Biking and Music

[Rina]

I went for my longest ride yet on Saturday, a little over 9 miles. ( I just stared biking). After about 2 miles, I had to put on my headphones and listen to music. It made my ride so much easier.

I do realize the safety issue with riding with headphones. What are your views on riding with music?

[Irulan]

I've just gotten back into road riding after a 20- some odd year hiatus. DH and I were just discussing this very thing, and warning, it's a hot topic. I don't know how you can possible hear oncoming traffic with even one earbud in. We were riding in a lot of wind, and could hardly hear cars and motorcycles anyway sans music. I think it's really unsafe.

[tulip]

Bad idea.

[TsPoet]

If you must, then I think aridrives are the way to go. Music is still distracting, however, so even with being able to hear, you are more distracted than you think you are.
http://www.rei.com/search?query=airdrives

[Anelia]

I don't listen to music when I ride. I listen to my bike and to the surroundings. I only listen on the stationary bike in winter.

[Veronica]

If you must, then I think aridrives are the way to go. Music is still distracting, however, so even with being able to hear, you are more distracted than you think you are.
http://www.rei.com/search?query=airdrives

Do you listen to music in the car?

I think as adults we need to decide for ourselves and our own situations what is safe or not safe and whether or not our choices are worth the risk.

Veronica

[owlice]

If you can't ride without headphones, stay off the roads/trails where other people are. You don't have the right to make MY ride more dangerous because you can't hear me -- or someone/something else -- coming.

[Savra]

I listen to music in the car but my car is also bigger, enclosed and safer than a bike. If I don't hear a car that might hit me while in a car the odds I will survive an accident are exponentially bigger than if I don't hear a car I need to get out of the way of on a bike.
I don't listen to music and won't let my 13-year old do it either because it's impossible to hear that car behind you or the cars coming up in an intersection. I find it even more important when I need to make a left turn.

[malkin]

Not worth the risk of harm to myself and others.

[pll]

I listen to music in the car but my car is also bigger, enclosed and safer than a bike. If I don't hear a car that might hit me while in a car the odds I will survive an accident are exponentially bigger than if I don't hear a car I need to get out of the way of on a bike.
I don't listen to music and won't let my 13-year old do it either because it's impossible to hear that car behind you or the cars coming up in an intersection. I find it even more important when I need to make a left turn.

I see what Veronica means though: you might not hear the screams of a cyclist/pedestrian you have not seen and are about to hit. Yes, that is a risk and one must make the decision whether it is worth it.

Personally, the only occasion I use headphones is as a passenger in an airplane. Running or cycling, I like to be aware of every sound around me. In the car, I am not big into music except when on a highway.

[jyyanks]

I don't listen to music when I ride because I find it very distracting. The other day, I was on the paved bike trail and there was a couple in front of me riding with headphones on. I called out "on your left", rang my bike bell, and attempted to pass. The woman didn't even hear me. She was singing and leisurely riding and almost crashed into me as she weaved left just as I was passing. She was shocked that she almost caused an accident.

Sometimes when I'm on the trail and I don't have headphones, it's hard for me to hear approaching cyclists. I can't imagine what it must be like if I had them on or even worse, I can't imagine what it would be like on a busy road, since I ride mainly on a not-so-busy bike trail.

My opinion is that riding with headphones isn't worth the risk. You can seriously injure yourself or another person because you're not as focused on what's around you.

Being in a car is a bit different because, unless your music is blaring, you can clearly hear and see what's around you and you're not exerting any energy to physically move so all your concentration is on your surroundings. When I ride, I'm focused on my pedaling, looking for rocks/bumps on the road, correct hand position (I'm a beginner) and posture, music would just be another distraction.

[goldfinch]

I would love to have the music, I think it would help me. But I am with those who say it is a safety issue. Certainly never do it on a multi-use trail. I can't think of how many times I approach a jogger who has earphones and they can't hear me when I say that I am passing. Frustrating and dangerous for both of us.

I know some people use them on the open road but I feel like I really have to hear what might be coming up behind me. I often don't catch them in my mirror.

[Breella]

I listen to "music", but not on the road. (I actually listen to audio books) I listen only when I'm on the nature trail or in the big state park. I'm afraid of doing it on the road.

