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Looking for good riding earbuds, preferably Bluetooth.

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Looking for good riding earbuds, preferably Bluetooth.

Old 12-18-14, 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Edonis13
I don't know where you heard this, but my 2014 CA vehicle code still shows that section 27400 is in place and hasn't been amended since 2004. Care to link me to anything supporting your claim?
I am wrong. It spells out bicycles too. I don't have time to research why I thought that. Thank you for the correction. I am just a bit smarter now.
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Old 12-18-14, 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
And you didn't know what "Non legal wear. Or they should be not legal." meant? And don't get mad at me because you didn't make the effort to proof a six word sentence.
I'm not "mad" at you because of my efforts, that seems pretty stupid. I felt as if it was childish to point out a grammatical error to help your argument. Ad hominem is a childish approach.

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Old 12-18-14, 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by JakiChan
I've been using Bluetooth earbuds that I use in the gym, the Jaybird Bluebuds X. They could kinda work on the road, but I saw a review of the new wireless Beats that claimed they let in more outside sound on purpose. I know that in general, earbuds and riding aren't the best idea but music through the phone speaker isn't working well. However, having music really helps me ride harder.

So, if you wear earbuds of some sort while riding, especially Bluetooth ones, let me know which ones.
I have both the Jaybirds and Plantronics BackBeat 903+ Headset, the second one is also in the "let in more outside noise" style of headphone.

For lifting weights, using in-place cardio machines, or jogging outside, either one works well. I choose mostly based on what style of sound I'm listening to.

For biking though? The Jaybirds are **far** better. Do not get any of the "lets in outside noise" headphones, they're terrible. Because when biking you're creating wind going past your ears, and anything that doesn't seal means you keep turning the volume way way up to try to overcome the wind noise. If you're concerned about being able to hear, use the Jaybird in one ear but not the other. But "let in outside noise" style of headphones are absolutely awful on the bike. Any gap and the wind is whistling by your ears noisily.
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Old 12-18-14, 05:29 PM
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You young guys should invest in the hearing aid business.
Wise investment for the future.
Ear buds headphones are causing hearing loss.
Lots of hearing aid devices will be sold.
Hearing once lost cannot be corrected except by amplification.
Oh, By the way. I have Bose QC- 15 's love them. Not while biking though.
I once almost bought helmet speakers.
What would Lance wear?
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Old 12-18-14, 05:33 PM
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Jakichan,
I have no intention of insulting. I just do not think it's safe. Have had a few bad crashes not caused by sound. Caused by concentration.
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Old 12-20-14, 03:06 PM
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Originally Posted by xtrout1
Non legal wear. Or they should be not legal. Stay in tune with the road, feel and hear the tires rolling. I cannot tell you how many joggers forget where they are and do stupid things. Your not in your living room. Concentrate concentrate. Feel the pain. That's where it's at.
For you, maybe. I ride better with music.
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Old 12-20-14, 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by ooga-booga
i rock a blutooth speaker vs earbuds and find it comfier as well as safer but to each their own.
Why not just use your phone speaker at that point?
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Old 12-20-14, 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by PaulRivers
For biking though? The Jaybirds are **far** better.
I gave it a try. The fit issues I experience in the gym, which are manageable there, are much worse on the road. The jaybirds solved a problem for me in the gym (got them after the cord of my Etymotics got caught and I ripped an earbud out of my ear - ouch) but I don't like how they fit on the road.

I'd keep using my phone speaker if it was louder. As it is I can barely hear it.
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Old 12-20-14, 03:26 PM
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LG HBS750. (I'm on my second pair, upgraded from HBS700.) Comfy, you can use them in one or both ears when you want, you can answer phone calls without having to pull out the phone, pause/resume, adjust volume (standard Bluetooth features), and they are almost impossible to lose by accident. 8 to 10 hours of playback on one charge. They do let in a fair bit of wind noise, so I often have to pause, especially when riding into headwind.
Looked at Jaybird Bluebuds, but they look like they might slip out of your ear and end up on the pavement after the first pothole unless you keep both buds in ears or both buds out (they lock to each other magnetically on your neck when not in use.) Even my HBS750 buds occasionally fall out of the ear (more often when running than when biking), but when they fall out, they just dangle off the collar till you pick them up. As pointed out above, it's technically illegal to ride with earbuds in both ears in CA, but it's permitted to ride with an earbud in only one ear.

