listenning to music

MountainMonster

dawebbo wrote:

I sometimes close my eyes to pass the time, as I love cycling and I also love sleeping. Periodically peeking seems to be sufficient. Other times I ride with an eye patch as I only really need 1 eye to see and it's nearly as good as using two.

Really? I thought I was the only one!

Although in all honesty, I have been known to shut my eyes and count to 10 in an effort to block out pain on a few will shattering climbs back in Austria.

dodgy

Silly Old Hector wrote:

I've used the 'left ear only' method, once, listening to the radio on an early morning Sunday run.

The radio Prog was talk only (outdoor activity programme)' which turned out to be both motivational and inspirational, it gave me the oomph to finish the run (I often get bored/distracted when out on my own). A bit like talking to chums on a group run.

I personally have no problems using headphones on runs, almost essential, but when cycling it's 50/50 for me.

nathancom

I have never listened to music when cycling. I am not so worried about safety as I think out of town you should be fairly safe, but I like the sense of being in your surroundings I get from cycling compared to driving and music would make me retreat from that. I also enjoy just having time to think about things in relative silence. I can play music when I get home and listen to it on a decent set up rather than battling against the wind and my lack of attention.

Calpol

Only if I am MTB off road. Went out yesterday and certainly enjoyed having Deep Purple pace me round what was a very muddy and slippery route. Personally I think its not safe to do so on roads.

diy

Struggling to see the advantage of hearing something coming up on me. Is it a case of hearing some screamer coming and jumping up the bank to get out of the way? I wonder realistically how much benefit could be gained from the warning.

SHADOWMATE

Listening to music is a great thing for riding. As long as you think you are "Safe". Its just a matter of volume and everyone's different. Its important for me on rides cos without it it seems much longer. Good for pacing too. If you don't want to risk it in cities you could just wait until you are on the country lanes?

chris_bass

another way of looking at this:

are deaf people ok/safe to cycle?

freddiegrubb

Quiet country lane, cyclist doing a basil fawlty with his bike, mate & I approach & ask If he needs any help, no answer as he's too busy cursing the rear wheel. Ask again- no answer & the thought is perhaps he's deaf- he looks up with a start when he sees us, guess what? he's wearing I-pod earphones. If he couldn't hear us from 6 feet away don't claim you can when a car is approaching.

hipshot

If he had been deaf would you have disapproved of him cycling?

I often listen to music. Volume at about 50%. I know it sounds odd, but it seems to have very little effect on what I can hear. Typical vehicle noise seems to bypass the music almost unmolested. Different frequencies perhaps.

Not that I rely on hearing for awareness of other vehicles, now that would be dangerous.

simon_masterson

I think of this as being somewhat akin to riding everywhere no-handed. You may never fail to reach your brakes and you may never have any trouble, but it's still less effective.

For me personally, I don't have 'background' music. I listen to (or play) music or I do not. Having it on when cycling would be a distraction, and it also alters the environment I am in, which I find disconcerting anyway. When I was a teenager delivering papers I used to have earphones in sometimes, but that's it...

As for everyone else, I think the same basic reasons apply; to varying degrees determined by common sense. If you are riding along on cycle paths (exclusively) on your Brompton at 9MPH, and you are listening to music at low volume, I can't see a problem. Busy main roads in traffic on the other hand...

lotus49

Saying that deaf people can ride safely is no sort of argument.

What we are talking about here is whether it is less safe to listen to music. There is no absolute standard for "unsafe" so it's nonsensical to talk about it.

It cannot possibly be safer to listen to music so I don't. The difference may be (and probably is) small but I'm not taking any chances. It's not something I could get excited about though. It's a decision everyone must make for themselves.

Mettan

I'd never use earplugs on the bike - but... something like an X-Mini in your jersey pocket might be ok - still hear the traffic easily (and the music). There's a time and place for it though.

DavidJB

I use the sound of engines so much to gather information on the approaching car you can tell when someone's not going to slow down for a traffic island for example and slow down before they smash into you. You can tell when someone is going to close pass you so just before they pass you move a bit closer to the kerb to give yourself more room.

The ears are a fantastic tool and completely blocking out that additional sense so you can crank out an extra .25MPH listening to Justin Beiber is a bit mental.

iPete

lotus49 wrote:

Saying that deaf people can ride safely is no sort of argument.

What we are talking about here is whether it is less safe to listen to music. There is no absolute standard for "unsafe" so it's nonsensical to talk about it.

It cannot possibly be safer to listen to music so I don't. The difference may be (and probably is) small but I'm not taking any chances. It's not something I could get excited about though. It's a decision everyone must make for themselves.

Without a chune humming quietly into my left ear, whilst not scientific, I notice that I do less life saver checks and tend to zone out more. In keeping me more alert, it could be said that it is safer. In 25,000 miles of suburban & city cycling, it hasn't once put me at risk. Although some people here seem to think listening to music means both ears pumping @ volume 11 so you couldn't a nuclear bomb detonating.

Plus earworms on a long ride could drive any sane man to cycle off a cliff.

snoopsmydogg

DavidJB wrote:

I use the sound of engines so much to gather information on the approaching car you can tell when someone's not going to slow down for a traffic island for example and slow down before they smash into you. You can tell when someone is going to close pass you so just before they pass you move a bit closer to the kerb to give yourself more room.

The ears are a fantastic tool and completely blocking out that additional sense so you can crank out an extra .25MPH listening to Justin Beiber is a bit mental.

so you cant tell if a car is slowing down just by taking into account your speed and the cars movements? :? when your in your car do you have to open the window and turn the radio off at every junction/roundabout?

no one has said anything about blocking out the surrounding noises more having a background to pedal too. I'm not saying there is a right and wrong but i don't understand why folk feel the need to preach.

basically looks to me like those who don't preach. those who do won't give a f**k what is posted up on an internet forum

freddiegrubb

believe it or not I've cycled with somebody who was deaf, they had no choice in their condition I-pod wearers do.

