Dead Roman

How many of you listen to music while your riing? does it help you to push harder or try to ride your route faster? anyone carry an IPOD or similar MP3 player?

Machka 

I listen to the music of the birds in the trees, the wind in the grass, and the traffic zipping past my left shoulder.



BTW - it's illegal in some places (like where I live) to use headphones while riding. Before you start doing so, you might want to check that.

mc92

Riding with music has certainly picked up in the past few years, especially with the birth of the IPOD (I see the signature white wires everywhere). Apart from seeing what's in from of you, almost every warning a rider will come across while on the road (or even bikebath) is audible... and mostly from behind (cars, other riders, dogs, etc.). Taking this away is the equivalent of riding with blinders. I have enough handicaps while riding, so I don't need to impose another.

Save the music for spinning.... IMHO

TheKillerPenguin

There was a guy in the last race I was in listening to his ipod...

dta95b7r

I listen to my ipod when i'm riding in low traffic areas but only with my right ear and that comes off right when I start to get around cars. Last thing I need is to run into a car because I was busy tralalalalalin right into an accident

kingofchimps

Have ridden with some sort of music player for 20 years. Currently use iPod. Some tips:

- ride defensively
- don't get 'lost' in the music (in traffic anyway)
- don't blast it - still hear sirens, call-outs, etc.

IMHO

I never use when mountain biking. way too much going on, plus it's nice to hear nature. and approaching mountain lions.

And as Machka said, it may be (and probably is) illegal. I've never been pulled over, but....

Thomill

I am surprised we have not seen bike helmets with earphones built in, much like the relatively new snowboard/skiing models that are out there. I hope this does not come to be, but it is probably only a matter of time.

Still, I have to concur with what others have said in this and similar threads. My opinion is that music on rides just adds an unnecessary distraction to an otherwise good thing. Spinning/training indoors.... that is the way to go with music. Again, just my opinion.

Take care,
T

ME.Alex

Yeah the best bet is to get a pounding rhythm, but keep the volume low enough to still hear everything. Just a light background beat to kill monotony, but keep it barely audible over the ambient level

HWS

I bring an iPod and usually listen to it only on certain boring segments of my standard 35 mile loop ride. Never in heavy traffic. Like others, the sounds of the bike, wind, etc... are enough.

I use it 100% of the time when I go running though.

TexasGuy

I bring my own music in my head.

DEK

Never have and never will. I've come up behind too many riders listening to music who never hear me yell a warning and then they get pissed at me.

kosherdave

I wear an ipod but only in one ear. I like to be able to hear the background noise and people coming up on me or cars if the park I'm in is open to traffic as it sometimes is. It's nice to have some extra sound goin on, but safe to be able to hear your surroundings. They're illegal where I live, but I doubt the cops would do anything. You get disqualifed from races with them, though, so in duathlons I go au natural.

OPC

Exactly!

I have enough trouble getting the attention of people (riders included) I am trying to pass. They are either too into their conversations or are wearing headphones. I do not want to be one of them.

-José

Edited for spelling.

Jed19

I bring my ipod on my standard rides, but I only use it on bike trails. I never ever use it while riding on roads and fighting traffic.

Music does make a difference in the quality of my rides. It increases my average speed, and more importantly it takes my mind off things like "my b*tt is sore"; "I am really tired" etc.

Sometimes, I have been really suprised at things I was able to do re:speed and how far and hard I could go on rides, with the help of really good music made into "cycling playlists".

Regards,

UmneyDurak

Is it accompanied by different voices?

Mojo Slim

I have always used an MP3 player, but I keep it low and live in an almost traffic free area. I don't use it when I'm riding with others. HOWEVER, I just found a little clip on cheapo speaker that plugs into the ear phone jack in the bottom of a junk drawer. I think it may be a better way to go. I am going to look for a better quality speaker.

I have actually come home because my batteries died.

I was riding last summer with my ear phones in. I CHP officer passed me twice, looking at me. Finally, he was waiting for me at the top of a hill. He motioned for me to come to him. What could I do, there was no way to hide the earphones. Anticipating the worst, I came to a stop. He said, "I've seen you riding all over the valley. Maybe we could ride together sometime . . . "

Saluki

Ride by myself the majority of the time so the iPod is my best friend. Put one headphone in the right ear, keep the volume around half and rock out. Anytime I've been dumb enough to put both headphones in, it usually ends with a car about taking me out.

Snicklefritz

I use my ipod 100% of the time when I'm on the trainer. For indoor workouts, it's something I couldn't live without. For outdoor road workouts I don't use it anymore. There's too much effort involved watching/listening for cars, looking for road hazards, etc. that I don't feel too safe doing it.

I do like the suggestion to use the ipod with the headphones in only one ear. I might try that on some of my longer rides.

2Rodies

I do it on my trainer or if I ride the Veloway, which is restricted to cyclist and rollerbladers. I won't ride on the road with head phones.

rufvelo

Anyone depending on music to overcome the boredom of biking is not really into cycling!

WheresWaldo

+1. I like nature sounds also.

Riding with an headphones on is exactly the same as driving while using a cell phone. If it isn't against the law in your part of the world, it should be.

Talewinds

If it weren't for the MP3 player, I wouldn't be a cyclist. That being said, I ride the multi-use-paths, and when I'm a couple of miles out, there's nobody out there anyway.

toshi

I just picked up an iPod shuffle for solo training rides. At $69 bux direct from Apple (shipping included) it's going to be worth it. I don't plan to blast the sound. It'll be a great compliment to those arduous hill repeats.

kosherdave

How very pure of you.

Serpico

maybe he's hardcore*, the (fake) iPod is just to make you think he's some kinda goof that would do that--iPod sandbaggin' imo


(penguin, I know you're hardcore--aero tuck in the car )