Decisions. Best headphones for accident protection.

dragonontheedge

As the title says. Which audio headphones offer the best combination of sound quality and accident protection for cyclists ?

Just wondering after seeing a fully lycra'd Japanese chap on a Wilier on Saturday with no helmet but wearing the biggest set of "cans" I have ever seen in my life.

I was considering a new Specialised Echelon but luckily happened upon this chap before shelling out my hard earned on a superfluous helmet. I have now seen the light.

Sennheiser are my first choice at the moment but I cant find any stats on them or type approval numbers for accident protection ratings.

I would have stopped to ask him but the traffic was to heavy and he couldn't hear me shouting at him.

Thanks in anticipation.

Keith1983

dragonontheedge wrote:

I would have stopped to ask him but the traffic was to heavy and he couldn't hear me shouting at him.

Thanks in anticipation.

Think you've answered your own question there genius!

MrChuck

Keith1983 wrote:

dragonontheedge wrote:

I would have stopped to ask him but the traffic was to heavy and he couldn't hear me shouting at him.

Thanks in anticipation.

Think you've answered your own question there genius!

Whoosh!

dragonontheedge

Keith1983 wrote:

dragonontheedge wrote:

I would have stopped to ask him but the traffic was to heavy and he couldn't hear me shouting at him.

Thanks in anticipation.

Think you've answered your own question there genius!

Think you have missed the irony in my post.

Pokerface

I would think the answer is fairly obvious. The best headphone for accident prevention ARE NO HEADPHONES AT ALL.

As evidenced by the fact that someone with headphones on can't hear you shouting at them. :roll:


This is now going to turn into another massive debate on the pros and cons of wearing headphones whilst cycling.

(I fall on the side of wearing them).

Wear them in just one ear if you truly want music but still be able to hear what's going on around you. Otherwise, wear them in both ears and learn to ride like a normal person and use your other senses.

lostboysaint

dragonontheedge wrote:

Keith1983 wrote:

dragonontheedge wrote:

I would have stopped to ask him but the traffic was to heavy and he couldn't hear me shouting at him.

Thanks in anticipation.

Think you've answered your own question there genius!

Think you have missed the irony in my post.

I suspect there's a few more to come yet

Duffer65

Pokerface wrote:

I would think the answer is fairly obvious. The best headphone for accident prevention ARE NO HEADPHONES AT ALL.

As evidenced by the fact that someone with headphones on can't hear you shouting at them. :roll:


This is now going to turn into another massive debate on the pros and cons of wearing headphones whilst cycling.

(I fall on the side of wearing them).

Wear them in just one ear if you truly want music but still be able to hear what's going on around you. Otherwise, wear them in both ears and learn to ride like a normal person and use your other senses.

I believe the gentleman was making an ironical type joke

Can we please not have ANOTHER headphones whilst riding good or bad debate? Or the old favourite helmets yes or no? :roll:

thegreatdivide

It's like an airshow in here

dragonontheedge

Duffer65 wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

Can we please not have ANOTHER headphones whilst riding good or bad debate? :roll:

No invitation to a debate was ever intended. My post was by way of an observation.

Pokerface

dragonontheedge wrote:

Duffer65 wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

Can we please not have ANOTHER headphones whilst riding good or bad debate? :roll:

No invitation to a debate was ever intended. My post was by way of an observation.

That quote wasn't from me!

Pokerface

Threads on headphones:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... headphones
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... headphones
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... =earphones

Debate:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... =earphones

dragonontheedge

Pokerface wrote:

dragonontheedge wrote:

Duffer65 wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

Can we please not have ANOTHER headphones whilst riding good or bad debate? :roll:

No invitation to a debate was ever intended. My post was by way of an observation.

That quote wasn't from me!

Your quite right. It was from someone else, credit must go to Duffer65. Take the credit if you want though

Duffer65

dragonontheedge wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

dragonontheedge wrote:

Duffer65 wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

Can we please not have ANOTHER headphones whilst riding good or bad debate? :roll:

No invitation to a debate was ever intended. My post was by way of an observation.

