Q: I've fallen in love with my e-bike! I ride it everywhere and need to stay in touch with my work responsibilities at all times. Do you have any recommendations for a Bluetooth single earpiece headset with microphone I can wear while riding? I don't trust an earbud in such an active environment, and figure I should get something with a headband to hold it in place.

A: While wearing headphones when riding a bicycle is banned in some states, it is legal in Minnesota. Nonetheless, I emphatically ask you to exercise caution when using any kind of headset while riding.

I do not have a specific recommendation beyond the type of headset. Start by searching Amazon for "Bluetooth cycling headphones" and look at bone conduction models that do not block your ears. You also should consider the Tribit StormBox Micro, an excellent Bluetooth speaker that has a microphone and a sturdy strap for affixing to bicycle handlebars. (tribit.com)

Hot stuff

An electric blanket can provide a comforting, warm feeling on a cold winter's day. What if you could take that feeling with you wherever you go? Heated clothing from iHeat and Aunroaa (iHeat for women) allows you to do exactly that.

Aunroaa and iHeat heated clothing uses high-tech, lightweight graphene heating elements powered by a removable, rechargeable battery pack. The pack can be charged via MicroUSB and USB-C, the latter also working as a charger for connected devices that support USB-C charging.

Two ordinary USB ports also are provided, one for powering the clothing and the other to charge your phone — something extra-useful because phones deplete their charge more rapidly in cold weather.

I tried a men's jacket and the unisex vest, and also had a women's jacket on hand to compare with the other items. The jackets and vest impressed me as quality garments and not just gimmicks. There are three separate heating zones, and each has three heat levels controlled by soft-touch buttons inside the jacket. When warmed up it feels very, very nice and makes the cold around you seem far away.

The jacket fit true-to-size for me, but only if I was not layering clothing beneath. That would have required the next larger size, but I am not sure how relevant that is given that making layering unnecessary is a main selling point of the product.

I suspect that the heated clothing would be appreciated by winter sports enthusiasts, outdoor workers, those attending outside sporting events, anyone who dislikes dressing in layers (like me) and those who simply love to stay nice and toasty warm. The only caveat, as I see it, are the limited color and style options. For now, it's like the original Ford Model T in that there's one shade — basic black.

Given the cost of a typical winter coat, the price is reasonable. The Aunroaa heated women's jacket and iHeat men's jacket are each $139.99, and the unisex heated vest is $89.99 on amazon.com.

Send questions to Don Lindich at donlindich@gmail.com. Get recommendations and read past columns at soundadvicenews.com.