Headphones whilst cycling

Rigged

Just read this (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2012/mar/26/bike-headphones-music-cycling) about bone conduction headphones. Sounds like an interesting idea and definitely a safer solution to standard headphones but has any one else used them and are they as good as they article says?

Gizmo_

They sound (cough) like a good idea, but surely that big plastic blob in front of your ear would create so much wind rush you'd be deafened anyway.

I've never worn earphones while riding but I drive a convertible and in the summer when I'm blazing about with the roof down I use my iPhone and earbuds (Sennheiser CX300) instead of the stereo. You might think that you can't hear anything around you, but you'd be surprised - bearing in mind that at motorway speeds almost all you can hear is wind roar anyway, the little rubber flanges absorb that so you can almost hear other car better. I'd assume the same effect happen on a bike wearing earbuds.

Incidentally, is it me or is everyone on the Guardian cycling zone totally obsessed with the idea that all motorised road users are actively trying to kill them?

Rigged

I've never ridden with headphones on the roads but music is a big help in the gym so was wondering what people do on the roads.

As it happens I have the same headphones as you and in my experience they isolate you excellently from outside noise so you can hear virtually nothing that goes on around you. I've not used them in circumstances where wind is blowing strongly around though so perhaps in those circumstances they work well.

That's the first time I've ever stumbled across the Cycling Zone on Guardian so I don't know if it's a common theme!

corshamjim

I just hum a merry tune as I'm cycling along! :-)

Rigged

corshamjim wrote:

I just hum a merry tune as I'm cycling along! :-)

Haha I think my voice would cause an accident if I tried that!

Long_Time_Lurker

corshamjim wrote:

I just hum a merry tune as I'm cycling along! :-)

+1 - unfortunately, it's normally the last song I heard on TV as I leave the house, whether I like it or not.
Today it was "Sorry for party rockin' " :x , yesterday it was "Go Compare, Go Compare..." :oops:

R+P+K

Personally, I don't like them because I feel it isolates me from the surroundings which is exactly why I want to be cycling - to be *in* the surroundings.

Headhuunter

I've heard of these bone conduction things. A friend of mine who worked at Bloomberg in 2003-2005 said that they tried them out as phone headsets there. The idea was that you could talk to someone on the phone and still be able to hear what was going on around you....

I wouldn't use headphones whilst riding however as far as I'm concerned it's no worse than being a motorist sealed up in a sound proof car with the stereo going. Most motorists have no ability to hear what's going on around them as they drive...

dilemna

Headhuunter wrote:

I've heard of these bone conduction things. A friend of mine who worked at Bloomberg in 2003-2005 said that they tried them out as phone headsets there. The idea was that you could talk to someone on the phone and still be able to hear what was going on around you....

I wouldn't use headphones whilst riding however as far as I'm concerned it's no worse than being a motorist sealed up in a sound proof car with the stereo going. Most motorists have no ability to hear what's going on around them as they drive...

I take it you don't drive, nor have you conducted a proper survey or scientific analysis with a suitable control for your sweeping generalisation?

Wear headphones whilst cycling at your peril. It's your funeral. I just feel sorry for your family and relatives at your funeral who would say "If only he hadn't been ..............

shouldbeinbed

Headhuunter wrote:

I wouldn't use headphones whilst riding however as far as I'm concerned it's no worse than being a motorist sealed up in a sound proof car with the stereo going. Most motorists have no ability to hear what's going on around them as they drive...

Not a fan of headphones either but I'm not sure on the point of the car analogy. I think the ton and a half of safety tested crumple zones, airbags & seatbelts make a bit of difference to the consequences of such sensory deprivation

Headhuunter

dilemna wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

I've heard of these bone conduction things. A friend of mine who worked at Bloomberg in 2003-2005 said that they tried them out as phone headsets there. The idea was that you could talk to someone on the phone and still be able to hear what was going on around you....

I wouldn't use headphones whilst riding however as far as I'm concerned it's no worse than being a motorist sealed up in a sound proof car with the stereo going. Most motorists have no ability to hear what's going on around them as they drive...

