Do you listen to tunes when riding ?
06-08-17, 08:38 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Do you listen to tunes when riding ?
Hello , just getting back In game after a few years off - do you listen to headphones ?
Any alternatives to headphones ?
Do you wear a helmet in local riding around town ?
Any alternatives to headphones ?
Do you wear a helmet in local riding around town ?
06-08-17, 09:08 PM
#3
Occam's Rotor
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
I wear a tin-foil helmet and have a single Bowers and Wilkins 801D speaker mounted in a Bob trailer to follow me around for listening to tunes (I listen exclusively to Beatles mono recordings and Grateful Dead from the Owsley Stanley "wall of sound" period, so one speaker is enough).
06-08-17, 09:11 PM
#4
Yo
I never listen to tunes on the road, can't hear traffic. My 2 year old Jeep came with a premium sound system and I think it's been on twice, and one of those was to listen to my garmin directions.
06-08-17, 10:39 PM
#5
Cycle Year Round
Listen to music and can hear traffic fine. Just use a mirror, it is better than trying to judge traffic from sound anyway.
__________________
Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
06-09-17, 04:00 AM
#6
Senior Member
I have a handlebar mount for the phone and have it on speaker (unless I am in a group). I use a mirror to see cars. You can't hear some of these new electric cars until they are right on you. Helmet...always.
06-09-17, 04:42 AM
#7
Junior Member
I never liked the idea of impairing your hearing while riding. Its very minimal but I feel hearing is a small part of your safety while riding. Horns, revving engines, people, etc. I want to hear whats going on.
I should note I ride in the city which is different from a country road or MUP.
Last note, I also enjoy riding around without music. Again city riding but I think its a part of a ride that you do not get from driving around a car is I get to hear everything, I am immersed in the environment I am riding in.
I should note I ride in the city which is different from a country road or MUP.
Last note, I also enjoy riding around without music. Again city riding but I think its a part of a ride that you do not get from driving around a car is I get to hear everything, I am immersed in the environment I am riding in.
06-09-17, 05:58 AM
#8
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
Absolutely not. I want to enjoy the sights and sounds on the ride. Further IMO it is dangerous to ride with your ears plugged up with buds. You simply dont know what is going on around you.
06-09-17, 06:33 AM
#9
LBKA (formerly punkncat)
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Jawja
Posts: 4,299
Bikes: Spec Roubaix SL4, GT Traffic 1.0
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2208 Post(s)
Liked 960 Times
in
686 Posts
I use a bottle cage speaker in places where I can hear it and I deem it safe. Mostly ride carts paths, parks, and neighborhood roads now...so there is that. I typically don't use it where it will interfere with other people's experience.
06-09-17, 06:48 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,619
Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1068 Post(s)
Liked 787 Times
in
505 Posts
AND the hearing impaired don't ride bikes or drive cars, SERIOUSLY **********
Starting a 100+ miler at 2AM tomorrow under and almost full moon and will have IPOD with radio or select tunes playing through a G-Project-G70 speaker. Helmet on with eyeglass mirror enjoying the early morning almost traffic free roads.
Starting a 100+ miler at 2AM tomorrow under and almost full moon and will have IPOD with radio or select tunes playing through a G-Project-G70 speaker. Helmet on with eyeglass mirror enjoying the early morning almost traffic free roads.
06-09-17, 06:53 AM
#11
Señior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 13,749
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 446 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
I listen to audiobooks and podcasts with a single noise blocking earbud in my right ear away from traffic. This doesn't stop the ability to hear traffic even a little.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
06-09-17, 07:00 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times
in
228 Posts
Open air earbuds is better to let ambient sound through. I use cheap wireless because the sound quality is horrible anyway, but even so I like the music. I see no harm in it.
In my state it is illegal to drive with headphones in both ears. That doesn't technically apply to bicycles, but the same principles apply and I temper it with common sense.
In my state it is illegal to drive with headphones in both ears. That doesn't technically apply to bicycles, but the same principles apply and I temper it with common sense.
06-09-17, 07:09 AM
#13
Cycle Dallas
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Land of Gar, TX
Posts: 3,777
Bikes: Dulcinea--2017 Kona Rove & a few others
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 197 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
5 Posts
There are a number of bluetooth speakers on the market that can be strapped to your handlebars or dropped into your bottle cage. I use a Buckshot by Outdoor Technonlogy. It is waterproof and has survived many a rainstorm on my rides to work.
