General Cycling Discussion - Ipod while biking?

Good idea or no?

A part of me feels that it's best to have complete awareness of your surroundings while you're on a secluded trail. That includes soun, which would be impaired by music. especially if you're spoiled by noise cancelling ear phones like myself...

but a part of me feels it'd make the miles fly by faster. It certainly helps while i'm in the gym, anyway.

What do you guys do? yay or nay? if there are any ipod listeners, what measures do you take to ensure maximum safety?

I only use mine on the mup

I don't tell people what to do. But since you solicited opinions, I'll say that for myself, I would never, ever consider using anything on a bike that would or could impede the flow of information regarding my surroundings, regardless of whether I'm on a road or a MUP. Things happen way too fast and the consequences are way too severe.

I don't necessarily think its a good idea but I do it sometimes. When I do I try to mitigate risk- single non-noise reducing earphone on the right ear turned down pretty far.

I sometimes listen while road riding. You have to decide for yourself based on how and where you ride and what you believe the tradeoffs to be.

I have yet to find an in-the-ear headset that doesn't make wind noise worse.

Good idea - no.

I wear headphones, too frequently. Especially on long rides. I use the loop kind which do allow you to hear some road noise, car approaching from behind, and they do an excellent job of reducing the wind howl. Sometimes I wear them just to quiet down the ambient noise while riding. http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-J11G-h-ear-Sports-Headphones/dp/B0001M2FZK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1321456032&sr=8-2

But, it's a risk.

I don't.

A pair of speakers in a front basket or otherwise mounted near the handlebars would be great. I wouldn't use headphones when riding, any more than I would when driving a car.

A&S :twitchy:

It's as good an idea as riding on the sidewalk. The two seem to compliment each other very well from what I observe in Oakland.

A&S :twitchy:

Seriously. Gotta love november....

OP there are soooo many posts on this topic and opinions are about as polarized and subjective as any "good" BF religious debate. Try the search function and you will get more of each side than you probably want....

At a basic level it doesn't have to be dangerous but putting both earbuds in (rather than just the right side) is definitely more dangerous.

A pair of speakers in a front basket or otherwise mounted near the handlebars would be great. I wouldn't use headphones when riding, any more than I would when driving a car.
This. Lately, I've been riding a lot with a backpack, and I attached a set of speakers to one of the straps. I can hear the music and everything going on around me just fine.

Even I am bored of this topic.
<insert witty insult here>

Wear them or don't; it's your choice.

Why do you want to make the miles go faster? Don't you enjoy it?

It's your life. Do as you please as long as you aren't going to hurt someone else. For me, it throws me off. Feel like I'm in a tunnel or something. Just throws my balance off. I could see me doing it on a ride where there was no contact with others.

Seriously. Gotta love november....

OP there are soooo many posts on this topic and opinions are about as polarized and subjective as any "good" BF religious debate. Try the search function and you will get more of each side than you probably want....

At a basic level it doesn't have to be dangerous but putting both earbuds in (rather than just the right side) is definitely more dangerous.

Just wait as Christmas draws nearer. The flames really start to fly then! People stressed out to no end.

Its really just personal preference though if you have the music up loud yeah that would be more dangerous for riding and your ears. I ride with both buds in but only have the volume up enough to kind of replace the city background noise with it. Still hear tires behind me(car and bike), people talking, beeps from crosswalk lights, or wheelchairs(both kinds). If want to listen to music but rightfully concerned about safety go 1 bud as others have suggested or speakers. Accidents happen with or without buds and odds are even if heard something a split second before without buds it would probably still happen anyways same as it most likely would with buds but Ill be honest without is a little safer than with both/one.

Whatever you do, DO NOT wear headphones. On the Denver MUPs, headphones are banned (but people still wear them anyway). They prevent you from being able to hear your surroundings. My pet peeve is when I say on your left, wonder why people don't react and then notice they are wearing headphones. I listen to music on my iPhone, mounted on my stem through the speakers.

@alphadogg Banned by who? Think I might want to look up our bike laws here.Is it posted somewhere or ? And umm Im very able to hear my surroundings with mine in and plenty of people without buds often dont react saying on left/right then have to swerve around them or if no room sit behind them until they hear me or just move out of the way though not because they noticed. Unaware people are unaware whether they have buds or not though Ill grant there are more with than without..I think :p

@alphadogg Banned by who? Think I might want to look up our bike laws here.Is it posted somewhere or ? And umm Im very able to hear my surroundings with mine in and plenty of people without buds often dont react saying on left/right then have to swerve around them or if no room sit behind them until they hear me or just move out of the way though not because they noticed. Unaware people are unaware whether they have buds or not though Ill grant there are more with than without..I think :p
If you look at the signs with the map of the trails and the rules, it clearly states "do not use earphones while on the trail."


http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx1/igesundheit/trailmap.jpg

Not OK for people who are unable look behind them every several seconds without swerving.

OK for people who are able look behind them every several seconds while also holding their line.

Whatever you do, DO NOT wear headphones. On the Denver MUPs, headphones are banned (but people still wear them anyway). They prevent you from being able to hear your surroundings. My pet peeve is when I say on your left, wonder why people don't react and then notice they are wearing headphones. I listen to music on my iPhone, mounted on my stem through the speakers.


Thanks but no thanks.

