Music & Cycling: Am I crazy?

[yellow]

I listen to the music of my tires on the rough, chip-sealed roads.

I listen to the oak titmouse and olive-sided flycatchers calling (and this time of year, the warblers and wrens singing).

I listen to the flow of the streams that I follow and cross.

I listen to my breathing and sometimes to my heartbeat in my head.

These things so much define my solo rides...I can't imagine blocking them out or distracting from them with recorded music!

[AutumnBreez]

Must be nice....
No, I hear what your saying, but the wind is so strong the only thing I could hear out of those you mentioned was the heartbeat in my head-- internal

Very nice, your surroundings, I would enjoy that too!!

[SadieKate]

I listen to the music of my tires on the rough, chip-sealed roads.

I listen to the oak titmouse and olive-sided flycatchers calling (and this time of year, the warblers and wrens singing).

I listen to the flow of the streams that I follow and cross.

I listen to my breathing and sometimes to my heartbeat in my head.

These things so much define my solo rides...I can't imagine blocking them out or distracting from them with recorded music!

A very eloquent ditto from me. You said it beautifully, Yellow. Must be why I like to ride with you, rather why I like to follow you.

[caligurl]

i listen to music... bought an mp3 player just for riding..... never had an interest in one prior to riding... and don't listen to it off the bike!

i keep it low enough that i can hear cars or carry on a conversation! i have more trouble hearing people (or cars) when it's really windy!

[spazzdog]

I just bought a RIO Carbon... don't know why its called Carbon as it looks stainless steel. Anyway I bought it specifically for riding. I have an older pair of earbuds that I'll use with my helmet. I wind the wire on the bud side aroun the helmet straps by the ears, then tie them off (gently). The bud sits a bit outside my ear rather than in it all the way. I can hear traffic noise and my favorite rockers.

I like the RIO... it's about the same size as my litle cellphone.

I am such a toy geek... next high dollar purchase - the Oakley THUMP, sport sunglassses (flip-ups) with built in MP3; earbuds attached to earpieces.

[loni0908k]

the wind is so strong the only thing I could hear out of those you mentioned was the heartbeat in my head

I hear you on this one! In the surrounding Chicago areas my ears start to ache when the wind is really bad. And my headphones not only block the wind from rushing in, but they also keep me motivated to ride faster, harder, and longer!

[nuthatch]

I hear you on this one! In the surrounding Chicago areas my ears start to ache when the wind is really bad. And my headphones not only block the wind from rushing in, but they also keep me motivated to ride faster, harder, and longer!

Speaking of ear numbness due to whistling winds, is there anyway to lessen this effect and still maintain your hearing of important road noises? Some sort of earband to cut the whoosh? I've wondered about this when I'm riding fast - when I'm ambling, I'll enjoy the birds and streams with you, Yellow! Or the sound of my own voice singing sailor songs!

[profàvélo]

Dear Ladies,

I am shocked that so many of you use headphones/music while riding.

It is not safe, no matter how low you have the volume. It ranks right up there with not wearing a helmet.

Please reconsider, so that you can hear that car sneaking up behind you, or your fellow cyclist trying to give you a warning.

If not for yourself, please do it for your mother/son/SO/brother/favorite pet.

[Irulan]

Dear Ladies,

I am shocked that so many of you use headphones/music while riding.

It is not safe, no matter how low you have the volume. It ranks right up there with not wearing a helmet.

Please reconsider, so that you can hear that car sneaking up behind you, or your fellow cyclist trying to give you a warning.

If not for yourself, please do it for your mother/son/SO/brother/favorite pet.

I"m with you, I think it's a bad/unsafe idea.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I am shocked that so many of you use headphones/music while riding.

It is not safe, no matter how low you have the volume. It ranks right up there with not wearing a helmet.

I agree. I would never consider blocking out the sounds of the environment I am riding through. It's our responsibility to stay as safe as possible when riding - and keeping focused on the sights and sounds of the road is much more important than listening to your favorite music.

--- Denise

[caligurl]

profavelo... i disagree.... i CAN hear cars sneaking up on me.... i CAN hear people to talk to them....

you know what causes me not to be able to hear cars and people (and my music)? wind noise! wind noise is WAY louder than my music.... how do you propose we stop that?

i ride the same roads... day in and day out unless i happen to get in on an organized ride... i get bored.... there aren't other options for me cuz the roads i ride are the safe ones.... the only saving grace for that monoteny (spelling) of those rides is having that music playing faintly in the background....

[annerol]

Dear Slinkedog,
what is "leider"?
Anne

[JasCali]

I used a full CD player for a while, which was problematic because on several hour rides I would have to switch over CDs and carry them with me -- now I just load CDs onto a shuffle and go with that, it's lightweight, small, and works great. I understand the obvious dangers with listening, but again, I only wear a single earpiece, and a lot of the time I ride on car-less paths. I try to keep it low enough to hear around me well, too, but anyone who listens to classical music knows that it's very difficult to enjoy (and even hear) at low volumes.

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one who sneaks in some music on their rides. Definitely fun, although I swear I feel guilty about it sometimes, only sometimes.

[Kimred]

I would never wear headphones. I'm a very "defensive"rider. I like to hear everything. I feel I can hear cars coming up on me, especially if they are too close. After years of riding I am very in tune with the sound. Especially woman riding alone it's just not safe. Nope not for me.

Kim

[Saxa82]

I listen to my iPod on all my rides except when I ride with someone else. I was a little skittish at first but I bought myself a 20$ bar end mirror that is hands down the BEST safety investment I have made (besides my helmet of course). I don't have to keep looking back for cars, I can see then way behind me before I need to make a left turn, and so on. I never though I would ever need a mirror and after riding 20 years I finally have one and simply cannot ride without now. When I bought my new bike this summer the first few rides were without a mirror and I felt a bit nervous. Putting the mirror on was the first upgrade I made. I urge you if you listen to music to get some kind of mirror- either bar end or helmet.