Postboxer wrote:I was searching for something the other day and came across my old mobiles, they used to be more fun, now they all look the same. I had a walkman one, ones with slidy bits, flipping bits, fold out keyboards, slides and rotating dials to uncover the lens and start up the camera. Now they are all just flat rectangles, with few buttons. On the plus side, I always found the buttons to be one of the first things to break and so far seem to be quite good at not cracking screens. My wife was upset that her new phone she had only had for a few months seemed to start spontaneously cracking. After being sad and watching it slowly spread for several months, we realised it was only the screen protector cracking and the actual phone was fine. We were both very glad we hadn't taken it to a shop for repair, that would have been very embarrassing.
I always take a phone so I can log on strava that I've been and find out where I am when I'm lost. Passed the same lady three times in quick succession the other day as I repeated a small loop once I figured out where I needed to be and she had gone around once the other way. Also need it when the kids are in school in case there are any problems and I have to rush back, although there are times when I won't be able to get there much quicker.
Other people can follow and track you if you have one of these i-phone things ? that sounds a bit disturbing.
I have an old style phone that just does phone and texts, it is handy to have so as I can text the wife if I decide to extend the ride to say I will be back later. I do keep it switched off all of the time and presume I can't be tracked when its off?
Have also found it reassuring having it with me during lockdown, if in the event of serious mechanicals I would not be able to knock on someones door and say "Can I use your phone" and also not much hope at the moment in hitching a ride (with front wheel in hand I would normally hope a car driven by a fellow cyclist would stop, it worked once for me a few years back)