mev

I don't listen. I have a mirror most of the time, exceptions being cases where I lost my mirror or if I'm suddenly in country where driving is on the left and I find less useful for my left-mounted eyeglass mirror.

Depends a bit on the road, but I've found a mirror most useful in cases of heavier traffic, narrower or not quite rideable shoulders.

On recent long trip I did discover podcasts which I'll listen to when not on the bike. Nice connection to have English-language podcasts when otherwise traveling in places where English isn't the primary language.

Papa Tom

I'd like to be able to listen to NPR, or maybe an audio book, sometimes, but I use a speaker, rather than earbuds (I forgot to mention that in my earlier post). Trying to hear spoken words in the open air is too difficult for me.

nun

I imagine wind noise in the ears would be the issue using an open air speaker. That's why I use a single earbud; the music/radio goes directly in one ear, and eliminates wind noise issues, while the other ear can listen for trucks etc.

MarcusT

I have the curse where I cannot get ear buds to stay in. I have tried all types, even with the little wrap around the ears. They will not stay in.
With a BT speaker sitting right in front of me, I don't go fast enough for wind noise to be a factor. Traffic is the only noise that can drown it out

nun

I have to use "sport" buds with the loops that go around the ears as regular ear buds just fall out. I usually ride with a bandana around my neck as I find it keeps me cooler in the summer and it works well as a place to hook the unused ear bud. I run the ear bud cord under the bandana and so when I take them out they just dangle safely a few inches over the bandana.

BikeLite

Slim Whitman or Yanni.

andrewclaus

I use a mirror, but still shudder to think of plugging my ears. They're an important part of my input. I sometimes know the position of traffic behind me without looking, if there's gravel on a shoulder or painted lane lines. I like the reassuring sound of tires on the dashed center line, giving me lots of room. And I like being generally aware of my surroundings, on or off the road.

joesch

I would love to listen to music but too safety paranoid since I have enough challenge hearing some vehicles and cyclists from behind.
I also use an eye mirror to help with this safety issue.

indyfabz

My favorite. During my two-week tour last June six nights were spent along creeks or rivers. A seventh close to a lake.

nun

When camping it's nice to have gentle sounds...too often in campsites there's the noise of partying. On the bike I really look forward to a good podcast or some of my favorite music.

tspoon

I used to use in-ear earphones religiously, doing many tens of thousands of happy miles in that fashion. Then, for some reason, I stopped. The safety factor was a part of it, but not a big part, so this is definitely not an online preachy-rant. I just changed. Now I pack the in-ear earphones, but the last couple of trips I haven't even used them at night.

edit - there are bone-conduction earphones available now, I'm considering trying a pair to see how good the sound is and how well you can still hear other stuff.

Miele Man

Up here, when I tour on the paved roads, I like to stay in Conservation Area. Most of them have a radio free zone, and they also have noise level rules. I get a good night sleep in those areas.

Cheers

nun

Thanks for the links, especially the SciFi ones. Starship Sofa is great and the host has a very familiar accent for me so that's lovely too.

imi

Listening to music in just one ear may well damage your hearing in that ear, as you will almost certainly turn the volume way up to compensate for not having the music in both ears.

Sidenote: In case you’re a musician, never use just one in-ear-monitor and a wedge, as you’ll turn the IEM up to balance the sound and will damage your hearing.

Digger Goreman

Distracted driver?! I can't afford to be one of them.... It would be an inane form of suicide.

djb

nun, Im one of those who absolutely loves podcasts etc for long car drives, but I just cant bring myself to use earbuds while riding my bike.

but no matter.
if you follow the tour de france etc, one of the best podcasts to follow of all pro racing is The Cycling Podcast. They do daily pods from the three grand tours, and other great stuff. Brits of course, and very well done.
and of course, I listen to podcasts on other topics and sports that I follow, F1, motogp, tv series etc , but just cant do it riding. Same with music--I get the whole thing of how music affects our mood and all that, its fantastic, but for some reason, I just cant do it, dont like the distraction while riding--and I always use a helmet mounted mirror tokeep track of stuff behind me, and believe its an essential tool to use.
Remember, I come from a motorcycle background from a teenage time, so defensive driving or riding is the top priority, and essential to me whether its riding to work in Montreal or on some tight road in Mexico....

nun

I'm all for defensive riding. I did the "cycling proficiency" test in the UK back in the early 1970s and I have kept up the habits of following rules of the road, attention to surroundings and signaling. I don't find that music in my right ear is much of a distraction at all.

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djb

Funny video, amazing how we can see stuff from our youth just like that!
and you know, I may well try it riding one day and wonder why I didn't years before. I could see on some dreadfully boring straight sections, but I'm vey much someone whose mind ruminates on things when I ride and enjoy the views and sounds.

re sounds. Once on a highway in Mexico, I either heard a sound or was just doing my usual instinctual often mirror check, and saw an 18 wheeler move over for me, but looked in mirror just as he changed lanes and a bunch of improperly secured cinder blocks went tumbling off the truck and bounced and crashed and broke apart in the shoulder behind me....quite the effing sight believe me seeing them bounding my way at 100kph.
now I was really effing lucky that there was enough space between me and the incoming concrete, but it was that little sound of him probably a bit jerkily changing lanes that i picked up and looked into my helmet mirror.

so right or wrong, that's what I think of when wondering if reduced hearing at all would be that smidgen of difference one day?

plus I'm a good day dreamer biking with ideas and stuff, and I whistle and sing sometimes too.

Mark Hoaglund

BT/SD speaker or headphone for instrumental music over the decades, centuries including NPR interaction and mother natures beauty & design.

TricycleTom

I seldom listen to music outdoors, but my preference is for music with a beat that matches an exercise cadence if I'm moving my body. I also dance on the beat.

dkatz1

I've been a musician for over 50 years (I'm 68), and have loved listening to music even longer...and I have listened a lot. I have over 4000 CDs..but when I ride my bike, I am SO happy to be alone with my thoughts. Not bored...15 or so years ago, when I got an ipod, I gave it a try on the bike. I found it annoying. And dangerous.
And even when I brougth along real headphones, and not lame apple ear buds, I wasn't happy with the sounds.
That experiment was very short.
So many people in our culture seem to need to be constantly stimulated. As I said: I like having the chance to be alone with my own thoughts. AND to llisten to the music inside my head (I'm a composer. I work on music I'm writing while on my bike).
I live in Boston, and some of the foolish things I see people on bikes doing with their devices....

dkatz1

You don't want to hear this....but I find hearing anyone else's bluetooth speaker REALLYY annoying...even worse are guy's on harely's, who have REALLY loud music.

dkatz1

Wow....you only listen to ONE channel of the music? I find that excurciating...I want music to sound right. It doesn't on a bike. But if you're only listening to half of it?

TheLizard

I only listen to Grateful Dead when I'm riding.

https://archive.org/details/gd1977-0...n.29303.flac16
https://archive.org/details/gd89-07-...045.sbeok.shnf
https://archive.org/details/gd89-10-...721.sbeok.shnf

MarcusT

I would take that into consideration if I rode with you.