Listening to Stuff on the Road
#126
Non omnino gravis
The "headphones are against the law!" thing always reminds me of the episode of CHiPs where they pull the guy over in the van for wearing sunglasses that have big chunky temples. Because apparently in the 70s, they were somehow dangerous.
Cops don't give a damn if cyclists are wearing headphones. They don't even care if we roll through stop signs and red lights... most of the time. I have never in my life seen a cyclist being hassled by a cop. Now a guy on a bike, with a bag of cans hanging from the bars? Yeah, I see those guys get lit up all the time.
Cops don't give a damn if cyclists are wearing headphones. They don't even care if we roll through stop signs and red lights... most of the time. I have never in my life seen a cyclist being hassled by a cop. Now a guy on a bike, with a bag of cans hanging from the bars? Yeah, I see those guys get lit up all the time.
#128
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Cops don't give a damn if cyclists are wearing headphones. They don't even care if we roll through stop signs and red lights... most of the time. I have never in my life seen a cyclist being hassled by a cop. Now a guy on a bike, with a bag of cans hanging from the bars? Yeah, I see those guys get lit up all the time.
#129
Senior Member
#131
Callipygian Connoisseur
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Been listening to music, sports, podcasts, etc forever while riding. Not gonna engage in the bickering. Came to actually respond to the OP (I know, a novel idea)
Hey OP, try this single side ear bud from MPOW. I bought mine on a whim figuring if it turned out to be a POS, I wouldn't be out much. I gotta say, this little thing is AMAZING. I paired it with my iPhone once and it's worked flawlessly ever since (about 1 year so far). Came with two chargers although I only use one. Holds charge for a day, plays for about 6 hours continuous. Sound quality is fantastic with podcasts and sports. Obviously, no stereo. Takes incoming calls with the touch of a button and outgoing clarity is "very good" according to callers. Fits my ear like a glove and hasn't even felt so much as loose so zero risk of falling out. Magnetic USB charging works very well with a tiny indicator light. Overall, I'm waaaay impressed and very happy. Less than $20?! Unbeatable value.
-Kedosto
Hey OP, try this single side ear bud from MPOW. I bought mine on a whim figuring if it turned out to be a POS, I wouldn't be out much. I gotta say, this little thing is AMAZING. I paired it with my iPhone once and it's worked flawlessly ever since (about 1 year so far). Came with two chargers although I only use one. Holds charge for a day, plays for about 6 hours continuous. Sound quality is fantastic with podcasts and sports. Obviously, no stereo. Takes incoming calls with the touch of a button and outgoing clarity is "very good" according to callers. Fits my ear like a glove and hasn't even felt so much as loose so zero risk of falling out. Magnetic USB charging works very well with a tiny indicator light. Overall, I'm waaaay impressed and very happy. Less than $20?! Unbeatable value.
-Kedosto
#132
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If you can't look back without changing your line, you need to work on your bike handling.
#133
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2 roadie friends have gotten tickets lately for running a red light while out on "roadie rides", so we are starting to get some enforcement around here. There is a lot of political pushback going on over some local bike lane projects, so I'm thinking there may be more pressure on the police to enforce traffic laws on cyclists (which is completely fair, tbh, and both friends admitted fault).
#134
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i never listen to music while riding a bike. i like the sound of bird chirping, the breeze wheezing, basically the sound we usually never thought of. And i agree with some here that even if you can hear the cars while plugging in your concentration are not even 50% (i'm guessing) and that's dangerous IMHO
#135
Non omnino gravis
#136
velo-dilettante
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Good choices... I have them on my list!
might I suggest you check out Mother Engine, Naxatras, and Samsara Blues Experiment?
More modern, but the same sounds. Mother Engine in particular it is amazing the sound they get out of 3 guys: Main, bass and drummer.
https://youtu.be/J3TchOS82aI
https://youtu.be/2fCAY9a2fZo
https://youtu.be/k1kPpxmnZco
Favorite sprint song, when he starts hammering those cymbals, you sprint!
https://youtu.be/W-bdwYDmezo
might I suggest you check out Mother Engine, Naxatras, and Samsara Blues Experiment?
More modern, but the same sounds. Mother Engine in particular it is amazing the sound they get out of 3 guys: Main, bass and drummer.
https://youtu.be/J3TchOS82aI
https://youtu.be/2fCAY9a2fZo
https://youtu.be/k1kPpxmnZco
Favorite sprint song, when he starts hammering those cymbals, you sprint!
https://youtu.be/W-bdwYDmezo
https://www.bikeforums.net/foo/26857...ng-thread.html
if you haven't already.
