Advocacy & Safety - Music on the road...

First off, Let me say hello to everyone. I’m new to Bike Forums and road cycling. I was wondering what views everyone has on listening to music while riding. I must admit that I have not gotten use to the traffic on the split four lane road that I ride. Some cars pass at 65-70mph which still makes me a bit nervus. So, headphones and or earbuds safe or not?
Be safe... Ride Hard! :beer:

Hello! :)
When I commute, I use a CD player in my back jersey pocket and listen to music but that's because I am mostly off road commuting and the roads I deal with aren't bad (yet). I guess it would depend on how comfortable you are with the cars.

At highway speeds, I don't think I would be comfortable with headphones. The headphones that I use are simple headphones but the band goes around the neck and not over the head (helmetted). I would say if you are not comfortable with cars on a road, not to wear them but perhaps put them on before or after, if possible, if you like to listen to the tunes.

What I was thinking of doing with mine, since I have one of those "car CD players" with a little wired remote fob, was mounting the CD player on my rear rack and then mount the remote fob (controls the CD and volume) on my handlebar and run the wire on the top tube, thereby having a little dashboard unit to control the CD player but my CD doesn't work well on the rack as it's too bouncy and hooking it all up in my back jersey pocket is to time consuming and kind of awkward. Now if I had a wireless remote.... :-) and a newer CD player that would play MP3 data CDs, that would be ideal. But my CD player is old and only plays music CDs.

Jay

Yeah... but how can you tell how well your drive train is performing when you can't hear? Silence... to me thats a perfect ride. I can tune out cars and what not... they just kind of fade into my mental image of my surroundings... so that I'm aware but not really focusing my attention on them. All I really want to focus on is that light buzz of rubber speeding over pavement. This is why I clean my drive train parts religiously. There really is no line of demarcation between obsession and ritual.

Head phones are a no no in many states, we use one small speaker with a built in amp and a walkman type cd player. The cd player also has a raido built in so we can get the local weather and news when touring.

I use one of these when I want to listen to music or radio. The speakers are in the helmet, so there is nothing blocking your ears (headphones or earbuds). I am able to hear traffic & sounds around me.

http://www.bluelight.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1199533

Personally I don't bother with them. I'd much rather have the sounds of the ride, be it the traffic of my commute or the rainforest sounds on the weekend. I can listen to music when I get home.

Bean Counter... Thanks for the good idea!

Originally posted by Bean Counter
I use one of these when I want to listen to music or radio. The speakers are in the helmet, so there is nothing blocking your ears (headphones or earbuds). I am able to hear traffic & sounds around me.

http://www.bluelight.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1199533

What a brutal product!

I can't see a more contradictory piece of equipment.

Sounds from the speakers detract from the ability to hear and make collisions more likely. Since head injuries are only a small percentage of injuries cyclists recieve, wearing this thing is promoting injuries.

Music is wonderful.

If you are new to riding on the road, there is enough to distract you. I'd avoid any distractions, no matter how wonderful. Once you get more experienced, you won't need music!

Personally I carry my music between my ears. Maybe because I'm a musician I can "hear" all the chord changes and harmonies. When I listen to music at home I activly listen. No tv or other distractions. After I listen to a song for a few times this way it's burned into my brain. Maybe I'm a little anal that way.

anyone else using music while riding???
Ryan

Don't use headphones. It makes it impossible to hear my bell as I blast past you.

I wear one ear plug on the right side only in selected areas. It could be on Rails to Trails in non-busy areas or on a local road that has a full shoulder or long deserted straight country roads. If there is a lot of traffic or turn-offs or twisting roads, I unplug. I seldom listen to music, usually books on tape. If you are new to cycling, I suggest you don't use headphones. It is like getting your driver's license. A lot of learning about road positioning comes with experience. You just know, someone will try to run a light or turn in front of you. When the sun is at the horizon, I will ride slowly on the sidewalks because I know cars can not see me--even with blinkers on. When it foggy or rainy, and cars do not expect cyclists on the road, I will take extreme caution and use rear mirror diligently. If I am on twisty mountain roads and I hear a car, I will get off the road and wait till they pass. I ride over 5000 miles a year, over 4900 are on the road. But there are times I will go over and beyond for my safety. Ride safely as if your life depends on it--it does.

I only occasionally use my MD deck and earbuds. I keep the volume low mostly because I don't want to go deaf, and to hear what's going on around me.

FLAME ON

All who listen to music while they ride should put a bag over their head and glue a cel-phone to their ear.

You will not hear traffic coming up behind you and you will probably roll through a stop sign right into me as I am SCREAMING at you to stop because I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY.

Listening to music or other distractions, esp earphone, is just as stupid as doing the same in a car. Don't ever point at someone using a cel phone in a car if you also are too lame to control your vehicle properly.

FLAME OFF

When I ride to work everyday I never go without my tunes... and the music is always cranked. I wear the bud type phones and I can still hear vehicles behind me... loud music makes me ride harder too.

O god. Not this old chestnut again.


Originally posted by prestonjb
You will not hear traffic coming up behind you and you will probably roll through a stop sign right into me as I am SCREAMING at you to stop because I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY.


