Ron Magnus

A quick comment about the radio that Justin mentioned. Sure they are
great radios but only produce about half a watt of power, about the same
as the GMRS/FMRS radios and they use FM rather than AM for the emisson
which is generally clearer to understand when you are within range. But
given the half watt of power the range is not that much different. Price
point between the the two types is noteable as well.

Just one little fly in the ointment, these are radios intended for use by
Amature radio operators (Ham Radio operators) which requires a license to
operate.

So if you and your teamates are licensed and have call signs then that's
not an issue.

I can answer more in depth or technical questions off line or over the
phone if you need more data.

Ron Magnus, Portland

George de Randich

As a former Private Investigator I agree with Tom Hoffman!
George de Randich

-------Original Message-------

From: Thomas Hoffman
Date: 08/29/06 10:41:31
To: 'George de Randich'; obra@list.obra.org
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Race Radios

Although a ton of motorcyclists use headphones, myself included, it is also
looked down upon by the safety experts. If you can?t hear the traffic, you
could ride straight into it.

There are devices that allow inter-bike communications/XM Radio/Ipod/radar
detector/GPS Navigation all to be played through the same headset. Way cool,
but it could be distracting.






From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of George de Randich
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 10:33 AM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Race Radios

I agree with Galen, if motorcyclists can have them why not bicyclists?
George de Randich

Rick Johnson

Big difference between riding and racing - radios are NOT used to
communicate with the riders in motorcycle road racing. Even a momentary
interruption in concentration under those conditions can be disastrous.




Rick Johnson

former AMA National and World Superbike tuner



George de Randich wrote:

I agree with Galen, if
motorcyclists can have them why not bicyclists?

George de Randich

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KO Kevin

I equate race radio with 10 speed cassettes and splined bottom brackets.
It is another solution in search of a problem. This is my first season
racing after being away from the sport for 25+ years, and my gawd things
have changed. Some for the better (finish line camera, on-line
registration, ergo/STI shifting, Candi and Mike Murray) and some of
dubious benefit (low spoke count wheels, threadless headsets, carbon
everything, ergo/STI shifting). Racing and the equipment associated
with it seems significantly more complicated than before, a case in
point is the near demise of neutral wheel support. Back in the day,
virtually all rear wheels were interchangeable as friction shifters made
cog spacing moot. Today, one needs to choose between Shimano and Campy,
8, 9 or 10 speed. Grabbing any rear wheel from neutral support just
doesn't work anymore. Add carbon rims to the mix and you have a half
dozen or more wheel configurations. Another case in point, chain
breakage was unheard of when we raced with 5-7 speed clusters. Now,
with 10 speed cassettes being the norm, chain breakage is a semi-common
occurrence. After rebuilding my ergo shifter at the start of the
season, I raced the entire year before I finally figured out that the
crappy shifting was caused by the "clock spring" being tensioned in the
wrong direction. I never had these problems 25 years ago. Race radios
would just add to the list of things that can and will malfunction.
Simplify, simplify, SIMPLIFY!

Kevin Ko

________________________________

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of George de Randich
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 10:33 AM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Race Radios

I agree with Galen, if motorcyclists can have them why not bicyclists?

George de Randich

Thomas Hoffman

Although a ton of motorcyclists use headphones, myself included, it is also
looked down upon by the safety experts. If you can't hear the traffic, you
could ride straight into it.

There are devices that allow inter-bike communications/XM Radio/Ipod/radar
detector/GPS Navigation all to be played through the same headset. Way cool,
but it could be distracting.

_____

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of George de Randich
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 10:33 AM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Race Radios

I agree with Galen, if motorcyclists can have them why not bicyclists?

George de Randich

George de Randich

I agree with Galen, if motorcyclists can have them why not bicyclists?
George de Randich

Jonathan C. Puskas

I spent 4 days with Team CSC in Solvang this past
Spring trying to help them find solutions for their
Race Radio problems (actually, I've got one of their
older radios on my desk right now). Yes, I have some
cool benefits with my current job.

Everything stated below is correct. Wind noise, "hot
mics," and quality/range are significant problems with
today's radios (the ones 90% of the Top Tier European
Pro Teams are using).

With that said, check out the mics used by Discovery
at the Tour and you'll likely see the future of race
radios (those or Bone Mics).

Don't bother with that crap for amateur racing...It's
simply not worth the cost at this point.

Just my $.02,
Puskas

--- Guinnesscycling@aol.com wrote:

> racing with race radios is not all it is cracked up
> to be. we used very
> high quality radios in Europe last spring and they
> are almost more hassle than
> they are worth. they obscure your hearing, are hard
> to talk through and half
> the time you hear static. Even the top level pro's
> have issue's with
> their's. todd and I spent many days trying different
> mic's and way's to cut out the
> road noise and it was almost impossible. When you
> are actually "racing" and
> not rolling along talking, they are almost useless
> as it is really dangerous
> to take your hands off the bars and fumble around
> your collar trying to
> press the little mic button and talk.
>
> keep it simple....
> > _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>

Jonathan C. Puskas
159 Fifth Street
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
impuskas@yahoo.com

"If you're gonna charge...charge hard!"

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Guinnesscycling@aol.com

racing with race radios is not all it is cracked up to be. we used very
high quality radios in Europe last spring and they are almost more hassle than
they are worth. they obscure your hearing, are hard to talk through and half
the time you hear static. Even the top level pro's have issue's with
their's. todd and I spent many days trying different mic's and way's to cut out the
road noise and it was almost impossible. When you are actually "racing" and
not rolling along talking, they are almost useless as it is really dangerous
to take your hands off the bars and fumble around your collar trying to
press the little mic button and talk.

keep it simple....

Galen Mittermann

i see no problem allowing radios. if teams have them, and dont plug both ears,
whats the harm? as long as riders understand it doesnt guarantee communication
but may only ease it if conditions are right, then why not? it could be useful
between teammates, and i doubt it's going to cause an arms race. besides, we
spend $100 on a pair of race tires, a couple little two way radios is
practically a bargain for bike racers.

galen

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