friday1970

I use wired headphones, though I can here the noise of the wire bumping into my sides from the wind.
When I ride with headphones is determined by the amount of traffic. Very lightly trafficked roads, like the country roads near Stockbridge, MI, I ride with headphones. And I usually wear them on MUPs.
But when I do listed to music, I ALWAYS have my rear view mirror attached. I will not listen to music if I cannot see what is coming up behind me. Too much of a risk, even on MUPs.
And mostly, EDM, KPop, and 90's techno. Upbeat music as I age away from my metal/punk days.

Rolla

tmi

CoogansBluff

Additionally, why is it assumed that listening to music makes someone deaf to everything else? I frequently listen to music on solo rides, and I'm never surprised when a car passes me. I still hear them. Maybe a couple of seconds later than I would've, but always in plenty of time for me to continue doing what I was doing, which is to stay close to the white line. The only thing that occasionally surprises me when passing is another bike. Anything with a motor, I hear.

bruce19

Perhaps I should have been more specific. I don't generally ride to the far right but when I know a car is approaching from the rear I will move to the right. I also always ride with one of those little rear blinkie lights. And, like you, I've been riding a long time. I think about 40 years without incident.

invalid.user

I just use bluetooth in-ear headphones, and I have my Varia RTL 515 hooked up to my phone via bluetooth for auditory warnings, as well as via ANT+ to my Garmin 830 for visual cues. If I didn't have the Varia and I was biking on a road with vehicles, I don't think I'd feel comfortable wearing headphones

SurferRosa

I kept trying to ask Alexa to play "the Bob Dylan bootleg series volume 5" and she kept on playing some Bob Dylan and then increasing the volume to five. I finally reasoned with her to play "Bob Dylan live 1975." That was a toughie. What a great album though.

Troul 

instead of volume, try saying album

cordawg92

Depending on the area that you live in , you could potentially get a fine for riding with headphones on. In the past I would use a single AirPod in my ear in an attempt to keep my situational awareness intact

MarcusT

What's with this "I don't want to force other people to listen to my music"?
You're riding, if you pass a person, they might hear the music for a second or 2. If you're riding in a group, I don't see the need for music.
I use the shower BT speaker, loud enough for me to hear, not too loud like a car stereo.. If I stop at a light or am in a crowd, I pause the tunes.
Plus, I don't listen to annoying music

downhillmaster

Most of this 👍
When riding solo I blare my music from my bottle cage mounted UEBoom speaker.
The only time anyone else ever hears it at volume is at a light or when I make a pass or get passed, and either scenario is only a matter of a few seconds.
The riders that complain that riding with external music is unsafe most likely can’t handle walking and chewing gum at the same time so are ofc a nonfactor.

ofajen

Can you give an example of somewhere that imposes such a fine? It seems curious. Deaf people can operate motor vehicles and ride bikes. If a region tried to impose that, a deaf person with an impish sense of humor could ride with headphones and then I wonder what the justification for the fine would be.

Otto

indyfabz

As a practical matter, or are you asking for an example of where it is illegal? If the latter, Philadelphia, PA.

ofajen

You are correct:

”12-812. Use of Audio Headphones. 50
(1) No person shall operate a bicycle on a street or highway while wearing headphones connected to an audio device.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 12-811 of this Chapter, the penalty for violation of this Section shall be a minimum fine of fifty dollars ($50) and no more than one hundred dollars ($100) for each violation, together with the costs of prosecution, or, in default thereof, imprisonment of not more than ten (10) days.”

I think my point is still well taken. Oh well.

Otto

dkatz1

I've been a musician for 55 years or so, and have always loved listening to huge variety of music. I would NEVER listen while riding my bike, though I gave it a try a few times around 15 years ago.
It ISN'T safe.
But along with that: even when I tried "real" headhpones instead of ear buds (I HATE ear buds) I found it to be a crappy listening experience. If I listen: I want good sound quality. And MOST of all: to me, one of the great things in cycling is it gets my away from technology and non-technology, and gives me a chance to be a alone with my own thoughts. I like the music that is often playing in my head (I'm a composer).
I like being able to hear the world go by when I'm riding, NOT just because I'm safer that way.
I think way too many people (not just cyclists) in our world don't seem to know how to just be with themselves. Cycling, for me is so great: i just don't need anything to pump me up, entertain or distract me.

dkatz1

I find listeing to only ONE channel of two channel music to be: excruciating.

dkatz1

NO matter what you listen, SOME people will not like it. You may think it's great: there's a really good chance that I would more than mildly disagree. There is so much music available to listen to. In countless styles, from every era of recorded history, from all over the globe.
Whatever it is that you think is NOT annoying easily could be.

indyfabz

Why would I want to ruin experiences like these by listening to music?

piete

piete

just go for it nothing better than vibing with the music while riding

Riveting

Yup, that's the downside for sure, especially when it's mixed with some sounds ONLY coming from the side I'm not listening to. The Beatles seem to do it a lot.

bblevens

Ditto on Aftershokz. I listen to podcasts mainly. Hearing the environment is critical for me.

stuff shredman

When mountain biking, I don't listen to music. I enjoy the quiet peacefulness of the forest on the climbs, and I like to hear what's going on w my tires on the descent.
I'm all for personal freedoms and choice, but I don't like it when other mtb'ers have a boom box in their camelbak, because I have to hear that crap for too long as tunes often carry a long ways in canyons. And, I'm not a fan of folks wearing earbuds on the descents, either, because on single tracks descents ... I'll call out "rider back" or "on your left" when overtaking, and I need people to hear me

For road riding, I'm with you on this one. My behavior wouldn't change. I take the lane when a road is too narrow, and couldn't give a nickel if a car is behind me. They have to figure a safe place to pass. If I'm riding in a place where I'd be on the shoulder, but have to swing into a lane to get around a parked car or obstacle, I'll just take a quick peek over my shoulder to see if a car is approaching. Some of these new EV's are so quiet anyway, I wouldn't rely on sound.

Riveting

One man's ruined experience, is another's enhanced experience. Why WOULDN'T you want to accentuate these rides with your favorite music?

355Mono

As a musician, I find I come up with song ideas often while riding, and would not want headphones getting in the way of my creativity. And, my ears are an important part of my safety on the trails, or road. I won't get on the Stairmaster without phones.

indyfabz

Oh the irony in those two sentences.