ActiveTunes iRide stereo system
by Nolan Chase, age 16
The iRIDE is a bicycle stereo system from Active Tunes. It is a small set of speakers that mount on your handlebars or frame, to replace headphones. Riding your bike on the streets while wearing headphones can be a dangerous practice, as headphones can keep you from hearing things around you. As long as you heed the label warning you to keep the volume lower than the traffic, you can still listen to music while you ride, without tuning out your surroundings.
In the package, we got a speaker set, a neoprene pouch, a male-male 3.5mm cord, a USB 4.5v DC adapter for hooking it up to a laptop, a mount for attaching it to your handlebars, rubber pads for securing the mount, and a rubber band emergency strap for keeping the speakers in the mount.
When we first plugged the iRIDE into a CD player, we were assaulted by the sound of distorted music screaming from the speakers. As we turned down the volume (and turned off the bass boost on the CD player we were using) we discovered that, if you keep the bass down, these are actually quite good speakers for their size and price. They can play music at a good volume without becoming distorted and unpleasant.
As we mounted it to the handlebars of the bike, and started screwing the mount tight, we realized that the hole that the screw goes into was not threaded, and so while tightening it, we were also threading it. Not a big deal, but it could be for someone who has trouble using a screwdriver. The speakers click into the mount, and can be easily removed to prevent theft.
Now, for the test ride. We rode it around the block, and without distorting, the iRIDE is easily loud enough to be heard over traffic, and the cord is long enough to go to a CD player in your pocket, or an MP3 player attached to the frame in a neoprene pouch. While riding on a bumpy road, you could have some trouble with keeping it attached, which is why it came with a rubber band emergency strap to help keep it on.
As Oregonians, we wanted to know about its water resistance. When asked about it, Active Tunes president Mick Kless said, “I take the same care with it as I do with my iPod”.
Pros: Good sound quality, Useful, Compact, Safer than wearing headphones, inexpensive at $29.99.
Cons: Not waterproof.
Active Tunes iRIDE
MSRP $29.99
PO Box 2081
Ocean, NJ 07712
Ph: 732.922.2033
www.active-tunes.com
Possibly Related
- January 2008: My bike is reverse-engineered
- July 2007: What I learned in school this year
- May 2007: CETMA racks are on the attack
- July 2008: Get your kicks on a Kickbike
- March 2008: BMX racing: a rider's perspective
I bought a speaker which worked for a while and then started to short out.
I was promised a replacement twice, but never received one.
I then contacted Mick Kless who said to return the speakers for a refund.
After a few weeks, I emailed him asking if he received the speakers. He replied saying that a check will be mailed 07/01/08. It is now 7/26/08 and no check.
I have emailed him twice with no reply.
I have gone to the Better Business Bureau twice now.