teachme

I'm sure it is exponentially more dangerous to be listening to music while riding than not. Just wondering if anyone has found a way to listen to music safely while riding.

murkey

learn to beatbox!

dsprehe89

Once again lol. But I have also been wondering this. I know that it is very dangerous to where earbuds and things that have noise isolation/cancelation. But I've been thinking about getting something like this and using these to ride.

https://www.amazon.com/Motorola-S305-.../dp/B002BH3I9U

Sound can easily pass through them so that the wearer can hear things around him/her. My best friend has a pair that he uses when we ride together and any time I talk to him he can hear me so it's not affecting his hearing, and since they would be connected to my iPhone through bluetooth, I could answer calls on them if i needed to.

Do any of you have any thoughts on these?

zac

teachme, way to open a can of worms for the 100th time.

It's okay, you are going to get a ton of opinions on this. I personally don't ride and listen to music or earbuds (although I have tried, even though I don't think it is the best idea to do so - plus the wind noise is too overwhelming for me), but others do, and I suppose there are a lot of factors that weigh into the decision to do so. Personal choice really.

Also you may want to try to search back in the forums, as this topic seems to come up on an annual basis.

zac

zac

Shifter paddles are good for that too.

chipcom 

I've been riding with music/audiobooks/ballgames in my ear for over 40 years. You can either do it and still be aware of you surroundings like me, or you can automagically become a blithering idiot who is oblivious to everything around you, like some are. You're from Texas, so please forgive me for assuming that you are one of the latter, like most drivers in your state.

I-Like-To-Bike

Since you are already "sure it is exponentially more dangerous," why are you still wondering?

If anything, you should wonder about the process you used to become so "sure" of your fabricated conclusion.

teachme

shadoman

It's dangerous to do ANYTHING in/on a vehicle that can distract you from your primary objective (controlling the vehicle in a safe and prudent manner.) That includes music, conversation, map reading and probably a host of other things. The real problem comes from earbuds that block all extraneous sound , or having the music so loud that you can't hear the barking dog approaching from the right / the truck coming up behind from the left / or the police cruiser running siren only heading right at you.
If a person can talk to you without having to raise their voice and you can still hear them over the music, you'll probably be fine. If you want to listen to music at concert levels, stay home on the couch.

dsprehe89

Shadoman, are you from Cahokia? If so are there any good places around here for mountain biking? I live in Collinsville and have been trying to find some good trails not super far away for riding my MTB, if often ride the road trails between Collinsville and Edwardsville, but they just aren't as fun as good old off road trails with large drops and huge dirt hills!

ItsJustMe

"Exponentially" does not mean what you think it does. Please don't use it when you don't mean it.

You shouldn't be listening to music in a car either. It's does increase the danger. A careful/aware vehicle operator can compensate.

gbiker

I listen to music all the time while riding, but don't turn the volume up so loud that I can't hear outside sounds. But what I want to know is, is watching Youtube videos dangerous while bicycling?

bhop

I like pie.

teachme

x2

I'm not advocating for or against... I'm just trying to make an informed decision on whether or not to try it.

I-Like-To-Bike

I know that I would advocate against, if I was sure that it is exponentially more dangerous to be listening to music while riding than not.

shadoman

dsprehe89, yupyup, sure am ! I'm strictly a roadie, tho. Let me talk to a few of my more well rounded friends, and see if I can come up with any hints for ya.
I did have an MTB for a bit, but I mostly rode on big construction sites...

teachme

Ok, "I-Like-To-Bike" Maybe I should have said 2 times or 4 times more dangerous... Gees.... the point is cycling carries with it an inherent danger on our roadways. Looking at the beautiful cardinals playing in the trees could be just as; or more dangerous than listening to music. I depend on my hearing and my mirror to spot cars coming from my blindside, and I think its important to realize that one would be less one asset in managing that situation with music in ones ear.
desprehe89 had a good suggestion for a set-up that lets you listen to music as well as keeping your hearing in tact. I might have to look into that.

Paul Barnard

I ride with music sometimes. I leave one earbud out.

zmensing

+1

zmensing

Seems like a good compromise.

All of these are better than the guy I passed this morning jabbering on his cell phone while biking. One hand on the bars, while riding through SF city traffic and the Panhandle with kids and runners all over. Now that guy is "exponentially" less safe.

eddubal

I-Like-To-Bike

Maybe you should have posted that you think/guess that cycling might be "more dangerous", to some unknown degree, but if true, you would like to know if it is possible to reduce the alleged "danger."

DataJunkie

I can't hear a freaking thing with all the damn wind around here anyhow.

I-Like-To-Bike

Does that mean it is "more dangerous" (maybe even 2 times or 4 times more dangererous) to ride into the wind rather than with it because of the increased auditory interference?

oban_kobi

Just put one ear bud in, and have it just loud enough to make out. As long as your brain can handle a wee bit of multitasking, you'll be fine.