Headphones (who wears them)

[light_sabe_r]

I've found a VERY happy medium!

I DO NOT WEAR HEADPHONES

I use the loadspeaker function on my Nokia 6280 (which is alos my MP3 Player) and ride home with that. I listen too my music but it's ALWAY's instantly drowned out by an approaching car. It's in my back pocket of my jersey on my commute.

Headsets ARE dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I hate it when I ring my bell or call out to a jogger or dog walker meandering in front of me in the road only to find they are totally deaf to me because they are wearing earbuds. Incredibly dangerous and annoying. My DH used to wear them cycling but stopped when he himself began to realize he was not hearing traffic well enough.

Besides, I think part of the beauty of riding a bicycle is in being in tune with your environment- I love to hear all the tiny sounds around me when I ride:
the crickets, the tiny roadside stream gurgling, the birds, the sounds of the wind whistling through my helmet, the dry leaves scuttering across the road, the sound of my tires on the asphalt, the sound of my gears changing and clicking, the scolding squirrels, the hawk high overhead, someone raking leaves, a distant dog barking, the sound of children playing in their backyards...these sounds all feed my soul when I ride down the open road, and I myself on my bike become one of the sounds as well, I become one with them all. For me, it's really a sort of spiritual experience.

[pooks]

Yes, listening to music IS enjoyable while biking or jogging....but even aside from the hearing impairment, it DOES pull some of your concentration away from what's happening around you on the road at that instant, just like having your mind wandering.

Wait a sec -- now I can't think about my writing, work out plot points and characterization nuances and "listen" to dialogue in my mind while I'm cycling?

Besides, I think part of the beauty of riding a bicycle is in being in tune with your environment- I love to hear all the tiny sounds around me when I ride:
the crickets, the tiny roadside stream gurgling, the birds, the sounds of the wind whistling through my helmet, the dry leaves scuttering across the road, the sound of my tires on the asphalt, the sound of my gears changing and clicking, the scolding squirrels, the hawk high overhead, someone raking leaves, a distant dog barking, the sound of children playing in their backyards...these sounds all feed my soul when I ride down the open road, and I myself on my bike become one of the sounds as well, I become one with them all. For me, it's really a sort of spiritual experience.

But having a spiritual experience while you're riding doesn't distract you? It would me!

That sounds like a lot of distracting things going on there, to pull your attention away from the road and traffic (and potential traffic). Or maybe you're a better woman than I, and can listen to such things without having your mind wander....

I'm not picking you, Lisa. I enjoy your posts and your attitude. It just happens that these couple of posts by you seem to sum up eloquently what a number of people seem to be saying here and in previous threads.

I think it's fair to say that anybody with earpods or headphones who isn't able to hear what's going on around them is certainly a potential hazard and that's just plain stupid and dangerous.

But the attitude shared by many here that we mustn't ever let our minds wander, that we should find the experience of cycling so complete in and of itself that we don't NEED anything else, and if we do, there's something clearly lacking in us --

I think that's a lot of hooey.



Respectfully submitted by --

Pooks

[Bluetree]

My spiritual experience this morning involved singing the theme from "Rawhide" over and over through three beach cities. Considering my poor, sad singing ability, I'm sure more people on the bike path wished they were hearing impaired.

"My heart's calculatin'... my True Love will be waitin'... be waiting at the end of my ride..."

Joy
(Definitely of the NO headphone sect)

[pooks]

Don't forget Soul Man!

[spokewench]

I'm one of those people that is really not very spiritual. I guess I'm lacking in that respect. I do love biking, nature, the outdoors, but I guess I'm not really spiritual about it.

I AM ANTI-headphones because I think they are dangerous for the people using them and the other people forced to try to deal with those people on road or off.

My personal take on biking is that it should be fun and relaxing, and my personal take is that I don't want to be connected to anything (like a computer, a phone, an ipod, earphones, etc.) cause it defeats the purpose to me and the purpose to me is TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL. I really believe that people are too hooked up these days and biking is a good way to get away from that "always being available and hooked up to everyone else".

But, the real reason I'm anti headphones is that they are dangerous to the person using them and to me when I'm trying to ride by.

[uforgot]

Now I feel better! I'm limited in the amount of paved roads around here, and wasn't feeling terribly ambitious. Sunday, I wanted to ride, but not really go anywhere, so I loaded up my ipod and rode my bike at the high school track. Around and around in circles with no one else in sight. I listened to an audiobook....educational??? enlightening??? No way, a trashy murder mystery. I had a blast!!! I was somehow feeling a little guilty about that after reading this thread. No cars, no one else, but somehow I thought I wasn't experiencing riding properly.