#137
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#138
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Any earbud or headphones is a bad idea in my humbled opinion. I see people, especially women, riding - or jogging - with this stuff on in a sometimes remote area of a bike/walking path and I think to myself are they not aware or don't they care about any level of their personal security or safety ? I think the same way on the roads as well. I want to be aware at all times of what is coming up on me especially from the rear on my left. I cant tell you how many times I have been frustrated by people that you come up on and say "On your left" and they are oblivious to you being there. And for me the best is when two or more people are walking or riding together - and sometime abreast from each other - and they all have their ear buds in.
#139
Non omnino gravis
Oh, so you don't like headphones on others because it inconveniences you. Learn to deal. I don't say anything to other riders as I go past, for the same reason I don't honk my horn every time I pass a car on the road. Is it annoying when people are riding two or three abreast on the trail and I have to slow down? Sure. But in the grand scheme of things it is a very small annoyance, not even worth thinking about. With very few exceptions, people are just out there trying to do their own thing. People on bikes are seldom deliberately inconsiderate-- no one is wearing headphones simply to annoy you.
#140
Full Member
Bose Soundlink II mounted on my handlebars kept at low volume. I can hear the cars coming, as well as see them in my mirrors (one on each side). I think thoughtful volume management is the key.
#141
Senior Member
Any earbud or headphones is a bad idea in my humbled opinion. I see people, especially women, riding - or jogging - with this stuff on in a sometimes remote area of a bike/walking path and I think to myself are they not aware or don't they care about any level of their personal security or safety ? I think the same way on the roads as well. I want to be aware at all times of what is coming up on me especially from the rear on my left. I cant tell you how many times I have been frustrated by people that you come up on and say "On your left" and they are oblivious to you being there. And for me the best is when two or more people are walking or riding together - and sometime abreast from each other - and they all have their ear buds in.
#142
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Any earbud or headphones is a bad idea in my humbled opinion. I see people, especially women, riding - or jogging - with this stuff on in a sometimes remote area of a bike/walking path and I think to myself are they not aware or don't they care about any level of their personal security or safety ? I think the same way on the roads as well. I want to be aware at all times of what is coming up on me especially from the rear on my left. I cant tell you how many times I have been frustrated by people that you come up on and say "On your left" and they are oblivious to you being there. And for me the best is when two or more people are walking or riding together - and sometime abreast from each other - and they all have their ear buds in.
#143
Non omnino gravis
#144
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When climbing, I will listen to music. I'm moving at a slow(er) pace and I can hear the cars zoom up from behind me. Plus it's a constant climb, my pace is more of less the same and it makes the climb less of slog. But once I'm at the summit and I'm turning around to ride back down, I'll take the earbuds out. For all other riding, I ride earbud free. I just prefer it and generally feel safer. But that's just me.
#145
Non omnino gravis
#146
Kit doesn't match
#147
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Can't think of how many times "on your left" wasn't heard while passing a rider wearing earbuds.
#149
Senior Member
One winter when I was working out at a gym using a noisy stationary bike and sweating so much the earbuds I was using weren't working well, I invested in these, which go with Shure earbuds and stay firm and block most external sound. They're awesome. I ride by myself almost exclusively and listen mostly to audiobooks and podcasts. It would be a waste of opportunity, in my opinion, not to use this time for this.
I ride the Sheridan Road route up the North Shore of Chicago (it is the most popular route in the Chicago area, I'll wager), and there is traffic but not especially dangerous traffic. I ride in a straight line, and if I am going to deviate from that, I check behind me, twice if possible. I do not understand what the need to hear would be.
I have twice been hit by cars, both times because a driver coming towards me from the other direction didn't see/notice me and turned left in front of me, and I didn't have time to stop. Neither would have been prevented by not wearing earbuds, which I wasn't anyway. I do now ride with bright flashing lights, even in the daytime. Those of you who don't are behaving recklessly, and I hereby admonish you. And I don't want to (and can't) hear your criticisms about my riding with earbuds.
I ride the Sheridan Road route up the North Shore of Chicago (it is the most popular route in the Chicago area, I'll wager), and there is traffic but not especially dangerous traffic. I ride in a straight line, and if I am going to deviate from that, I check behind me, twice if possible. I do not understand what the need to hear would be.
I have twice been hit by cars, both times because a driver coming towards me from the other direction didn't see/notice me and turned left in front of me, and I didn't have time to stop. Neither would have been prevented by not wearing earbuds, which I wasn't anyway. I do now ride with bright flashing lights, even in the daytime. Those of you who don't are behaving recklessly, and I hereby admonish you. And I don't want to (and can't) hear your criticisms about my riding with earbuds.
#150
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2 roadie friends have gotten tickets lately for running a red light while out on "roadie rides", so we are starting to get some enforcement around here. There is a lot of political pushback going on over some local bike lane projects, so I'm thinking there may be more pressure on the police to enforce traffic laws on cyclists (which is completely fair, tbh, and both friends admitted fault).