IPOD whilst on the road?

Airwave

I listen to my mp3 while riding but never so loud as i can't hear traffic from behind.In my experience it's whats in front of you thats more important.I find riding two abreast &chatting more distracting.

cougie

bluecow wrote:

http://www.bikexprt.com/bicycle/hearing.htm

Regarding what i said about one earphone being more distracting, read this excerpt....


One-ear laws don't make scientific sense, since a single headphone can actually have worse effects on hearing than binaural (two-ear) headphones. The desensitization of one ear by a single headphone played loud enough to cut through background noise changes the apparent location of sound sources. This problem is much less likely with binaural (two-ear) headphones.

Bu this does talk about the one earphone being played loud enough to cut through background noise. If you have your 'phones low, then would it be an issue ?

cougie

bluecow wrote:

http://www.bikexprt.com/bicycle/hearing.htm

Regarding what i said about one earphone being more distracting, read this excerpt....


One-ear laws don't make scientific sense, since a single headphone can actually have worse effects on hearing than binaural (two-ear) headphones. The desensitization of one ear by a single headphone played loud enough to cut through background noise changes the apparent location of sound sources. This problem is much less likely with binaural (two-ear) headphones.

Bu this does talk about the one earphone being played loud enough to cut through background noise. If you have your 'phones low, then would it be an issue ?

bluecow

Not necessarily, your brain determines where the sound comes from by using both ears..
This point refers to the location of sounds, not the volume at which you hear it.

bluecow

The point is more that if the hearing is compromised in one ear, and not the other then the brain cannot accurately determine where the sound is coming from. So although having both headphones in at a reduced volume is not advised, its safer than having just one headphone in. This of course doesnt apply if the music is so loud it drowns out all noise from outside.

MrChuck

whyamihere wrote:

Quite a few of you are going to be terrified when electric cars become more common...

I'm sure that will be a problem, but I don't see what it has to do with making it harder to hear non-electric cars now?

cougie

When I get an electric car - I'm gonna somehow use the SFX from my X box and make it sound like an Aston Martin. Brrrrrrrmmm brrrrrmmmm !

StrangelyBrown

Gee, I wonder how deaf people manage?

I do hope they're not allowed on the roads, for the safety of us all.

ArroyoDave

One thing you all miss is the fact that riding with headphones is actually illegal in some countries!

I thought the UK was one of them.

Christophe3967

So just like helmets then. Or Shimano v Campag.

We all have different views, pertinent to our own perceived situations/ abilities. Listening to music or podcasts, whether in the car or on a bike is not illegal, thankfully, and, as we have heard here, for many people enhances their cycling experience.

I cycle in central London in the rush hour, so there is always something behind me. With music playing I can still tell from the distinctive engine sounds if I have say a black cab or a lorry behind me, although this actually makes no difference to the way I behave in deciding when to adopt a primary or secondary position on the road.

Checking over both shoulders continuously and making eye contact with fellow road users becomes second nature in busy towns and cities if you wish to make progress safely. Anything from Girls Aloud to Steely Dan helps me pedal faster, gets me away from the lights and generally gives me more control of the road, which in turn actually makes me feel more secure than when I don't have my earplugs in.

As for electric cars, I don't know which of us might come off better in a collision with a GWizz, :P but the number of Toyota Prius drivers on the streets does concern me, for entirely different reasons, none of which are connnected to my safety on my bike.

Dog Breath

I was riding an Audax event on Sunday, generally on quiet country lanes. There was one point on a narrow bend with high hedges that I only became aware of a car coming towards me because I heard it splashing through some puddles on the other side of the bend, and was able to take appropriate action. If I had been listening to music, I doubt if I would have heard it with the inevitable consequences. So, in my opinion, you need all your senses fully focussed at all times, therefore listening to music is not an option.

DB

cee

Highway code rule 148 has some advisory (please note these are not the MUST or MUST NOT kind of rules) about listening to loud music, changing a tape in the stereo etc.

These advisories all seem to go toward driving without due care and attention, should an accident happen whist doing any of these things.

