Biking and Music

[Rina]

I went for my longest ride yet on Saturday, a little over 9 miles. ( I just stared biking). After about 2 miles, I had to put on my headphones and listen to music. It made my ride so much easier.

I do realize the safety issue with riding with headphones. What are your views on riding with music?

[Irulan]

I've just gotten back into road riding after a 20- some odd year hiatus. DH and I were just discussing this very thing, and warning, it's a hot topic. I don't know how you can possible hear oncoming traffic with even one earbud in. We were riding in a lot of wind, and could hardly hear cars and motorcycles anyway sans music. I think it's really unsafe.

[tulip]

Bad idea.

[TsPoet]

If you must, then I think aridrives are the way to go. Music is still distracting, however, so even with being able to hear, you are more distracted than you think you are.
http://www.rei.com/search?query=airdrives

[Anelia]

I don't listen to music when I ride. I listen to my bike and to the surroundings. I only listen on the stationary bike in winter.

[Veronica]

If you must, then I think aridrives are the way to go. Music is still distracting, however, so even with being able to hear, you are more distracted than you think you are.
http://www.rei.com/search?query=airdrives

Do you listen to music in the car?

I think as adults we need to decide for ourselves and our own situations what is safe or not safe and whether or not our choices are worth the risk.

Veronica

[owlice]

If you can't ride without headphones, stay off the roads/trails where other people are. You don't have the right to make MY ride more dangerous because you can't hear me -- or someone/something else -- coming.

[Savra]

I listen to music in the car but my car is also bigger, enclosed and safer than a bike. If I don't hear a car that might hit me while in a car the odds I will survive an accident are exponentially bigger than if I don't hear a car I need to get out of the way of on a bike.
I don't listen to music and won't let my 13-year old do it either because it's impossible to hear that car behind you or the cars coming up in an intersection. I find it even more important when I need to make a left turn.

[TsPoet]

Do you listen to music in the car?

I think as adults we need to decide for ourselves and our own situations what is safe or not safe and whether or not our choices are worth the risk.

Veronica

Yes, and studies repeatedly show it's a bad idea. I do it, though. I also listen (with my airdrives) when I lumber (my version of jogging). But, not when I ride unless it's on a bike trail.

[carolync]

A guy that rides in a group I ride with has a bike radio. It mounts on his top tube and uses bluetooth to play tunes from his smart phone. I can't remember the name, but he said they no longer make them, but you can find them on ebay.

Seems like a much safer solution than ear buds.

Here's a listing on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cy-Fi-Wireless.../dp/B001L7X7ZG

[Norse]

Too dangerous for me and those I may encounter. The only time I listen to tunes on the bike is if I am sitting on the trainer in the basement!

[redrhodie]

I don't listen to music on the bike, but there's always a song playing in my head. Today I did a climbing ride, and the best song came on my internal radio, "Relax" by Frankie goes to Hollywood. Really good climbing song. At another point, "Road to Nowhere" by the Talking Heads was on.

I love music.

[lph]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but I ride with music, also in traffic. It's possible to do so safely, just as it is possible to ride a bike safely when deaf, but I would not go out and recommend it to anyone because your safety depends on you not zoning out and getting distracted, and scanning your surroundings actively and often. My personal opinion is that you have to do this anyway to be safe. Relying on your hearing to hear something coming and not using your eyes is very dangerous.

Just for the record, since the same points often come up: I can hear sirens, and trucks, and cars through my earbuds, I just can't hear them from as great a distance. I don't drift anywhere, left or right, without checking my back. I ride the same commute every day, and know where every single intersection and driveway is. I would be bored out of my skull, especially in winter, if I couldn't listen to music.

[Norse]

I don't listen to music on the bike, but there's always a song playing in my head. Today I did a climbing ride, and the best song came on my internal radio, "Relax" by Frankie goes to Hollywood. Really good climbing song. At another point, "Road to Nowhere" by the Talking Heads was on.

I love music.

Oh, that is so true ... especially climbing a hill on a solo ride. Sometimes I can't get my internal radio to stop repeating and just turn off!