There is no doubt that more and more electronics are creeping into our everyday lives, and riding bikes doesn’t seem to be an exception. With more devices accompanying bikers on the road and trail, it seems we need more ways to safely manage their use. The new Terrano X wireless communication device aims to be one solution, linking cyclists by bluetooth to their mobile phones, but also going one step further and linking rider to rider.
The small helmet-mounted Terrano X device uses open ear speakers and omni-directional mic to deliver both communication and entertainment on the bike. That lets you hear audio from the device without blocking out the sounds of the environment around you. And the microphone has been specifically designed to be operated at speed without picking up excessive background wind noise.
While many wireless headsets and the like are designed for a mix of active sports, the Terrano X was developed just for cyclists, and focuses around what they claim is an unobtrusive helmet mount setup. The brains of the communicator attach to the top of the helmet in a small housing designed to take the abuse of day-to-day riding, but not substantially affect the aerodynamics or safety performance of the helmet itself. Its streamlined form and location on the top of the head give it improved range which lets it communicate to other Terrano X devices up to 1700ft/520m away.
This rider-to-rider communication is one of the hallmark features of the $150 device ($280 for a pair.) The intercom is designed to link either 3 riders on a conference style call, or up to four in a group for one-to-one talks. Bluetooth pairing to other mobile devices lets you use it as a typical hands free device to place and receive calls, get audio notifications, and stream stereo music while you ride.Voice activated control lets you benefit from its complete functionality without taking your hands off the bars.
The all-weather device claims easy setup and operation, plus 6 hours of talk-time and 1 week of standby on a single charge. More info on the devices are available at Terrano’s web site, and they can be purchased now through their Amazon web shop.
