Puppypaws

Anyone got any ideas how to safely listen to music while riding?

Walkafire

No

CummingsSM

The much derided Bicycling Magazine had a short article about this, recently. Among their suggestions were to use open-air headphones instead of earbuds, because earbuds seal off your ear canal and block out ambient noise. They also suggest that you keep the volume low enough to hear wind noise, so that you'll be able to hear other things.

On a legal note, check your local laws before you try anything. Some states prohibit earphones altogether, and many of them (like my state) only allow cyclists to use a single earphone.

I would test this on bike paths before I even considered taking such a distraction on the street with me. Actually, I just wouldn't do it.

You might also be able to rig something up with actual speakers, instead of headphones.

Joe Dog

The only safe way to listen to music and ride is on a trainer. I would never ride with ear phones or ear buds on.

powerhouse

No!

kurtarndorfer

Whatever, I do it all the time. I'm sure it's stupid, but I could care less what people think. I enjoy the ride far more than if I didn't have them.

Erick L

When riding, I listen to music wether I want it or not. And it's always the same 10 seconds of the stupidest song I can think of.

dbg

Be sure to sign your drivers license for organ and tissue donation. It could save someone's life.

travis200

I listen to my ipod with but in only 1 ear. When I don't have any music to listen to or am not in a group ride I find that I ride less miles and time. Music makes the ride go by so much faster and easier. I have never had an incident where I didn't hear someone or something.

Jimmy_Thing

Sure... Put your headphones on and keep your eyes open. Safe AND enjoyable.

airsoft510

i tried listening to music while i was riding on a empty road, didnt like it: i ended up not listening to it, just looking around and focusing on riding

TheRCF

I occasionally listen to the radio. I only use one earphone and it doesn't even fit snugly in the ear, let alone be an earbud that seals it off. I also put it in the right ear since most of the traffic noise I need to hear would be on my left.

Of course, I'm typically riding hours before sunrise so there is minimal traffic anyway. I've never had anything surprise me because I didn't hear it. I also use one of those eyeglass mirror things and keep careful track of things coming up behind me anyway - not hard with so little traffic.

Longhorn

I have a radio that attaches to my handlebars. I enjoy listening to music or NPR. It's also a bike computer.

CummingsSM

Bicycling Magazine pointed out that neither motorcyclists nor automobile drivers can hear much of what's going on around them (and cars are even designed to be "quiet" inside). I think they also mentioned that there are no legal restrictions that keep deaf people from riding bicycles. I would add that rollerbladers and skateboarders (not to mention pedestrians) often wear headphones. And there's little evidence that "unobscured" hearing is really necessary to a bicyclist.

However, I think carrying a portable music player with you on a ride is likely to be an unnecessary distraction, and I'm with airsoft510 -- I don't think it's worthwhile. I haven't actually tested it, but I enjoy just riding. If I were going to do it, I think I would use portable speakers, like I suggested before. And avoid high traffic areas, but I'd suggest that, anyway.

podman

i think it is a foolish practice.
the people you see wearing headphones are most often the same dinks you see riding around without shoulderpads and mouthpieces... borrowed time if you ask me..

UmneyDurak

Shoulderpads and mouthpieces? I don't think I ever seen anyone with those. You must be a hardcore dounhill mtb racer, or a very wiered roac biker.

jim-bob

Nice.

skookum

I keep posting this link to an article by John Allen where he discusses bicycling and hearing and headphones.

I understand that many people do not agree with him, but he at least tries to think about this problem scientifically.

EricDJ

I had a pair of speakers from a bike shop years ago that clipped on the handlebars and held a walkman or whaever. I haven't seen them in years, I got mine around 1990. That sure made it great for riding to the beach

https://www.bicyclestereo.com/accessories.html

https://www.bicyclestereo.com/system.html





Found that in 30 seconds after posting. Search is our friend

Wind 'N Snow

Yeah! And those dangerous pedal things that lock your shoes into them. What if you have to suddenly stop?

Wind 'N Snow

The thought is nice, but I don't want to be one of those guys that's gets noticed for the loud racket coming from my vehicle. I may as well customize my Gremlin with a power amp and subwoofer!

duane041

AHHHHHHH! Me too!! I hate that! Last week I couldn't get "Time to Change " (that stupid song from the Brady Bunch episode with Peter's voice cracking) out of my head. "Sha na na na na na na na na". And I usually have no idea how they get there, either.
I wouldn't listen to music only because I try to keep a decent cadence, and I know the beat from the music would either speed me up or slow me down.

BuckyYuen

That's a cool little stereo system. When trainig for a century and taking 50-70 mile rides, I'd carry a portable radio. Unfortunately, it didn't get any music stations, so I mostly just listened to AM talk radio.

sweetharriet

by the time i'm out of traffic and up to speed, i'm usually humming something to myself. helps me get up hills.

i'd get all tangled up in the wires and take a nice digger. and i still haven't found headphones for my apparently mutant (small?) ears that will stay in and not hurt after a few miles of running.

Paul L.

I ride wiwth earbuds all the time and find I can hear the cars just fine. I ride in heavy traffic usually though so it's all kind of a mash of noise anyway. With or without headphones It doesn't make a difference for me. Ride by police officers all the time and they never say anything about them.