A tip about rides and new technology

I recently picked up four Blue tooth communication devices. Doug bought two and we used them on our Trip west and south, they worked fantastic. So I picked up the upgraded four pack that links up to six of them.

being able to link six people. no interference, clear signal, I thought these would actually be good for club rides, 6 way crystal clear chat, one for the Road captain or ride leader, one for the tail-gunner, four for road guards. Perfect 6 way communication. Sunday we ran a test ride.

A.O.B. was from Dunkin Donuts on route 27 in Mystic at 10am. I set my helmet up on Friday afternoon, Doug set up his and Danny's on Saturday, Reuben came over Saturday to have his done, but forgot to bring his helmet. (really? Yes). Since Reuben is currently without an operating bike we put him on Jenny for the test.

Sunday morning, I got up at 6, watched the F1 race and waited for Reuben, Doug showed up at the house instead of the A.O.B.. Reuben arrived  about 9:30, which was the time we were planning on heading for the meet. At 10 of 10, still trying to get Sandwiches headset fitted, I had Reuben take Jenny down to DD so Danny would know whats going on. Finished we headed down. Doug and I paired our helmets. We arrived at 27, filled the bikes and started pairing. I would be talking to Doug, all of a sudden I would be out and Doug would be paired with Danny, then Reuben, then me. after about an hour later we headed out, we settled for Doug and Reuben paired and Danny and I. Danny led, I ran tail. 

The plan was for a run up 27 then Lantern Hill road through the twists at Long Pond and Lantern Hill Pond before dumping out on 214. Then 201 to Jewett City, 138 to 169. Take 169 up through Connecticut into Massachusetts, route 20 west across to Westfield, 202 south to 44, west to 179. Then the ride was to head south on 179, west on 4, 72 south to 6 west and lunch at Chutes Gates.

We figured since we lost so much time we would straighten out the communication issues at lunch. Losing the first hour to the headsets I already figured we would have to alter the route. Just before we arrived at the 201 138 intersection Doug caught Danny and told him he had a tire issue. Danny told me via the headset. I had him roll forward a bit and could see the entire center line of the tire was gone, (Thread ads traction on wet roads right?). We turned onto route 138 and headed for Dunkin to get off and look at the tire. We pulled over early since I had to make a U turn to retrieve Doug's errant passenger cup holder. As I returned to the group Danny gave his fair wells and headed off home. We headed to Dunkin. 

At Dunkin Doug went to work trying to link the three remaining headsets. I worked out a new route in my head. I figured across 12, across 169 to 32 then north to Stafford Springs 190 west then figure it out as you go. Massachusetts was gone. The headsets Doug figured out, he could switch between me and Reuben by working the buttons. I could only talk to him and the same with Reuben.

We took 138 to 97 in Sprague, up 97 to Murphy Hill, the Station rd to Jerusalem road, then 203 to 14 into Willimantic. We picked up 32 to route 66. (I forgot about the Stafford Springs 190 plan). Route 66 to Middletown then route 9 north to 372. We pulled off on route 15 to top off the tanks, then back to 372 then 9 to 72 in New Britain. Route 72 to Terryville and 6 to Chutes Gates.

The age of  electronics

It was here that Doug finally found in the book of instructions how the headsets work. There is a page telling you how to pair the sets, there is a large chart to show you how to pair the sets. 

On a different page it tells you how to use them.

Each headset needs to be paired with each other headset. Each headset gets a letter. So if you are A you need to press the B button while the person with the B headset presses the A button,  Paired. To link to the C headset you push the C button while they push the A Button, paired. Then  D, E and F the same way. Once finished the B person has to link to the C D E and F by pressing the appropriate letter while they press the B button. Then the C headset presses the D E and F buttons while they press the C button, The D person then presses the E and F buttons while they press the D button and etc.  All headsets are now paired. This does not mean you can talk to each other. You can only talk to the last person you paired to. To change who you want to talk to you press that persons letter. We set it up A for Doug (because he was the person who found them) B for me, something about my last name, D for Danny
, and C for Sandwich because C**T.  Hey, nothing else came to mind and it was funny. C for Captain (Road Guards) should work though.

So you can pair everyone then you need to press the appropriate letter for the person you wish to talk to. Conversations are all, one on one.

So here's a tip, read ALL the instructions ahead of time. 

Here's another tip, when checking your tire pressures before each trip, try looking at the tread.

On the return trip we ran route 6 then main street Bristol to 72, 72 to 372, 372 to 9, 9 to 66, 66 to 151 in Cobalt. I threw in the mandatory U turn when I turned onto 196 when I wanted the next left. We made a stop at Bashan Lake before running 434 through the Hopyard to 82. Coffee at Dunkin on 85, 95 and Home.

Here's another tip for all our electronics minded friends, when you get to a restaurant and the waitress hands you a menu...keep your phone in your pocket until you read the menu and decide. You don't really need to be on the phone when you sit down and have everyone staring at you when the waitress asks if you are ready and you then decide to look at the menu.  Figure out what you want then play with your pocket toy.