View Poll Results: Tell us about 50+ usage of ear buds/head phones
I usually ride with ear buds/head phones or similar. Why?
27
19.29%
I usually do NOT ride with ear buds/head phones or similar. Why?
49
35.00%
I consider them dangerous for bicycling. Why?
76
54.29%
I consider them safe for bicycling. Why?
7
5.00%
I have no opinion as to safety
2
1.43%
Please tell us your brilliant thoughts below:
4
2.86%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 140. You may not vote on this poll
Do you 50+'rs ride with ear buds.head phones or similar?
08-01-13, 11:09 AM
#1
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Do you 50+'rs ride with ear buds.head phones or similar?
MULTIPLE RESPONSE POLL
I see more and more bicyclists rding with ear buds and similar. So, how about the 50+ crowd?
Please answer the poll - check all that apply, then tell us why?
I see more and more bicyclists rding with ear buds and similar. So, how about the 50+ crowd?
Please answer the poll - check all that apply, then tell us why?
Last edited by DnvrFox; 08-01-13 at 11:22 AM.
08-01-13, 11:23 AM
#2
Senior Member
Never, ever. You need to hear cars from behind (as well as see them). Or cyclists overtaking you.
Also, when I am riding, I am out to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. If I want to listen to good music (you know, like the Biebs :rofl: ), I sit at home and do so.
Also, when I am riding, I am out to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. If I want to listen to good music (you know, like the Biebs :rofl: ), I sit at home and do so.
08-01-13, 11:26 AM
#3
Señor Blues
08-01-13, 11:35 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
No, and if I could stop other people from using them, I would.
The worst possible is an inline skater wearing noise canceling earphones and zig-zagging across the whole width of the MUP with no concern for any other users.
The worst possible is an inline skater wearing noise canceling earphones and zig-zagging across the whole width of the MUP with no concern for any other users.
08-01-13, 11:36 AM
#5
Seat Sniffer
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,631
Bikes: Serotta Legend Ti; 2006 Schwinn Fastback Pro and 1996 Colnago Decor Super C96; 2003 Univega Alpina 700; 2000 Schwinn Super Sport
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 945 Post(s)
Liked 1,994 Times
in
570 Posts
I almost never do, but I have done so a handful of times.
FC508/HooDoo: I've done it when I have a follow vehicle.
Bike Path: In almost 30 years of commuting, I've done it a few times.
Honestly, I think the volumes gotta be so high over the wind noise, you'd be talking about SPLs high enough to induce hearing loss. That and the safety issue are enough for me to say no bueno.
FC508/HooDoo: I've done it when I have a follow vehicle.
Bike Path: In almost 30 years of commuting, I've done it a few times.
Honestly, I think the volumes gotta be so high over the wind noise, you'd be talking about SPLs high enough to induce hearing loss. That and the safety issue are enough for me to say no bueno.
__________________
Proud parent of a happy inner child ...
Proud parent of a happy inner child ...
08-01-13, 11:43 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 1,971
Bikes: Custom 650B tandem by Bob Brown, 650B tandem converted from Santana Arriva, Santana Noventa, Boulder Bicycle 700C, Gunnar Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
I find it best to be fully where I am at when I am there. It is called actual reality and its great.
08-01-13, 11:57 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Prince Albert, SK - Canada
Posts: 300
Bikes: 1993 Trek 520 Touring, 2009 Globe SF 2, 2011 Giant Dash 3, 2011 GT Traffic 3.0, 2011 GT Traffic 5.0, 2012 GT Aggressor 3.0, 2014 Surface 604 Element
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Skaters are faster, unpredictable & usually arrogant.
A few dog walkers with ear buds & long "string" leashes on MUP as well.
In all above cases they are oblivious to other traffic coming up from behind them!
08-01-13, 12:00 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Allen, TX
Posts: 1,916
Bikes: Look 585
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
It looks like "older cyclists" prefer to pay attention to their surroundings while riding. Probably one reason they got to be "older cyclists". Reminds me of what an Air Force friend used to say: "There are bold pilots and old pilots, but few old, bold pilots".
08-01-13, 12:11 PM
#9
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
I'll often ride with one earbud, sometimes with both, and I find that there is no degeneration of my ability to hear approaching traffic. It poses no distracting demands on my attention. Therefore I do not see the practice as posing a safety hazard.
It's only background music, kept at a very low volume, and I've never been able to abide isolating or noise-canceling headphones or earbuds that close off external sound. Perhaps that's where the difference in perspective is.
It's only background music, kept at a very low volume, and I've never been able to abide isolating or noise-canceling headphones or earbuds that close off external sound. Perhaps that's where the difference in perspective is.
08-01-13, 12:38 PM
#11
Senior Member
I don't own earbuds, Walkman, mp3 player, smartphone, or any other of that stuff.
Why should reality require a soundtrack -- it's not a movie.
Why should reality require a soundtrack -- it's not a movie.
08-01-13, 12:39 PM
#12
Senior Member
Used to, but never now.
I have a small set of speakers powered by 2 AAA batteries that I attach to my iPhone. I will listen to it on desolate stretches of the Louisville Loop, where it really is safe to do so.