So my feeling is that should the worst happen and a headphone wearing cyclist has an accident with a car, the cyclists case would be somewhat tarnished by the use of headphones. I would also say this is the same for drivers who are eating/drinking/fidling with the radio/gps, smoking, arguing with passengers and all of the other things that it is not technically illegal to do whilst driving, but which could contribute to a lack of attention.

I guess the only way to test the theory is in court....any lawyers know of any cases where the wearing of headphones (by a car driver/motorbike/pushbike rider), had an effect on the outcome of an accident case??

MrChuck

StrangelyBrown wrote:

Gee, I wonder how deaf people manage?

So you're saying they are at no disadvantage?

dodgy

McHattie wrote:

I personally don't like the idea of using headphones on my bike, so I bought a cy-fi speaker from the US for my handlebars. Works wirelessly with an iPod. Fantastic. It works very well, and there are controls for volume and for skipping tracks on the speaker itself.

The speaker is very lightweight, so that's not an issue. It is designed for use on bikes. I've not found any problem with the volume - you don't need to have it very loud to appreciate a few tunes - it's not like having a mini ghetto blaster on your handlebars.

Just Google cy-fi if you're interested.

I like the look at that, but dismayed to see the price I'm looking for something that I can use to listen to the radio on (I have a mobile phone with a radio).

dizzydane

I like the look at that, but dismayed to see the price I'm looking for something that I can use to listen to the radio on (I have a mobile phone with a radio).

I always take my Ipod when doing laps on my own around Richmond Park otherwise I get bored very easily.

Dodgy, have a look at the Creative Zen Stone mp3 (£30) with a radio http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... ROKL5A1OLE

dodgy

dizzydane wrote:

I like the look at that, but dismayed to see the price I'm looking for something that I can use to listen to the radio on (I have a mobile phone with a radio).

I always take my Ipod when doing laps on my own around Richmond Park otherwise I get bored very easily.

Dodgy, have a look at the Creative Zen Stone mp3 (£30) with a radio http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... ROKL5A1OLE

dodgy

Hmm, the Creative Zen Stone Plus looked perfect, particularly in the light that there's an armband available for it which would bring it closer to my ears. Problem is that most of the reviews say the radio is virtually useless on it

Clever Pun

Jeff Jones wrote:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/dude-it-was-gnarly-i-thought-i-was-dead-20027

well if you take your ears out of the equation shutting your eyes is pretty dumb so to speak

dizzydane

I was looking at buying one as my Ipod is temperamental. I'm not good at updating my playlists and would find flicking between radio stations a better option. A work Colleague has one - I'll have a listen tomorrow..... and update you ;o)

dizzydane

Clever Pun wrote:

Jeff Jones wrote:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/dude-it-was-gnarly-i-thought-i-was-dead-20027

well if you take your ears out of the equation shutting your eyes is pretty dumb so to speak

I see your point, my music is not loud enough to disguise the sound of approaching traffic.

dodgy

dizzydane wrote:

I was looking at buying one as my Ipod is temperamental. I'm not good at updating my playlists and would find flicking between radio stations a better option. A work Colleague has one - I'll have a listen tomorrow..... and update you ;o)

Cheers, I'd be keen to read your opinion

Stu07

I have only used my I pod once whilst cycling.

Whilst cycling to work i had it on low volume so i could still hear vehicles etc. Travelling down a country lane i came round a corner and saw a transit van in front of me Shocked (with a big dirty stinking engine that i hadnt heard). Anyway we had an arguement and i lost (just Wink ). I ended up with a broken arm and more importantly a knackered bike! My wife still doesnt forgive me for the second part. Evil or Very Mad

As a result i will never use one again. Even on wide A roads it's far better to listen out for the car coming who isnt thinking about a cyclist using the road.

Stu07

I have only used my I pod once whilst cycling.

Whilst cycling to work i had it on low volume so i could still hear vehicles etc. Travelling down a country lane i came round a corner and saw a transit van in front of me :shock: (with a big dirty stinking engine that i hadnt heard). Anyway we had an arguement and i lost (just ). I ended up with a broken arm and more importantly a knackered bike! My wife still doesnt forgive me for the second part. :evil:

As a result i will never use one again. Even on wide A roads it's far better to listen out for the car coming who isnt thinking about a cyclist using the road.

StrangelyBrown

MrChuck wrote:

StrangelyBrown wrote:

Gee, I wonder how deaf people manage?

So you're saying they are at no disadvantage?

I'm sure they wouldn't think so - suppose one could always try using one's eyes.

Can't say I can hear much on my motorbike, with ear plugs in and helmet on. Or when in my car.

bluecow

dodgy wrote:

McHattie wrote:

I personally don't like the idea of using headphones on my bike, so I bought a cy-fi speaker from the US for my handlebars. Works wirelessly with an iPod. Fantastic. It works very well, and there are controls for volume and for skipping tracks on the speaker itself.

The speaker is very lightweight, so that's not an issue. It is designed for use on bikes. I've not found any problem with the volume - you don't need to have it very loud to appreciate a few tunes - it's not like having a mini ghetto blaster on your handlebars.

Just Google cy-fi if you're interested.

I like the look at that, but dismayed to see the price I'm looking for something that I can use to listen to the radio on (I have a mobile phone with a radio).

Im not sure id want to subject innocent people to my appalling taste in music.

dodgy

bluecow wrote:

dodgy wrote:

McHattie wrote:

I personally don't like the idea of using headphones on my bike, so I bought a cy-fi speaker from the US for my handlebars. Works wirelessly with an iPod. Fantastic. It works very well, and there are controls for volume and for skipping tracks on the speaker itself.

The speaker is very lightweight, so that's not an issue. It is designed for use on bikes. I've not found any problem with the volume - you don't need to have it very loud to appreciate a few tunes - it's not like having a mini ghetto blaster on your handlebars.

Just Google cy-fi if you're interested.

I like the look at that, but dismayed to see the price I'm looking for something that I can use to listen to the radio on (I have a mobile phone with a radio).

Im not sure id want to subject innocent people to my appalling taste in music.

It would only be used on the Radio.

dodgy

bluecow wrote:

dodgy wrote:

McHattie wrote:

I personally don't like the idea of using headphones on my bike, so I bought a cy-fi speaker from the US for my handlebars. Works wirelessly with an iPod. Fantastic. It works very well, and there are controls for volume and for skipping tracks on the speaker itself.

The speaker is very lightweight, so that's not an issue. It is designed for use on bikes. I've not found any problem with the volume - you don't need to have it very loud to appreciate a few tunes - it's not like having a mini ghetto blaster on your handlebars.

Just Google cy-fi if you're interested.

I like the look at that, but dismayed to see the price I'm looking for something that I can use to listen to the radio on (I have a mobile phone with a radio).

Im not sure id want to subject innocent people to my appalling taste in music.

It would only be used on the Radio.

davidmiller

Right I'm back. For those of you who do listen to music whilst riding you might want to have a look at this....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7843559.stm

Personally, I'm not very impressed and I bet her mum (and all those who care about her) won't be either. Listening to music, head down and no helmet. Not her proudest moment, I'm sure.

DM

MrChuck

StrangelyBrown wrote:

MrChuck wrote:

StrangelyBrown wrote:

Gee, I wonder how deaf people manage?

So you're saying they are at no disadvantage?

I'm sure they wouldn't think so - suppose one could always try using one's eyes.

Can't say I can hear much on my motorbike, with ear plugs in and helmet on. Or when in my car.

That just seemed a rather strange argument: it's OK to restrict one of your senses because some people don't have it in the first place?
Driving a car (and to a lesser extent a motorbike) isn't a great comparison either for obvious reasons.

vermooten

My 2 cents - reasons not to use an ipod while riding:

You'll get hit by a car that you didn't hear
You'll lose concentration, leading to getting hit by a car
While training, you'll lose focus and stop listening to your body