On the other hand, Bluebuds are considerably more compact, which could be a plus. They are also supposed to last 8-10 hours per charge. Their buttons are much smaller, out of necessity, not sure how inconvenient that would be in real life.
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Old 12-20-14, 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by hamster
On the other hand, Bluebuds are considerably more compact, which could be a plus. They are also supposed to last 8-10 hours per charge. Their buttons are much smaller, out of necessity, not sure how inconvenient that would be in real life.
The battery life is no lie. They go a week for me of daily workouts. The buttons are small, but even when just using my phone I've started using the Wahoo app with my TICKR just to make going to the next track easier. (Thump chest twice, next track.)
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Old 12-21-14, 09:46 AM
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I use a Jabra bluetooth ear bud thingy...it works great. I wear it in my right ear and use it to listen to podcasts while riding. I can adjust the volume on the device and even answer a phone call if I desire...which I generally don't unless it is one of my kids or wife...different ring tones make it easy to decide.

I only ride for recreation and fitness now so it does not interfere but when I was racing I never wore one as it did interfere...and back then there was no wireless and the ear buds were larger and clunky plus no podcasts at that time...80's to 2000.

I don't wear one in group rides...I prefer to chat and/or be aware of what is going on around me...
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Old 12-21-14, 10:05 AM
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Just get one of these as it is safer than an earbud:

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Old 12-21-14, 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by JakiChan
I gave it a try. The fit issues I experience in the gym, which are manageable there, are much worse on the road. The jaybirds solved a problem for me in the gym (got them after the cord of my Etymotics got caught and I ripped an earbud out of my ear - ouch) but I don't like how they fit on the road.

I'd keep using my phone speaker if it was louder. As it is I can barely hear it.
Have you tried the various other earbuds that come with it? They also come with wingtip things I've seen other people using.

Or alternate eartips:
Amazon.com: 6pcs: 3 Pairs S/M/L Left and Right Side Ear Stabilizers Helper Eartips for Jaybird Bluebuds X Premium Bluetooth In Ear Earphones / Headphones: Electronics
Amazon.com: 12pcs (CL-BL)- S/M/L Replacement Set Earbuds Eartips for Jaybird Bluebuds X Premium Bluetooth In Ear Earphones / Headphones: Electronics
https://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Replac...ywords=jaybird

Just making suggestions. Another brand might do better to. Like I said, on the bike I just have found the "lets outside noise in" style to be awful because of wind noise, so not sure what else to recommend.

Just throw a pair of these on and you shouldn't have any wind noise issues either:
https://www.amazon.com/Bluedio-shooti...oth+headphones



Or more practically speaking, something like this might work to:
Amazon.com: Kinivo BTH240 Bluetooth Stereo Headphone - Supports Wireless Music Streaming and Hands-Free calling (Black): Cell Phones & Accessories

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Old 12-22-14, 04:38 AM
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Originally Posted by JakiChan
Why not just use your phone speaker at that point?
because it is loud enuff-especially tucked in a jersey pocket. i must confess...i enjoy scaring the hell out of peds, dog walkers and joggers
with the sheer volume of vicki carr, black sabbath, charles mingus and lady gaga among hundreds of others. nothing quite like rocking some
rimsky-korsakov or gershwin at a stop light and it's louder than the hip-hop pouring out of a neighboring car. verry empowering. plus, i can
hear music on a screaming downhill. some daze, i just wanna listen to physical graffiti, ya know?
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Old 12-22-14, 09:19 AM
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I have used my Jaybird Bluebud X's on the bike and they have worked great. I do not use the stock tips though. Comply foam tips are much better for comfort and staying in my ear.
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Old 12-22-14, 09:38 AM
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I use the YurBud ear buds, but they are not wireless. My basic pitch - the YurBuds have a gasket with a "twist lock" style that holds tight to the ear - never had them fall out running or cycling. Because they fit well, I can keep the volume very low, and still hear the world around me. Admittedly, not as well as if I had no music - I know that.

Secondly, because they are wired, when I am in heavier traffic areas, I can pull them out while riding and let them dangle from the cord (runs under my jersey) to enhance my awareness.
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