That quote wasn't from me!

Your quite right. It was from someone else, credit must go to Duffer65. Take the credit if you want though

Not wanting to drag this out but...I was merely trying to head-off any debates spawned by people misunderstanding your initial post. I'll get me coat.

secretsqizz

I have short term memory loss due to accident when wearing headphones and didnt hear the big red bus behind me..... I like repetitive threads

Keith1983

dragonontheedge wrote:

Keith1983 wrote:

dragonontheedge wrote:

I would have stopped to ask him but the traffic was to heavy and he couldn't hear me shouting at him.

Thanks in anticipation.

Think you've answered your own question there genius!

Think you have missed the irony in my post.

I was merely congratulating you for your talent to multi-task bty asking and answering a question in the same post! I just dion't get the point of people posting stuff purely to get a reaction. Admitedly I have pretty much vindicated your post by responding though!

Mad Roadie

Pokerface wrote:

NO HEADPHONES AT ALL.

agree NONE

mroli

Was it this guy?



Those look good for side protection, put not so good in head on collisions. I would suggest you make sure you only get sideswiped if you are wearing these.

dragonontheedge

mroli wrote:

Was it this guy?



Those look good for side protection, put not so good in head on collisions. I would suggest you make sure you only get sideswiped if you are wearing these.

yeah thats him.

Paul E

Front and rear protection looks ropey though, i would think another pair worn front and back will help although it may reduce your ability to seethe road a small amount.

AidanR

Maybe these would be better?



No room for sunglasses, though.

PS, I can't believe how many people on this thread failed to get the joke.

Gizmodo

dragonontheedge wrote:

mroli wrote:

Was it this guy?



Those look good for side protection, put not so good in head on collisions. I would suggest you make sure you only get sideswiped if you are wearing these.

yeah thats him.

They're the Volvo SIPS Curtain system aren't they?

Dmak

http://road.cc/content/news/11629-aa-calls-dft-ban-cyclists-using-ipods-they-ride

Deaf people ride around London every day, without any issues whatsoever.

I ride 50/50 with and without music.

If I have cans on I do like to have a mirror on the bars so cars don't scare the shit out of me too much.

Just because you can't hear something, doesn't mean it isn't there and isn't a threat. Removing outside audio from your senses just makes you use your eyes more.

All that said I'd struggle to find comfort in busy urban areas with music blaring in my ears.

I use these; Philips SHQ4000/10



The benefits are amazing, they cut out the wind noise amazingly, give you a good soundtrack, they are discreet, comfy and when things get busy and you want them gone (at a busy junction or to be sociable) you just pull them out out of your ears, they can sit about 1cm in front of your ear canals so they're ready to pop back in when conditions suit.

Here's a link to buy.

http://www.johnlewis.com/231010920/Product.aspx?source=63258

I will add that they are sweat/rain proof and sound great. Because they cut down on wind noise so much, when used at a moderate level, the outside noise is almost equally audible as it would be with wind noise in your ear in windy/high speed conditions.

Just keep looking and be as defensive as you possibly can ALWAYS. Red lights mean stop, green lights mean slow down and look. Have fun, enjoy the ride 8)

Bordersroadie

I've not been around for the many previous debates. . .

I can't believe anyone with an actual brain between their ears would consider riding with anything in their ears except for fresh air and the sound waves of their surroundings (which are a vital part of maximising the possibility of remining alive and uninjured until the end of whatever bike ride you happen to be on at the time).

In my humble opinion, anyone considering riding with one or two headphones is a complete idiot. I'm also thinking that the original post was just a troll, he cannot be serious, surely?

navrig

Bordersroadie wrote:

I've not been around for the many previous debates. . .

I can't believe anyone with an actual brain between their ears would consider riding with anything in their ears except for fresh air and the sound waves of their surroundings (which are a vital part of maximising the possibility of remining alive and uninjured until the end of whatever bike ride you happen to be on at the time).