[Catrin]

I listen to the world around me on the bike - even if there weren't a safety concern, listening to music on the bike removes one of the reasons I love riding - to connect me to the world around me.

[bluebug32]

I tend to zone out on the bike a bit anyway and miss the occasional turn, etc. So I think music would be a bad idea for me. Plus I would feel like a real idiot if I didn't hear a car because I had headphones on. Great for the trainer in the winter, but I prefer the soundtrack of birds and nature in the summer.

[Maye]

Just think about this scenario: You are riding at the left side of the road and got a little bit distracted by the music and indadvertedly drifted to the right and didn't hear the approaching super fast cyclist behind you screaming "at your left" but you didn't hear him/her since you were listening to music on your headphones. The upcoming cyclist may be able to maneuver the bike and don't crash into you. If the cyclist is a newbie like myself still learning how to handle the bike in emergency situations, chances are that I'm going to crash either into you or other approaching objects/people. In my case, music makes me nervous instead of relaxing me because it deprives me of my hearing sense. Headwind also makes me nervous that's why I used a small rearview mirror to be sure that nobody is approaching me when I'm going to pass other cyclists or people. I still look back no matter what. I think this is a matter of safety (first) and education. Some states offer classes about road cycling and safety. In Florida the FL bike association offers clinics about cycling savvy which includes, safety, bike handling in emergencies and a 3 hour classroom session were other important topics are discussed as well. Check the internet to see if you can take advantage of courses offered in your area.

[Eden]

Ah one of the age old controversies...

It is my personal opinion that wearing headphones while riding a bike is dangerous and inadvisable. I firmly believe that simply plugging your ears (even if you keep the volume pretty low) takes your mind to a different place. It's not just the music.... its the earphones. In this state using headphones in a car is illegal - while certainly listening to the radio is not.

Some people will argue that headphones actually help them concentrate - so they like to use them to study etc. and that is why they feel safe riding with them. Actually, I totally believe that - and IMHO it backs up why I feel the totally opposite way. The headphones *do* help them in that manner. They allow the person to block out their surroundings and focus of the task of studying. Cycling, on the other hand, you need to have an acute awareness of all of your surroundings and be monitoring many things all of the time. Having good focus is not what you want. You need to be able to hear and process a great amount and I think headphones cut down on a person's ability to do both of those things.

[Crankin]

I am not into music at all, never know the names of songs or artists. That said, I usually have the radio on in the car, on a low volume. I never change the station, though!
I stopped using my I Pod for walking and running a few years ago, because I found I was fiddling with it too much and I just wanted to concentrate on the meditative aspects of running. And, the music didn't really help me go faster or inspire me. Not sure why I used the I Pod to begin with. Very occasionally I use it if I am on the treadmill at the gym, which never happens now, since I have a treadmill at home.
I cannot convince DH to not use his music when he commutes. He has one earbud in and is convinced he can hear everything. We have had several arguments over this. He's normally very safety conscious and I have given up. It disturbs me. Maybe, since I already have a slight hearing loss, I know I couldn't be as alert with music while riding.

[carolync]

A guy that rides in a group I ride with has a bike radio. It mounts on his top tube and uses bluetooth to play tunes from his smart phone. I can't remember the name, but he said they no longer make them, but you can find them on ebay.

Seems like a much safer solution than ear buds.

Here's a listing on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cy-Fi-Wireless-Sports-Speaker-Bluetooth/dp/B001L7X7ZG

[Norse]

Too dangerous for me and those I may encounter. The only time I listen to tunes on the bike is if I am sitting on the trainer in the basement! :)

[redrhodie]

I don't listen to music on the bike, but there's always a song playing in my head. Today I did a climbing ride, and the best song came on my internal radio, "Relax" by Frankie goes to Hollywood. Really good climbing song. At another point, "Road to Nowhere" by the Talking Heads was on.

I love music.

[lph]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but I ride with music, also in traffic. It's possible to do so safely, just as it is possible to ride a bike safely when deaf, but I would not go out and recommend it to anyone because your safety depends on you not zoning out and getting distracted, and scanning your surroundings actively and often. My personal opinion is that you have to do this anyway to be safe. Relying on your hearing to hear something coming and not using your eyes is very dangerous.

