ciclista_pazza

I think it's fine if some people can bike with headphones but I can't imagine doing this. I rely so much on my hearing when riding to know when it's safe to think about moving left or to just be on guard that a vehicle is approaching from behind. The only thing that trips me up is when there's a Prius behind me because they are eerily silent.

noglider 

I use a Motorola S305 bluetooth headset. It hooks onto my ears and wraps around the back of my neck. It's inexpensive at around $25. I can hook it onto one or two ears. It doesn't seal out sound very well, which is good on the bike. In light traffic, I put only one ear on. In heavy traffic, I don't use it at all. On a bike path with no motor vehicles, I use both ears. Also, I usually choose spoken word, because traffic noise cuts through that better than it cuts through music. And to be honest, no source of sound lets all traffic sounds in if you can hear the recorded sound at all.

I-Like-To-Bike

I'm still waiting for the obvious "solution" to all those physical woes from bicycling to drop on this thread like a ton of husked corn.

WNCGoater

FBinNY 

To the OP.

I know that you were as clear as possible about not wanting to open debate of the soundness of headphones, and simply wanted to discuss brand/model options.

I don't have a dog in the fight, but was curious and did a quick scan. It doesn't seem to have gone well, but I do have a question.

You reportedly found a set of phones that you're very happy with, and didn't mention anything you didn't like. So, my question.

Why did you open this can of worms again?

(don't answer, it was purely rhetorical)

Tommy1955

I just started using a "Celtic Blu" bike speaker sold on Amazon. It's freakin awesome with great sound. With it being mounted on the frame, I can still hear people coming. I use a helmet mirror so I can monitor behind me too. Once I got used to the mirror, I won't ride without it anymore. This speaker has around 30 hrs. of playing time and can charge my phone with it if I need to. Even though this speaker can play very loud without distortion, I try to keep it fairly low in volume.

Hardrock23

I just use the ones that came with my phone...the white Samsung ones. They are good enough. I use 1 bud in the right ear & listen to either music or the 'Kane Show' if it is on.

gif4445

Cause we want music too. But when I bike in Lincoln, especially the eastern area, I don't listen to music. Too dangerous. Friggin' idiots behind the wheel.

diphthong

speaker vs earbuds/headphones. i'll take the speaker. everyone's different but earbuds/headphones don't work well for me and riding without music
in an urban environment doesn't work for me but the speaker in the middle pocket of the jersey does. i respect those that don't wanna listen to music while riding
and i respect those that do. listen and let listen.

linberl

bluetooth plantronics backbeat fit - not noise canceling, can definitely hear all ambient sound. easy to raise volume on MUP rides and lower when on streets. good call quality as well. incredibly durable and sweat proof.

Not a huge fan of people who blare music from speakers on their bikes. I don't want to listen to your music, sorry. Keep the volume down or get buds.

Arthur Peabody

The law requires both drivers and bicyclists to have at least 1 ear unplugged. I used to listen to stuff on a cheapo mp3 player with $1 earphones but stopped; I prefer silence.

DrIsotope

You'll have all the silence you can handle soon enough-- the wind and traffic noise is gradually putting you deaf.

WiBoy 

Aftershocks trek titanium is hands down we’ll worth the money...

friday1970

I just use a cheap pair of Skull Candy JBL earbuds. They cancel out the wind noise very well and the sound quality is just OK. Good bass for the 10 dollars or so I pay for them at Meijer stores. They also help out in colder weather, where colder air is blocked from my ear canals. My head just feels warmer (probably a placebo effect). When no music is played, I can hear cars coming up behind me better do to wind noise cancellation.

I listen to cheesy dance/pop music, like CC Music Factory, kpop groups like T-Ara, etc. Occasionally, Slipknot too.

wphamilton

I prefer some inexpensive BT earbuds I order off Amazon. The sound quality is terrible but that's OK since the volume is low anyway.

bicyclridr4life

I wear a Bluetooth headset when I ride, so I don't (necessarily) have to stop to answer the daRn phone.
As for listening to music while travelling ... I prefer not to ... especially when it is someone driving one of those mobile boom boxes with the trunk and doors vibrating, listening to RAP "music".
(Sorry, but rap gives me a major head hurt.)