[Kitsune06]

Move 'em on, head 'em up,
Head 'em up, move 'em out,
Move 'em on, head 'em out Rawhide!
Set 'em out, ride 'em in
Ride 'em in, let 'em out,
Cut 'em out, ride 'em in Rawhide.

Agh! Memories!

Pooks- I'm with you. There's a 4 mile stretch of my route that I rarely encounter another living soul on... and my mind wanders (being there as long as I am- slowpoke!)

Characters, dialogue, scenes, details, random poetry, the piece of my mind I'd give so-and-so "if they were here right now", etc etc... Just as distracting as music...

And I still occasionally listen to my headphones (yes Ma'am, I know...) but only really on that stretch (half of it is a gravel road only traveled by residents and the other half is a very minor side-road, similarly only traveled by residents...)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

But having a spiritual experience while you're riding doesn't distract you? It would me!

That sounds like a lot of distracting things going on there, to pull your attention away from the road and traffic (and potential traffic). Or maybe you're a better woman than I, and can listen to such things without having your mind wander....

The "spiritual experience" I feel from riding has more to do with being connected to everything taking place and passing around me. I am a part of all the events unfolding around me as I pass. In a car I always feel slightly removed from my surroundings. (I'm not saying you don't feel a part of YOUR surroundings mind you, I'm just describing here how I feel)
Far from being distracting, noticing the many varied noises as I move through my environment makes me MORE aware and alert to what's going on in front, back, and to either side of me. It's a sense of hyper-reality I've only felt before when walking alone in the snow in the forest. I guess that's the best I can explain it.

[suzieqtwa]

WOW!!!!! I didn't think this thread would be so controversial. I am one that does wear headphones (in one ear ,the one away from traffic). I felt bad after reading all the post ,and went on a 10 mile ride in" Beaverton" traffic without a headset on. My mind was so pre occupied by all the thoughts of the day ,and just thoughts in general. My concentration level was low. I know I'm more aware of traffic while wearing a headset. It may not work for everyone ,but it works for me. I ride to the right of the bike lane ,and turn around every so often to make sure no one is behind me. I can hear cars very well. I never wear them when I'm riding with someone. I wont wear them next Sunday on my 40 mile group ride.
You talk about the sounds of nature , birds etc...well the sound of wind can block out the sound of traffic. A head set helps with the sound of wind.
Suzie

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You talk about the sounds of nature , birds etc...well the sound of wind can block out the sound of traffic. A head set helps with the sound of wind.

So do earplugs.

[pooks]

So do earplugs.

LOL! But earplugs would stop you from hearing oncoming traffic, wouldn't they?

I do understand about spirtual experiences! I just think it's okay for people to get different things out of cycling, and believe me, there were times this summer when I was chugging my fat bum around our quiet neighborhood on my bike, dripping sweat, feeling the skin on my arms roasting, that if I hadn't been able to distract myself with my audiobook (in one ear) I would have ridden around the block one time and called it a workout!

The first time the air turned cool, riding was so glorious I couldn't stand to have the earbud in and just rode for the joy of it!

But my neighborhood has very little traffic. I can ride a two to two-and-a-half mile loop and see only one or two other vehicles on the road, and I hear the coming long before they get to me, earbud or not.

I can't listen to music because it WOULD distract me -- I do get "involved" with music. But as long as I choose the right kind of book (light, little concentration needed, and if I miss some of it I don't really care) it helps me NOT think about how hot I am, how much my thighs burn, etc.

Now.

How about those Cowboys?

[DDH]

Well, I am just so happy to be able to come on here, read so many good and valid points, ponder them and be given the opportunity to make up my own mind. It's all good , we are all individuals with varying opinions and points and isn't it wonderful to be able to voice them openly.

I just think you girls are all the greatest.


Okay, slop, slop, just trying to lighten things up a little. Howd I do? LOL

I really do think you are all great though, and I really do learn a lot from you all.

[guanajagirl]

I wear them. I try to stay aware, keep the volume low and plan what roads and time iam going to keep it safe.

[Denise223]

Hi Everyone!

No, I WILL NOT wear headphones while riding my bike!!

Even with the volume set at LOW, IMHO, it's my feeling that 100% of your attention is NOT on riding your bike AND the environment around you.

If you are DRIVING YOUR BIKE, then you need to PAY ATTENTION -- YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS.

I won't wear headphones and I won't ride with anyone who wears them.

Stay safe!

Denise