Hmm wonder if thats really legal though? Or are they more like suggestions? Because it says wear a helmet and it looks like its on a guy thats walking :D All well Ill have to check our signs here...well if we have any been awhile since Ive been on any trails sadly

I always wear them and enjoy the music. They are the open air variety though and are non-blocking. The music is not real loud and I can hear my surroundings quite handily.

I don't necessarily think its a good idea but I do it sometimes. When I do I try to mitigate risk- single non-noise reducing earphone on the right ear turned down pretty far.

+1 I do this on occasion.

to those questioning why I made this post...i just wanted to see what others do. Whether or not they rode with earphones, and if so, safety measures they took.

i'll make sure to purchase some cheap, non-noise cancelling buds.

:popcorn

I'm with those who believe in maximizing their sensitivity to their environment. Cager's drive in their own little world; consequently, it calls for heightened vigilance.:(

Wheeee!!
Some rippin' background music make me push the limit!
Not too loud and I use the buds that have the ear hooks so they don't go in and I can hear fine...

I will admit.. on the trainer I'll put the ipod on and get results like I wish I could on the road cause of listening to metal...

A musician, I have tunes in my head, and an added benefit, whistling,
them is better than a ringing bell.

unless they have their earplugs in..

25 years ago, on a coast bike tour, so, 4 pannier bearing bike,

Gidget, oblivious, in a bikini, on rollerblades,tunes cranked up ..

taking the width of the LA HB MUP

with just dry sand on either side, so very.. wanted to 'introduce my self'
by placing my front wheel .. :innocent:

A part of me feels that it's best to have complete awareness of your surroundings while you're on a secluded trail. That includes sound, which would be impaired by music. especially if you're spoiled by noise cancelling ear phones like myself.
+1
When riding your bike, safety is most important.
It's better to first reach your destination and listen to music afterwards, than to listen to music while riding and have an accident.
What to you think is more important: music or your life? It's your choice, but I wouldn't keep my head in the clouds at the wrong time...

Single earbud, non-noise canceling, on the right (non-traffic) side. With this setup I can still hear traffic better than when I'm in my car with the windows rolled up. I have a mirror to keep track of traffic behind me, I can hear every car that overtakes me, and l get some tunes when I'm sitting at a stoplight waiting for a light change. No heavy metal, though; that stuff makes me ride like a maniac.

If a little bit of music distracts enough of your attention from operating a vehicle to make said operation unsafe, then I sincerely hope that you don't have a radio in your car.

+1
When riding your bike, safety is most important.
It's better to first reach your destination and listen to music afterwards, than to listen to music while riding and have an accident.
What to you think is more important: music or your life? It's your choice, but I wouldn't keep my head in the clouds at the wrong time...

If when riding your bike safety is the most important thing, we should all stick to our front yards and keep it under 5mph. Enjoying your ride within acceptable personal and legal standards should be the most important thing.

Music is not nearly as important as my life, but that does make them mutually exclusive or provide a analogous relationship that my life will be directly threatened by introducing music to it. Statistically we are more likely to die in the home anyway, so even with headphones in the bike could be viewed as relatively safe. Its a risk assessment exercise. it does increase risk, but an individual can mitigate that risk to an acceptable level within their own standards.

This thread makes me feel like I died and went to A&S.

Not OK for people who are unable look behind them every several seconds without swerving.

OK for people who are able look behind them every several seconds while also holding their line.

That is really good advice though

This thread makes me feel like I died and went to A&S.

AKA the 9th circle of hell.

I used to ride with headphones sometimes. Now I consider it dangerous. I may try to rig a small speaker of some sort though. I loved having music while I biked.

AKA the 9th circle of hell.

Wait a sec...I always pegged that area as the 7th circle. :D

I wouldn't but I'm sure some of my deaf friends ride a bike and drive a car. You are going to have to do what you got to do. I like the mini speaker suggestion. I use to play songs from my cellphone on speaker while riding. Although it was low, I felt comfortable with it being it that volume. On the other hand, someone that would hear you coming down the road with music would be more incline to see you vs. nothing. Good luck.

I wear iphone earbuds and listen to music for every ride I take. I commute so I ride everyday with them. I am still able to hear everything around me.

I wear them on a multi-use path. I don't wear them on mountain bike trails or while riding in traffic.

I sometimes wear them when on low/no traffic roads, or fire or logging roads or while trail riding. I have tried to wear them when riding on roads where cars do go and I always wind up distracted and drifting to the middle of the road just as a car is approaching from behind.

THere are definitely risks involved in wearing headphones in traffic. You have to make up your own mind.

I used to listen when riding on trails & MUPs when I was in college. When I started spending time on the road I'd do as mentioned above, and have my right earbud in. Now that I'm commuting I don't want any distractions, and don't listen to anything.

I purchaced one good ear bud - gives you both channels in one ear - best of both worlds !

Good idea or no?

Put me in the "no" category. A bud in just one ear is better than one in both ears, but I still think it's a bad idea. Headphones are a disaster waiting to happen.

As for whether A&S is the 7th or 9th rung of hell: You say toe-May-toe, I say toe-MAH-toe.

Ipod? No. Android phone, yes :)

I purchaced one good ear bud - gives you both channels in one ear - best of both worlds !

Holy cow, I didn't know that this was a thing! Thanks!

I always find it amusing how people are so concerned about hearing when they are on a bike, but not when they are in a motor vehicle. I guess when people are not protected by a steel cage they tend to be paranoid.

Yea.

Ride like you're deaf. Deaf people ride bikes, too.