"Avoid using headsets to listen to music"

[SadieKate]

Whoo boy. You asked a loaded question. We discussed this in depth a while back.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ght=headphones

2) I can still hear everything around me, . . .

Regarding this comment which I hear frequently from people using earphones: How do you know you can hear everything? I haven't run a formal test and kept records but anecdotally I would say that 100% of earphone users that I pass on the road or bike path do not hear me coming. They do not hear me say (loudly), "On yer left" until I am shouting it in his or her ear while praying that they don't swerve into me. This includes runners and skaters. It also doesn't appear to matter whether it is one or both ear buds. Piece 'o cake to sneak up on these folks.

Since I am not intent on criminal activities, I just take the opportunity to make loud comments about them. They never hear me and it provides me a good giggle.

[denda]

I ride with a radio every time.

[chickwhorips]

i listen to music most of the time i ride, but i don't have to worry about traffic.

my hardest thing is i get so involved in thinking or wanting to train a certain way i lose track of where i am. i've snapped out of it and gone how did i get here already?

[oxysback]

Just chiming in here:

I got a snazzy new ipod accessory that hooks onto my handlebars (www.marware.com. Great stuff!). Anyway, I got it during the winter and hooked it on while I was riding on the trainer. I thought it would be a great idea for rides in general, but when I was ready to get out on the road for the first time I felt funny using it (mostly because I didn't want to crash and break it!). Now I reserve my handlebarclipyipodthingy (yes...the true technical term) for rides on the trainer only. I think I'd be uncomfortable with anything in my ears!

[Trekhawk]

Since I am not intent on criminal activities, I just take the opportunity to make loud comments about them. They never hear me and it provides me a good giggle.

LOL - thats too funny.

[Eden]

I'm in the absolutely no headphones camp. People who say they are fine and can hear everthing since they don't turn their headphones up very loud or wear one earbud belong in the same camp as those who drink and then say they are just fine to drive in my eyes. They don't understand how dangerous they are being.

Being on a trail is no excuse - its almost worse than being on the road - sure there is no car traffic, but trail use (at least to me) almost seems inherently more dangerous than road riding even without tons of folks off in their own little worlds. I don't even think that joggers/ skaters etc. who are on multi use trails should be allowed to use headphones.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I'm in the no headphones camp. And I also won't ride with anyone who insists on wearing them.

--- Denise

[SadieKate]

You should see the students on the univ campus riding through traffic circles, no hands, an iPod bud in one ear and a cell phone in the other. Wouldn't this qualify as illegal in California where two earphones are illegal? Neither the state law nor the campus rules state anything about the headphones being attached to the same source.

University at rush hour is a death trap.

Pooks, I know that you say you're riding in only your own neighborhood, but I find that people tend to run stop signs and rush willy-hilly through neighborhoods more than other places. It's like they take for granted that the low traffic volume means that all bets are off.

[farrellcollie]

I also use my ipod to listen to books on tape (love those popcorn mysteries from audible.com) when I am alone and not around traffic or lots of other types of traffic or doing manuevering that takes concentration (like going up or down a mountain). I find a big difference between BOT and music - I could not listen to music and bike but I wouldn't say that no one could.

[chickwhorips]

if i lived in a more populated area i wouldn't wear earbuds or listen to music. i'm way to worried about someone else doing something they shouldn't if its a car or a person walking. people and/or animals are so unpredictable.

[mimitabby]

if i lived in a more populated area i wouldn't wear earbuds or listen to music. i'm way to worried about someone else doing something they shouldn't if its a car or a person walking. people and/or animals are so unpredictable.

what about mama bears???!!!

[Bike Goddess]

I'm with Velogirl on this one. I've never used any kind of headphones, ipods, or what have you when I'm out cycling.

I too think this is a dangerous activity regardless of where you live, cycle, run, etc. I get distracted enough with my own "self" conversations without adding mechanical devices to the mix.

[chickwhorips]

what about mama bears???!!!

if i'm around an area that seems high risk (lots of hiding places) for running into a bear, i take off my headphones, but then again if there is a bear in the area you can usually smell them before seeing them if the wind is right.

[Aggie_Ama]

I listen to them when I am running. And I admit slightly louder than I should. I should heed the warning and not think my trail is safe.

NEVER on a bike. I have enough trouble hearing cars over the wind!

[Susie]

I have to admit, I occasionally use my iPod when riding alone, but only on long rides (50+ miles) to try to keep my cadence up. I keep the volume low and I've found that I actually hear cars better than without the pods in my hears. Without the pods, the wind in my ears generally drowns out most noises, including cars until they're basically right on top of me. With the pods, the wind is blocked and I can hear things better. But again, I keep the volume low so that the music is more of a background noise and I never use it when I'm riding with others.

Susie