What is your solution for riding in a spot with low reception?
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
What is your solution for riding in a spot with low reception?
A lot of lot rides are in country rodes and often times there’s no cell phone service. What is your plan?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,254
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18424 Post(s)
Liked 15,579 Times
in
7,337 Posts
I spend multiple days in a row with no service while doing self-contained touring. Hell. I toured for mounts without a phone. HTFU.
What’s your plan?
What’s your plan?
Last edited by indyfabz; 08-02-20 at 02:44 PM.
Likes For indyfabz:
#3
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,547
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3674 Post(s)
Liked 5,441 Times
in
2,764 Posts
I actually don't spend a lot of time talking on the phone while I'm riding. I concentrate on the ride, scenery, birds, etc. Plenty of time to chat with folks when I'm finished with the ride and back in my LazyBoy.
#4
Senior Member
Phone stays at home when I am riding. The way my luck runs, I'd just drop it anyway in the middle of nowhere and never notice.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tucson Az
Posts: 1,679
Bikes: 2015 Ridley Fenix, 1983 Team Fuji, 2019 Marin Nail Trail 6
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 339 Post(s)
Liked 229 Times
in
139 Posts
I tell my wife where I'm going and when I should be back, whether I have phone service or not.
#6
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 128
Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 2019, Trek Trek Madone 5.1 (2011), Trek 1400 (1991)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Liked 74 Times
in
33 Posts
I carry a phone for maps and emergencies. GPS will work w/o cell service, but you need to have maps downloaded to determine where you are. You can download maps from Google Maps beforehand. I've not had an occasion where I needed to call for help (knock on wood).
If I was traveling in a region where cell service is spotty or non-existent, I would do like I did in the 80's, carry a map, a set of tools and spares. If I was in a tough spot, I guess I'd hoof it until I could find someone who could assist me.
If I was traveling in a region where cell service is spotty or non-existent, I would do like I did in the 80's, carry a map, a set of tools and spares. If I was in a tough spot, I guess I'd hoof it until I could find someone who could assist me.
Likes For Buzzkill53120:
#7
Senior Member
I only carry my phone for the maps.me app, which only requires GPS.
Likes For Dirt Farmer:
#8
Senior Member
Hmmm. When were bikes created? Cell phones? What's the question again?
__________________
1984 Cannondale ST
1985 Cannondale SR300
1980 Gary Littlejohn Cruiser
1984 Trek 760
1981 Trek 710
Pics
1984 Cannondale ST
1985 Cannondale SR300
1980 Gary Littlejohn Cruiser
1984 Trek 760
1981 Trek 710
Pics
Likes For canopus:
Likes For DreamRider85:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,887
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6972 Post(s)
Liked 10,970 Times
in
4,692 Posts
Those of us who grew up in another era - when phones were all attached to walls with wires - are not so dependent on cell service.
#12
Senior Member
Yeah, where I live, if I get hit, I just wear a construction vest so they can find the body in the weeds. Besides, if you get hit, chances are real good you aren't gonna be able to find or crawl or be conscious enough to get your phone anyway. I keep it on me so my wife can use find a phone and keep track either of GPS or the last cell tower it connected to. It doesn't define the where and how of the ride.
__________________
1984 Cannondale ST
1985 Cannondale SR300
1980 Gary Littlejohn Cruiser
1984 Trek 760
1981 Trek 710
Pics
1984 Cannondale ST
1985 Cannondale SR300
1980 Gary Littlejohn Cruiser
1984 Trek 760
1981 Trek 710
Pics
Likes For canopus:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,885
Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3242 Post(s)
Liked 2,088 Times
in
1,182 Posts
Lot of good reasons to carry a phone, but like a lot of folks, I rode for the first 15 years of the past 30, without a phone. Somehow I survived.
Likes For Steve B.:
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,254
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18424 Post(s)
Liked 15,579 Times
in
7,337 Posts
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,254
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18424 Post(s)
Liked 15,579 Times
in
7,337 Posts
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,395
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,979 Times
in
1,920 Posts
download any music I like beforehand & use the factory media player. If I need to call but dont have service, there's nothing that I could do to change that.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#19
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
#20
Full Member
I'm not worried as long as I'm on a real road. Somebody's going to come by and i know I can walk for a few hours if I have to. BTW, I always carry a spare tube, patches, 2 CO2 cartridges' a chain quicklink with multitool.
Now, I'm older (68) and I'm not as ready to go on long rides off road as I used to be. I'm in The Adirondacks and I can be off road for a few hours if I want. Last year I went down and got the classic handlebar end to the ribcage and laid there for a bit in some pain. I'm really careful now when I do off road alone. Not stopping though
Now, I'm older (68) and I'm not as ready to go on long rides off road as I used to be. I'm in The Adirondacks and I can be off road for a few hours if I want. Last year I went down and got the classic handlebar end to the ribcage and laid there for a bit in some pain. I'm really careful now when I do off road alone. Not stopping though
Likes For Champlaincycler:
#21
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
The only good reason to carry a phone while cycling is for emergencies, I really don't see any other good reasons why a cyclists would carry a phone. If they carry a phone for entertainment then it means that their ride is very dull and boring or they have a serious addiction to social media.
Likes For wolfchild:
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Allen, TX
Posts: 2,636
Bikes: 2021 S-Works Turbo Creo SL, 2020 Specialized Roubaix Expert
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 762 Post(s)
Liked 4,041 Times
in
1,430 Posts
The only good reason to carry a phone while cycling is for emergencies, I really don't see any other good reasons why a cyclists would carry a phone. If they carry a phone for entertainment then it means that their ride is very dull and boring or they have a serious addiction to social media.
To the OP’s question, my plan is to not worry about it. People were riding for years before cell phones. Most survived.
Likes For MattTheHat:
#23
Senior Member
Likes For Reflector Guy:
#24
Senior Member
I remember when there were no cell phones, and I was free to ride, camp, hunt, and do so many things without having to check messages and emails. Believe it or not, it was completely possible to have a full life without having a screen in front of my face. We have all become digital slaves.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Allen, TX
Posts: 2,636
Bikes: 2021 S-Works Turbo Creo SL, 2020 Specialized Roubaix Expert
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 762 Post(s)
Liked 4,041 Times
in
1,430 Posts
I remember when there were no cell phones, and I was free to ride, camp, hunt, and do so many things without having to check messages and emails. Believe it or not, it was completely possible to have a full life without having a screen in front of my face. We have all become digital slaves.