A mirror is a far more effective way of detecting traffic behind you. Your hearing will only tell you something is there, (and in my normal commute, there is always something there) not where it is nor if it is going to hit you.

Could you please explain how listening to music somehow impairs my ability to see a stop sign? I don't wear them over my eyes you know.

Before anyone else posts an anti-headphone diatribe, please post one, just one statistic that shows an increased fatality/injury rate for cyclists that wear headphones. I've been waiting to see that for years.

Originally posted by closetbiker
What a brutal product!

I can't see a more contradictory piece of equipment.

Sounds from the speakers detract from the ability to hear and make collisions more likely. Since head injuries are only a small percentage of injuries cyclists recieve, wearing this thing is promoting injuries.

It says right there on the page that it's CPSC approved. It must be safe.

Originally posted by Raiyn
Don't use headphones. It makes it impossible to hear my bell as I blast past you.

You wish.

Originally posted by Allister
Could you please explain how listening to music somehow impairs my ability to see a stop sign? I don't wear them over my eyes you know.

Well, if you think you can remove a sense and be as alert as someone has all of them, there's no point in debating you.

I can hear the slightest change in traffic before I see it. I have tried headphones both with one and two ears plugged and I find it's a tremendous impairment to be without hearing in traffic.

Originally posted by closetbiker
Well, if you think you can remove a sense and be as alert as someone has all of them, there's no point in debating you.

I can hear the slightest change in traffic before I see it. I have tried headphones both with one and two ears plugged and I find it's a tremendous impairment to be without hearing in traffic.

Fair enough. I'm not suggesting you use them if you find it difiicult to concentrate. Conversely, don't try to force your own views on me when my own experience of riding with headphones for eight or so years tells me that it makes no difference whatsoever, and don't make claims about increased injuries without posting some sort of evidence to back it up.

Its not always about the person wearing the headphones Allister. Sometimes, its about the fellow people you share the path/roadway with, regardless of conveyance. I don't think I need to cite scientific studies to illustrate the point: If you can't hear me signalling a pass, you are a risk to my safety as well as your own. Its kind of like drunken driving... just because you've been doing it for years doesn't make it safe for you or others.

Originally posted by Allister
Fair enough....don't try to force your own views on me ...

Since when is expressing a point of view forcing my views on anyone?

Just throwing an idea out for anyone to think about.

Seems like common sense to me.

Thanks to all who have posted. I do see it is a bit of an impairment for me (right now). This may change once I become more confident with my riding... Or find a road that is more safe.


music or not... everyone be safe!

find a road that is more safe.

There is no "safe roads", having said this, everything we do is a risk! Just sitting on your butt is a risk!

Better to burn out than to fade out!


I have started leaning more twards closetbikers view point, having given up my headphones, but not my helmet!;) I don't think wearing them puts you at a lot greater risk but, every little bit helps!

Originally posted by RareVos
If you can't hear me signalling a pass, you are a risk to my safety as well as your own. Its kind of like drunken driving... just because you've been doing it for years doesn't make it safe for you or others.

What the hell are you talking about? I ride a consistent, predictable line. If I'm going to change my line I check behind me first. If you want to pass me I don't need to hear you telling me that you're going to. It's up to you to pass me safely, just like if we were driving cars - or do you honk at other drivers to let them know you're passing them too?

I'll say it again - I have never, not even once in eight years plus, had so much as a close call nor put anyone else in danger that can be attributed only to wearing headphones. This is called experience. Every time this discussion comes up to anti-headphone proponents base their arguments on assumptions about the risks with little or no experience of doing it. The risks, if there are any are extremely minimal. If you're soooo worried about being hit from behind, a mirror is a thousand percent better way of checking on what's happening behind you.

BTW, I'm not asking for scientific evidence, I'm asking for just one anecdote from someone who has been involved in a crash for the sole reason that they were wearing headphones. I have been asking this for years and never had a response more specific than 'it feels less safe'.

Don't wear them if you don't want to, but don't try and tell me that it's dangerous, because if you know what you're doing, it isn't.

I could provide some anecdotal evidence to support my position that riding with headphones is a careless practice; However all the idiot joggers, roller bladers, and cyclists I've had incident with over the years I don't know on a personal basis. Besides, you can't convince someone they are the exception when they insist they are the rule. You ride your way and I'll ride mine I guess.

Well, as was posted already, wearing headphones while biking is not legal in many states. To be honest I'm not sure if it is legal in WI (I don't think it is), but I was about to pass a cop parked on the side of the road the other day, but before I passed him I made sure to take at least one of my earbuds out. Even if safety is not an issue, the law can be one.
Riding with or without, just please be safe out there.

My problem has always been the wind noise! It is so bad for me I could be wearing shooting muffs and hear just as much! I think the best thing anyone can do is learn to ride a line and check their 6 and 12 before moving off the line! I've pretty much given my radio earphones up, but I don't think they increase your risk much, if any!

When a 18 wheeler is bearing down on your back end at 65mph it isn't really going to matter a damn whether you have headphones on or not, your still going to be squashed. That being said, I like to hear stuff while I ride so I don't wear anything, but I don't see nothing wrong with it.