Music while cranking the pedals?

Cyclingcowboy

Howdy from across the pond!

Not sure really where to put this, so Cakestop seemed appropriate. The question I have is do you listen to music while you ride on the road? I have wanted to, but over here in the States, drivers are a bunch of idiots who think I'm a target. So I haven't been riding with music for safety reasons. I have been debating on getting a single earpiece to use though... Thoughts?

markyboy2005

I am not even getting into this one mate......you have lit the blue touch paper.....

What do you think of the safety aspect of wearing helmets?

:twisted:

skyd0g

I would love to occasionally listen to music while riding. However in the UK, the roads are about a third of the width of US roads with several times the amount of traffic. The States do not have the patent on idiot drivers either.

IMHO your ears are an important safety device while riding on the roads. Personally, I wouldn't risk it on the roads - even with just one earpiece.

The only time I listen to music while riding is if I'm on a set of rollers.

giant_man

I wouldn't listen to music whilst riding at all personally, as skydog say, don't give the idiot drivers any more excuse to knock you off!

simonaspinall

Hmmm what about Radio 4? (For US chums - Radio 4 is a station dedicated to 'intelligent speech' with political, social and cultural discussion and documentaries. Good sature too.)

I find that the same old playlists seem to go a bit stale so fresh daily debate can be a bit more interesting.

brin

I take my i pod when cycling alone,helps to pass the time, personally i don't see what harm it can do regarding cycling safety? when i'm cycling i focus on what is ahead of me, and when i need to make a manouvre i always look behind to ensure it is safe to do so, when approaching 'blind' junctions i anticipate traffic so slow down and unclip.
s'pose it's like the helmet issue? some do, some don't, down to choice really

Cressers

Nothing wrong with the sound of the wind in your ears, and a bit of bird song is nice as well.

bobtbuilder

I always listen to my Ipod when riding alone. I only have the left earphone in though.

Personally, I couldn'f face a 5 hour ride without my tunes.

FCE2007

bobtbuilder wrote:

Personally, I couldn'f face a 5 hour ride without my tunes.

+1

Bunneh

I want to ride with music in my ears but when I did try it I found myself not hearing traffic come up behind me. Not bothered since. It isn't too bad when you're an MTBer offroad, but on busy roads it can be a danger.

What I wouldn't give for a set of tiny speakers on my handlebars and a place to plonk my ipod At least then my ears can still hear what's behind and everyone else can hear my awesome taste in music

freehub

I could not have done my 116 miles ride yesterday without tunes. But bloody hell, the Ripon to Ripley road was a deathtrap. Had countless amounts of cars passing me way too close, then a lorry came by just missing me and I felt myself suddenly get pulled along for abit.

Bunneh wrote:

I want to ride with music in my ears but when I did try it I found myself not hearing traffic come up behind me. Not bothered since. It isn't too bad when you're an MTBer offroad, but on busy roads it can be a danger.

What I wouldn't give for a set of tiny speakers on my handlebars and a place to plonk my ipod At least then my ears can still hear what's behind and everyone else can hear my awesome taste in music

This guy has it figured: 8)

http://twitpic.com/1bcjd7

sampras38

FCE2007 wrote:

bobtbuilder wrote:

Personally, I couldn'f face a 5 hour ride without my tunes.

+1

+2

Radioactiveman

I always used to say it was bad idea without ever trying it.

You don't have to stick you knob in a meat slicer to know a bad idea do you ?

All joking aside I decided to try it on a commute to work on nights,roads quieter and less traffic etc. It did make the journey more pleasant but I did find I had to have the volume fairly loud to appreciate the music against the wind rush. Overall I decided I would never do it again as I was at a definite disadvantage of hearing quieter cars and the more considerate drivers. You can always hear the idiots with the iraqi supergun for an exhaust but not the ones that sneak up and fanny around before passing you at a narrow bit. I personally wouldn't recommend it but my advice is try it yourself and make your own mind up.

However if you are injured and a civil case is pursued the % of blame may not be as high against the driver if you are wearing earphones. Not sure if this is true ,their must have been a test case by now.

Bunneh

Do want!

http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q2 ... -speakers/

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Red-bike-bicycle- ... 2559af2849

£70 seems a bit steep, so will see if they're available elsewhere. If the sound quality is good and the speakers don't sound like tinny crap it could be a viable option for training.

freehub

Think I'd rather not listen to music than have that playing music on my handlebars.

You can't expect good quality sound from a speaker that small, it'll sound crap.

Cressers

bobtbuilder wrote:

Personally, I couldn'f face a 5 hour ride without my tunes.

This is what I fail to understand. How did people use to cope in the days before the idiot string?

rick_chasey

Take it none of you drive your car with music blaring?

blackpanther

markyboy2005 wrote:

I am not even getting into this one mate......you have lit the blue touch paper.....

What do you think of the safety aspect of wearing helmets?

:twisted:

Music a bit daft but whatever floats your boat.
Helmets, practically pretty useless but if you feel safer wear one if you don't don't.

I think the CTC have a bizare campaign not to ban earpphones because of the implications to deaf and those with partial hearing. quite why there shouldnt be an obligation not to diminish your awareness is beyond me.

Helmets if they worked there might be a point. (thank god there isnt)

Radioactiveman

blackpanther wrote:

Helmets if they worked there might be a point. (thank god there isnt)

I agree if you aint got a brain no point in wasting a perfectly good helmet,me on the other hand I like to protect my well developed and balanced brain.

Team Banana Spokesman

if I was deaf would you call me irresponsible for cycling? :roll:

if you move out into the road and keep a lookout you dont need your hearing. its the 'gutter nutters' who will get the occasional scare as someone overtakes stupidly close.

when its windy i cant hear sh1t anyway!

Stewie Griffin

skyd0g wrote:

I would love to occasionally listen to music while riding. However in the UK, the roads are about a third of the width of US roads with several times the amount of traffic. The States do not have the patent on idiot drivers either.

IMHO your ears are an important safety device while riding on the roads. Personally, I wouldn't risk it on the roads - even with just one earpiece.

The only time I listen to music while riding is if I'm on a set of rollers.

+1, except I have a turbo as I was too scared to get rollers as I dont want to fall over in the house or turn into a Van de Graaff Generator :P

jgsi

My race radio is fookin' pain in the ass.. some jerk refusin to play any decent toons and just shouts at me to come fetch more bidons and gels