Your Portable Music

[lilred]

What portable music player do you use when you ride?

I'm looking to move into one with a lot more gigs. I've not owned an Ipod yet. I heard they could skip a bit when jogging, cycling, etc. Not to mention. the classic (most gigs) are so big. If anyone uses this one, how do you secure it while riding?

I'm not interested in hearing how unsafe they can be, I'm aware of the necessary precautions. And, it won't be used all the time.

I do greatly appreciate any and all input.

Thanks so much.

[kermit]

I have an apple ipod nano, it's about one inch by one inch. I usually clip it on my jersey and only use one earplug. The cool thing about the apple is you open an itunes account and download or buy songs. I was not sure about the whole safety thing but tried it. I ride in a very bike friendly area and on a long ride the tunes really help.

[Geonz]

My voice

[alpinerabbit]

the voices in my head

[smilingcat]

Sorry to be a party pooper but only time I use my iPOD nano is when I'm on a trainer. I also have iRiver player with FM radio. but that too stays on the trainer.

Road riding for me is still training. (I don't race) but I still train. I'm too busy about riding and all my concentration is on riding. I prefer not to have junk miles in my training.

If you ride leisurly, and you can hear the sound around you, AND you are aware of your sourounding, I see why not.

Besides, if I'm taking it easy, I want to hear the sound of water cascading over rocks, rustling of leaves in the wind, birds singing...

[indigoiis]

A kid here just got seriously injured while biking with headphones on.

And a guy got killed on Rt 1 by a woman who passed another car and then came back too far in and went into the breakdown lane. If he hadn't have been wearing headphones, he would have heard her car and gotten out of the way.

When I first started out, I used a mp3 player until another bicyclist, as she passed me, yelled at me. I took out my plug and she said, "you're all over the road. You shouldn't wear those things."

I was very embarrassed and didn't ride with them again.

On the trainer I listen to tunes. What I've found works for rides is to play a CD I like right before riding. The tunes tend to stick in my head.

[Pedal Wench]

I'm not interested in hearing how unsafe they can be, I'm aware of the necessary precautions. And, it won't be used all the time.

I put one earbud on my shoulder, wrapped around my bra strap. It doesn't block the sound of anything, just adds a bit of motivation and keeps my training on focus by keeping me moving faster. I use a Samsung player that only has songs that are upbeat. It's so soft that I can't hear it when cars are approaching or when windnoise is too loud (on descents) but I hear just enough to get the beat of the song to keep me moving.

[lph]

I've been looking for a player with more capacity myself, the nano sure sounds nice and small. At the moment I have a Jens of Sweden that was oh-so-cool 5 years ago with the whopping capacity of, oh, 14 songs or so

I wear Koss Plug earbuds and like them a lot.

[Veronica]

I'm not interested in hearing how unsafe they can be, I'm aware of the necessary precautions.

People just can't resist.

I have a pair of Thump Pros. There is at least 4 albums on them. I wear them on training rides and runs, and on my 200Ks. The battery only lasts about 4.5 hours so on the 200Ks, I tend to use them only when I'm climbing.

I find music very motivating.

V.

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

lilred-
I joined the iPod craze last year (late, mind you!). I got the 8gig iTouch for my all-purpose mp3, video, photo, wifi, personal data organizer use. I sometimes bring it out with me on my solo rides. I just pop it in my rear jersey pocket and away I go... I always keep the music low enough that I can still hear my own bicycle-noise. That keeps it just as safe or safer than driving with your stereo music on in the car. IMO I've never been surprised by a car or passing cyclist with the volume the way I keep it.

I do not ride with it on a group ride though. Even though I think I could still ride safely, the others in a group will immediately judge you and your earbud wire(s). Its just plain rude in a group ride to use one. So... better to just listen to the group huffing n puffing, foul language up hills, etc etc.. Hee hee... I can usually play at least one song just in my head on a group ride. LOL

P.S. No skipping or jumping. The iTouch is the same size as an iPhone. Its a little bulky I guess as iPods go, but it doesn't bother me on rides.

[HoosierGiant]

http://www.cyclesound.net/

I've been lusting after one of these for quite some time. I've gone as long as 30 miles on some of our lonely country roads without seeing a single vehicle. When I'm out there all day, I NEED some music!!!

[GraysonKelly]

I have a Creative Zen. It is literally the size of credit card, has 4 gigs of memory and I got it at walmart for $87. I've had no trouble with it at all and I LOVE it on my rides. I also use it at the gym, walking to work, walking the dogs, just about anything. It's awesome!!!
I use sony earphones, I forget what they're called exactly but they hook behind your ear. It's awesome! My sis liked mine and jsut got one for herself. Mine's black, but the 4 gig comes in red as well. The 2 gig comes in black and pink. I bought an armband for it at Circuit City which is pretty much the only place I've found that carries accessories for it otherwise there's tons of stuff online to order.
Oh, it also has memory card slot that I've loaded with pics and videos that I watch on my breaks at work.
It's awesome!
Gray

[kfergos]

I have an iPod nano, but I've never used it on my bike to date. Mostly I just sing to myself in my head. The nano has never skipped in my years of using it, even when I took it running.

I like the idea of putting your earbuds in your bra straps or near your head somehow, so you have the music near your ears but you're not totally blocking out ambient noises. Also earbuds usually aren't so loud, even at their loudest, that you'd be forcing your music on other people.