Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - headphone/helmet combo

so I like music when I ride. Safety issues aside does anyone know a good cheap pair of headphones that will fit under a helmet? I was thinking something like this (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-W24V-Vertical-In-The-Ear-Headphones/dp/B000095S9V/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_c) ?
Ear buds won't stay in so I need something with an adjustable band --

Screw "safety issues aside." I'll be that guy. DON'T ****ING RIDE WITH HEADPHONES.

Off the bike, however, look for good earbuds with changeable tips so you can find something that properly fits your ears. Lots to choose from, I'd go for higher-end Koss or Shure, but that's just personal preference. Also, dig around at head-fi.org as there's more good info there than you could ever use.

If you can fit full size headphones under your helmet, your helmet probably doesn't fit properly dude.

I ride with these every night and they stay in pretty well:

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HAFX66R-Air-Cushion-Headphones/dp/B000UNVNJY

And being the in-ear kind you don't need to blast them quite so loud, so you get a bit more of the ambient coming from the outside.

That said, I only wear headphones at night, not during the day. During the day you can't see headlights coming up behind you, so being able to hear helps.

Screw "safety issues aside." I'll be that guy. DON'T ****ING RIDE WITH HEADPHONES.


truth. before i ever see a car, i hear it.

If you can fit full size headphones under your helmet, your helmet probably doesn't fit properly dude.

+1

Riding around with headphones under your helmet is markedly less safe than riding around with no helmet.

Not looking to rehash that endless "safety debate"
let's assume we won't convince each other.


If you can fit full size headphones under your helmet, your helmet probably doesn't fit properly dude.

right but I'm not looking for full size headphones. see link. I bet you could fit those under a properly fitted helmet. but then again that's why I'm asking.



I ride with these every night and they stay in pretty well:

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HAFX66R-Air-Cushion-Headphones/dp/B000UNVNJY

cool, I'll take a look --

In all seriousness, though, dig around on head-fi. So much knowledge there it's absurd. I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a cycling-related headphone thread there.

I just duct tape my house speakers to the outside of my helmet. No worries.

Riding around with headphones under your helmet is markedly less safe than riding around with no helmet.
And "Unsubstantiated Claim of the Day" goes to...

I mean, what you're saying might even be true. But with all the italics and "markedly" and whatnot, you're trying to be a lot more definitive than you rightfully should be.

I think riding at night with headphones in at a reasonable volume is much safer than riding with no helmet under the same conditions.

It's probably safer to avoid an accident with no helmet than getting into an accident with a helmet.

It's probably safer to avoid an accident with no helmet than getting into an accident with a helmet.
But you have to prove that headphones increase the likelihood of an accident enough to outweigh the benefits of a helmet in the event that an accident occurs. I don't think headphones increase the likelihood of an accident that much.



It's a lot like saying "going over the speed limit is more dangerous than not wearing a seatbelt".

You didn't just compare a safety belt with a foam bicycle helmet.

If you're going to wear your headphones, keep the volume very low, which is something I don't see many cyclists do.

You didn't just compare a safety belt with a foam bicycle helmet.
Are you familiar with the concept of "analogy"

?

black:white::up:down does not imply white=down.

I saw some guy riding down the sidewalk (not the street) the other day, tons of tattos and the big cover the entire ear/audiophile headphones on. He looked like he was smirking to himself about how "cool" he looked as his personal soundtrack to his life overlayed the scenary he was taking in. The image taken as a whole made me want to slap him silly.

Are you familiar with the concept of "analogy"

?

black:white::up:down does not imply white=down.


That's a bad analogy for this situation. Lowering a human sense is not the same as having less of a reaction time to avoid an accident. Also, there is a rediculous difference between the safety of a seat belt and helmet.

Let's just say if you're going to do it, go over the speedlimit or wear a headphone, be reasonable.

in canal earphones.

they're about the only thing that block out the wind buffet noise.

I don't listen while I ride, yadda yadda yadda
but i do have a pair of those sony headphones and I realllllly love 'em.
I've got these though

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-W08L-Vertical-In-The-Ear-Headphones/dp/B00005N6KG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1253646622&sr=1-3

Let's just say if you're going to do it, go over the speedlimit or wear a headphone, be reasonable.
Exactly. Both wearing headphones and speeding can be incredibly dangerous if you do them beyond reason.
If you're reasonable, though, both can be quite safe.

What an awesome analogy... it works on like, every level. I could so ace the SATs right now.

I don't listen while I ride, yadda yadda yadda
but i do have a pair of those sony headphones and I realllllly love 'em.
I've got these though

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-W08L-Vertical-In-The-Ear-Headphones/dp/B00005N6KG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1253646622&sr=1-3

sweet -- do they fit under a helmet ??