Tom Dean

snoopsmydogg wrote:

Tom Dean wrote:

If music doesn't distract you, why listen to it?

Why does music have to be a distraction? Music helps while away the hours but can be kept low enough to be able to hear whats around you.

Do you drive? If so do you do it with all windows down and no radio just in case? My guess is no.

'helps while away the hours' is the same as 'distracts you from what you are doing' isn't it?

I don't drive but I wouldn't be sitting in a car for 4 hours for fun. What does having the window down have to do with distractions?

MountainMonster

Tom Dean wrote:

snoopsmydogg wrote:

Tom Dean wrote:

If music doesn't distract you, why listen to it?

Why does music have to be a distraction? Music helps while away the hours but can be kept low enough to be able to hear whats around you.

Do you drive? If so do you do it with all windows down and no radio just in case? My guess is no.

'helps while away the hours' is the same as 'distracts you from what you are doing' isn't it?

I don't drive but I wouldn't be sitting in a car for 4 hours for fun. What does having the window down have to do with distractions?

He doesn't mean having the window down and radio off about distractions, it's about "not being aware" as everyone keeps spouting off about.

A distraction is a distraction if you let it become one. I, for one, happen to love having my favourite tunes to enhance an already great experience. In no way am I distracted, the beats keep me motivated, and I am still fully aware of my surroundings.

MrSweary

From a commuter point of view I won't listen to music - put simply I feel it reduces my situational awareness - the key thing that keeps me safe in heavy traffic. That said I don't have any problem with other people doing it.

In the main the problem cyclists I see with headphones on weaving around etc would be riding like tw*ts anyway.

d10brp

dodgy wrote:

d10brp wrote:

I use aftershokz. When there is traffic around it drowns out the music completely.

I'm using them, too. Not 100% impressed with sound quality, but they are very comfortable.

Depends what you are after. I think the sound quality is as good as budget earphones (like the ones you used to get with iPods/iPhones until this year) and I don't mind sacrificing that bit of sound quality for my ears being completely open.

Tom Dean

MountainMonster wrote:

I, for one, happen to love having my favourite tunes to enhance an already great experience. In no way am I distracted, the beats keep me motivated, and I am still fully aware of my surroundings.

I just don't understand this I guess. Do put music on when you're watching tv?

d10brp

Tom Dean wrote:

MountainMonster wrote:

I, for one, happen to love having my favourite tunes to enhance an already great experience. In no way am I distracted, the beats keep me motivated, and I am still fully aware of my surroundings.

I just don't understand this I guess. Do put music on when you're watching tv?

I think you should probably take that comment back. Up to this post it has been reasoned argument based on your opinion (which you are entitled to). Now its trolling.

diy

Just wondering if those who say "definitely not" on safety grounds, do you also run with a daylight flashy tail light? Now that is something I will very rarely go out without. I don't run them in the summer months when the sun is high but will normally run at least one blinky during daylight

richsieb

There is always these? http://www.aftershokz.co.uk/ProductDeta ... Code=AS320

Would be interested to see how well they work before I fork out £50 though

verylonglegs

It's not for me when out on the bike, I just prefer the entire sensory experience. I did however have one occasion when I wished I had music...the sound of an articulated lorry braking for dear life (my life in fact!) because he's mis-judged my presence entirely is not something I want to hear again, ignorance would have been bliss on that one!

Jez mon

Personally, I find cycling with just one earphone in has very little effect on my ability to hear traffic plus I mainly cycle in the countryside on routes with very few junctions. I'd say wind noise has a far greater effect on my ability to hear traffic noise anyway.

MountainMonster

Tom Dean wrote:

MountainMonster wrote:

I, for one, happen to love having my favourite tunes to enhance an already great experience. In no way am I distracted, the beats keep me motivated, and I am still fully aware of my surroundings.

I just don't understand this I guess. Do put music on when you're watching tv?

You consider watching tv a great experience? That's pretty depressing, I suggest go riding your bike instead.

Moominman2

I used to listen to music every time I would ride.

Now I don't, thinking it was unsafe. For me, I was as aware of traffic and potential hazards then as I am now not listening g to music. I found that music motivated me when riding on my own but I don't really have room to use my iPod, so don't use it.

I reckon if you're riding on quiet roads then fine, but busy roads is a bit of a gamble.

Tom Dean

MountainMonster wrote:

Tom Dean wrote:

MountainMonster wrote:

I, for one, happen to love having my favourite tunes to enhance an already great experience. In no way am I distracted, the beats keep me motivated, and I am still fully aware of my surroundings.

I just don't understand this I guess. Do put music on when you're watching tv?

You consider watching tv a great experience? That's pretty depressing, I suggest go riding your bike instead.

Sometimes, yes. I'm sure your 'favourite tunes' are the height of cultural sophistication :roll:

MountainMonster

Tom Dean wrote:

MountainMonster wrote:

Tom Dean wrote:

MountainMonster wrote:

I, for one, happen to love having my favourite tunes to enhance an already great experience. In no way am I distracted, the beats keep me motivated, and I am still fully aware of my surroundings.

I just don't understand this I guess. Do put music on when you're watching tv?

You consider watching tv a great experience? That's pretty depressing, I suggest go riding your bike instead.

Sometimes, yes. I'm sure your 'favourite tunes' are the height of cultural sophistication :roll:

Monty Alexander, Duke Ellington, Marcus Johnson and many other jazz artists are on my playlists. Among many other genres, so why the hate?