Carbonfiberboy 

You're quite funny. I hope you realize that. That's some serious hubris. Someday you'll meet a budded ped like the one who started a 180 right in front of my friend and caused brain damage. He had announced. Not that it made an difference. Most unbudded peds appreciate it, or so they tell me as I go by.

LesterOfPuppets

Even if that jogger was earbudless, chances are a nice "on yer left" probably wouldn't have changed the outcome.

kbarch

It's not about being able to hear, its about caring to hear what's going on that matters. If people don't care what's happening around them, how can they expect anyone else to care what happens to them?

tougher

I mostly listen to the radio on my morning commute.
I ride with these Bluez 2 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones | Bone Conduction Headphones

trailangel

You guys are disgusting.
You got your GPS, your Strava ****, mph and rpm, power meter, heart monitor...iphone....you want music....you want a drinky, pull out the camelback...
Throw it all in the trash, or
DRIVE A FRIGGIN' CAR INSTEAD! GET OFF THE ROAD.

SpeshulEd 

If it's an emergency evasive action that forces you into the roadway, what good will hearing a car do? You're still being forced into the road.

Hiro11

I won't ride with anyone on a group ride who is using earbuds. This is group riding 101 as far as I'm concerned and I have no problem with telling them to turn it off. It's not only dangerous, it's rude and anti-social.

It's probably as bad idea to listen to music on a bike under any circumstance. At least I wouldn't do it personally. Then again, I also think it's a bad idea to run with music. I approach runners with earbuds very carefully on my bike: they are essentially dead to the world in my experience and don't seem to appreciate that they need to pay attention.

Stucky

Because the more information you have to make a split-second choice, the better- i.e. choosing to hit some debris that rolls out in front of you instead veering into the path of a car; or choosing to T-bone a car that pulls out of a driveway, rather than veering into the path of a truck going 60MPH. Having to turn one's head and look/glance in the mirror, may not be an option in a split-second decision- but being fully aware of your surroundings at all times can help one make the right/better choice.

zonatandem

If you're going to plug up one ear you should also close one eye . . . ride with one hand on the bars . . . and one leg on the pedals?!

Jarrett2

I've never tried listening to music while riding.

I count on my ears monitoring my surroundings too much to add music to the mix.

SpeshulEd 

Just playing devil's advocate here, but wouldn't the truck going 60mph also be swerving out of the way of the car backing into the street?

I get your argument, but I'm looking up when I ride my bike, I'm constantly scanning from side to side what is front of me. The chances of something sneaking up on me that is in front of me is slim to none.

Also, does this mean that deaf people aren't allowed to ride bikes because they can't hear the car behind them?

diphthong

^apparently, it would seem to be much discouraged. also no group rides for deaf persons either. they'd better be wearing a helmet if they did decide to break the bike forums law tho.

Stucky

No- the car pulls out into the shoulder, across your path, and stops there to look for traffic.

But it does happen, sooner or later. That's why they're called "accidents". It happens even to the most diligent of us. Being more vulnerable on a bike, we should want to take every opportunity to ensure greater awareness, rather than insulating ourselves. That's not to say though, that there aren't circumstances where someone could probably use earbuds and stay safe...

Of course not- but they definitely have it tougher; and I'll bet they'd be thrilled if they could have an extra sense to help them out. Why handicap ourselves by obliterating one of our senses? People should be able to do what they want- but I just think that handicapping one's self while riding a bike is not a wise choice.

SpeshulEd 

And what on earth are you doing that you don't see the car backing out of driveway and don't have time to slow down for it?
And what if the truck that might hit you is a Tesla instead and you don't hear it because it's electric?
What if the car across the street is blaring their horn, drowning out all other road noise?
Why isn't the truck behind me giving me 3 feet of space in the first place?

There's so many scenarios that can go both ways in this situation.

Honestly, I just don't see it as that big of an issue. I enjoy listening to music when I ride. I don't feel handicapped by doing so.

bt

used to listen to music, gave it up a couple years ago.

Lazyass

I guess it's cool until you have tinnitus like I do. Well, no, it still isn't cool. I like to hear the breathing of those sneaky dogs that come up behind me out of nowhere going for the stealth kill. That's pretty much on every ride around here.

zinjack

Guess we shouldn't listen to music when we drive.... but
Cycling is already dangerous. I think the only reason to not use them is you add to the danger. Is it more dangerous than going 50mph+ down a hill? maybe, maybe not.
You might make it without any issues, that day.

Stucky

She stopped first, and then pulled out right in front of you because she didn't see you. Mnnnnph![sticks out tongue] :0

Kind of like my one and only automobile accident. I was approaching an intersection; a car was on the cross street at the stop sign. I saw that he was stopped; good. As proceeded through the intersection, BAMMMm!!!! He thought it was a 4-way stop, and pulled out when I was so close that I didn't even have a chance to hit my brakes.

Very true. I'm not a member of the compulsory safety camp for that reason. People should be free to make their own decisions.

Well hey, I'm glad that it works for you, and that we can still choose the level of risk we are willing to accept in at least a few areas of life, still. Just don't come moaning to me when your bones need fixing.... [Seriously- I'm not a doctor- so your insurance wouldn't cover it! ]

I do think it's good to discuss these things though. Some people may just take the matter for granted- ya know, hop on a bike; grab the Walkman - "Ah, dude, I'll grab me some quality tune-skiis while I ride!"- This way, some may at least re-evaluate the risks- and at least make an informed decision.

Corben

Just picked up the Best of War. Lowrider! Awesome song. Great on a lazy day afternoon ride.
Gordon Lightfoot. NO! No Gordon Lightfoot.

LesterOfPuppets

Deaf cyclists are probably safer in most cycling situations. They're used to relying 100% on sight, so don't rely upon audible clues. This could have the effect of them being much more visually aware than those with hearing.

I see over-reliance on audible clues all the time. Especially with peds crossing streets. They don't hear a car coming so they cross the street with nary a glance even though you're bearing down on them at 18mph.

I've been guilty of it myself, especially with electric and hybrid vehicles in parking lots.

t3c9

No music for me while cycling.

Long Tom

Earbuds are not a good idea. Blocking a MAJOR pathway of sensory input is just stupid on the face of it for Men in Tights wearing egg cartons on their heads going 20, 30+ mph on roads they share with cars.

That said, I've slummed the speaker on my iPhone more than once. It's loud enough to hear it on a climb when speeds are slow. A few songs that jump to mind:

Deisel Power
indigo Children
help I'm alive
long cool breeze
too sick to pray
voodoo chile

....and so on.

However, one of the great things about cycling, and climbing in particular, IMHO, is the clarity it brings. This is very important to me because, well, life is ****ing hard. So I like to keep things simple, let my head make it's own music or whatever it is that it needs to grind on in the semi-hallucinatory state of being bathed in oxygen.

Lazyass

Just when you think you've heard it all.

JeremyLC

I ride with this and I can hear my music and traffic just fine.

Stucky

Very true. Often, the handicapped are better drivers/cyclists/etc. because they are aware of their limitations, and take greater precautions- especially if they're used to dealing with that handicap all of their life, or for a good period thereof. Some able-bodied person though, who deprives himself of one of his senses, is at a big disadvantage- and doesn't usually even think about compensating for his sensory deprivation, until something happens.