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101 uses for a mobile!
In a fell race.
I just saw the requirement of carrying a mobile in the Edale Skyline race next March but I just can't imagine my O2 mobile being of any use what so ever though. I get one bar if I stand on one foot, on top of a stool in the kitchen at home, pretty much no signal anywhere else in the Dales, none in the Lakes, none in Snowdonia (the local shop in Bedgellart last time I was there was hiring orange mobiles to tourists :)) and I don't hold up any hope for a signal in the Peak District.
So what possible use will my mobile have? Here's a few ideas:
1. The extra weight in my bum bag will make me exert more energy, thereby keeping me warmer by 0.00017895012 of a degree.
2. Should I break my leg on one of the tops, I can play Backgammon II to while away the time while waiting for mountain rescue
3. Or even use the mobile as a bit to bite on, while a kindly passer by resets the bone for me.
4. Pretend I'm on the phone when one of the marshalls trys to kit check me at the start having forgotten my wooly hat.
Or what else?
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Transfer to Vodaphone?
Certainly gives me good coverage in most upland areas, particularly Scotland.
I only have it because the wife reckons that it 'stops her from worrying about me'. I have pointed out that Amundsen went to the Pole without one and Hilary topped out on Everest without one. Do I really need one, when I'm just going to 'the end of the street'??
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
It seems disappointing but somewhat inevitable that we're expected to carry a mobile with us. One of the nice things about being out on the fells is to get away from the modern world for a few hours.
Guess I'll want to start looking for an ultralightweight mobile that I don't mind getting trashed by water (or worse- bog) penetration.
Not sure whether to enter this year as is the week before the Highlander MM and not sure how quickly I'd recover. Maybe the thought of carring a mobile will be just enough to put me off...
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
I ve never been able to get a recption in the peak district using O2.......
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stolly
In a fell race.
Or what else?
5. 'Phone a friend' if you get lost?
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FellMonster
I ve never been able to get a recption in the peak district using O2.......
Im going to abuse you during the race via the medium of text:cool:
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
gyppo
It seems disappointing but somewhat inevitable that we're expected to carry a mobile with us. One of the nice things about being out on the fells is to get away from the modern world for a few hours.
Yeah I agree and what about those people who still don't have mobiles? Presumably they won't be able to run? As it is I'm not sure I will be telling my employer what I intend to do (carrying their mobile). I can imagine popping into the office on the following Monday and explaining the good and bad news - 'it was minus 10 up there and I fell into a bog up to my neck - luckily I managed to crawl out, wrap myself in a survival blanket and survive. I'm not sure whether my mobile still works though as its caked in solidified bog slime :)'.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
gej
5. 'Phone a friend' if you get lost?
6,
throw it at the person in front of you knocking them out just for a short while therefore going up the field to a fantastic place even i think the term is called winning what ever that is:confused:
I alas would have a very sore arm!
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Amex
6,
throw it at the person in front of you knocking them out just for a short while therefore going up the field to a fantastic place even i think the term is called winning what ever that is:confused:
I alas would have a very sore arm!
and your rivals would have VERY sore heads:D
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
it doesn't mention that it has to work! I'd take an old one with the battery removed!
What a daft idea having mobile on the kit list. We should be trying to get people to look after themselves and make their own decisions whether they should get off the hill if the weather is bad. Instead what might happen is folk push on because they know that safety is only a call away!
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stolly
Yeah I agree and what about those people who still don't have mobiles? Presumably they won't be able to run?
I don't have waterproofs, bumbag, maps, whistle or compass. Can I run anyway?
:)
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FellMonster
I ve never been able to get a recption in the peak district using O2.......
But even if you can't get an O2 signal you will still be able to make emergency calls using 999 or 112 provided another network has coverage. You just won't be able to phone any other ponies to ask for directions :rolleyes:.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
How long before we have to carry a GPS? I can see it coming.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Well when it does thats when I pack in fell running and go back to doing the roads :mad:
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
I don't think it should be compulsary , but if one has the option of carrying a light piece of equipment that could save your life , it seems worth it. if you know your phone won't work then obviously it'd be dead weight. I always carry mine , usually switched off.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
amadablam
it doesn't mention that it has to work! I'd take an old one with the battery removed!