Funny though. I was riding through a tough blue-collar area on the Loop with the iPhone speakers blaring, and somehow some Barry Manilow-type stuff started playing. I was afraid someone was going to beat the crap out of me on general principles because of it.
I have a small set of speakers powered by 2 AAA batteries that I attach to my iPhone. I will listen to it on desolate stretches of the Louisville Loop, where it really is safe to do so.
Funny though. I was riding through a tough blue-collar area on the Loop with the iPhone speakers blaring, and somehow some Barry Manilow-type stuff started playing. I was afraid someone was going to beat the crap out of me on general principles because of it.
__________________
Momento mori, amor fati.
Momento mori, amor fati.
08-01-13, 12:45 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 7,048
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 509 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
I sometimes sing when I am getting close to bonking, but only on desolate roads. That's as close as I want any musical accompaniment on any of my rides. (My singing cannot be confused with music, by the way. I also make up my own lyrics.)
08-01-13, 12:45 PM
#14
www.ocrebels.com
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Los Angeles area
Posts: 6,186
Bikes: Several bikes, Road, Mountain, Commute, etc.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
2 Posts
Almost never but the exception is long desert stretches where there's nothing (but desert scrub) to look at. Last example was on the White Mountain Double Century on the Nevada side and the music really saved my life, attitude wise.
Rick / OCRR
Rick / OCRR
08-01-13, 12:48 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 794
Bikes: Trek 7.3FX, Diamondback Edgewood hybrid, KHS Montana
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I would consider using a helmet mounted speaker system at low volume, but not bud/headphones that would severely limit my hearing.
(Like this - maybe)
(Like this - maybe)
08-01-13, 12:49 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW Arkansas, USA
Posts: 1,031
Bikes: 2015 Giant Roam 2 Hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 91 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Totally deaf in my left ear so if I use even ONE earbud I am totally cut off from the world. So they would be unsafe for me.
I also can't count the amount of people who have practically ***** their pants when I passed them (either way) because they were absorbed into their music. I ring my incredibell and shot "passing on your left" and they jump or swerve off the MUP as I pass anyway - they are startled despite the warnings.
More than a few times someone has been coming the opposite way wandering over the line or on the wrong side. Had to stop in my tracks many a time as a rider or pedestrian was rocking out and not watching where they were going. I would recommend using only ONE bud and as always watching where you are going.
I also can't count the amount of people who have practically ***** their pants when I passed them (either way) because they were absorbed into their music. I ring my incredibell and shot "passing on your left" and they jump or swerve off the MUP as I pass anyway - they are startled despite the warnings.
More than a few times someone has been coming the opposite way wandering over the line or on the wrong side. Had to stop in my tracks many a time as a rider or pedestrian was rocking out and not watching where they were going. I would recommend using only ONE bud and as always watching where you are going.
08-01-13, 12:55 PM
#18
Starting over
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 4,077
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1500; 2006 Gary Fisher Marlin; 2011 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 105; 2012 Catrike Trail
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Never, for all the reasons named above.
08-01-13, 01:29 PM
#19
Trek 500 Kid
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Spokane WA
Posts: 2,562
Bikes: '83 Trek 970 road --- '86 Trek 500 road
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2904 Post(s)
Liked 382 Times
in
307 Posts
Exactly. They also annoy me when people wear them at work (When I was a supervisor it was a no-no) and they have annoyed us when a riding partner used to ride with them. We kept riding with him but when we stopped to take a break sometimes he would just keep going down the road until realizing we weren't there. He stopped wearing them.
08-01-13, 01:33 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Northern NY...Brownville
Posts: 2,575
Bikes: Specialized Aethos, Specialized Diverge Comp E5
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 242 Post(s)
Liked 456 Times
in
267 Posts
I wear one ear bud and listen to podcasts while riding, but only on solo rides.
08-01-13, 02:35 PM
#22
Life is good
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Not far from the Withlacoochee Trail. 🚴🏻
Posts: 18,209
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey Helix Pro
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 522 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
When I lived in Atlanta and rode in traffic I wouldn't dream of riding with earbuds, etc. I needed to be fully alert and aware of what was going on around me.
Now that we live in Florida I ride on bike trails and listen to music on my iPhone when I'm on a deserted section of the trail. No earbuds. The iPhone mounts on my stem.
Now that we live in Florida I ride on bike trails and listen to music on my iPhone when I'm on a deserted section of the trail. No earbuds. The iPhone mounts on my stem.
__________________
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
08-01-13, 02:36 PM
#23
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Biker395
I almost never do, but I have done so a handful of times...
Originally Posted by Biker395
Honestly, I think the volumes gotta be so high over the wind noise...
08-01-13, 02:41 PM
#24
aka Phil Jungels
They should be outlawed in public, whenever that person is in charge of any form of transportation.
08-01-13, 03:21 PM
#25
Banned.
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Uncertain
Posts: 8,651
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
No, I don't do it. I don't think it is always unsafe, there are circumstances in which it is OK, but I just don't want it. Riding is pretty meditatve for me, I want to be in touch with myself and my surroundings, people these days call it "mindfulness". I don't want to be distracted from something I'm doing for enjoyment.