In my humble opinion, anyone considering riding with one or two headphones is a complete idiot. I'm also thinking that the original post was just a troll, he cannot be serious, surely?

Not a troll, just someone trying to lighten up what I am beginning to think is the most serious forum on the internet.

This place has glimmers of The Big Bang Theory.......

Dmak

Bordersroadie wrote:

I've not been around for the many previous debates. . .

I can't believe anyone with an actual brain between their ears would consider riding with anything in their ears except for fresh air and the sound waves of their surroundings (which are a vital part of maximising the possibility of remining alive and uninjured until the end of whatever bike ride you happen to be on at the time).

In my humble opinion, anyone considering riding with one or two headphones is a complete idiot. I'm also thinking that the original post was just a troll, he cannot be serious, surely?

Humble it is, inexperienced too I'd hazard a guess. I'll repeat, deaf people ride every day without problems.

Bordersroadie

Dmak, you cheeky young monkey, I detect a bit of gentle ribbing, my friend!

Your analogy is a bit tenuous I'd say - for example I'm sure there are blind people who do many things and do them very well, but it doesn't mean we should all go around blindfolded.

Having two ears that can hear is a pretty handy thing to help you cycle safely. If you want to block off that vital sense, on you go mate, but I'd hazard a guess which one of us is less experienced. I've had plenty of times over the last 40 years or so when being able to hear on a bike has saved my skin.

I bet I'm an older git than you

Scotxr

Bordersroadie wrote:

I've not been around for the many previous debates. . .

I can't believe anyone with an actual brain between their ears would consider riding with anything in their ears except for fresh air and the sound waves of their surroundings (which are a vital part of maximising the possibility of remining alive and uninjured until the end of whatever bike ride you happen to be on at the time).

In my humble opinion, anyone considering riding with one or two headphones is a complete idiot. I'm also thinking that the original post was just a troll, he cannot be serious, surely?

You guys are at it aren't you??!!

The OP was JOKING. The amount of moon units replying like it was a serious thread is hilarious.

mroli

What about these - perfect...

furrag

Head phones increase my drag coefficient too much. I find ear phones with internally routed cabling to be far more aerodynamic.

Simonhi

I always ride and listen to music, even when i'm out riding with friends, I roll with these bad boys.

Sennheiser PMX 60.

I find that it is handy you can move them about on your ears for total black out from other road noise, or slide them back a bit so you can hear, handy for navigating junctions out in the country when hedgerows are too tall to see over.

I can even put them high on my neck near to my ears and hold a conversation with my riding buddy whilst still hearing the music in the distance, I can put one ear on and off, I find them really versatille. Any the bass kicks like a mule :-)

As for the safety aspect please do me a favour.

We live and work in a far too restricted world of do-gooders, so-called professionals telling us what we should and should'nt do, what is good and bad, safe and unsafe ... "Don't do that you'll die" "Wear a helmet or you'll get killed" "I can't believe you cycle with earphones on, what about the kittens" etc etc ...

I work in a very H&S conscious industry and I'm sick and tired of people who don't know any better constantly brandishing the H&S card, just look at the threads on this forum, helmet threads running to ten pages. Wear one or don't, I really don't care, it's none of my buisness, who am I to judge ?

People should be allowed to assess their own risks, and take them as they see fit, it is part of living in a free society, not a dictatorship.

Don't lecture me on being unsafe.

I have never met you before which makes you the worst person to judge.

Rant over ............... Carry on :-)

meanredspider

Simonhi wrote:

Don't lecture me on being unsafe.

I have never met you before which makes you the worst person to judge.

Rant over ............... Carry on :-)

TBH, from my POV it's not to do with H&S just a bit of consideration. I'm pi55ed off with peds on shared paths or cyclists on paths & roads where I ring my bell or yell "morning" and they're oblivious to my presence because they're listening to some "bangin' tunes". Then they jump out of their skins when I pass.

You might be the most considerate person in the world because I don't think I've met you - but I kinda doubt it.