What a daft idea having mobile on the kit list. We should be trying to get people to look after themselves and make their own decisions whether they should get off the hill if the weather is bad. Instead what might happen is folk push on because they know that safety is only a call away!
I am heading up the organizing of the skyline racefor Dark Peak. I am also a member of the local mountain rescue team.
I know from years of experience, that having a mobile at the scene of an incident before MR or others emergency services can attend makes a massive difference, enabling the incident to be dealt with quickly and efficiently.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
I know of at least one quality fell runner with mountain leadership skills who doesn't own a mobile.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wheezing donkey
Transfer to Vodaphone?
Vodafone didn't work anywhere in the Edale valley last friday:o
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
The Edale Skyline Handicap Fell Race.
Entrants will be handed mobile phones ranging in age and size. To level things out a bit, the likes of Tim Austin will be forced to carry a mobile the size of a house brick.
I on the otherhand will limp to the entry desk to justify my thumbnail sized phone.
Seems fair.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AndyJ
I am heading up the organizing of the skyline racefor Dark Peak. I am also a member of the local mountain rescue team.
I know from years of experience, that having a mobile at the scene of an incident before MR or others emergency services can attend makes a massive difference, enabling the incident to be dealt with quickly and efficiently.
Hello Andy - I'm one of hose who doesn't own a mobile out of deliberate choice. I'm also quite willing to borrow one for the race. However, I've already sent my entry off without filling in the mobile number part of the form; is this going to be a problem?
Cheers - Raymond
p.s. if you can't give me an answer could you point me towards someone who could?
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
david
But even if you can't get an O2 signal you will still be able to make emergency calls using 999 or 112 provided another network has coverage. You just won't be able to phone any other ponies to ask for directions :rolleyes:.
I'm 99% certain that this is a popular fallacy. In the rest of the EU (and probably the world for all I know) this *does* work but not in the UK. It's all to do with roaming agreements between mobile companies (which don't exist in the UK).
Have a look at this thread. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?p=1862383
I'm sure a definitive answer is available somewhere on the net but I can't be bothered finding it at the moment. :D
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Raymond Hickman
Hello Andy - I'm one of hose who doesn't own a mobile out of deliberate choice. I'm also quite willing to borrow one for the race. However, I've already sent my entry off without filling in the mobile number part of the form; is this going to be a problem?
Cheers - Raymond
p.s. if you can't give me an answer could you point me towards someone who could?
Hi Raymond- no problem, you will be asked for it at the registration in the village hall on race day.
Andy
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AndyJ
I am heading up the organizing of the skyline racefor Dark Peak. I am also a member of the local mountain rescue team.
I know from years of experience, that having a mobile at the scene of an incident before MR or others emergency services can attend makes a massive difference, enabling the incident to be dealt with quickly and efficiently.
The nanny state.
You could fit all runners with movement and position transmitters and then go and seach for anybody who is stationary for a period of over two minutes.... just in case they are unconsious. This would also save valuable minutes.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
One or two of you have come close to saying it.
Mobile phones in fell races. Bollocks.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chris
One or two of you have come close to saying it.
Mobile phones in fell races. Bollocks.
Organisers of fell races take responsibilty and make decisions concerning the welfare of those who take part in their events.
I have made it perfecly clear above my reasoning behind this move.
One other decision I have made is that you/xrunner and anyone else who do not like this decision are not welcome at the skyline.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AndyJ
One other decision I have made is that you/xrunner and anyone else who do not like this decision are not welcome at the skyline.
Blimey is it me or is that a massive over reaction? See the funny and ironic side for chuffs sake.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AndyJ
One other decision I have made is that you/xrunner and anyone else who do not like this decision are not welcome at the skyline.
It's my ball and I'm taking it home, so there!
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
runningfool
I'm 99% certain that this is a popular fallacy. In the rest of the EU (and probably the world for all I know) this *does* work but not in the UK. It's all to do with roaming agreements between mobile companies (which don't exist in the UK).
