Headphones (who wears them)

[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?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Now.

How about those Cowboys?

Do THEY wear headphones too?

[Cassandra_Cain]

I like how this thread has gone from being strictly about headphones to now encompassing other things.....namely one's mind wandering....and, does such mental meandering count as a distraction???

Good discussion I think, one we should have.

My experience with this is that headphones, thoughts of bubble bath's while on a steep climb, etc - all constitute some level of distraction as compared to being absolutely, totally concentrated on one's every pedal stroke.

I would probably say the level of distraction and how much they affect your road awareness and peripheral sense - vary quite a bit.

Doing the trendy thing - slapping on an ipod to my jersey pocket and riding with headphones - for me, would represent a huge distraction. Like earplugs they block the noise of the road, but then also introduce more distraction in the form of music. That in my mind is openly and blatantly flirting with disaster.

Other things though like thinking about the lovely sunflowers alongside the road, whether some cute new beau or girl is going to return your call, and cherry pie when you are 20 miles from home - do remove you from that absolute, zeroed in, totally focused space. I'll say this though, IMO you can recover your focus a heck of a lot faster than you can with headphones.

I find the harder I ride, the more focused I am. On a recovery ride, I'm figuratively smelling the flowers, but then I'm also going at the slowest speed I ride....at the far end, when I'm doing intervals, I am absorbed by every pedal stroke, my heart beat, the line I'm riding, the road, etc.

[cherinyc]

'SIGH' why why why? why did I stop?

ok - here's the thing. everyone has valid points no matter what side of the debate you are on.
For those of you who talk about the music drowning out the sounds of nature...where I live, there is way too much traffic to be able to even hear nature, so it's good that YOU can enjoy it and you definitely should. Basically, I am used to riding in an area that does not have bike lanes, and we do not have designated bike paths, so my only option is to ride along roads that are too narrow, and not very well maintained. What that means is I am VERY aware of my surroundings regardless of what I hear. I just figure that there is never a time where I can let my guard down...so I don't.
I will listen to my iPod Shuffle w/ 1 earbud in (the one away from traffic) when I feel comfortable doing so. It is only loud enough for me to just hear it. Someone mentioned ambiance music previously. It's like that. For me, the wind in my ears is much louder than my music.

Now what I think is getting overlooked, and creating such passionate views from people who oppose "headphones" is that well.....how do I put this.....let's se.....oh yeah MOST PEOPLE ARE IDIOTS!!!! those not currently on, or associated with TE forum of course.
People who close off both ears with ear/headphones? IDIOTS
People who blast their music while riding? IDIOTS
People who say they listen to music to drown out the sound of traffic? IDIOTS

The experiences that some of you've had where the human obstacle in front of you didn't hear you coming because of said headphones? if, when you got along side that same person and you saw they didn't have headphones? you would just call them what? IDIOTS

The music faintly playing in my right ear is solely to give me a rhythm, a pace when I am climbing or something, not give me a distraction. My brain (when its tooo quiet) will cause me more of a distraction.

On organized rides, where any music is prohibited, I find there is usually a song in my head - and it is playing just as loud (if not louder) than my Shuffle would be. This past weekend, I did a 72 mile ride (my longest by far) and the song in my head was Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" though in my head it sounded more like "don't stop til you get it up". Don't you hate when you don't know the words to a song, but you sing it anyway and make the words up? Anyway, after 4.5 hrs of the same song in my head, I would've liked to be able to hit the "next" button and gone to a different track.

I think there are just some people who are oblivious to the fact that they are not alone on the planet, and that they could potentially be in someone's way, or they could be an IDIOT. That's what makes them such. But for the most part, it is still possible to listen to a little music AND be safe. Not everyone can do that.

I should've done a drive by....darn.

[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.