GlennR

Works for me.

You people need to disconnect at times.

DrIsotope

This is in my mind worse than baseless anti-earbuds rants. Don't tell me when or how to ride a bicycle. Don't tell me when or how to live my life. You know nothing about me, and the notion of somehow "centering oneself" via "disconnect" is garbage.

If it is your opinion than anyone who wears headphones on a bike-- what they're listening to doesn't matter-- is a danger to themselves and/or others, then you are absolutely entitled to that opinion, no matter how wrong it is. Everyone has the right to be wrong.

But don't tell me what to do or how to do it.

UmneyDurak

I wish 3 tri people who decided to seat on my wheel without asking on Saturday would be more like GlennR. lol Maybe my earbuds were not visible enough for them.

OP I have jaybird X3s. I think one of the better ones out there, but even with them I have to stop to take a call. Otherwise wind noise is too much. Just FYI if you stumble on to them.

Atlas Shrugged

If someone riding along with an earpiece in their ear is a threat to your safety on a bike perhaps the real concern may be elsewhere.

GlennR

bpcyclist

To me, there is a difference between listening to music/podcasts/whatever with buds and carrying on an extended conversation on the telephone while riding. To me, the latter is more distracting from the task at hand. But that's just me and I'm just a guy who rides a lot. No guru.

That said, I will just share that in 2012, I was riding on a busy street in the city at maybe 10 pm on a Friday. Had my buds in, listening to music. For some odd reason, I sensed something. I turned to my left and what should I behold but--not one, but two fire trucks, screaming past me, lights and sirens full-on. I totally, completely did not hear them until they were right behind me. No bike lane, tiny shoulder. Maybe not the best street choice for me.

I must say, I do remember that night. I still feel guilty that I may have caused the firemen to have to slow down maybe, because I obviously did not get over for them. Don't feel good about that. It feels kinda selfish, to me. Like maybe my music was more important than helping the firemen get quickly and safely to the fire. I don't know. I am not proud of that night.

GlennR

No more than a car or pedestrian stepping into the road without looking.

Tycho Brahe 

I love riding with my bluetooth speaker. All the benefits of music and you still get all the ambient sounds. Besides, you will not be passing me, I will be passing you. That is the added benefit, no need to call out that I am coming up, since you already heard me.

MattTheHat 

Can you explain how hearing approaching vehicles or bikes makes me safer? Try as I may, I just don't get it.

MattTheHat 

So, it should be illegal for the Deaf to ride bikes or drive cars? Sure. Seems legit.

noglider 

Apple Earpods seem like the best, but I'm not willing to spend the money on them. I use Mpow Jaws headphones. It has a yoke that rests on my collar bone. The earbuds sit magnetically in the yoke. On the bike, I use one earbud so I can hear well enough. It's not terrific for moving and talking, as it picks up wind noise, so I have to keep it under 10 mph, and I also feel a bit distracted when talking and riding, so I don't do it much. But it might work for you.

GlennR

Seems like a stupid question.

BTW, being deaf is not a choice. Covering your ears and reducing outside sound is.

Think about it.

MattTheHat 

It was a stupid question...that was the point.

GlennR

Well, i didn't know if that you really weren't serious. After all you wear earphones and listen to music while riding on public roads with cars. So I ASSumed you are not very bright.

Well boys, it's been fun playing with you, but i'm going to go for a ride since it's in in the high 40s here and it's sunny. I'll be sure to have both my rear and front lights on and not have earphone in so I can be safe. After all, a 14# bike doesn't have much of a chance against a 4000# car. And we all know how drivers love to talk on their cell phones and text.

L8TR

noodle soup

So you can hear the difference between a car that will pass you with 3 feet of room, and one that will run you over. That's impressive.

noodle soup

these work well

https://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/audio/galaxy-buds/

mstateglfr 

Ok, so your scenario is frustrating, I agree. I would be annoyed if I were affected by someone doing what that cyclist did.
Thing is- I disagree as to the cause. You claim the cyclist did that unsafe maneuver because they were unaware of their surroundings due to music. I say the cyclist was unaware of their surroundings because they dont realize they need to be aware of their surroundings.
Its quite simple to me- someone who is oblivious to others around them is going to be that way regardless of if they have headphones on. Turning your head to look back is what the cyclist needed to do before turning and they can do that while listening to music.

I rode 12mi of paved trail and 27mi of gravel yesterday. During the 2 hours of riding, I couldnt hear much of anything when I wasnt listening to music(I lost signal for a few minutes). Wearing ear buds reduces wind noise(so does the ear band I had on due to temps). I never felt unsafe during the entire ride. The 6mi of paved trail I rode in both directions had walkers and runners who were listening to music. I slowed for each, called out with time to spare, and rode around them all when they didnt react. Approaching each intersection, I looked ahead then looked behind and to the side.
While riding on the road, I would look ahead at what was coming up. Approaching intersections I would look to each side. I would look behind me before turning left to make sure it was safe. A few cars passed me- I rode in a straight line and they passed.


It was all quite harmonious and simple. Awareness and anticipation is all thats needed- and you can do both with ear buds in.
In all instances I can think of where something bad happens on roads- it is due to a lack of awareness, a lack of anticipation, or both. The cyclist that pulled a U turn on you did it because they werent aware of whats going on and didnt put effort into staying safe. That happens even without ear buds.

WhyFi

The funny thing is that there were three people involved in this tale (himself, the person in front of him [that couldn't avoid the collision] and the errant turning cyclist) and he never explicitly stated that anyone was wearing headphones/earbuds, let alone identify the offender. He just let that be inferred contextually. I don't think that this was an accidental omission, given his vehemence. My guess that he didn't confirm that either were wearing headphones, but still decided to use it as a cautionary tale, as an example of what could happen.

Bikesax

I rely WAY too much on hearing traffic coming up behind me to ever use earbuds or listen to anything of any kind while riding.

blackbomber

I use earbuds for turn by turn navigation.
I also put them in when the cold air hurts my ears. I don't believe having them there (mostly) silent does much to diminish the level of ambient sounds. But I notice they sure as heck make it harder to detect the direction sounds are coming from. But no worse than being in a car (with or without ear buds). I've tried using just the right earbud, but that bothers me. So yeah, there is a potential safety compromise with them, in my experience.





Pretty good point. In a society where a rider is considered at fault if not wearing a helmet, I imagine this would be damning evidence against him or her.

MattTheHat 

The stupid question was posed to challenge your logic of needing hearing to be able to drive or cycle safely.

And wearing ear buds does not require my bicycle to have much of a chance against a 4,000 pound car. The two are totally unrelated. Countless cyclist ride every single day on the road without incident. And until not too recently, every cyclist ever involved in an accident with a car was riding without ear buds.

When I drive my car I don't hear approaching vehicles, either.

Enjoy your ride.

MattTheHat 

Out of curiosity, what do you differently when you hear a car approaching? I do the same when I know a car is coming that I do when I don't know one is coming. That is to ride in a straight line.

Succhia Ruota

when I hear a car approaching, I glance over my shoulder to make sure the car isn’t going to hit me. Although, I guess one could argue that if you’re in the crosshairs of an errant driver, it may be better not to know?

Succhia Ruota

also, what’s the logic if something appears in your path, and you can’t just “ride in a straight line?”

indyfabz