Just for the record, since the same points often come up: I can hear sirens, and trucks, and cars through my earbuds, I just can't hear them from as great a distance. I don't drift anywhere, left or right, without checking my back. I ride the same commute every day, and know where every single intersection and driveway is. I would be bored out of my skull, especially in winter, if I couldn't listen to music.

[Norse]

I don't listen to music on the bike, but there's always a song playing in my head. Today I did a climbing ride, and the best song came on my internal radio, "Relax" by Frankie goes to Hollywood. Really good climbing song. At another point, "Road to Nowhere" by the Talking Heads was on.

I love music.

Oh, that is so true ... especially climbing a hill on a solo ride. Sometimes I can't get my internal radio to stop repeating and just turn off!

[shootingstar]

I don't listen to any music on bike.

But then I forget to play music at home alot of the time. I actually find music directly going into my ear (via earbuds, etc.) for several hrs., gives me a slight headache. But sure, I listen to it at home.

I have had way too many incidents of enough solo cyclists that don't even saying anything nor ring their bell as a warning (if they have one) ride by me on either left or right (wrong!) side of me from behind me.

I've been cycling regularily for last 20 yrs.

*******There are alot of incompetent, inconsiderate cyclists out there who won't warn you in advice, when they want to/want to pass you from behind. This will increase, as the number of cyclists increase for some areas where cycling among populatin is increasing.

Of course, some of us have cycled in bear country. (I have.) Yea, on Vancouver Island, a cougar jumped from a height and onto a cyclist from behind. It was an attack.

[Irulan]

Of course, some of us have cycled in bear country. (I have.) Yea, on Vancouver Island, a cougar jumped from a height and onto a cyclist from behind. It was an attack.

What does this have to do with anything. It's not like you are going to hear a cougar before it attacks.... they are really good at stealth.

[Veronica]

.... they are really good at stealth.

So are my kitties. That shoe lace didn't know what hit it! And it's so funny when one of them jumps on the other. :D

Veronica

[carolp]

If I'm listening to music or the radio in the car I am NOT wearing headphones, so I think the comparison is a bad one. More than once I have almost had crashes with cyclists who are wearing headphones. It is just a bad idea.

[grey]

Most times I do not listen to music while riding. I prefer to hear nature. But - once in a while I'm alone and on a really boring stretch of road, I plug in the right ear so the left is still listening for traffic. It does help.

[TsPoet]

Do you listen to music in the car?

I think as adults we need to decide for ourselves and our own situations what is safe or not safe and whether or not our choices are worth the risk.

Veronica

Yes, and studies repeatedly show it's a bad idea. I do it, though. I also listen (with my airdrives) when I lumber (my version of jogging). But, not when I ride unless it's on a bike trail.

[Irulan]

Yes, and studies repeatedly show it's a bad idea. I do it, though. I also listen (with my airdrives) when I lumber (my version of jogging). But, not when I ride unless it's on a bike trail.


Maybe it's just me but I think ear buds on bike trails are the worst ( walkers, runners, bladers and bikers) I suspect people think that because there is no motorized vehicle traffic to worry about, they are safe. Wrong-o, imsho. The whole onyerleft onyerleft ONYERLEFT thing has been mentioned already.

[KBIKES]

Illegal in Florida.

[lovelygamer]

I considered using ear buds and quickly decided that would be unsafe. I need to hear everything. If I get bored, I listen for birds or the wind in the trees.:D

[maillotpois]

I was all alone on a double century a week or so ago (in fairness, I only did 150 miles, but I was alone most of the time). Sure, it got a little dull at times. But I also heard a hawk screaming at one point, which was one of the coolest things ever (this was shortly after I left your stop, Veronica).

I often get GREAT songs stuck in my head. :rolleyes:

[Maye]

Illegal in Florida.

Didn't know that they were illegal here. I have seen a lot of people using them in the Orlando area trails and even on the road.

[TsPoet]

Maybe it's just me but I think ear buds on bike trails are the worst ( walkers, runners, bladers and bikers) I suspect people think that because there is no motorized vehicle traffic to worry about, they are safe. Wrong-o, imsho. The whole onyerleft onyerleft ONYERLEFT thing has been mentioned already.

