is there a safe way to listen to music/radio whilst cycling?

chris_bass

I fear i already know the answer to this question but i'll pose it anyway!!

i never have worn headphones whilst cycling as i need to be able to hear cars/busses/police cars/abulances etc but i will soon be heading out on a solo cycle to paris and so will be on the road a lot by myself and in order to pass the time a bit of music or radio might help!

are there any safe ways to do this?

Duffer65

I would not recommend wearing headphones of any kind whilst cycling...but that's just my opinion, I like to be aware as possible of what's going on around me.

Perhaps you could attach a phone/MP3 player to your handlebars and have the music playing through the speaker(s) - like those annoying 'kids' do. That way you could listen to music but be a little more aware of your surroundings than you would be with headphones.

iandennis

No, too much of a distraction.

Just ride faster

sumosprintstar

Not via headphones. I am sure others will disagree though.

Zoomer37

I'd not use headphones myself, but if you must these could work. I'd imagine these sound rubbish though.

http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/cycling- ... r-cycling/

tom22

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... s-11-44716

read this!

mercurykev

I always listen to music when I'm cycling and never have encountered any problems. The trick is to not have the music too loud and don't wear headphones that block out all external sounds - those new bud style headphones with the rubber ear bung aren't really suited to bike use IMHO. This allows you to hear the traffic coming behind you. You need to also remember to use your eyes.

To those who say you can't cycle safely while listerning to music I ask, what about deaf people - can they not cycle safely?

topcattim

I used to be firmly in the "no headphones" camp until I installed cyclemeter on my iPhone. One of its features is a pace update, that lets you know whether you are up or down on your pace around the same route on previous rides. So I now ride with one earphone in (left ear, further away from traffic), and music playing. I have the volume on low, so that much of the time, I can't actually hear the music due to the noise of the wind. I can only really hear it easily on a hill climb when my pace drops, or when I am cruising along very gently below 17ish mph. I have invariably been able to hear cars and other traffic en route.

Not sure what any of this means, really, other than that the argument about "if you put your earphones in, then you can't hear the other traffic" doesn't really stand up (for me) when you consider that the wind noise is more of a blocker to environmental noise than are the headphones. There is of course the argument that you get absorbed in the music, but equally I've been absorbed in my thoughts without music playing.

So, after having been the other side of this argument, I'm now in the "cautious, low volume, one earphone-in" camp

CyclingBantam

This comes up all the time. If you will allow me to summarize how the thread will go.

- Various people will say you can't, it isnt advisable.
- Someone will then say they do it fine with no issues.
- They will then get called mad, foolish and unsafe.
- More will then chip in saying it is fine and that deaf people can cycle and are not in more danger.
- People will get even more insistant that you are going to kill yourself if you do it.
- Someone will bring the Nazi's in to it.

In effect, only you can decide. There is no right or wrong answer. Try it yourself, maybe try with one ear in, one out and see how you go.

Either A) - You have a brain and will be able to tell yourself if you are putting yourself in any further danger; or - You are an idiot and you will be putting youself in far more danger already than headphones will anyway!

For the record, I wear earphones and I feel safe with them.

You may see somebody along in a minute who has never met me who will tell you I am a danger to myself and others!

MattJPaul

I listened to music on my second ever ride and haven't since.

It didn't feel safe and worst of all, it detracted from the riding experience.

thegreatdivide

Rule 62:

"You shall not ride with earphones. Cycling is about getting outside and into the elements and you don’t need to be listening to Queen or Slayer in order to experience that. Immerse yourself in the rhythm and pain, not in whatever 80′s hair band you call “music”.

bearfraser

NAZI'S

CyclingBantam

This thread is now complete.

bobtbuilder

I ride with my ipod every time I ride solo. I just use the left earbud and increase the amount of times I look behind me.

No problems so far.

keef66

So that's 5 against, 4 in favour, and one vote for the third reich. Pretty balanced discussion I'd say

sungod

wouldn't myself, but there's always this type of thing...

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bicycl ... 85&bih=827

willowthewhite

CyclingBantam wrote:

This thread is now complete.

Not quite... you're a danger to yourself and others...

