Month: May 2001

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FRS Radios, Cycling, Hams and, Whoops, CRASH!

My usual riding partner and I ride at different speeds, so FRS radios have worked out well for us. We bought a couple of refurb Uniden units for $60 and plug boom mikes into them. We use voice activation so we don't have to take our hands off the bars to talk. Diddling with the sensitivity settings eliminated most of the problem with wind noise.

It's great to be able to carry on a conversation without having to set your speed to match the other person's. When we start to break up (at about 1-1/2 to 2 miles), I'll either stop for her to catch up or I'll double back.

I got my ham license a couple of weeks ago, but that was primarily so I could communicate with the hams running sag on organized rides. I've monitored them with a scanner and thought it would be nice to be able to talk with them.

There are some good safety reasons to use the radios. One night, my partner radioed ahead to ask me if the restrooms at a park we were approaching were open. I checked and told here that they were. Over her voice-actived mike, I heard her say, “Where the bleep is the turnoff?” followed by “Oh, Bleep!!!” CRASH!!! and moaning. Fortunately, she survived with only a little road rash and some bruises. At least I knew to go looking for her.

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Trek Navigator 300

Have ’em show you the Navigator comfort bike series. You can get a Navigator 300 for about 300 bucks. It’s not a fast bike, but you can ride centuries on it.

It has a suspension seatpost (that doesn’t do a whole lot of good) and a suspension stem that absorbs some road shock. More important than the accessories will be getting a bike that fits you. Until you get a fair number of miles on your bottom, though, you’ll feel every pebble and bump no matter how soft the saddle or springy the suspension.

I’m not exactly sure what looks dorky, nor do I care (which probably means that I are one.) If it feels good and you like it, who cares what it / you look like?

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Trailer Hitch Mounted Bicycle Carrier

I have a 2000 Odyssey with the factory Class III hitch and a Swagman 3-bike folding rack.

I mounted the trailer light connector under the hitch and it’s not uncommon to hear it drag when pulling into a driveway with a steep pitch.

I’ve also had problems with bikes dragging in similar situations. I’m considering taking the rack to a welding shop and having them cut the vertical post and add about four to six inches to it to give the bikes more clearance. Swagman didn’t recommend that, but I think they were just lawyering it.

My kid has a Honda CRV with a Swagman rack and he’s had problems with dragging, also.

I like the Odyssey and I like the Swagman rack, but the combination has been an issue. I think it’s because the placement of Odyssey’s “magic seat” causes the hitch to be lower than on most vehicles.