Million threads, I know.

I have been riding local here in my deadend neighborhood with my iPod and some earbuds. Love it, as it is so much easier to just pick a genre of music based on your feeling that day, and keep cadence to the music.

I had mentioned in another thread about my anxiety riding down public roads. I just REALLY hate that moment right as a car passes, I get all stiff which is really bad for keeping control. I went out today, and wore my iPod while taking the road route and it did WONDERS for the anxiety. I kept the volume low enough that I can actually hear outside noises...my test is to see if I can still hear my freewheel. But I noticed that with my mind occupied by the music, that I did not have any problems tightening up every time a car passed.

I see a lot of posts where people claim how foolish it is to ride with earbuds, and just about as many posts with people discussing using them.

I mounted a mirror on my bike, so I can see when cars are coming, and can hear them as well, def. not as well as with nothing at all, but nonetheless. I am just curious though, I mean if a car is going to sideswipe you, is hearing it coming going to help anyway? Aside from visual clues if you happen to be watching the mirror, just as dangerous not watching the road, how are you going to be able to tell just from sound that someone is too close. To me, when a car is passing (buzzing) at 55+MPH it all sounds the same....I am of the thought that being less anxious in the saddle for the passing is better than the alternative.