Question about road biking safety - iphone/ipod

singlespeedexplosif

Not ridden a track day - but I'd have thought that they probably don't have too many potholes to avoid or pedestrians liable to step out in front of you ?
ace. you mean you can hear potholes?

Bozman

Reg Cougie comment, Potholes and pedestrians are visable in-front of you! If you've hit them, you've been too busy wondering or looking whats going on behind you instead of looking ahead!

Pokerface

To all the people who talk of earphone being dangerous while riding, and sensory deprivation, blah, blah, blah...

Can any of you please explain to me how riding without earphones is any safer? (BUT - assuming that even with earphones in you can still hear a car horn or siren. And also assuming that you take normal precautions when riding - like looking over your shoulder before moving away from curb, etc.)



Please convince me.

mroli

I used to commute with an ipod - over the ear phones rather than in ear ones so I could "hear" traffic. Then riding sportives I got used to riding without them. I feel a LOT safer without earphones. As has been pointed out, you can hear things like emergency sirens that you can't do with them in, you are more aware of vehicles and cycles passing, you can talk to other cyclists and interact with other road users.

I hear what people are saying about looking over their shoulder, but with "clear" hearing, I am often aware of traffic before even looking.

I understand why people wear ipods/music players to cycle. I wouldn't as I want to be as safe as possible when I cycle and losing most of my hearing is a big loss of one of my senses.

alfablue

mroli wrote:

I hear what people are saying about looking over their shoulder, but with "clear" hearing, I am often aware of traffic before even looking.

so it can replace looking? Wait for the Prius mroli!

CyclingBantam

alfablue wrote:

mroli wrote:

I hear what people are saying about looking over their shoulder, but with "clear" hearing, I am often aware of traffic before even looking.

so it can replace looking? Wait for the Prius mroli!

Mroli - can't you see you are making the point here that it is actually safer with earphones!!!

You should never let your hearing cover your safety. I ride both with and without and can't see what all these people who listen for cars do when they hear one coming n

psymon

i love to ride with music on road and off.
ive ridden with music since it was played through a casette player and never had an issue.

but doing a life saver (motorbike term) look over the shoulder when changing direction is a good move, and a good habit in all forms of transport. (even when walking around town!)

you just have to be a little more aware of your surroundings.









plus when i ride without music i become paranoid about every noise the bike makes, thinking something is creaking, rubbing, grinding and breaking.

finnj6

You're over thinking it, I ride with and without earphones in all sorts of conditions and roads. I've never felt safer with or without them.

I often cycle on a busy 3 lane dual carrage way and it's so noisy on it that I can never tell whats going on to the right of me even without my music.Cities arn't much quieter either and if you do think you need them out just pop them out and put them back in when you feel it's safer.

I know the type of cycle lane your talking about I was on one in Cape Cod a couple of years during my holidays, don't worry about music on them each to their own unless it is stated in the rules of the trail. In my opinion I think earphones are the politer option because I'm fairly grumpy and hate it when I'm forced to listen to other peoples music. I wouldn't care if I saw someone with them in as I was passing them on a cycle path. The looks are more often other cyclists checking out your bike. I know that's what I generally do when I pass someone.

neilgwhite

What a mixed response and not many sitting on the fence.... I do most of my road work with iPod using Philips open loop round headphones, as they're perfect for cancelling wind noise while allowing you to hear what's around you. Loved the comments about kids and chav's comments!

I do think that riding to music, especially when wisely chosen, helps to motivate on solo rides and I would never ride without now. I did an 86 miler solo last year without and by the end, the somersaults my mind was doing was more distracting than any music could ever be. A well picked album can raise the mood, the senses and drive you on.

cougie

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

Not ridden a track day - but I'd have thought that they probably don't have too many potholes to avoid or pedestrians liable to step out in front of you ?
ace. you mean you can hear potholes?

No I mean I'll have a fair idea of traffic approaching behind me and if I need to go wide, or bunny hop the potholes.

I have tried a training ride with my ipod and didnt get on with it at all. Cars were creeping up behind me in the country lanes and I had no idea they were there until I looked back. Its just not for me - but if people want to ride like that - it makes no difference to me.

cougie

Just what IS the advantage of music whilst cycling anyway ?

You cant race with music - so why train with it ? And why are ipods banned for racing if its perfectly safe to have them ?

mroli

I said "before even looking".

That doesn't mean I don't look FFS, it means that before I look, I know that there may be something on my inside.

I am not making the point that it is safer WITH earphones, because in fact I listen AND I look. My post makes it clear that it is one of my senses - because I don't wear an ipod, it doesn't mean I wear an eye mask.

If you're going to quote to make a point - get it right.... :roll: