.com/2007/...rden-the_13347

[arielmoon]

ankle strap.

I like that it fits over my sock and thus does not give me yet another tan line like the wrist one might. I thought the dog tags would bounce around and annoy me.

[brianne]

Hi Road ID wearers.
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?

Thank you so much for asking this question. With some gnarly accidents of my own and a recent cycling death (Paige Hicks of Bike and Build) on my mind, I finally decided yesterday to buy a Road ID.

I was actually most concerned with how the Elite would feel on my wrist, if it would slide around, get stuck when I have sweat dripping down (ew!), how thick the rubber is, etc. I called the company yesterday to ask about it and the guy I talked to said that if I wanted the Elite, I should wait to buy it until mid-August when an updated version (with a new buckle) is added to the website. Not sure how great of an idea it is to put off buying one even longer, but I'm considering it.

Since I've moved many times in the last couple of years, I'm thinking about buying the interactive ID rather than the original so I can update my address and emergency contacts without having to buy a new ID.

I have the century creed, "There will be days when I don't know if I can ride a century. There will be a lifetime knowing that I have."

I have never heard this before, but I love it! Do you know who I can attribute this quote to?

[Loraura]

I've had both the dog tag and the ankle one.

The dog tag's drawback is that the chain isn't long enough to put it on after you've put your helmet on. You have to take your helmet off, put the dog tag on, and put your helmet back on. That made it kind of a pain.

My husband's phone number changed, so I got a new one - I went for the ankle one this time.

I prefer it. By a lot. Once you have it on you do not feel it AT ALL. Very comfortable. It has a reflective stripe all the way around it, too. Good for moving parts like feet in low light.

I choose the non-interactive one. I want people to get what they need right that minute from the tag, becuase some times there is no time or ability to call a number or log onto a computer to get the info.

The tag easily fit my name, my birth year, NKA (No Known Allergies), My Insurance ID# and Grp #, my husband's name and phone number.

I even had one extra line, so I added "Save the bike, too!"

[XMcShiftersonX]

I have never heard this before, but I love it! Do you know who I can attribute this quote to?

I don't... but I've seen the same quote with marathon in place of century, so I think it's a generic athletic quote. I just really liked it as well.

[Eden]

So this thread convinced me that a road id is a good idea. While I don't go out without my cell phone and some ID, I've realized that it would be quite easy to be parted from my stuff and/or to have my phone not in working order..... not to mention that I commute with a messenger bag and there is certainly the possibility of having my stuff strewn and lost from there in the event of an accident. I also race, in which case I don't have *anything* on me... the race organizer should know who I am via my race number, but I don't think that should be totally counted on....

The comments here certainly helped with the choice (wrist band) and what to put on it. I got the nylon/velcro band in a size sm. I must say it is a bit chunky for my little frame. The metal tag + the two rubber bits that hold it down are wider than my wrist, so it sticks out a bit. It might have been worth the extra 10$ to get the new neoprene style.I have a pretty tiny wrist and the small is just comfortably loose when left all the way out at its longest possible length. Most people will probably need the medium.

It's not really comfortable or good enough looking (on me at least.... maybe on someone that it doesn't look so big...) that I would want to wear it off the bike, though that's probably not a bad thing. I stopped wearing a watch about 5 years ago because I was getting contact dermatitis from the band.

Here's to hoping I never need it!