Check out the AirDrives - they are little tiny speakers that you hang in front of your ears. Awesome....

story: I ride a recumbent highracer - which means I ride a battering ram with my chainring out front. I was riding to work a couple of years ago (to work at 7 am), and a guy staggered out of the marina, wearing his white boating slacks and weaved all over the mutli-use trail. I yelled "on your left!" and he weaved right, then lurched left, I rammed my chainring right up the middle of the back of his white pants. Not intentionally, and I was going very slowly since I'd already figured out he was drunk... but left quite a "skid" mark for him to figure out later.
Yep, I know what that's like!
I hate earbuds, I won't wear them while typing they are so disorienting to me.

[deeannef]

I know in California, if you have earphones on while riding a cycle, you are automatically at fault regardless of what the other person did. Not worth it. I need to hear what is going on around me and what my bike is doing.

[Owlie]

Riding while wearing headphones is illegal here. I've contemplated taking my iPod with me, draping the earbuds over my neck and turning the volume all the way up so that I have music on long trail rides but can still hear everything.

[Amykins]

I listen to my iPod while riding sometimes. I don't know if you guys are aware, but iPods have an inbuilt speaker and you don't have to use ear buds at all. I just strap it to my forearm in an iPod arm band. The volume is low because the speaker is slightly covered in the arm band, so it can't be loud. Certainly loud enough for personal use though, but not enough to bother other people on the paved bike paths I ride.

I'd say that it is also not distracting me and perhaps even enhances my alertness as I use it when I get a little bored. Usually it is just there on my forearm doing nothing, until the last 30 minutes of a 2.5 hour ride, and I find this enlivens me. I generally (I'd say always, every time) hear bikers coming up behind me before they ring their bell to pass me. (I'm pretty new still and overweight, so I get passed a lot!) I have never gotten any surprises that I can recall because of the music being on. I can hear the birds and the creek, the sound of my tires on the pavement, and really everything imaginable quite well and it's a really nice experience. Riding with ear buds is unnecessary and I'd say extremely dangerous. I can only imagine why anyone would do that is that they assume that you need the ear buds for the device, but turns out you don't.

[Catrin]

I've given up on the whole "ONYERLEFT" thing as even those without buds don't seem to hear me, talking about pedestrians here. Instead I've taken to using my bell - several times - and saying "excuse me...EXCUSE ME", or "passing...CANIPASSYOU"

For me at least those seem to get attention much more quickly, though sometimes I am still forced to come to a screeching stop because someone is paying so much attention to the conversation they are in that they are oblivious to all else around them.

Music is one of those things that will always be debated about I think. I do have to struggle to not be irritated to those who ride with music blaring from their bikes (obviously not using buds) - inevitably it is someone who rides about my speed and I just..can't...get...away from them. I don't want to listen to their music. That is only because they have it much too loud though, I am sure they could set it at a lower volume so they could still hear it without disturbing those who don't want to hear it.

Thankfully this has only happened a couple of times to me, and I am quite sure that an iPod without buds isn't capable of getting near that loud!

[malkin]

I listen to the world around me on the bike - even if there weren't a safety concern, listening to music on the bike removes one of the reasons I love riding - to connect me to the world around me.


This too.
This world of ours is a pretty interesting place, isn't it?

[limewave]

I like to say "When you get a chance . . . "

Anywho, throwing my hat in: I choose to not ride with others if they wear earbuds/listen to music. Its a big reason I have stopped going on group rides. These young guys show up, thinking they're the s**t and wear earbuds--on a group road ride! I watched one of them nearly get blasted by a car as he finished his pull, sat up and moved out to the middle of the road. He was completely oblivious to everyone else in the group and the cars on the road.
I just don't believe their is a place for listening to music when you are riding with others.

However, I do occasionally listen to music when I do gravel road grinders or long bike path rides.

[Irulan]

There's always something like this:

Sleek Speak (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1294096266/sleek-speak-wireless-speakers-for-your-bike?ref=live)

http://i.imgur.com/dnyGD.jpg

[Irulan]

or,
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/98/376127634_4d58ecf0a5.jpg

[Maye]

Ha ha!! Love the boom box one! I was imagining all sort of songs that I can play in the boom box while riding.

[Irulan]

Ha ha!! Love the boom box one! I was imagining all sort of songs that I can play in the boom box while riding.


google "boom box on bike" images...... some of the get ups are pretty crazy.