06-09-17, 07:24 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: St. Petersburg, Fl
Posts: 935
Bikes: I'm a Flatbar Guy
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 356 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I only wear earbuds when I'm on the MUP, I stay to the right and I keep the volume low enough to cut the wind noise a bit, but can still hear if people behind me shout out "on your left". I never wear them when I'm on the road.
06-09-17, 07:32 AM
#15
Full Member
I use just one earbud on the right side to keep my left side, where traffic is coming, free and keep the volume low. Usually I can hear a squeaky chain from a bike behind me.
And I always use a helmet, wether I'm on the road or on the bike path.
And I always use a helmet, wether I'm on the road or on the bike path.
06-09-17, 08:43 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Mid-Atlantic, USA
Posts: 357
Bikes: S-Works Tarmac 2017 - TREK Madone - Cannondale CAPO
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 206 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I listen to my iPhone using earbuds. 2 when early/no traffic and 1 if I am on a busy road
06-09-17, 11:02 AM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 3,947
Bikes: Trek 1100 road bike, Roadmaster gravel/commuter/beater mountain bike
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2281 Post(s)
Liked 1,710 Times
in
936 Posts
No headphones at all for me. Last year to combat route boredom on my morning 10 mile rides, I built an amplifier to go into a small external speaker for scanners or other radios so I can listen to old radio programs from my phone. The speaker mounts with a velcro strap to my handlebars. However, this year so far I haven't experience route boredom enough to want to use it yet.
06-09-17, 11:04 AM
#18
Señior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 13,749
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 446 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
If I wear open air earbuds, I can't hear a damned thing, because I have to crank the volume up to painful levels to be able to hear anything over the wind noise.
I use one earbud in the right, closed, and I can hear ambient much better. My left ear is completely uncovered, and I can keep the sound quite low in my right ear and still hear just fine. I think I might be able to hear even better like this because of less overall noise in my right ear distracting me. There's less total noise with that earbud in than if I were riding without earbuds at all.
I use one earbud in the right, closed, and I can hear ambient much better. My left ear is completely uncovered, and I can keep the sound quite low in my right ear and still hear just fine. I think I might be able to hear even better like this because of less overall noise in my right ear distracting me. There's less total noise with that earbud in than if I were riding without earbuds at all.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
06-09-17, 11:17 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18415 Post(s)
Liked 15,546 Times
in
7,329 Posts
Dig in!
06-09-17, 11:29 AM
#20
Punk Rock Lives
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Throughout the west in a van, on my bike, and in the forest
Posts: 3,305
Bikes: Long Haul Trucker with BRIFTERS!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 119 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times
in
39 Posts
HOw much have headphones improved since the old days? I found they felt uncomfortable on my ears and even caused ear wax or sweat to accumulate, which drove me crazy. At my campsite I always preferred a small Grundig AM/FM/Shortwave radio in the background, rather than earphones.
06-09-17, 11:31 AM
#21
Yo
06-09-17, 11:36 AM
#22
Senior Member
https://saaq.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/do...ling-guide.pdf
06-09-17, 11:40 AM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,905
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,928 Times
in
2,553 Posts
For me, no to music, yes for helmet, always.
Ben
Ben
06-09-17, 11:43 AM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Podcasts or MLB app when the Giants are on the East Coast. Single ear bud. Helmet 99.99% of the time.
06-09-17, 12:09 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
lately if I listen to anything it's the radio
my little mp3 player also picks up FM. it's just background noise as far as I'm concerned. low enough to hear it & not interfere w my hearing. just a single right earbud. no trouble hearing the overtaking traffic. my mirror helps with that too
I used to listen to upbeat motivational music & changed my playlist for each ride. after more than a cpl yrs got tired of that
my little mp3 player also picks up FM. it's just background noise as far as I'm concerned. low enough to hear it & not interfere w my hearing. just a single right earbud. no trouble hearing the overtaking traffic. my mirror helps with that too
I used to listen to upbeat motivational music & changed my playlist for each ride. after more than a cpl yrs got tired of that