Audible Radios
There has been many a debate here regarding personal headphone usage and many good points have been made. But one area that seems untouched us the arena of personal audible radios/stereos, that is, something with an external speaker on it like old transistor radios.
I would never use headphones but have been, on occasion, using a pocket radio. Not blaring away, but just barely finding it's way up to my ear. I've found it really helps with the boredom factor on some rides and it also alerts pedestrians ahead of me to my presence. On the other hand, it does add some weight and attracts some funny looks from other cyclists. Plus it's turned a few of my 10 mile round-the-block rides into 30-milers or more.
I know there's some hardcores out there who'd never think of doing such a thing and others you could never take their headphones away. But would a pocket radio at low volumes be a relatively safe common ground for those dead-set on riding with audio entertainment? What are your opinions?