Tunes while riding

[ctdancer]

LPH - Agree ! In some ways, I think they actually make me pay more attention to my surroundings, and be more cautious rather than oblivious !

[amb]

I frequently ride with my iPod, right earbud only, music at a reasonable level. I too can hear traffic, birds, people, other riders....everything. There's a lot of people on their soapbox here assuming we're unsafe/can't hear a thing. Whatever, do what works for you and I will as well. I think more often than not, it's not an iPod that makes anyone unsafe, it's their lack of following the rules of the road!!

[roo4]

I think riders/runners with earbuds in are less aware of their surroundings. Period. For those of you insisting that you can hear cars and birds and crickets and whatnot while wearing earbuds, well goody for you. That is not the question. We are not comparing your super-sensory abilities with average riders. The comparison should be your ability with earbuds as compared with your ability without musical distractions.

[ehirsch83]

If I am riding solo, I ride with one ear but in( right ear- side away from cars). I hear everything just fine. It helps with motivation on work outs- different music helps push yourself farther or on an easy recovery ride something slower and fun(jack johnson station on pandora is great).

I would never ride with them on a group ride.

I feel it is a personal preference and people shouldn't be so negative to those who decide to wear them in one ear, as long as it isn't impeding you- it is ok.

[SadieKate]

I can't believe I'm posting on this worn out topic, but I'd truly like to know if anyone who says they have the music turned down so they "hear everything" has had their hearing professionally tested in a matching environment, that is riding a bike, wind noise, single earbud (earbuds cancel noise by design), etc.

How do you know you hear everything? I really, really want to know. Seriously. Maybe you can but I want to know how you measured your hearing in this situation.

[Dr.Doo]

Nope, never use the ipod on the roads. It's not just about my own safety but that of others too. I'd no sooner block up an ear (or ears) than put an eye-patch on, or ride with one hand, not even in light traffic. There's so many more motorized numpties on the roads nowadays - which is very noticeable to me as someone coming back to cycling, for exercise and transport, after over a decade off the bike and the roads.

Another cyclist (on a non cycling) board recently recounted this...

"Over the week end, a 48 year old woman, who was training for an upcoming triathalon, was passed by a truck who swung wide, passed her on her left and turned right, the truck clipped the front wheel of her bicycle, throwing her over UNDERNEATH the rear set of wheels of the truck, and yes. She was killed. It didn't matter that she wasn't wearing a helmet. However, something L**** spoke about way back in the thread, something I never do, and was sort of shocked that people did, she was wearing an ipod in both ears and it is assumed she heard nothing."


I do admit that I ride with one ear bud in when on dedicated cycle tracks away from the roads.

[KateNTx]

I saw a young woman (college age) texting on her bike while riding down a 4 lane road at rush hour the other day. All I could think as I drove past was..."Are you kidding me?!" I ride/walk to escape my life...the last thing I want is my iPhone in my ears forcing me to be "reachable" (I carry a pre-paid for emergencies). a for music...when I was (much) younger I had a little transistor hooked up to a dynamo on the bike I kept at my grandad's place...dirt road, no traffic, usually rode down to the creek to fish. that was enjoyable, so I don't totally oppose music in a safe environment, but here in Town...fughettaboutit, too many other risks on the road for me to deliberately seek one out (and yes, I AM an organ donor).

[hulagirl]

Seriously! It's not about YOUR perception of what you can or can't hear. It's about YOU (earphone rider) placing more responsibility on US (riders overtaking you) because we see headphone and we don't know how loud the music is or is not. You now force us to be over cautious, hyper-aware and way more concerned about you hearing us or jumping into our line because you don't hear us.

THAT'S what pisses me off. I personally don't care what your issues are. (the need for music as motivation or whatever) But when it affects my safety, I do care. And I think using headphones on a ride is rude and places even more responsibility onto the folks that approach you.

[Crankin]

I feel the same way, Hula Girl. It's plain unsafe and is actually against the law here in MA.
But DH wears one earbud when he commutes and it pisses me off no end. I can't stop him, but I wish I could.

[Eden]

Gotta agree with Hula Girl - its not particularly about you... If you wear earbuds it forces me to treat you as if you can hear nothing.

On another note, volume is the least of your worries IMHO - the act of wearing headphones, up loud or not isolates you, and its not about what sounds can physically enter your ears - its about a state that your brain enters.

It's been shown that driving using a hands free device with a cell phone is no safer than driving holding a regular cell phone. This is because it is not the physical holding of the device that is the larger problem - it is the distraction of the phone conversation that causes the problems. It's about the human brain's ability (or rather non-ability) to truly multi-task..

Using headphones, causes a similar effect to cell phone distraction - even if you can actually hear things going, it doesn't mean your brain can effectively shift its focus to them. In a nutshell - the headphones may actually help you to focus more closely on certain things, but lose your awareness of the wider world, independent of your actual ability to hear... (thus why some people, especially ADD kids, can study more easily with headphones - they remove the distraction of the wider world).

This state of being very focused isn't the best brain state for cycling in traffic though - you want to be able to react quickly to a great many stimuli. Can you get yourself into that state without earbuds? Sure, but its definitely easier to achieve with them, so I'd encourage everyone to give up the headphones, even turned down low, even stuck only in one ear.

[owlice]

I wear an eyepatch. I wear sunglasses, too; eyepatches are sometimes a little shiny, and the sunglasses cut down on the glare coming from the one eyepatch into my other eye. Of course, I can see perfectly fine with just one eye; I can see cars and birds and tell that the wind is blowing and everything. Sometimes, I'll wear two eyepatches. I do this when I want to really concentrate; it helps me keep my mind on how I feel on the bike, what my legs are doing, how my body is moving, keeping my shoulders down, my arms loose. Some people have suggested that this might be dangerous, but how bad could it be? I'm still here, aren't I?

[tulip]

Well, I actually DO ride with only one eye, because only one of mine functions. While I refuse to be kept off my bike because of it (except at night--I don't ride or drive at night), I certainly wouldn't do it voluntarily and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone else!

[szsz]

How do you know you hear everything? I really, really want to know. Seriously. Maybe you can but I want to know how you measured your hearing in this situation.

I can hear things with one earbud in that my husband can't hear with no earbuds. I do have exceptional hearing.

I only wear one earbud and only on one training route that I do. It definitely helps me with cadence.

[amb]

Seriouly, where is the eye roll smiley face when you need one?!?! The preachiness of this thread is all a bit much for me right now.

[Miranda]

I used to ride with one ear bud in my right ear. After my dog crash, which I was NOT wearing-using my iPod, I don't use it anymore.

I went out on one ride with the one ear bud post crash... had a dog chase, and potentially could have heard him coming a little sooner without the earbud.

I love music. It motivates and enhances my ride (life). I really miss it. Riding is not the same without music.