Road Cycling - Headphones / earbuds

In a recent post, there was a discussion on listening to music while riding. Used wisely, I don't see them as a problem. I'm sure some will disagree. I did contact the NC DOT and they replied "There is no law in NC that prohibits the use of headphones when bicycling. Other states have passed such legislation and I hope NC will do so some time soon."
Just a thought. :beer:

I personally think that a cyclist has enough things to watch out for on the road without listening to music on headphones. I personally use the ambient noise to listen for cars coming etc... I have no problem with a handlebars radio because it does not activly block out surrounding sound.

Wow!! You really know how to open up a can o' worms! I'm new to this forum but I've seen this discussed before on others. Get your flame suit out you may need it. One thing you have to realize is that there are a lot of different conditions people ride in. Some mostly ride in rural areas others in towns, there's places where bike paths run for miles and miles. So there are some conditions where using headphone would be more acceptable than others. Many of the issues with using headphones are shared with cell phone usage and driving. But what ever you do, don't give the argument about not being able to hear, as I ride with deaf riders.

Yep, when I ride the paved bike trails I use an iPod. The music really cranks things up a notch adrenaline-wise. But I wouldn't ride the road with them on. 'Nuff crazy drivers out there without having a distracted biker on them as well.

Having said that, riding on the trail while listening to music isn't always the best thing. Someone may ride up and ask you a question, request to pass, be stalking you etc. etc. You have to try to be all the more alert visually.

And also, if you're training for racing while listing to tunes be prepared to only hear the sound of your wheezing lungs when race day comes. This could be a let down but maybe some residual music stays with you.

Lone Coyote: Doesn't the "deaf rider" thing not really compare? I mean, deaf riders are quite used to being deaf as opposed to we music-listeners who are temporarily unaware of outside sounds and out of our element so-to-speak.

I guess I hadn't read the previous discussions on this topic.

I personally do not use them, simply because I know I am more aware of my surroundings without headphones... however if a cyclist wants to use them, then I think they should be able to, cyclists are not really endangering anyone but themselves...

but then again, by the same respect why are vehicles allowed to have blasting stereos?:rolleyes:

At least a car with a blasting radio has mirrors. I agree, people should be able to do what they want, but on the road your taking your life into your own hands. 3/4's of bicycling on the road is defensive. I do not know how many times a car I knew was coming up behind me scared the crap out of me by passing too close. If you can't hear it coming and swerve you could in for a world of hurt. I'm sure there are some statistics on this somewhere in the internet.


Here is some info. Not exactly what I was looking for, but the numbers are big enough. I'll continue to ride without a radio.

NHTSA Info (http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/ncsa/tsf2001/2001pedal.pdf)

I still think its STUPID that you can drive a car or, heaven forbid one of those nast SUVs that is sealed so tightly that you can't hear an ambulance or other emergency vehicle untill it's on your bumper but, you can't wear head phones while riding a bike, give me a break! You can talk on your "hands free" cell phone but for heavens sake don't get cought using those nasty head phones on your bike!:rolleyes:

The only time I have ever been close to being hit from behind is when I was meeting a car on a 2 lane road and a PU truck going at least 60 MPH shaved my left side with that wide view mirror!!! I didn't hear the truck because of the car and it came out of no where!

If you are worried about being hit from behind, ride more to the left. I have found you are given a wider berth if the driver has to actually cross the deviding line to pass!

BTW it is against the LAW in TN to use them also but around here the cops seem to have better things to focus on!

I often wear them on commutes, but I use a mirror, so I'm pretty aware of what's going on around me... see rear-approaching cars long before I would hear them.

I think it's dum,Law or no law.It's common sense,that too many don't seem to posess.There are laws about headphone and restricted ability to hear use when piloting a motor vehicle.Why any less so on a bike??

I don't usually listen to music when I ride, but I have in the past on occasion--mainly when just puttering around the neighborhood. I've had headphones that didn't really obstruct hearing--I think they were probably cheap and didn't snug up to the ears. I could hear the music, but I could still hear stuff going on around me. No worse than bundling up my ears on a cold day.