Exactly. Both wearing headphones and speeding can be incredibly dangerous if you do them beyond reason.
If you're reasonable, though, both can be quite safe.

What an awesome analogy... it works on like, every level. I could so ace the SATs right now.

You apparently don't know what an analogy is, my last comment wasn't one. Good job.

Unscubscribing to thread now.

You apparently don't know what an analogy is, my last comment wasn't one. Good job.
I was commenting on how the awesomeness of my original speeding/headphones analogy was reinforced by our agreement that both speeding and headphone usage are relative factors and not absolutes. It isn't just that you wear headphones, it's that you wear them and listen to them too loud; it isn't just that you exceed the speed limit, it's that you go faster than conditions allow.

Again, what an awesome analogy [my original statement was]... it works on like, every level. I could so ace the SATs right now.


[Edit] Crap he unsubscribed before I could inform him of his mistake in reading comprehension. The balance of the universe is undone.

speeding and headphone usage are relative factors and not absolutes. It isn't just that you wear headphones, it's that you wear them and listen to them too loud; it isn't just that you exceed the speed limit, it's that you go faster than conditions allow.

take home lesson ^^




[Edit] Crap he unsubscribed before I could inform him of his mistake in reading comprehension. The balance of the universe is undone.

aww... for a second there I thought you guys had finally reached some middle ground of this thing -- :D

sweet -- do they fit under a helmet ??

I don't have a helmet, but they do fit nice and snug under a hat.
I know they're only like 9 bucks, but I think they sound great.
I can't recommend them enough.

The one you linked is probably better for biking though, since it has that little volume control switch on it, the ones I linked don't have that.

Honestly, I see tons of people wearing headphones when I am traveling back and forth between Beaverton and Portland, and most of those people have no idea what is going on around them. All of them continually look straight ahead, never being conscious of cars, even through intersections, which is a terrible idea. These same people also move at the pace of a slug, though.

Honestly, I see tons of people wearing headphones when I am traveling back and forth between Beaverton and Portland, and most of those people have no idea what is going on around them. All of them continually look straight ahead, never being conscious of cars, even through intersections, which is a terrible idea. These same people also move at the pace of a slug, though.
This is a good argument for not looking straight ahead at all times, and not ignoring the cars around you.

I don't see what either of those have to do with headphones, though.

This is a good argument for not looking straight ahead at all times, and not ignoring the cars around you.

I don't see what either of those have to do with headphones, though.

I assumed a correlation between the people on my commute and wearing headphones. They all have headphones on, but none of them check their surroundings, which I assume would be due to the fact they are lost in the sounds of music. Also, it does not appear they are looking ahead in a manner to keep them from being hit, but more like a thousand-yard stare. They also fail to acknowledge me when I approach from behind, even when I say "to your left!" as I pass.

Everyone else I pass without headphones seem to acknowlege their surroundings, more so than their headphone-counterparts. Also, it makes me less wary of passing them because they tend to give me acknowledgement when I say "on the left!"

I see. It is unfortunate that you encounter so many bad cyclists on your commute. I have a feeling they wouldn't be much more attentive without headphones (a bad cyclist is a bad cyclist), but that's obviously conjecture.

I figured the same as well. I prefer to not have to worry about other cyclists, but I am already riding through traffic anyway, so being conscious of one more thing will not explode my mind. :)

I use Zune Premium V2's.

I actually consider them to be the best headphones I've ever used. Fit them right in my ears.

They've never gotten me in trouble...well, once. With cars I'm okay. On a bike your main responsibility is straight ahead anyways, so just be sure to eyeball everything and you should be okay. Even if you heard a car gaining behind you, you probably couldn't get out of the way fast enough anyways.

The one time they got me in trouble was with another bicyclist, who wanted to pass me on a narrow trail, and apparently expected me to stop and let her pass. I didn't really notice her due to the music.

Not looking to rehash that endless "safety debate"
let's assume we won't convince each other.

I'm not trying to say that wearing headphones is unsafe while riding.

Rather, I'm saying that wearing a helmet over headphones is FAR less safe than going without a helmet altogether.
Seriously. If you're going to wear full headphones, DO NOT wear your helmet over it. That's just asking for a brain injury.

Just go without the helmet, please.

I don't understand why you want to use crap headphones that leak sound and can't be used with a helmet.
earbuds are also crap because they let outside noise in.

I'm telling ya, in canal earphones. blocks out some outside noise (you can still hear cars honking, at best blocks out 25db), doesn't interfere with helmet. It's what they use in auto racing to communicate with the pit. (not this exact model)

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-200-Ear-Canal-bud/dp/B001OIK50C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253657154&sr=8-1

I'm not trying to say that wearing headphones is unsafe while riding.

