Radios for tandems?

"Bob Newman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone used these radios for captains to communicate with stokers? Experiences?

"I LIKE SHOUTING AND SO DOES MY STOKER"

stoker "I AGREE WITH HIM"

I don't think there is a need. My wife and I can communicate just fine without any radios.

Bill

"Bob Newman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone used these radios for captains to communicate with stokers? Experiences?

--
Thanks in advance... Bob

Bob Newman said:

Has anyone used these radios for captains to communicate with stokers? Experiences?

We haven't used them, but we have friends who have some sort of plug-in intercom thing. They
apparently think it's worth the trouble - but it is some trouble. We're quicker getting on and
getting off the tandem, since they're usually fussing with wires and plugs.

I can hear my wife quite plainly on the tandem. She's speaking directly at my ear from just three
feet away. She can hear me well if I remember to cup my hand in front of my mouth, to reflect the
sound back toward her.

You might try that first. It's simpler, cheaper, and weighs less! ;-)

--

Frank Krygowski

They are called Tandem Talk and are sold by most of the tandem dealers. Mark Livingoods website
www.thetandemlink.com is one of the most comprehensive tandem sites around and he has a list of
dealers with web links.

The units aren't radios, but an intercom system. They even have models that you can plug a cd player
in. More popular with tourists,slower recreational riders or those with children. They have gotten
around the problem of using vox Motorola radios because the wind passing over the microphones
activates them! LD

Tandem talk is a good product. The only negative is it does complicate getting on and off the bike.
You have to be careful not to rip out the wires and find a good way to keep the wires out of the way
while we pedal. We usually end up working a little harder to catch up on group rides since eveyone
else is heading down the road while we're still gettin wired up. I ride with one of my kids as
stoker and I feel safer being in constant communication with them without having to shout or turn
your head. It's also a lot more enjoyable since we can have a normal conversation while we ride.

Glenn

"Bob Newman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone used these radios for captains to communicate with stokers? Experiences?

--
Thanks in advance... Bob

I saw small walkie talkies at Walmart w/earphone and mic. They would require a cord from each mic
to each walkie talkie. They could be carried on your waist or small bag or whatever, but no
connection between the two. $19.95 for 2. When it seems to good to be true.... Have you heard of or
tried these?

Bob

"Glenn Davies" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tandem talk is a good product. The only negative is it does complicate getting on and off the
bike. You have to be careful not to rip out the

wires

Quoted message said:

and find a good way to keep the wires out of the way while we pedal. We usually end up working a
little harder to catch up on group rides since eveyone else is heading down the road while we're
still gettin wired up.

I

Quoted message said:

ride with one of my kids as stoker and I feel safer being in constant communication with them
without having to shout or turn your head. It's also a lot more enjoyable since we can have a
normal conversation while we ride.

Glenn

"Bob Newman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone used these radios for captains to communicate with stokers? Experiences?

--
Thanks in advance... Bob

In article <TJEnb.18959$Ec1.1686926@bgtnsc05- news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I saw small walkie talkies at Walmart w/earphone and mic. They would require a cord from each mic
to each walkie talkie. They could be carried on your waist or small bag or whatever, but no
connection between the two. $19.95 for 2. When it seems to good to be true.... Have you heard of
or tried these?

I haven't tried thess particular models, but these "FRS" (IIRC that's the term) radios are becoming
quite popular. Radio Shack also carries them. They have a range of a mile or so depending on
conditions. My family uses them when we go somewhere we might get separated such as skiing,
camping, etc. Just keep in mind that you might be overheard if someone else has one on the same
channel as yours.

Quoted message said:

Bob

"Glenn Davies" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tandem talk is a good product. The only negative is it does complicate getting on and off the
bike. You have to be careful not to rip out the

wires

Quoted message said:

and find a good way to keep the wires out of the way while we pedal. We usually end up working a
little harder to catch up on group rides since eveyone else is heading down the road while we're
still gettin wired up.

I

Quoted message said:

ride with one of my kids as stoker and I feel safer being in constant communication with them
without having to shout or turn your head. It's also a lot more enjoyable since we can have a
normal conversation while we ride.

Glenn

"Bob Newman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone used these radios for captains to communicate with stokers? Experiences?

--
Thanks in advance... Bob

The touring motorcycle touring market has a lot of these type of devices.

Sounds like it wouls work. You should have seen the look on the salesman's face when I told him I
was looking for something, small, light, and a range of about 4 feet.

Bob

"David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <TJEnb.18959$Ec1.1686926@bgtnsc05- news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I saw small walkie talkies at Walmart w/earphone and mic. They would require a cord from each
mic to each walkie talkie. They could be

carried

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on your waist or small bag or whatever, but no connection between the

two.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

$19.95 for 2. When it seems to good to be true.... Have you heard of

or

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

tried these?

