Quote Originally Posted by pooks
So, what do you do? Do you feel safe listening to headphones or do you avoid it like the plague?
I don't wear headphones and I personally avoid riders who wear headphones like the plague. For the most part, I find them dangerous and inattentive, even if they're wearing only one ear.

On the Death Ride this year I was amazed at all the riders with iPods. The design of this course is inherrently dangerous -- riders go up one side of a mountain at the same time riders are coming down (at very high speeds) on closed roads (no cars). I would say at least 25% of the riders had headphones in BOTH ears (which is also illegal in CA). I almost quit calling out because no one ever heard anything!

When I ride, my motivation comes from the challenge of the ride, the scenery, the dialogue with other riders, and the sounds of nature. I don't need music or books or other entertainment to ride. I ride to get away from societal "noise." I want to be alert and aware of what's going on around me, both from a safety pov and because I want to become as connected with my environment as possible.