Ultimate way to communicate while riding, an offline walkie talkie app? I find it super strange that there is no popular offline walkie talkie app for mobile devices. It could be really handy when you are biking with someone for a long distance! You could talk with your friends all the way without any problem. And the best part is that it is free because you will use local network Wifi, or bluetooth.

I have been searching for quite some time and the only app I found was Intercom. It does exactly what I need, provides an easy way to communicate without an internet. But the problem is that it is super glitchy! It can just stop receiving and transferring voice. If you use headset which could be really cool when it is loud on the road, like it usually is, it just does not use headsets. And so on. Very bad...

So the question remains! How to communicate with friends when you are on a ride?
Have you tried talking with the people you ride with? If traffic is too noisy to understand each other, look for different routes. What is more, such busy traffic is not the time and place for chit-chat.

On a moderately quiet road I find it easy, and pleasant, to chat while riding side by side.

When riding in a file yelling and gestures work well. If you go on a group ride it might be a good idea to agree on some useful phrases. Select them in such a way that similar phrases sound distinctive.

There are a few hand signs you may want to learn. Typically one uses the hand towards the centre of the road to indicate. Most symbols are displayed low, just beside one's buttocks.

Stop:
Flat hand up with bent elbow (not in USA, might indicate turn)
Hand down, palm facing rear.

Pot hole, obstacle:
Finger points, down, at line that leads into the hole.

Slow:
Flat hand with palm facing down, wrist extended, elbow angled, hand and lower arm parallel to ground, move hand slowly up and down.

Here's a video explaining some symbols: