lolguy

Two close calls this morning and bother were on me. One, I inadvertently ran over one of those raised road reflectors while riding at a nice clip and almost took a tumble. About a half mile later, I whip around a corner and split two riders cruising side-by-side. Almost taking one out.

I'm generally out very early with rarely (if ever) any bike traffic and not many cars either.

It's so easy when you're riding similar routes each day at off hours and with the music playing to go into what almost seems like auto-pilot and lose connection with everything around you.

I got lucky (twice) and thankfully didn't learn that lesson face down on the pavement.

TampaRaleigh

Let me know when you're out on the roads in your car... so that I can be sure to stay indoors.

Clipped_in

Yes it is easy to do. Try doing it without the music and see if it isn't less easy.

You did get lucky--glad you were.

bikecrate

I’ve had a couple of close passes with reverse direction joggers in the bike lane on Bayshore. I also came up quick on the rear of a slow moving cyclist on the bridge going over to Davis Is. Kind of surprised me. No one was really in danger, but a reminder to keep my head up even when I don’t expect someone there.

Trsnrtr

I've had it happen on long rides on hot, windy days after I got warn out. Scared the hell out of me.

FLvector

Ha, I second that! Careful, your luck might eventually run out.

lolguy

Tomorrow's ride will be sans the music. Let's see how that goes.

SpeshulEd 

I hate those.

Beaker

One of the first things they teach new racers in the NorCal January mentored/training crit series is how to ride over raised reflectors/line markers without freaking out. So long as the pavement is dry they shouldn't be a big deal.

SpeshulEd 

Oh yeah, I'm used to them, just prefer not to run them over.

I'm with the OP on this one, it's always when you're kind of zoning out and then KATHUMP! What the hell was that?

RoadMike

Rumble strips, every time I zone out I seem to find one. They are significantly more effective for a cyclist, ouch.

stilltooslow

Just my opinion, not a criticism, but I would never ride with music. With all the dangers and distractions out there, my ears are just about important as my eyes. I know a few riders who were hit due to their hearing being compromised by music, and all attributed their mistake to it. Additionally, I actually enjoy the sounds of the outdoors, and can think more clearly and constructively without music.

SpeshulEd 

I've tried music before but the wind hitting the ear buds drives me nuts.

I did talk to my mom for over an hour last night on my ride...mom's love to chat.

Machka 

And try different routes.

Around here you've got to pay attention ... especially at dawn and twilight. That's when the wildlife comes out.

AdelaaR

Some people indeed get too distracted by music and you may be one of them.
Getting distracted while on oyur bike in traffic isn't a good idea.

AdelaaR

When was the last time you were riding your car and you made a driving decision based on what you heard?

fuel0707

Pulling to the side of the road for police or fire truck sirens comes to mind.

Machka 

+1

Or screeching tires close at hand.


And when it comes to cycling, on some of the roads we ride, we hear the cars long before we see them. We can tell a bit about the vehicle by the sound.

AdelaaR

If you can't hear sirens over your music, you are either using specific noise cancellation headphones or are playing so loud that you are damaging your ears.
I sometimes listen to music while riding.
I use open design earbuds that allow some outside noise in (specific sport earbuds) and I don't play it too loud.
Whenever I NEED to hear something (like sirens or honking) ... I'll hear it.

Cookiemonsta

I ride on a lot of empty roads with no real other traffic other than some cyclists and I never have music on. Does not feel safe to me (and i enjoy the quiet ambiance).

I definitely would not if these kind of things would happen to me.

Roads that you are very familiar with are often the ones where accidents happen, since you are no longer careful on them. I saw a statistic once, (not sure where or when) that showed the most traffic accidents in Holland happen close to home. This might be partly the reason.

rumrunn6

easy to get complacent and you used an interesting title. reminds me of warnings about using chainsaws.

in the past I have reflected on certain parts of certain rides and regretted how I handled them. I often thought, wow, I was just going to fast for that section. tough lessons to learn and some learn at the final moments of their life.

be wise, not lucky

Ridelots24

It's dangerous to wake up during sleep riding.....

thump55

I don't choose to listen to music...I listen to it because I was born this way.

popeye

When I see what earbuds do for runners I would never consider rideing with them.

BykOfALesserGod

I blame your lack of focus not some convenient scapegoat like music. Then again I also blame criminals for crime and not their circumstances.