Comments on: iHome iH85B review (an iPod speaker for your bicycle)

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:25:13 +0000

I have had mine for a year and like it very much. The speaker has got wet from rain, and that has diminished clarity. Overall, it works great, just the speaker should not get wet from rain.

By: Kevin Kaos

Kevin Kaos — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:28:20 +0000

I’ve had the iH85B for about a year and while swapping between century rides on my weekend bike and commuting on my 9 to 5 commuter bike, I’ve found a number of little problems with it.

First off, yes, the remote puck doesn’t remove from the mount easily. I’ve replaced two mounts so far. It’s cheaper just to buy two remotes and not remove them.

Second, you’ve mentioned the speaker cage issue and yes, it’s a pain. On anything less than a 56cm road frame the mount will make it impossible to use your second bottle mount. I’ve compensated by installing a water bottle cage on my handlebar, which gets in the way of the remote and the commuter lights. Not so good.

Lastly, and most important of all, the unit disconnects with only a little vibration. I’m not sure if this is the batteries rattling around in the battery area, or if it is the iPod shaking loose from the connector, but it takes very little to make the whole unit shut down, then repower up at very low volume. Every time I hit a bump in the road, or do a high speed descent, the unit turns off. I will be contacting iHome to see what they can do about this.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:30:16 +0000

Nice bit of kit…I’ve already got one bottle cage taken up with my air zound though, so I’d have to go without water for this set up (which just isn’t sensible on a 15 mile commute :P)

By: Adam Pieniazek

Adam Pieniazek — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:35:21 +0000

Sounds sweet. How’s it hold up to rain? Do you know if this setup works with an iPhone?

By: How to iterate towards your ideal commuter

How to iterate towards your ideal commuter — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:57:18 +0000

[...] and grew fenders. The handlebars sprouted comfortable extensions. The water bottle holder now holds my sound system. I’m still waiting for the opportunity to turn it into a NuFixie. Lest it should sound like I [...]

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[...] iHome iH85B review (an iPod speaker for your bicycle) [...]

By: Water bottles are the Altoids tins of bicycling hacks

Water bottles are the Altoids tins of bicycling hacks — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:36:24 +0000

[...] months ago, I wrote about the iHome iH85b (aka the “cycler”, the “Bike to Beach Bicycle Speaker for [...]

By: ari

ari — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:24:45 +0000

The New York Times just published an article about a group of young people building and riding their own mobile speaker systems, considerably more powerful than this one. Worth reading! Bicycles That Carry Powerful Beats, and Even a Rider or Two