ipod while group riding

[limewave]

I know this topic has come up before, but I'm bringing it up again. What's your opinion on it?

Right now I'm rather peeved at someone who always shows up to our group rides with ear buds on. He does the yo-yo thing where he pedals real hard to catch up, brakes(!), and then coasts. I got stuck behind him and had to swerve off the road to avoid crashing.

Then, last night, after doing his pull, he almost got blasted by a truck when he dropped back. Not only did he not look to see if cars were coming, but he swerved out into the middle of the road instead of inching over a foot or two!!!! He probably could have heard the truck coming (it was a diesel) if he didn't have headphones on. I've never been so freaked out on a ride before.

Do you guys think its appropriate to wear headphones when riding in a group? I feel like he is endangering the rest of us by not being as alert as he could be.

[silver]

I have very definate ideas of safety and I would not ride with someone who wore headphones.

I'd say, "I won't ride with you if you are wearing headphones." to others, I'd say, "I won't be riding with Fred since he's wearing headphones. I'll be riding by myself unless you all would like to join me."

I actually wonder if it's legal.

[indysteel]

Absolutely not. It sounds like somebody needs to have a talk with this guy about the headphones and a few other safety issues. He's going to hurt himself and/or others at some point.

On that note, we had our first paceline accident at last night's tire ride. Tire contact. Three riders down, one with a broken collarbone and one with a bad cut on his arm and a carbon bike that's toast. It was a sobering reminder that pacelines/group riding can be dangerous. It's not clear whether anybody was riding recklessly last night; it may have just been a bit of bad luck.

In any event, I've thought twice about pointing out bad habits before to other riders. I've decided that I need to be a lot more assertive in that regard.

[limewave]

I think I might email the LBS guy who heads up the ride to let him know. Maybe he can have a group ride ettiquete day or something. We have a lot of new riders that don't know anything about riding in a group. When there are only 2 or 3 of us out of 13 that have experience and knowlege about group riding, it's hard to teach it to the majority who don't seem to care and just want to ride fast.

[Kimmyt]

I was on a group ride, a more beginner type group, so ettitquette was a bit... off, anyway a guy not in our group comes up and jumps in the middle of the group. As far as I know he just saw us and hopped in, then later on went on his own way. Well, the problem was, the entire time he was riding with us (in front of me and in the middle of a few riders) he was on his cell phone. Now, I'm sure his bike handling skills were very good, he seemed like an extremely competent cyclist, however I question the judgement of someone who would jump into a group of cyclists of unknown skills (and as some riders were obviously newer to cycling, using flat pedals, on hybrids, etc.) and talk on their cell phone.

Luckily there were no accidents, but I was fuming the entire time.

K.

[missymaya]

I do not ride with headphones on the road and maybe sometimes on the trail when it's very desolate. Sometimes I don't have a choice but to ride with those who have earbuds on. My Saturday ride has a lot of riders and there's always a couple of people with earbuds on, I just try to avoid them. In Florida, it is illegal to wear ear buds on while on the road.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

There are I think already three other l-o-n-g threads on TE concerning the wearing of earbuds while riding.

As to the guy joining the group and talking on his cell phone the whole time...well why didn't anyone SAY anything??? It's so obviously rude, dangerous, and distracting.
No matter what kind of behavior it is- if it puts others in danger, don't keep quiet just to be polite.

[Grog]

I am an assertive club rider. I often lead beginner rides or take the back while another leader takes the front, and keep the group together, in straight lines, even if that means firmly giving instructions to someone who's endangering the group. I mostly do that with new riders. If all are experienced, my comments will take a different tone, more like 'Come on girls we can do better.' I also make sure most important safety aspects are covered before we leave, and chat about the others on the road. Sometimes I apologize after the fact if I barked something in a manner that was rude. But they quickly understand that safety is at play and usually they thank me.

I'm a pacifist, but I think I would have ripped off those earphones from that guy, and given him a good lesson on group safety (sorry this is NOT just etiquette). This is the most absurd thing I've ever read about group riding. Riding as a group is very dangerous and everyone's behaviour impacts all of the others' safety.

Please, please, do something, promptly. Tell him yourself, or seek the help of someone you feel has authority over the group. This is completely unacceptable. I don't want you to be involved in a crash because of such absurd behaviour.

