sean.hwy

Anyone using a music player with physical buttons that you does not require you looking at to skip to the next song ? ( no touch screen with multi menus etc.. )


I am currently using my iphone with quadlock. It works great as long as I just hit play. A lot of times I want to skip a song. On the phone I can hit the physical side button without looking at it to wake up the phone and show the music player but I still have to look down for sec or two and find the skip button and then of course touch screen is never 100% so sometimes I am looking up at the road, then down at the phone skip button several times.

I was thinking of getting a garmin watch ( assuming skip a song is a physical button ) or something similar.

Camilo

Unfortunately my comment could cause this to become an off topic debate about the safety of using ear buds while riding, but here goes.

I use bluetooth ear buds, several different brands over the years. They're not "wireless", but the kind in which the buds are connected by a cord with a part in the cord that is the battery with USB connection, mic and volume/track controller. I always orient the buds so that part is consistently on my left side so I don't have to grope around for it. I can control the volume and go forward or backwards in the playlist with one hand, keeping my right hand on the bar and brake, and without taking my eyes off the road. I keep my phone in my jersey or jacket pocket and never have to look at unless I stop to take a picture. I've only used a handlebar mount for my phone for a short time and found looking at the phone for navigation or music control was way too distracting for me personally.

BobbyG

@Camilo I have been listening to spoken word podcasts in one ear while commuting for 10 years now without issue, and like you I use corded earbuds so I don't loose them, and because they don't need recharging. Also the cord lets be tuck the microphone near my chin strap for better sound when making/answering calls, sending myself reminders, asking google stuff, etc. The podcast player lets me skip ahead or back up just by tapping the mic button in certain ways, like double tap, short and long presses, etc.

I don't feel comfortable using booth ear buds, and even with just one, music seems to mess with my spatial awareness. I think it has to do with the narrow sound and cognitive spectrum of spoken words versus the wider abstract nature of music.

veganbikes

Etsy has a bunch of makers who have taken old iPods and added new HDs to give you more space on it and it has buttons, that would be my choice.

I honestly just let my phone shuffle the songs and on occasion I get a song I don't want at the moment but I suck it up and deal with it for a bit or I pull over as needed. I try not to have a bunch of music I don't like on my phone but on occasion you do get the song that you just don't want or just isn't right for the moment.

Plenty of great bluetooth speakers Camilo however there is a new generation of buds that help enhance the outside sounds so you can hear ambient noise. I know Sony has some and I am sure there are others.

wolfchild

I don't listen to music when riding my bike...Listening to music while riding is annoying, distracting and takes away from situational awareness.

SpedFast

I rarely ride without my BT buds, and all of mine are controllable by a simple touch on the bud in my right ear. Everything from flipping songs to volume to mute. I also rarely ride without my helmet mounted mirror so I can see what's going on around me. Another cyclest asked me one time how I can hear the traffic, My answer, who wants to?

sean.hwy

air pod pro

maybe I will look into these. They allow noise in the background to come in and you can skip a song.

I thought people where going to recommend watches or some other devices with buttons. I guess headphones are good enough for that kind of stuff.

TBH I have not found hearing to help me on the road unless it's a screaming sport bike or harely. Those bikes I can hear for several minutes before they reach me. A normal newish car with factory muffler I can't hear them until after they pass me.

rsbob 

I use wireless Bluetooth rechargeable ear buds. No cords. I only ride with the right one, so I can hear traffic and my Varia warning tones. You can skip songs, power on and off, adjust volume with a mere touch to your ear. Don’t have to take eyes off the road to push buttons, and don’t get head phones since they are illegal in many states while operating a moving vehicle (include bicycle)

jaxgtr

I ride with Aftershokz headset, outside ear, and there is a small button on the side that allows you to advanced to the next song. answer a call that comes in, etc. bluetooth, good range, 8 hr life. They are very clear when on the phone and clear on the talking side, so the other party can hear you cleanly.

mstateglfr 

- don't make people around you listen to your music.
- wear ear buds that are touch sensitive so you can adjust volume, skip songs, and pause. Ear buds do not make you not hear outdoor noise. Mine allow me to play music and still hear traffic and people talking.

Again, don't make everyone listen to your music. Bluetooth speakers on bikes are the worst.

Ironfish653

+1 for the BT ear buds. Unless you're out all by yourself, playing music over your phone's speakers is pretty gauche. If you insist on getting an external speaker, you might just go all the way and ride beach cruiser with a basket and a 'tiki' cupholder.

I like BT over wireless, because you can either have your phone in your pocket, or on the bars (if it's doing Strava / Nav duty) I don't like having wires dangling between me and the bike.
You can either pick from 'true wireless' where the buds are separate, or 'wired' BT, where the earpieces are connected together. The wired style usually has a 'pod' like plug-in earphones, that has the play/pause +/- on an actual button, but the 'buds' generally have touch-sensitive function built in; either a single, double-tap, or a 2-sec press-and-hold covers pretty much any of the functions you need on the move.