I take it you don't drive, nor have you conducted a proper survey or scientific analysis with a suitable control for your sweeping generalisation?

Wear headphones whilst cycling at your peril. It's your funeral. I just feel sorry for your family and relatives at your funeral who would say "If only he hadn't been ..............

As I said, I wouldn't wear headphones on the bike but yes I do drive and with the stereo on even relatively low, in a modern, well insulated car, I'm afraid motorists are pretty much unable to hear what's going on around them....

king_jeffers

Headphones while cycling... now I'm more confident on the road I always cycle with them in, well one of them. Usually have one bud in my ear (left) and the other tucked in my jersey to avoid it snagging/flapping around. I set my player to mono, have the volume turned down and I can still hear whats going on around me without any problems whilst still being able to enjoy my tunes whilst going to work, cheaper than spending £50 on conductive headphones although I'm sure they would be awesome.

snig

an iphone or the like used with the loud speakers is a good option if you don't fancy earphones.

corshamjim

I tried this bicycle radio for a while. Unfortunately I can't get Radio 4 very well on it around here so haven't used it for ages. It has a socket for an MP3 player too.

snig

corshamjim wrote:

I tried this bicycle radio for a while. Unfortunately I can't get Radio 4 very well on it around here so haven't used it for ages. It has a socket for an MP3 player too.

you problably know,and guessing you don't have an iphone but you can get some good radio apps that work on iphone etc

corshamjim

Thanks for the tip, but you guessed right. My 'phone is a cheapo Samsung.

iPete

dilemna wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

I've heard of these bone conduction things. A friend of mine who worked at Bloomberg in 2003-2005 said that they tried them out as phone headsets there. The idea was that you could talk to someone on the phone and still be able to hear what was going on around you....

I wouldn't use headphones whilst riding however as far as I'm concerned it's no worse than being a motorist sealed up in a sound proof car with the stereo going. Most motorists have no ability to hear what's going on around them as they drive...

I take it you don't drive, nor have you conducted a proper survey or scientific analysis with a suitable control for your sweeping generalisation?

Wear headphones whilst cycling at your peril. It's your funeral. I just feel sorry for your family and relatives at your funeral who would say "If only he hadn't been ..............

I take it you don't wear headphones whilst cycling, nor have you conducted a proper survey or scientific analysis with a suitable control for your sweeping generalisation?

dave2041

I listen whilst riding, i have it loud enough to hear, but the roads are so loud! Without getting noise cancelling you can always hear the road... Just get a normal pair of headphones.

lighty89

I don't wear headphones whilst cycling, to dangerous. Need to be able to hear the numpties coming up behind you.

sloppycowpat

I almost always listen to music but only in one ear (kerb side), i have never been caught out by a vehicle because i can still hear with my other ear and i tend to average a couple of mph faster when i listen to music , i get bored on the road with out music or audibooks/ podcasts

gentlegreen

In 24 years and 40,000 miles, I have almost never ridden my bike without music playing - open back phones, sensible volume, popped off if the conditions demand it - and never on a group ride - kind of defeats the object. But on fast training sprints up the railway path from Bath to Bristol on summer evenings, I'm in full-on "rave" mode - it's my secret weapon as a fat 50 year old on a heavy bike.

I'm very lucky with the quiet routes I have available, though I listen to less distracting music these days and at lower volumes .. apart from anything else I like to feel part of the world - be it birdsong, or other people .. the music just takes the edge off the depressing noise of traffic - especially when I have to pass near the madness of the motorway / dual carriageway.

It probably depends on the person - I have to say that most cyclists I encounter don't wear headphones.

esd

use a shuffle on my long rides - ipod ear pieces.. usually country roads..after many miles seem to have developed a 6th sense to know when cars are just behind...its the cars approaching from the front at speed along narrow lanes that are the issue to me..most dont seem to see you as they pass by at some speed....even when i wave nicely at them....