On a serious note do what you feel is safe, I do ride with headphones, have always done so when riding solo, have yet to have a problem, however I would never use them when riding in a group.

/gets out his wooden spoon/
How many of you who do not use headphones to listen to music, use a hands free kit to make and receive phone calls?

dinyull

bobtbuilder wrote:

I ride with my ipod every time I ride solo. I just use the left earbud and increase the amount of times I look behind me.

No problems so far.

I also ride with my iPod only using left earbud, the iPod's standard earphones don't fit brilliantly anyway so doesn't block out traffic noise and most of the noise you need to be aware of comes from the right hand side anyway.

Simple test to find if your happy with it or not is to give it a go, doesn't take any effort to pull out the earphone if your not happy.

dmont

bobtbuilder wrote:

I ride with my ipod every time I ride solo. I just use the left earbud and increase the amount of times I look behind me.

No problems so far.

+1 as Bob said.

springtide9

I own a pair of the 'Mad Catz Airdrives headphone'.

They work really well, but don't expect to be able to hear your music over the traffic (yes, that's the point!). They are loud enough to make it worth while, yet get overpowered easily.

To give you an idea, you can still have a conversation with someone while wearing them!

cougie

I'd not bother. You may have to suffer French music once you get over the channel. :shock:

flasher

I listen to music when riding solo, as I assume that theres always a vehicle of some sort trying to get me!

But for the non-music listening riders a question:

When you're riding along by yourself and you hear a vehicle coming from behind, does your riding style change, do you slow down, speed up, go closer to the kerb or further into the road? Yes you can hear the traffic but what effect does that have on you?

mattward1979

Personally I didnt really like cycling with headphones.. But that was my old commute where lorries were as common as cars.

But before anyone demonises those for listening to music and "Removing a sense" which kills kittens every time you do it (Maybe the Nazi's kill the kittens?), cycling is a sport that is encouraged by the deaf associations as safe. Your eyes are far more important!

oscar-j

don't put you headphones over your eyes

father_jack

Press stop.

MattC59

I use headphones when I'm riding on my own.
I keep the volume to a level where I can hear traffic coming up behind me.
I've never had any issues.
I use these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-80-ECO-Rugged-Neckband-Headphones/dp/B001IKKDL2/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1306948794&sr=8-14
They're really good and don't seal off your ear and block out other sounds.

I win.

MountainMonster

I use standard ear bud headphones, on full whack, and somehow still manage to hear every car coming up behind me, and always look around alot. I guess the people who don't ride with headphones and are so against it only look behind them when they hear something behind them, rather than using their eyes most of the time.

Eyes inform you alot more than ears.

I've never been hit by a car, but since I wear headphones I must not know what i'm talking about!

CiB

2p worth on the way...

I sometimes ride with headphones in, if it's a quiet road or a quiet time of day like Sunday afternoon. If traffic is busy or I have a sense that I need to be more open to external sounds I'll go for the left earphone option. More often than not I don't bother listening to anything at all as being out on the bike is enough, but on long rides esp solo it's a good way of passing the miles.

The other factor is what environment are you in? Trafalgar Square in the rush hour is probably a no-no. A deserted Fosse Way on a Sunday afternoon is a different matter. And worth factoring in is the fact that Johny Frenchman is much less likely to cause you hassle from his voiturette than WVM on the A23.

Summary? Headphones are ok, sometimes it's better without and sometimes a halfway house approach does the job. On balance they're fine in the right circumstance.

P_Tucker

thegreatdivide wrote:

Rule 62:

"You shall not ride with earphones. Cycling is about getting outside and into the elements and you don’t need to be listening to Queen or Slayer in order to experience that. Immerse yourself in the rhythm and pain, not in whatever 80′s hair band you call “music”.

Word. However, earphones ARE acceptable on the turbo - it's a double negative.

holker

Q: Is there are a safe way to listen to music whilst cycling?

A: Sing to yourself

mattshrops

Do what you like.

most of the time i find the wind noise covers the sound of cars until they're right on top of me anyway. might be the incredible speed i'm riding at - err no.

FTR i dont wear them, i have music in my head AT ALL TIMES 8)