I've also had times when cars snuck up behind me and I didn't hear them, and I wasn't using headphones at the time. Just the conditions weren't good for hearing.

I think it all just depends on the conditions at the time. If I had to deal with a lot of traffic I wouldn't want music, or any other extra distractions, but on quiet roads, or uncrowded bikepaths I think it might be ok.

:) hmmm, no smilies with headphones

kari

Originally posted by mudmouse
I If I had to deal with a lot of traffic I wouldn't want music, or any other extra distractions, but on quiet roads, or uncrowded bikepaths I think it might be ok.



kari Amazing how people can rationalize ---------! It's the ONE you don't hear when you need to.

>>>>>I did contact the NC DOT and they replied "There is no law in NC that prohibits the use of headphones when bicycling. <<<<<


In New York City, the vehicle traffic law states the following:

1. You must have your headlamp and rear light on from dusk till dawn

2. A bell or other audible device required.

3. Reflective tires and or other devices required.

4. Riders are required to use left and right hand signals

What I don't understand are the following.

1. Rider may not wear more than one earphone attached to a radio, tape player or other audio device while riding.

2. Bicycle helmet optional for anyone over the age of 14.

There are laws about headphone and restricted ability to hear use when piloting a motor vehicle.

My point is that no one can hear anything on the outside of a modern auto if you have the radio on anyway! The head phone crap is just a bunch of nonsense and is a mute point in cars today.
There are no head phones on portable radios that block out all outside sounds. It is the opperator that is responsible for the little button on the radio called "Volume" you can turn it up loud enough to drown even your mother-in-law!
If you follow this warped line of reasoning radios etc. should be removed from all autos in the name of safety, and drivers should always be required to have at least one window rolled down at all times!
Bike riders should also never use ear muffs or head bands that cover the ears!

Please explain the reasoning behind the law against headphones in cars. It just makes no sense!!! I'm finnished.
:crash:

If you need to listen to music while you ride, then you are missing the point of riding.

Pokey wrote:

"Amazing how people can rationalize ---------! It's the ONE you don't hear when you need to."

My answer is: And you say what to the deaf riders?

Spexy wrote:

"...deaf riders are quite used to being deaf as opposed to we music-listeners who are temporarily unaware of outside sounds and out of our element so-to-speak."

My answer is: You can't get used to wearing headphones?

And finally to Tarantula who wrote:

"If you need to listen to music while you ride, then you are missing the point of riding."

My answer is: We don't all live in an area where the riding is a nice as Santa Maria is in the mornings (that afternoon wind is a killer). If I could ride Foxen Canyon when ever I wanted, I wouldn't need headphones. I could trade my headphones (the ones that I don't wear riding) in.

Lost Coyote....and for that matter, everyone else, come to the Central Coast some weekend and I'll show you the backroads that you can't see on the Solvang centuries or the Windmill Century. E-mail me here (bring tunes if you need them). This time of year is our "green" season so all rides are magic.

Lost Coyote,

Of course "theoretically" you could get used to wearing headphones, like a deaf person is used to not hearing, but you'd have to wear them 24/7 for the rest of your life.

The difference in decible levels and proximity of signal going from regular life to headphones is quite a contrast and not something "I" could never get fully used to. Realistically I don't think you can be as fully "aware" as a deaf person (who is consistently not hearing--day in, day out). Nor do I think you can be as fully prepared (ability to 'sign' to other riders about oncoming threats).

But I think we can try to be more aware and I do every time I ride with headphones. Anyway, I basically agree that riding with headphones on bike trails is certainly safer than roads and at this point I'm just splitting hairs with you for fun.



Happy riding.:beer:

Better start a poll.Who uses,who dont.

I don't use headphones on the bike. I have used one earbud with a cell phone when on rides during the time my kids are due home from school--they call me when they get home. After they've called, I take the earbud out.

When I was in my twenties, I sometimes rode with headphones, but I gave it up. These days, I enjoy the ambient sounds of a bike ride: the wind, the tires on the pavement, songbirds, rattle-trap trucks on the road...

I do know that in terms of damage to hearing, earbuds that sit inside the ear are much more dangerous than headphones, especially for people who like music loud.