Are you a wrecker? Bikes, snowboards, skis, inline skates, cars? If you move, you can wreck. As much as we want to believe we are in control, there is always something out there that can unexpectedly take you down, whether you are on a road, path, trail, or a slope. There are some products out there that help keep you safe, but the ICEdot Crash Detection Sensor takes safety to another level.
What separates ICEdot from other road safety products is the sensor that detects a crash, and uses an app downloaded to your smart phone to automatically notify your emergency contacts with your location. Other products out there will just provide first responders with your personal info, but does not notify anyone in the event of a crash. Others will notify someone that there is an emergency, but you have to activate the product. ICEdot takes care of all of that for you.
In the event of a crash, the helmet mounted sensor uses a triple axis gyro and a triple axis accelerometer to trigger an alert on your smartphone through a bluetooth connection. If it is a false alarm you can disable it on your phone before the time limit is up, which can be adjusted in the app from 45 seconds to 2 minutes. Once the time expires, an alert is sent by text or email, or a phone call is placed to your emergency contacts to let them know something has happened. In a text or email alert, a link will be provided that shows the location of where the incident has occurred on a map. You can set the accuracy of the tracking through the app from “Best Possible” or 1m/3.2ft, 10m/32ft, 100m/328ft, 1km/0.62 miles, or 3km/1.86 miles. The more accurate the tracking though, the faster the battery on your smart phone will wear down since the GPS will be used more often. If you are out for a century ride, you might want to back down the sensitivity, but for your typical 2-3 hour training ride, you’ll be fine with full accuracy at “Best Possible.” I’ve been charging my sensor every other ride, but to check the sensors battery level, just look at the app when the sensor is connected to it. The sensor charges quickly through a micro-USB port and supplied cable.
For more information on the guts of the sensor, check out a Wearable Wednesday’s tear down from Adafruit. I’ll admit the description of the components is above my pay grade, but it is good to know that the sensor is made from good quality parts and will hold up to the use and abuse of actions sports.
After you have crashed, the ICEdot continues to work for you. Like another popular safety product out there that many of us have on our wrists, the RoadID, ICEdot also has a section on their website that lets you create an account and enter in all of your contact info, picture, medications, allergies, health insurance, and more. The sensor comes with stickers that you can put on your helmet or other equipment that gives first responders a PIN to enter into the website to retrieve your info. You can update this info at any time by logging into their website. ICEdot offers silicone wrist bands that have your PIN and instructions for the occasions when you are not using your sensor. While ICEdot does not currently give you the choices of different color bands or a custom laser etched plate with your name like RoadID, the wristband and website offer the same functionality. By purchasing the sensor and the wrist band, you get complete coverage on and off the bike for one subscription and one location to update all of your info. ICEdot also offer snaps that you can wear on your gear that have your PIN and instructions inside. Whether you buy the sensor, wrist band, or snaps, you will get a one year subscription as part of the purchase. To renew, the cost is just $10, a small price to pay for safety on the road. Extra stickers, and various athletic clothing are also available online.
Installing the sensor is very easy. The clip that holds the sensor in place can be mounted using 3M tape on the back of the clip, or supplied zip ties. Personally, I used both. It easily mounted on my Rudy Project Sterling helmet on the reflective logo on the back of the helmet. The 3M tape holds securely on the helmet, but the zip ties easily wrap through the vents to provide added security. The sensor is tucked out of the way, and you don’t even know it is there while wearing your helmet. The only other ingredient needed is your smart phone. Most of us ride with our phones anyways, and whether it is tucked in your pocket, or in a saddle pack, the sensor will still connect by Bluetooth.
Luckily, I have not had to actually use the sensors capabilities, as I hope no one ever has to. I wanted to still test it out, so I set myself up as the emergency contacts, connected it to my iPhone, and then held the senor in my hand and snapped my wrist. It took a few tries (which shows you won’t have too many false alarms), but I was able to get it to activate. My phone started making a loud alarm sound, and I had the option to slide the bar on the screen to shut it off. Once the countdown ended, I received a text, email, and a phone call letting me know I had been in an accident. The message on the call just alerts the person on the other end that you have been involved in an accident. When I looked at the text and email, I was able to click on the link that took me to Google Maps and showed right where I was. The accuracy was spot on. Overall, it makes me feel pretty confident that if something happens to me while I’m out on the road or trail on my own, my contacts will be notified quickly and know exactly where I am at. The would be able to get emergency responders on the way as quickly as possible, in case no one else is around.
With so many stories lately on cyclists being hit while out for rides, it is worth it to spend a little extra money to add a special piece of equipment to your ride. Your family and friends will be thankful. We are all wreckers, let’s just do it a little more safely.
เว็บไซต์การพนันออนไลน์ชั้นนำในประเทศไทยปี 2023 | คู่มือการพนันไทยที่ครอบคลุม
Sensor – $149.00 + 1 year subscription free
Extra Mount – $10.00
Wrist band – $20.00 + 1 year subscription free
Snaps – $20.00 + 1 year subscription free
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
~Veggie Powered Athlete~
Location – Lancaster, PA
Current Testing Rigs – 2024 Van Dessel Arch65, 2019 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie, 2018 Van Dessel Motivus Maximus LTD, 2016 Van Dessel Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, 2015 Bianchi Sempre Pro, 1978 Trek TX900
Dream Bike – I’ll tell you when they make it
Discipline – Cyclocross, gravel, road and duathlons (ride/run)
Favorite Rides – Quiet country roads of Amish Country, some of the best roads around.
Food of Choice – Sweet potato roll
Beer of Choice – Unibroue Grand Reserve 17, aged four years
Bourbon of Choice – Widow Jane 10 Year
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