Rcrxjlb

I'm glad I don't live in that nanny-state...

rachel120

LG Tone Pro. I put in only the right earbud, the left ear is for traffic. In an urgent situation (or when Metallica is on the radio) I can tug the earbud out of my ear in a second. Getting it back in is a little harder, best done at red lights or water breaks.

And it was really nice to be listening to music the day my mother called and I could switch to the call without having to stop and dig out my phone.

State law says that I can't cover both ears. I wouldn't want to anyway.

Beachbumer

I use my Apple ear buds all the time while I ride. I like listening to music while I ride and when I want silence I just turn the music off. I find that I can hear other bicycles and cars coming up behind me just fine and they block the wind noise very well.

ORrecumbentEZ3

Personally, I like to hear all that's going on around me. I don't even listen to the radio when driving as I like to be in tune to my cars motor. But, if you feel safe, then go for it.

Bizman

Thanks for the (perhaps) correction to my post! I had taken that from section 3314 of the PA vehicle code as I have been compiling a list of laws to carry with me about riding bicycles in PA to reference in case I am ever questioned for something I perhaps do "illegally" (riding with earbuds/headphones would never be one of them!) and would need to reference in front of a police officer.

Since reading your correction to my post I thought I would do a search about your correction to see what I could find? The only thing I could find was that when using a cell phone to "talk on" (Bluetooth?) would be legal to have one ear connected with a listening device while the other ear is free to hear ambient outside noise. I saw nothing stating about listening to music, talk shows, etc. I guess everyone could interpret that a different way?

Here is a link to my search where there is info about the subject. https://www.google.com/search?q=is+i...&client=safari

If you have other info indicating the legality of this I would be interested so I could reference it? I don't want to carry inaccurate info when trying to prove a law/rule to an officer. Thanks for any clarification on this, it's much appreciated!

Edit: here is one to add to check your state. https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/201...while-driving/

Bmach

Your Pa law says when using a cell phone it does not state cell use for phone calls. So using your cell phone and listing to music would ok, because it cell phone use.

Bizman

If you have a link so I can reference and copy about this that would be great thanks!

Here is the link in reference: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/201...while-driving/

"Cellular communication" is what is quoted as being OK at that link for Pa, I don't see anything or have found anything stating about music, talk shows etc being allowed?:

"Headphones or earbuds prohibited while driving. Single-ear audio systems for cellular communication okay, as are hearing aids".

rachel120

Title 75 - PA General Assembly

Chapter 33, Subchapter A, Section 3314 (b)
"nor does it prohibit the use of a headset in conjunction with a cellular telephone that only provides sound through one ear and allows surrounding sounds to be heard with the other ear"

So according to the letter of the law, you can't use an MP3 player but you can use your phone as long as your attached headset covers only one ear. There is no restriction on the nature of the sound through the headset, no requirement that the sound must be limited to phone calls, so any noise is fair game.

Skipjacks

I play music over my mounted phone that I use as my ride computer when I'm out on the trails. Sometimes I'll put a bluetooth speaker in my second bottle cage to make it louder, depending on how far away from other people I'll be.

I find on a quiet ride the phone is plenty loud enough for me to hear the music and still be fully aware of my surroundings, and not loud enough to annoy one who's out on the trail looking for a little peace and quiet as you can't hear the phone speaker from more than 10 feet away. The bluetooth speaker can totally drown out all ambient noise like other bikers and cars crossing the bike trail. So I only use it when I'm really off by myself and not anywhere near traffic. (When commuting on suburban streets even the bluetooth speaker is quickly overpowered by the road noise of heavy traffic and such)

As for head phones, hell no. Especially anywhere in the vicinity of traffic. A pair of ear buds can drown out traffic noise. That just seems like it's begging for a trip to the hospital to me. I rely on my ears almost as much as my eyes when I'm riding near traffic. ESPECIALLY for what might be approaching from behind. I would never want to dull that hearing.