[rij73]

I think he was out of line completely. Sometimes when riding alone I wear ONE earbud to listen to spoken-word podcasts or audiobooks. I feel this does not distract me from traffic noises at all. When I ride with even one other person, the iPod stays home.

[Python]

I often see cyclists with iPods on. Half the time they're in a world of their own

I like my MP3 player but not when I'm on the bike. Just not safe. I also think that someone out in a group listening to his/her MP3 player/iPod is very rude

[Kano]

I'm surprised no one said anything during the ride, and especially after the near miss!

The group we ride with is pretty casual -- we're not in a pack, spread out all along the route, and many levels of riders. Some of everything. It's a no-drop ride, meant to be at a casual pace -- the group's name is S.P.I.N. -- Scenic Pedaling Is Near, which gives some indication of the focus: enjoy your surroundings as you go! Some take off at the beginning and are never seen again, cuz they like to go FAST. Otherwise, we have stopping points where we catch up to one another again, stop for coffee and snacks, chat along the road when it's safe to do so, etc. Not many rules, mostly just you gotta wear a helmet and NO IPOD-TYPE DEVICES. (that's not posted on their web site, I just checked, but I know they've stated it several times)

Maybe I'm too new at this -- I can't imagine needing "entertainment" as I go -- there are so many things to pay attention to and see along the road! (I'm going to bring my camera to my hill today, and stop to take pix, since DH probably won't be along for this one)

Karen in Boise

[SadieKate]

I'm sure I'm going to piss off some folks, but there seems to be a trend of tolerating rudeness and dangerous behavior. We then go complain to others which does nothing to improve the situation. Why? I was taught not to rock the boat but when it comes to safety or health? No way.

So, figure out a way to politely explain to iPod wearers or ER staff or whomever why their behavior is unacceptable in the situation. Talk to them at the time when you have the ability to make the change.

Peer pressure can cause one to stay silent, but I bet if you polled the group everyone would say they were waiting for someone else to say something. So get a backbone and take care of yourself at the moment. Otherwise, you won't grow old and cranky like me.

Grog - I know someone who rips headphones off anyone who shows up for group rides. I think I'd go for one verbal request and then go for the rip and shred method. I'm with you on this one.

[Zen]

Even without wearing earbuds there are many time I can't hear cars coming from behind. Very dangerous.

Why ride in a group only to close yourself off like this?

I have an entire manifesto on cell phone use. Hate em hate em hate em.

SHUT UP AND DRIVE! (or in this case, ride)

[smilingcat]

I don't think its even worth questioning. ITS DANGEROUS. The group I rode with did not allow anyform of ear buds. We carried cell phones for emergency and if we did get an emergency call, we all stopped so that the designated person could take the call.

Even with safety on our minds, one season was particularly bad. One gal crashed into a tree on the way back down from Onyx summit during training ride. Later in the season another gal got distracted or something and half wheeled during a pace line and went flying. Then there was me. So three member was out for the season and two of us, it was the end of club riding.

It took me 6 month before I felt okay. Healing from shattered collar bone and from a bad concussion.

And no I don't have qualms about telling people about safety. I rather be a ***** then have someone suffer unnecessary injuries/permanent disability.

When you have been where I was and came back to tell about it, you don't mind telling people. I routinely tell (mostly men) about wearing a helmet. Mothers are wearing and so are their children but the father often isn't. GRR!!!

And the cyclist who butted in. He isn't an experienced rider the way he behaved. Stupid FRED/BARNEY. You should tell him to pull to the side or get out of the paceline cause his disrupting your training.

I try to be nice but helmet/safety issues, I am not nice. I tell it the way I see it. I look at it knowing that I may have saved someones life down the road.

Shawn

[li10up]

Our club has an official no earphones policy...our insurance won't cover an accident in the case of earphones. On our Sat. morning casual/beginner ride we had 12 people so the co-ride leader gave the speech about safety and no earphones. One of the riders works at the LBS and still didn't remove his earphones. I didn't say anything because he is such an experienced rider and I didn't want to stir up anything. But I was a little irked that he just ignored what was said. Any suggestions on handling someone who just ignores what you say?