Tunes while riding

[lph]

I appreciate and respect that some of you dislike passing riders wearing earbuds, but it seems a bit much to get mad about it. I have to pass people all the time that are wearing earbuds, walking their dogs, chatting with their neighbour, talking on their mobiles or otherwise not 100 % focused on their surroundings, and I have to be careful. That's just people, part of a normal commute. If they actually DO something dangerous like veer or swerve I'll probably come here and rant about it, but if I were to be pissed off at their very presence on my route I'd spend a lot of time being pissed off.

I'm wondering if this has something to do with bike culture and riding style. Here in Norway no-one (and I mean no-one!) announces that they are behind you, drafting off you, or about to pass. They just do it. You can use a bell, but a lot of people don't. Nobody expects to hear anything or be spoken to, the only way to know someone is there is to look. So what you hear or don't hear doesn't mean much, you absolutely have to use your eyes to be certain. So I turn around, a lot. I have a habit of glancing behind me every single time I move just a little sideways, and often just to check in between. People seem to have no qualms about wheelsucking, or passing me closely, I've been part of the "morning peloton" often. My earbuds are barely visible under my Buff, though, and I've usually had visual contact with any followers.

I guess with a bike culture where people both ride fast, pass closely, and talk to each other a lot, I could understand the irritation at someone cutting themselves off from the main form of communication. But on the occasions that I have tried to talk to someone, like pulling up on someone I know, I have to really yell to be heard above wind and traffic, so I'd be really wary of counting too much on hearing, at least on my regular commute.

Oh well. I wasn't really going to debate this (and probably won't any more), just wanted to add a few ideas.

[Catrin]

For me, listening to music while riding would remove part of my reason for riding - it connects me to the world around me. It is as simple as that. I like hearing my tires on the road, the sound of the wind and the birds in the trees. I get that some are still able to hear that with one earbud, but indent want to divide my attention when riding.

[blue_angel]

To answer the original question - I ride with earbuds all the time. It helps mightily for my motivation on long rides. It's not something I recommend to new riders because it takes practice and you may have to change your riding style somewhat. It's quite possible to ride safely and responsibly with earbuds, however.

And as a gentle reminder - putting earbuds in doesn't automatically turn an otherwise attentive rider into a self-absorbed zombie weaving all over the place and paying no attention...

Thank you!

[roo4]

People that use earbuds while riding are kidding themselves. People are posting that they only use one earbud. Why only one? If it doesn't affect your hearing, then use two. The truth is that you know it adversely affects your ability to hear, and you are trying to find a compromise that allows you to plug in and ride at the same time. Can you really not ride without being plugged in? C'mon, folks.

[pll]

Peace! No number of arguments will convince one side or the other.

[Eden]

lph - I think that differing attitudes about driving between countries are also in play. I'm thinking that where you are the drivers are much more careful and courteous of you all on bikes.

It might be perfectly safe to be a bit tuned out on your bike in, say, Amsterdam - where biking is as common as walking about, most people do it pretty slowly, bikes are often separated from traffic, the auto traffic is also moving relatively slowly and the drivers are quite aware of all of the foot and bike traffic.

Here in the US, its the opposite. If you walk around or ride around the least bit distracted you are taking your life in your hands. Traffic generally moves fast and is aggressive and you really do have to assume that drivers have little to no regard for your life... There are even places in the US that are thinking about making crossing the street wearing headphones illegal...

Is it necessarily fair that we should allow drivers to run our lives the way they do - no, but it is the reality of things the way they are.

I do find it annoying when walkers, runners, bladers, cyclists are budded(or on the phone...), clueless and weaving/wandering around - but that's not why I discourage people from wearing ear buds....If I'm on a trail where I'm likely to encounter those type of folks, it's my responsibility to not run them down.... I discourage earbud wearing because I really don't think it is safe to do here. If you are going to interact with traffic in the US, you need all of your wits about you and earbuds, even low, really do tend to tune a person's brain out - whether or not they even realize it.

In the end it is not my decision - if it is legal in your jurisdiction you can do it, and in most places it still is. You still won't ever find me doing it, nor do I have to agree with anyone that it is a good decision. I think is also likely that slowly, like seatbelt wearing (went from encouraged, to mandatory over many years), places in the US will start to outlaw earphones on bikes and maybe even for peds.

[azfiddle]

There are so many distractions when cycling, walking or driving. So maybe this is hijacking the thread but it made me wonder how many of you ...

Eat and drink while in the car?
Listen to the music, radio, books, podcasts while driving? And at what volume?
Are involved in animated conversations while driving, cycling or walking?
Have active children in your car while driving?
Other common distractions?

Personally, I sometimes do not want to even talk while cycling because of the added distraction away from the road. One of my friends had a cycling accident and broke her pelvis because she was involved in a conversation and did not see a large chunk of asphalt in the road. (OTOH, when I am riding alone, I can see the road ahead, use a rear view mirror and am more likely to be checking ahead and behind, even while listening to music).

And.. which cycling situations are most likely to require utmost attention?
Urban commuting?
Rural roads with low traffic but potential for dogs or harassment by drivers?
Group rides?
???


And which distractions concern you most?

[mixie]

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.

not just you, but others with this attitude. You should be careful passing other riders regardless if they have ear buds on or not. Plenty of sketchy riders out there without ear buds. Besides for all you know you can't see them and they have them in anyway. You should always be "on guard" when riding and what other people are or are not doing shouldn't dictate how you ride.