That's very interesting. I based my comment on a little bit of knowledge of the GSM specification, the fact that I know it works in other European countries and some (perhaps erroneous) information I got from O2 10 years or so ago when I first signed up with them. There is certainly much on that discussion forum and others to suggest that you are correct and I am wrong but I can't find a definitive answer from any of the network operators. Perhaps they are too ashamed to admit what they have done?
If it is the case that emergency calls don't work across networks then I suggest that carrying a mobile phone in a race will be of dubious value for many of us, unless race organisers are going to start specifying which mobile network we must be using for their particular race :rolleyes:.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
a phone would have been no good last year as i wouldnt have been able to press the buttons my hands was that numb :eek:
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stolly
Blimey is it me or is that a massive over reaction? See the funny and ironic side for chuffs sake.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stolly
Blimey is it me or is that a massive over reaction? See the funny and ironic side for chuffs sake.
there is no funny or ironic side to it.
the fact is that i and others spend a lot of time organizing these events and it gets annoying when all others can do is make negative comments.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AndyJ
Hi Raymond- no problem, you will be asked for it at the registration in the village hall on race day.
Andy
Thanks will do.
Cheers - Raymond
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AndyJ
there is no funny or ironic side to it.
the fact is that i and others spend a lot of time organizing these events and it gets annoying when all others can do is make negative comments.
andy
thanks for taking on the role of organiser mate
you will find no negative comments here , i think people are being a bit negative about this , at the end of the day your basically just carrying something round that weighs the same as a bloody tracker bar.
Its just they are thinking god its a mobile phone, technology, i dont need that ive ran races for years without one , why now??????. People dont like change.
Cmon guys , like Ian DP says without the likes of andy we wouldnt have a race FFS:confused:
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
I take my mobile with me on most runs out of choice. But I'm not sure I like the idea of enforcement. I can see the reasoning behind such a move bit surely, a more diplomatic way to achieve this would be to encourage people to bring their phones (and, if you like, offer a discount to those that do. The higher price for non-phone carriers is justified by the potential extra trouble of rescuing them if needed).
The approach of 'You'll carry them coz I say so, like it or lump it' causes problems because it goes against the grain of why so many people fell race...to get away from the modern world for an hour or 2 and survive on their own wits and ability. And to get away from rule makers and enforcement. Well, you might say 'Fine, stay away from the Edale Skyline' but this is the thin end of several wedges. Its discriminatory. And as others have said, it opens the door to yet more kit requirements and may encourage people to press on when naked common sense would say stop. And thats besides all the obvious technical failings of this requirement.
It's surely not too late to reconsider how you want to put this across?
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
In five years' time a mobile will be on the FRA required kitlist. This is just the first of many, and the first always gets shot at.
In the light of the wild, wild conditions in which last year's race were held, and the requirement of the Edale MRT to ferry significant numbers of runners who were on the verge of hypothermia off the hill, I think that this is an entirely reasonable request.
I'd suggest that they keep a number of old, basic phones at registration to lend to those that "forget".
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Don't know what I'm doing on this thread anyway. I'm gutted that I won't get back from holiday until the day after the skyline.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
And this year the race may well be held in balmy, clear conditions. Thats the beauty of fell racing, you never know what you're gonna get.
Are we really suggesting that this is the way to go? Given the above comments, what would there be to stop an insurer looking at things and seeing which way the wind is blowing and starting to insist that all long races would require full MM type kit (including tent etc etc)??
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
daz h
Cmon guys , like Ian DP says without the likes of andy we wouldnt have a race FFS:confused:
Very true Daz, but no-one in any position in any walk of life should be, or even think they should be, above criticism.
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Wheeze
And this year the race may well be held in balmy, clear conditions. Thats the beauty of fell racing, you never know what you're gonna get.
Absolutely, but shouldn't the organiser be prepared for the worst?
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Would Judith Taylor still be alive today if she had been able to use a mobile phone to summon help in the Kentmere horseshoe fell race?
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Re: 101 uses for a mobile!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
marty mcfly
I'd suggest that they keep a number of old, basic phones at registration to lend to those that "forget".
Or people without a mobile phone should be made to carry change to use in a phone box