[Maye]

Might as well cook while listening to music.

[lph]

I watched one of them nearly get blasted by a car as he finished his pull, sat up and moved out to the middle of the road. He was completely oblivious to everyone else in the group and the cars on the road.

:eek: that is appalling. I ride alone almost all the time, most of the time with music, but the few times I ride along with someone else I obviously take the buds out. Otherwise there would be no point in riding with other people :confused:

I have to admit that I'm a lot more tuned out of my surroundings and approaching cyclists from behind when I'm riding chatting with someone than when I'm listening to music... much less practice, and I'll be telling long, convoluted stories ;) and going slower too.

[GLC1968]

Illegal in Florida.

Wow, really? The state were there are no motorcycle helmet laws, no emission laws and no laws about talking or texting while driving makes it illegal to bike with headphones on?

Unbelievable.

[Irulan]

Laws, schmaws. It's not like these kind of laws get enforced very much.

I am convinced we could solve the local budget crisis if they'd just start writing primary offense cell phone use tickets in my state.

[Eden]

Laws, schmaws. It's not like these kind of laws get enforced very much.

I am convinced we could solve the local budget crisis if they'd just start writing primary offense cell phone use tickets in my state.

+++1 it is soooooooo sad how many people I see who still (hold a) phone and drive - even though it is *more* dangerous than drinking and driving - reaction times are actually slower..... (and that even goes for hands free, much less juggling the phone too).

[GLC1968]

Laws, schmaws. It's not like these kind of laws get enforced very much.

I am convinced we could solve the local budget crisis if they'd just start writing primary offense cell phone use tickets in my state.

Oh, I agree. Even with a mobile phone law, I see tons of people using them. Hell, we lost a tree in front of our house and our neighbors lost a fence due to texting accidents (two separate occasions) and no one was cited in either case. Laws don't change squat if no one enforces them.

My point was that in FL, they had an emissions law and a helmet law and both got revoked. In general, no one down there wants anyone else to tell them what to do. So how in the world did a 'headphone' law get passed?

[Eden]

My point was that in FL, they had an emissions law and a helmet law and both got revoked. In general, no one down there wants anyone else to tell them what to do. So how in the world did a 'headphone' law get passed?

Cyclists are a minority and are not considered to be relevant in politics.... I'd guess if you polled most Floridians they wouldn't care because it doesn't affect them or they'd hear "ban" and "cyclist" and the would be enough to make them think it was a good idea....

Emissions being revoked is a no brainer - more than enough people are motorists and selfish enough to not want to pay for emissions testing. Motorcycle helmets... well... even though most people are not motorcyclists I would guess there is enough cachet to capture people's imagination about the wind in their hair and taking away freedoms.... unlike headphones on cyclists where people don't put themselves in that place and probably just think - yeah stupid bikers jump out in front of me all the time, before they think about the government telling them what to do (cause unless I do it or think I might someday, or even imagine myself doing it, it's not relevant to anyone at all ya know).

Not that I'm defending anything here.... I don't think helmet or headphone laws are necessarily bad..

[PinkBike]

+1 to Veronica and lph.
Daily commute for the last 14-1/2 years gets boring.
It's much harder to hear when its windy than when I have earbuds.
Plus I listen to gospel and hymns so that gives me extra protection, right?

[malkin]

When I'm not listening to the world I'm like Lady Madonna....


Listen to the music playing in your head...

[owlice]

Are bicycles legitimate traffic? I hear so often that bikes have the right to ride on the road -- cue the hew and cry -- but then I see cyclists who don't adhere to the responsibilities of the road. I don't know whether headphone use while cycling is illegal here, but I do know that headphone use while driving a car is. Strikes me as irresponsible (and also stupid) to use headphones while driving; I'm glad it's illegal. How is it any better when someone is on a bike? I just do not understand how anyone could possibly justify the use of headphones while on a bike.

I see people do it; clearly a good number of my TE sisters use headphones. I still don't understand how anyone can justify it, aside from "I want to." Well, sometimes I'd like to use headphones when I drive if only to drown out the obnoxious music coming from the cars around me, but I don't because I need to be able to hear the cars around me, obnoxious music (~~ sigh ~~) and all, and that goes at least as much for when I'm on my bike as in my car.