What if you think "oh great, I'll just pass this person" and as soon as you go to pass, they reach back in their jersey pocket to get a gel or go to grab their bottle or any of a million other things and they swerve and take you out. See, should have been paying better attention.

you're fooling yourself if you think passing anyone regardless of music or not should be handled any different.

[lph]

lph - I think that differing attitudes about driving between countries are also in play. I'm thinking that where you are the drivers are much more careful and courteous of you all on bikes.

Careful may be the case - oh, and Eden, I do appreciate you disagreeing with me in such a civil manner . I'm sure there are many places that have more aggressive traffic than here, and that are more unsuitable for riding with earbuds. For that reason also I would never ever recommend riding with earbuds to anyone else, not only because it does take practice and certain skills. But courteous no, Oslo is definitely not Amsterdam or Copenhagen. We do not have that many bike paths, and there is a definite view among many drivers that cyclists are a huge PITA. You especially have to keep your eyes open for drivers passing you closely, even though very fast reckless driving is uncommon.

I'm certainly not trying to defend earbuds as riskfree, or encourage anybody to wear them. There are occasions in which I prefer to ride without them, when I'm tired, haven't ridden for a long while or am in unknown areas and liable to spend too much time staring in the wrong direction, wondering where the hell I am . Earbuds do muffle sound, and I'm not denying it. All I'm saying is that I'm not necessarily a total blithering idiot for riding with them.

Personally I feel that sight completely trumps hearing when it comes to safety, and the single most important skill a cyclist riding in traffic should have around here is the ability to check their surroundings visually often, without swerving. You wouldn't believe how oblivious some people are, completely earbud-free.

[Owlie]

Personally I feel that sight completely trumps hearing when it comes to safety, and the single most important skill a cyclist riding in traffic should have around here is the ability to check their surroundings visually often, without swerving. You wouldn't believe how oblivious some people are, completely earbud-free.

True, although there are some intersections around here where you have to trust your hearing because of the vegetation and road curves involved. They're fine in winter, but...

I thought of this thread during my ride today. I had a few moments where I wished I had my iPod. My mental soundtrack was getting rather annoying. Of course, my mental soundtrack for rides seems to consist of Johnny Cash, selections from The Biochemist's Songbook (I'm a nerd) and Colonel Bogey's March. (Plays in the background of linked Monty Python sketch. May be NSFW.)

[Pedal Wench]

I'll sometimes ride with music - not earbuds in my ears, but draped over my helmet straps and just loud enough to hear the tune, but it doesn't block out sounds. The volume is such that I'm still usually the first one to hear a car back and call it out.

One thing that I've noticed is that it actually helps keep me in the moment while riding. Without music, my mind can wander and I really have tuned out the world. With music, it keeps me focused on the road.

[Owlie]

One thing that I've noticed is that it actually helps keep me in the moment while riding. Without music, my mind can wander and I really have tuned out the world. With music, it keeps me focused on the road.

I haven't noticed that problem with riding, but I definitely notice it while sitting still and trying to do homework or something. I think I spend enough time having to dodge sticks and chipmunks (and listening to that obnoxious mental soundtrack!) on the trail that I don't have time for my attention to wander...

[hulagirl]

you're fooling yourself if you think passing anyone regardless of music or not should be handled any different.

I noted in my post that it forces me to be OVER cautious more so than normal.

I sure as hell don't pass without a care in the world. Not because of what's in front of me, but the drivers in Hawaii in most cases are HORRIBLE.

I am an extremely defensive rider.

[trista]

For those of you who do wear earbuds, my problem is that when I wear them, I get this wind-whooshing sound coming around the earbuds that drowns out the music. If I could figure out how to get past that, I'd still wear them more often than not. I love music when I exercise, I really do.

I totally agree w/ lph's statement about sight trumping sound. I can't hear crap when I ride - headphones aside - pretty much all I can hear is wind (which I hate), so I rely completely on my sight. I cannot hear most cars coming up behind me... but I don't worry about cars to the rear anyway. The ones I worry about are the ones ripping out of their driveways/neighborhoods or at intersections, which I can see anyway. It's rare I encounter another bike, but recently I was overtaken and I didn't even notice the guy till he was alongside me. If he said something, I couldn't hear him over the stupid wind.

Anyhow, if anyone has advice on good earbuds that don't whoosh in my ears that would be awesome

[ctdancer]

For those of you who do wear earbuds, my problem is that when I wear them, I get this wind-whooshing sound coming around the earbuds that drowns out the music. If I could figure out how to get past that, I'd still wear them more often than not. I love music when I exercise, I really do.

I totally agree w/ lph's statement about sight trumping sound. I can't hear crap when I ride - headphones aside - pretty much all I can hear is wind (which I hate), so I rely completely on my sight. I cannot hear most cars coming up behind me... but I don't worry about cars to the rear anyway. The ones I worry about are the ones ripping out of their driveways/neighborhoods or at intersections, which I can see anyway. It's rare I encounter another bike, but recently I was overtaken and I didn't even notice the guy till he was alongside me. If he said something, I couldn't hear him over the stupid wind.

Anyhow, if anyone has advice on good earbuds that don't whoosh in my ears that would be awesome

What she said !! Thank you ! I agree !