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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
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    23

    Biking and Music

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    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?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    the dry side
    Posts
    4,365
    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.
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Between the Blue Ridge and the Chesapeake Bay
    Posts
    5,203
    Bad idea.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    1,372
    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.
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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Bulgaria
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    270
    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.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Posts
    9,324
    Quote Originally Posted by TsPoet View Post
    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
    Discipline is remembering what you want.


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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    629
    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.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Buffalo, NY
    Posts
    193
    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.
    Savra

    2006 Specialized Dolce Elite/Specialized Stock Saddle
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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    3,176
    Not worth the risk of harm to myself and others.
    Each day is a gift, that's why it is called the present.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Washington, DC
    Posts
    1,632
    Quote Originally Posted by Savra View Post
    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.
    I see what Veronica means though: you might not hear the screams of a cyclist/pedestrian you have not seen and are about to hit. Yes, that is a risk and one must make the decision whether it is worth it.

    Personally, the only occasion I use headphones is as a passenger in an airplane. Running or cycling, I like to be aware of every sound around me. In the car, I am not big into music except when on a highway.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    369
    I don't listen to music when I ride because I find it very distracting. The other day, I was on the paved bike trail and there was a couple in front of me riding with headphones on. I called out "on your left", rang my bike bell, and attempted to pass. The woman didn't even hear me. She was singing and leisurely riding and almost crashed into me as she weaved left just as I was passing. She was shocked that she almost caused an accident.

    Sometimes when I'm on the trail and I don't have headphones, it's hard for me to hear approaching cyclists. I can't imagine what it must be like if I had them on or even worse, I can't imagine what it would be like on a busy road, since I ride mainly on a not-so-busy bike trail.

    My opinion is that riding with headphones isn't worth the risk. You can seriously injure yourself or another person because you're not as focused on what's around you.

    Being in a car is a bit different because, unless your music is blaring, you can clearly hear and see what's around you and you're not exerting any energy to physically move so all your concentration is on your surroundings. When I ride, I'm focused on my pedaling, looking for rocks/bumps on the road, correct hand position (I'm a beginner) and posture, music would just be another distraction.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    perpetual traveler
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    1,267
    I would love to have the music, I think it would help me. But I am with those who say it is a safety issue. Certainly never do it on a multi-use trail. I can't think of how many times I approach a jogger who has earphones and they can't hear me when I say that I am passing. Frustrating and dangerous for both of us.

    I know some people use them on the open road but I feel like I really have to hear what might be coming up behind me. I often don't catch them in my mirror.
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  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Posts
    28
    I listen to "music", but not on the road. (I actually listen to audio books) I listen only when I'm on the nature trail or in the big state park. I'm afraid of doing it on the road.
    Life in Miles - My journal-blog

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10,889
    I listen to the world around me on the bike - even if there weren't a safety concern, listening to music on the bike removes one of the reasons I love riding - to connect me to the world around me.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Central NJ
    Posts
    866
    I tend to zone out on the bike a bit anyway and miss the occasional turn, etc. So I think music would be a bad idea for me. Plus I would feel like a real idiot if I didn't hear a car because I had headphones on. Great for the trainer in the winter, but I prefer the soundtrack of birds and nature in the summer.
    Girl meets bike. Bike leads girl to a life of grime: http://mudandmanoloscycling.com/

 

 

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