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

father_jack

Riding with headphones- stupid asking for darwin. If you want to listen to a radio, straip a portable radio to the bars.

chris_bass

wow!! i wasn't expecting that many responses!!

but alas, the reply i was hoping for (along the lines of "yes, there is a safe way, here is a link to a wonderful device for playing music whilst actually heightening your senses!") did not appear! the earphone that sit outside of your ear look interesting! i may just stick to me, the road, the wind and traffic noise though! i'd only be like buddy holly, scared of flying and then first time in a plane it crashes and he dies! except i'd be more like scared by a car that i didnt hear coming and it made me jump, think thats about the extent of what would happen but i guess better to be safe than sorry, right?!

Herbsman

Do some people think that you can only listen to music through headphones with the volume turned up so high that it drowns out all external sound? 'cause looking at newspaper articles and threads like this on various forums you'd think so.

I used to ride with headphones, volume just high enough to be able to hear the music but not loud enough to affect my ability to hear what is going on around me - the only difference it ever made was I'd ride faster if there was fast music playing. That's because I keep my eyes open and check all around me regularly.

Nowadays I don't bother, not because it feels safer without them but because I can't be arsed with music while I'm riding - I can never seem to find tunes that I like and has a similar rhythm to what I maintain while riding. Plus I quite enjoy the sound of birds singing in the countryside.

bikeboff

Chris - maybe this is what you are looking for. I've used a cy-fi speaker for the last couple of years and found it to be excellent. I don't use it in populated areas, pr when other cyclists are around, but it's wonderful during those long lonely stretches.

It works using bluetooth, so you just need your phone or MP3 player in your back pocket. The speaker itself is very light and comes with an attachment for your handlebars.

Cheers.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cyfi-Wireless-S ... 869&sr=8-2

MountainMonster

Father Jack wrote:

Riding with headphones- stupid asking for darwin. If you want to listen to a radio, straip a portable radio to the bars.

Judging by your name and your post, you seem like one of those fathers who wrap their kids in bubble wrap everytime they go out of the house in order to protect them from the big bad world.

Either that or your Sara Palin.

t.m.h.n.e.t

Have yet to have music on the bike yet but when I was motorbike commuting to work I always had earphones in,I got special ones that block wind noise yet offered comfortable sound from mp3 player. Never had a problem as I was very much alert anyway.

floosy

I choose not to...

you may decide what you wish..


Dave.

colsoop

I cycled 30 miles this morning with headphones. I didn't died, in fact i regularly cycle with headphones in.
I occasionally cycle without a helmet too. Perhaps im the statistical annomaly as surely i should be dead or brain dead by now

I fiind wind noise masks most traffic for me anyway so im always glancing over my shoulder at whats around me.
Look ahead see a pot hole, glance over shoulder, no traffic move out.

What will my ears help me with ?

greasedscotsman

colsoop wrote:

I cycled 30 miles this morning with headphones. I didn't died, in fact i regularly cycle with headphones in.
I occasionally cycle without a helmet too. Perhaps im the statistical annomaly as surely i should be dead or brain dead by now

I fiind wind noise masks most traffic for me anyway so im always glancing over my shoulder at whats around me.
Look ahead see a pot hole, glance over shoulder, no traffic move out.

What will my ears help me with ?

Spelling and grammar?

night_porter

I really do not understand why no-one has thought of this before.

Riding in France it is definately okay to ride with your music as loud as you like, it is impossible for it to block out the sound of approaching traffic!!!

Think about it for a second!

Cars in France drive on the right......so you will see all of them driving straight at you!!!

Simples init :roll:

secretsam

Sing to yourself

bennyandrew

I wear headphones while solo riding ,its a bad habbit, i crank it up loud and listenen to Napalam Death,i would not recommed it to anyone mind you.

millimole

I have occasionally listened to music / Radio4 through headphones, and I haven't died either. I'm not a great fan of headphones in any sense as I find them uncomfortable, but they didn't block out the sounds of the traffic.
If I want music on a long ride I tend to use a very small speaker in my bar bag - loud enough to get the beat, but not loud enough to intrude. I tend to turn it off in towns as it gets peculiar looks from the grockles!

1@ATIME

I've just ordered these as they seem a relatively good compromise http://www.slipstreamz.com/content.asp?subID=8. Not sure how good they'll work or how stupid i'll look but want something for the longer solo rides.

Alibran

Until a few days ago, my instinct would have been to say there's no safe way to cycle with music, unless you're out on the open road at night, in total darkness, when you can see the light from a car approaching behind long before you can hear it, but .....

On a ride the other day, I was happily riding along a quiet but fairly major road, wind rushing by me, enjoying the lack of traffic, when I heard the hiss of a big air release valve behind me. I glanced round, and saw one of the coaches that pass for local buses round here patiently waiting to pass. The road widened into a side turning just ahead, so I slowed and moved over for him to pass, then stared in astonishment at the queue of 20 cars or so that followed him - bearing in mind that 20 cars passing you in a mile is unusual on that road, and the local buses don't go slow enough to cause long queues.

He must have been behind me for some time and I didn't hear him, so I might just as well have been wearing headphones.

I still probably wouldn't listen to music on unfamiliar roads because I'd be worried about my concentration, but after my latest experience, I don't think not being able to hear the traffic is a good argument against them.

chris_bass

http://www.bicycle.net/2011/product-review-%E2%80%93-tune-bug-shake

this looks interesting, although maybe a bit bulky to have on your helmet (as the actress said to the bishop!)