Headphones (who wears them)

[Pascale]

Personally, I think responsible, courteous people are that with or without headphones, and those who aren't courteous people are the same with or without headphones.

I do wear them on the railtrails - I wear them when it's not busy (and it rarely is when I go). I don't enjoy listening to my own breathing, it simply makes my mind think about whatever problems are on my mind and that is REALLY distracting to me PERSONALLY. Nobody sneaks up behind me, I have a mirror. When someone approaches me from behind, I physically acknowledge them so they don't have to guess whether or not I know they are there. I keep my head up, I look around, if I look like a victim with them, I'm going to look like one without them too - I'm not spacing out and watching my tires roll. I've heard the deer rustling before they've wandered onto the trail with my headphones on - and they are the most likely obstacle I'm ever going to run into on these trails.

I've been stuck behind (usually men) on a leisurely ride who are yapping with each other riding side by side that I can't pass. No, they don't have headphones on, but I guarantee they are far more oblivious to their surroundings than I am.

I don't ever wear them on public roads. I wouldn't wear them when the rail trails are busy. I have been treated far less courteously than I've ever treated anyone else on the trail --

[Mimosa]

I tried it but I didn't like it. I missed out on to much of those little noises that the other traffice makes. So I opted to no longer do it.

[suzieqtwa]

Pascale.............Good point about being just plain courteous, with or without headphones.
I did a 46 mile Charity ride this Sunday ,and there were 2 road bikes side by side ahead of me ,obviously bored with the ride ,just chatting. I was behind them on my hybrid just trying to gain speed to get up this steep hill I was looking at. They were oblivious that I was even behind them ,and kept on chatting.
After all the reading on this subject I chose not to wear headphones anymore...not because of the chirping birds ,or "spiritual experience" I may have ,but for my family ,pets ,and I'm going to be a Grandma in February.
I do believe when I wore headsets I could hear what was going on around me. I had them low ,and I was always riding to the right ,and checking behind me. Bikers get hit around here on a daily basis ,and I don't want to be one of them.
Suzie GO RAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

After all the reading on this subject I chose not to wear headphones anymore...not because of the chirping birds ,or "spiritual experience" I may have ,but for my family ,pets ,and I'm going to be a Grandma in February.

Are you saying you think you'd be safer if you weren't wearing them?

I do believe when I wore headsets I could hear what was going on around me. I had them low ,and I was always riding to the right ,and checking behind me.

If you can sufficiently hear what is going on around you, then why stop wearing them?

[suzieqtwa]

Sometimes the wind blows out the ear piece....One less thing to worry about when Im riding.