Quote Originally Posted by ZenBiker View Post
BTW, I participated in a major event ride this past spring and using earbuds (one or two) was forbidden - you could get pulled off the course for it. People still did it. With 3000 other riders of all abilities around you and being on an open course to boot, that seemed scary to me.
It scares and annoys me when I do duathlons to see how many people break the EXPRESSLY forbidden regulations against earbuds on the course. I don't like being anywhere near these oblivious people who are so dependent upon these crutches that they are so willing to openly shirk rules and the safety of others (more than half of the time those on the cycling leg doing the most weaving and erratic riding are those with earbuds--and they can't hear me when I alert them that I'm passing...I am not a quiet person, either). I always feel better once I've passed them and no longer have to deal with the added risk they bring. I wish races would be more stringent in DQing these knuckleheads.