Ironfish653

They do; If you're playing music, the 'mini-player' comes up when the screen wakes up, before it even goes to the unlock screen; it's just that the haptics don't work there, so if you miss, or slide across the screen (like what happens running or riding) it tries to do other stuff, like open the camera or your utility shortcuts. I prefer the buttons on my earpiece, because they're always in the same place, and they only do one thing.

Eds0123

I very rarely see anyone listening to music while riding and i see few cyclists each way of my daily commute. Except for one 5 years ago maybe when this guy had his speakers on his rear rack!!! True story and so wierd to me,

sean.hwy

The phones screen will go blank while riding.
I hit the physical button without having to unlock the phone which brings up this screen.
I have to then try and hit the skip button while riding my bike, avoiding cars/things on the road etc..
It works great when I am hiking, not so much at 20+ mph.

Camilo

ZZ Top is inherently dangerous while riding, so you've got a double whammy there. Yo Yo Ma will keep you tranquil and safe.

Ogsarg

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

PeteHski

I've still got an original 2002 iPod with physical buttons and scroll wheel. Like this:-



Just what you need lol.

drlogik 

Check out the After Shokz head phones. They don't go in the ear, they sit just in front of your ear. Sound quality is good but best of all you can hear traffic, people talking and can skip songs or pause play just by pressing the button on the head phones. I've been using these for about 4 years now with my iPhone and they work great! If you have an iWatch they work with those also.

They sell Bluetooth and wired versions and are very water resistant.

VegasJen

I have been using a Scandisc Clip Jam for years now. Use it at work (when I worked) and my workouts. I've had four of them over the last sever or eight years. Holds more songs than I have in my library and has physical buttons, a plus for me because I hate touch screens with a passion. Plus, it only costs about $30 on Amazon, so if I wreck it, I'm not out a paycheck to buy a new one.

gif4445

Here is an excerpt from my CGOAB journal concerning my choice of earbuds. They have a hand control that allows to pause, adjust volume, skip songs forward and activate Siri. And of course I can tell Siri what exact song I want played, so really no need to skip to the song if you know what you want to hear.

"Several months before the race, I conducted my own tests on a variety of high quality earbuds.
Frustrated with previous purchases, where you get an item home and it's not what you thought it was, I went to Walmart and Target and bought several different brands of earbuds. Price tags ranged from $60 to well over $200. (I was assured at both places I could return unwanted items). I rated them on sound, comfort and how securely they fit in the ear. The winner, hands down, were the Powerbeats 3 wireless. And as the race wore on, it was evident that I had made an excellent purchase. Went through multiple rains and abuse. Was advised beforehand to avoid spending $$ on expensive earbuds. But I love good sound and wanted an earbud that would stay in my ears. I got that with the Powerbeats. But I also got a set that could take the elements and had a long battery life. I cannot recommend them enough. They have came out with a totally wireless version, as it doesn't have the wire connecting the two earphones. I don't think I would like that, just from the security standpoint. With my Powerbeats 3, if one bud slips off or out of my hand for some reason, it is still connected to the other. Just my take of course."


Power Beats 3
Powerbeats 3 wireless-A 5 star recommendation

sean.hwy

I ended up purchasing the air pod pro. Noise cancellation works great. The transparency works great also.
I don't have hi fidelity tastes or hearing. They sound great to me. I can tell the difference between $20 head phone and $50 head phones. I can't tell much of difference in sound from $50 headphones to $400 headphones. Some of music lover friends have the crazy stereos and monitor headphones. Sounds almost the same to me as my iphone and airpod pros. lol


Has three modes you can listen. They all make a huge difference which one you chose.

Thanks for everyone's input.

gif4445

Good luck with your selection, I hope they work well for you! Personally, I tried the Airpods and didn't care for how they fit or stayed in the ear. My oldest son has a pair and loves them, so to each his/her own. The noise cancellation is a great addition though and would certainly be worth it.

sean.hwy

If you fly on a plan it would be worth it. I tried them in my noisy rav4 ( lots repetitive noise ) on the freeway and it was night and day different.
On the gravel trails the transparency mode really made a difference. I could hear the trees and birds.

I can't say they are the most comfortable but at least they have not following out of my ears. pause, skip work great also. So I am happy with them.

I bought these when there where on sale about six months ago. These will have out my ears if I am riding gravel/mnt bike trails.
cheap wireless headphones from amazon

downhillmaster

I bet you say the same thing about walking and chewing gum…

speedyg0nz

Sony recently released a pair of wireless earbuds recently called LinkBuds that are strangely well suited for cycling. It has an open design (think donut-shaped drivers) that allows ambient sound to come through, and you tap the side of your head (larger surface area compared to touching the earbuds themselves) to skip tracks or change volume.