Listening to an MP3 Player while Riding... Pro's & Cons???...

[$ick3nin.vend3t]

Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio.

Will it result in an early trip to the morgue???, Or will I live a life in blissful peace???... Riders & cyclists the worldover may say everything about listening to an MP3 player out on the road is for a$$holes, but listening to Metallica playing live gives me a huge boost on the bike, only metallica can provide. I can leave the energy gel in the back pocket that while longer.

Its also nice not having to listen to drivers winding down there windows giving you verbal abuse, beeping there horns, (& at one time in my case, a driver throwing the entire contents of his ashtray over me during a hot & humid summers day. DAMN TROLLS.

Pro's & Cons Please???... From the softcore as well the HARDCORE.

[chipcom]

This has been discussed to death...use the search to find one of the many threads on the subject.

IMO, if you can walk and chew gum you can ride and listen to music.
Unfortunately, lots of people can't seem to do either...whether you are one of them is pretty much up to you.

[DX-MAN]

It's your life, dude.

[JanMM]

, damn trolls.

Got that right.

[Velo Dog]

Been debated endlessly, here and elsewhere. I used to be anti, but I've changed my mind: Anybody who'd voluntarily take away one of the two senses that keeps him safe on the bike should be removed from the gene pool as early as possible.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

Been debated endlessly, here and elsewhere. I used to be anti, but I've changed my mind: Anybody who'd voluntarily take away one of the two senses that keeps him safe on the bike should be removed from the gene pool as early as possible.

Idiotic comments from dimwits about what is needed to "keep safe" on a bike as well as smarmy Darwinian solutions have also been posted endlessly, here and elsewhere.

[BarracksSi]

Right, like I can analyze all the noises I hear on the street and figure out that there's a hybrid SUV behind me.

Fat load of good my sense of hearing does for THAT hazard, huh?

I'd ask a deaf cyclist what they do to not get killed every single day, then ride like they do WHETHER I'M LISTENING TO MUSIC OR NOT.

Does that make too much sense?

[BarracksSi]

I'll put it this way, and I hope I'm not too blunt:

If you're relying on your sense of hearing to save your ass, you're an idiot.

[travelmama]

I'll put it this way, and I hope I'm not too blunt:

If you're relying on your sense of hearing to save your ass, you're an idiot.

You were VERY blunt and that is okay because I agree with you.

[Nightshade]

Do I have a deathwish???... People may say everything about it is a con, but listening to Metallica playing live doesn't half give me a boost on the bike, I can leave the energy gel in the back pocket that while longer. Its lovely not having to listen to drivers giving you verbal abuse, beeping there horns, damn trolls.

As long as you listen with handle bar mounted speakers you'll do fine. The death wish part comes into play for the morons that insist on using earbuds.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

As long as you listen with handle bar mounted speakers you'll do fine. The death wish part comes into play for the morons that insist on using earbuds.

IMO, cyclists who believe that unimpeded listening to street noise while cycling is necessary to "do fine", probably will not "do fine" because they apparently are clueless about evaluating cycling risk.

[$ick3nin.vend3t]

What my concern is though is that listening to music does affect your concentration at times (Agreed?), I'm double checking a lot. Its OK when your on long flat straights/hills but sometimes it does get a little scary & I'm quite hardcore but a little paranoid.

People talk about how cyclists should be removed from the road if listening to music, but boy, it gives me a bigger boost than my energy drinks & its nice to have some company for a change rather than having my personal demons come along for the ride.

[RonH]

Do I have a deathwish???... People may say everything about it is a con, but listening to Metallica playing live doesn't half give me a boost on the bike, I can leave the energy gel in the back pocket that while longer. Its lovely not having to listen to drivers giving you verbal abuse, beeping there horns, damn trolls.

I guess you won't be wearing a helmet either.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

I guess you won't be wearing a helmet either.

Sure he can if so inclined.

[daredevil]

I'll put it this way, and I hope I'm not too blunt:

If you're relying on your sense of hearing to save your ass, you're an idiot.

You shouldn't be so rude to DX, Velo Dog and Nightshade.

[Mitchxout]

IMO, cyclists who believe that unimpeded listening to street noise while cycling is necessary to "do fine", probably will not "do fine" because they apparently are clueless about evaluating cycling risk.

I live on a country road with alot of blind curves and short straights. Oftentimes, I hear cars several seconds before I actually see them. I don't like 4000lb surprises sneaking up behind me.

[jacksbike]

Do whatever makes you happy. However, in my opinion of decades of cycling, I believe that you must rely on using both ears to hear what is going on around you , when cycling. If you are busy listening to music while cycling, then you may never hear the vehicle that may come up and hit you. Bon Chance.

[Velo Dog]

Idiotic comments from dimwits about what is needed to "keep safe" on a bike as well as smarmy Darwinian solutions have also been posted endlessly, here and elsewhere.

Some people don't learn from them, though. I figured one more repetition might not hurt. And there's nothing smarmy about it: I mean it to the bottoms of my feet. Anybody who can't foresee the consequences of dumbass behavior should suffer them as quickly as possible, preferably before reproducing. No good can come of interfering with natural selection.

[daredevil]

Some people don't learn from them, though. I figured one more repetition might not hurt. And there's nothing smarmy about it: I mean it to the bottoms of my feet. Anybody who can't foresee the consequences of dumbass behavior should suffer them as quickly as possible, preferably before reproducing. No good can come of interfering with natural selection.

Cute post dude.

Tell me, why do I need to hear what I can see especially if I can see it long before I hear it? Why would you need that redundancy?

You share the road safely by using your eyes, not your ears but I know that's been said already, some people don't learn. I'm betting you suck at using yours. You might be careful who you're calling a dumbass. Do you have children yet?

[StephenH]

I figure I need all the help I can get.

[DX-MAN]

You shouldn't be so rude to DX, Velo Dog and Nightshade.

??? Rude to me? Hmmm, I'll have to sit awhile and figure that one out....
OK, I thought; not referring to me, after all. I USE my ears, just like all my other senses. Depend on them? To keep my glasses on, maybe....

[daredevil]

^^^^^my mistake...apologies.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

I live on a country road with alot of blind curves and short straights. Oftentimes, I hear cars several seconds before I actually see them. I don't like 4000lb surprises sneaking up behind me.

After you "hear" them, what do you do, jump in a ditch and hide?

[ohio]

When i commute, i put my over-ear headphones around my neck and blast mypod. But when I'm on an old country road or something, I might listen to some loud techno, earbuds or over-ears(if its not too hot), for the motivation.

[sd_mike]

Why be stuck on two earbuds? After all, it is bicycling. If you want good quality music listening, find another venue. Get a cell phone headset with one earbud, a converter for the mp3 player, and bingo - one ear to traffic, one to music. It has worked well for me, still legal, still just as safe (earbud is on the right side). I can still hear traffic and most things well enough.