I haven't tried thess particular models, but these "FRS" (IIRC that's the term) radios are
becoming quite popular. Radio Shack also carries them. They have a range of a mile or so depending
on conditions. My family uses them when we go somewhere we might get separated such as skiing,
camping, etc. Just keep in mind that you might be overheard if someone else has one on the same
channel as yours.

Quoted message said:

Bob

"Glenn Davies" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tandem talk is a good product. The only negative is it does

complicate

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

getting on and off the bike. You have to be careful not to rip out the

wires

Quoted message said:

and find a good way to keep the wires out of the way while we pedal.

We

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

usually end up working a little harder to catch up on group rides

since

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

eveyone else is heading down the road while we're still gettin wired

up.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I

Quoted message said:

ride with one of my kids as stoker and I feel safer being in constant communication with them
without having to shout or turn your head.

It's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

also a lot more enjoyable since we can have a normal conversation

while we

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ride.

Glenn

"Bob Newman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> Has anyone used these radios for captains to communicate with

stokers?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Experiences?
>
> --
> Thanks in advance... Bob
>
>

In article <dYQnb.198540$0v4.15448812@bgtnsc04- news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Sounds like it wouls work. You should have seen the look on the salesman's face when I told him I
was looking for something, small, light, and a range of about 4 feet.

If you can get one with voice-activated transmission, I would think it would be perfect for that
use. Having to push a transmit button just to say "pothole" might get old after a while.

....

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

The problem being that the wind or heavy breathing will also activate the mike( some people might
like the heavy breathing!) Len

David Kerber said:

In article <dYQnb.198540$0v4.15448812@bgtnsc04- news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Sounds like it wouls work. You should have seen the look on the salesman's face when I told him
I was looking for something, small, light, and a range of about 4 feet.

If you can get one with voice-activated transmission, I would think it would be perfect for that
use. Having to push a transmit button just to say "pothole" might get old after a while.

....

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

The problem being that the wind or heavy breathing will also activate the mike( some people might
like the heavy breathing!) Len

I don't have personal experience with them, but I would think you could set a threshold level to
prevent (or at least minimize) that problem.

Quoted message said:

David Kerber said:

In article <dYQnb.198540$0v4.15448812@bgtnsc04- news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Sounds like it wouls work. You should have seen the look on the salesman's face when I told
him I was looking for something, small, light, and a range of about 4 feet.

If you can get one with voice-activated transmission, I would think it would be perfect for that
use. Having to push a transmit button just to say "pothole" might get old after a while.

....

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

In article said:

Bob Newman said:

Has anyone used these radios for captains to communicate with stokers? Experiences?

We haven't used them, but we have friends who have some sort of plug-in intercom thing. They
apparently think it's worth the trouble - but it is some trouble. We're quicker getting on and
getting off the tandem, since they're usually fussing with wires and plugs.

I can hear my wife quite plainly on the tandem. She's speaking directly at my ear from just three
feet away. She can hear me well if I remember to cup my hand in front of my mouth, to reflect the
sound back toward her.

You might try that first. It's simpler, cheaper, and weighs less! ;-)

WHAT!

You don't have wireless radio/intercom built into your helmet???

Shame on you Frank...🙂

( Just busting your chops...)

HAND - Ride Safe

--
"Freedom Is a Light for Which Many Have Died in Darkness"

- Tomb of the unknown - American Revolution

My wife and I did a 380 mile tandem trip up the BC coast, across to Vancouver Island, and down to
Victoria then across to Anacortes, and the Tandem Talk set made this a far more enjoyable trip. I'd
recommend it in a flash to anyone.

Roads can be noisy, and the captain needs to be able to communicate regularly about breaking,
shifting, stopping pedally, starting pedalling and so on. Yelling out in front of you loud enough to
be heard behind you while traffic is speeding by is the recipe for a sore throat or, more likely,
poor communication because it's just plain hard to do.

We were in the process of buying a house at the time as well, and we had many hours of discussion
about that and other topics that really enhanced our vacation.

We could both speak in normal voices all the time. My wife also had the rearview mirror (she blocked
my view behind me) and was constantly communicating on traffic coming up behind us, which let me
focus on the road ahead while being always aware of what was coming up behind us.

Because it's only a small amplifier, and not a radio-type transmitter, the tandem talk went the
whole trip on a single battery. Pretty impressive.

Yes, the odd problem with getting unwired while getting off. But it's worth it.

Paul DeGroot

Bob Newman said:

Has anyone used these radios for captains to communicate with stokers? Experiences?