Rather, I'm saying that wearing a helmet over headphones is FAR less safe than going without a helmet altogether.
Seriously. If you're going to wear full headphones, DO NOT wear your helmet over it. That's just asking for a brain injury.

Just go without the helmet, please.

Oh ok, your argument was that the physical headphone device could injure you. I get it.

That makes more sense than what I presumed before; that you were claiming headphone-related inattentiveness was more dangerous than helmetlessness.

To the OP: you need something like this http://www.amazon.com/Philips-HS301-Over-the-Ear-Headphones/dp/B000066IUN. I use this type when running and also when cycling the longer distance to visit my gf. They ain't gonna fall out for ****.

ARGUE.:bang:

I wear headphones whenever I'm riding alone. I have the cheap $5 koss ear buds from wal-mart (yeah i know...blablahblah).. they let in enough ambient noise.

Then there is this:
http://wheelworld.com/product/azonic-08-azonic-oneal-surround-sound-helmet-4988.htm

Would be cool but I don't want to ride around in a bmx helmet, maybe in the winter.

To the OP: you need something like this http://www.amazon.com/Philips-HS301-Over-the-Ear-Headphones/dp/B000066IUN. I use this type when running and also when cycling the longer distance to visit my gf. They ain't gonna fall out for ****.

I don't understand why you want to use crap headphones that leak sound and can't be used with a helmet.
earbuds are also crap because they let outside noise in.

I'm telling ya, in canal earphones. blocks out some outside noise (you can still hear cars honking, at best blocks out 25db), doesn't interfere with helmet. It's what they use in auto racing to communicate with the pit. (not this exact model)

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-200-Ear-Canal-bud/dp/B001OIK50C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253657154&sr=8-1

I have the cheap $5 koss ear buds from wal-mart (yeah i know...blablahblah).. they let in enough ambient noise.

Then there is this:
http://wheelworld.com/product/azonic-08-azonic-oneal-surround-sound-helmet-4988.htm


cool, thanks . only thing is those ear bud types never stay in for me -- and I've tried a few different ones . Weird shaped ears I guess!! those sennheisers got great reviews over on that headfi site btw. ..

yeah, for winter I was also looking at these snowboard helmets with speakers and insulated ear flaps http://www.triple8.com/shop/product/Old-School-Helmet-with-Audio





I'm not trying to say that wearing headphones is unsafe while riding.

Rather, I'm saying that wearing a helmet over headphones is FAR less safe than going without a helmet altogether.
Seriously. If you're going to wear full headphones, DO NOT wear your helmet over it. That's just asking for a brain injury.

Just go without the helmet, please.

a) I'm not wearing full headphones. see link I posted. and b) if you don't use them, that's cool. but I think I'll be ok dude.



With cars I'm okay. On a bike your main responsibility is straight ahead anyways, so just be sure to eyeball everything and you should be okay. Even if you heard a car gaining behind you, you probably couldn't get out of the way fast enough anyways.


Yeah really, a car coming up behind you sounds pretty much the same whether it's going to run you over, or pass by safely. I gotta say, I've read a few of these music/cycling threads and I wonder if some of the more safety conscious people have ever ridden their bike in traffic regularly. You do get pretty good at it eventually. As long as you pay attention and watch your @ss you'll be fine.

Yeah really, a car coming up behind you sounds pretty much the same whether it's going to run you over, or pass by safely.

Not entirely, bud.

anyone have suggestions for closed, cirumaural, easily driven headphones?

Ya mean cans?

thanks for the suggestions. I went with these:
http://www.sentryindustries.com/category/headphones/headphones_781cd.asp

cheapo junk, but they're light and actually sound decent.
$3.99
I freakin' love micro center.

The only thing I'd be worried about with those:

1. They're gigantic and can be seen from miles away
2. You can't really wear just one ear at a time like with earbuds
3. It's illegal to ride on public roads with earphones on both ears

I'm sure it's kinda like rolling stops in that you're unlikely to ever get a ticket, but you're kinda opening yourself up for a cop who's having a bad day to hit you with an infraction.

I see people driving with those types of headphones on all the time.

**** is whack.

http://www.ridingabuttertub.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/japanese-headphones.jpg

I sport these when i ride

WOW! you people love telling people how to ride/live. Your opinions in that matter are irrelevant to this thread as the OP specified in the second sentence. We get it, you're a safe rider who's never ridden intoxicated with headphones helmetless and brakeless.

WOW! you people love telling people how to ride/live. Your opinions in that matter are irrelevant to this thread as the OP specified in the second sentence. We get it, you're a safe rider who's never ridden intoxicated with headphones helmetless and brakeless.

Actually, I have ridden intoxicated.