Bbmoozer

Do you listen to some sort of radio/cd (either in one ear or both) while riding?

Yes:
No:
Make own sound effects:

ljbike

When I'm riding, I want nothing to interfere with my ability to hear what's going on around me. No Tunes, except on the rare occassions when I sing to my self and the unlucky creatures within ear shot.

cycletourist

I never listen to music while riding. But recently I've been thinking about getting a small cassette player that fits in my handlebar bag so I can listen to my spanish lessons while riding. Haven't decided yet if that's a good idea or not.

Inkwolf

Listening to earphones while cycling is illegal in my state, last I heard. I've been debating whether attaching a small pair of speakers to my handlebars would make me look like a total nerdbag.

Allister

Alright, who voted that they make their own sound effects? and what sound effects do you make?

MadCat

Screams of terror; cursing; motorcycle noises; various marvel comics style explosion sounds at all the vehicles I'd like to blow up; the list goes on.

One favourite is to get weird looks from drivers by screaming road rage type stuff at my cycling buddy while waiting at red lights. Things like "get off the road" and "get out of the way", etc.

RiPHRaPH

i'd love to listen to tunes, and would onlt consider it on the ruralist of roads, but i find that my mind wanders from the task at hand too much. cycling is like like surfing the internet. there is a vast world out there but sometimes there is a blank slate.

Bbmoozer

Gotta love those 'VRRRROOOOOM" and "Weeeeee" noises zooming down a hill!!!!

I also "MOOOOOO" at cows along side the road. And talk to dogs, birds, raccoons, etc...

OctoberBlue

Nope. No tunes for me except for whatever song happens to be stuck in my head at the moment. I have no idea where some of them come from. Sometimes it isn't even the whole song -- just the same part over & over & over...

Rich Clark

I love to overtake cyclists with headphones on and yell "boo" as I drop them.

I don't believe people who say listening to music while cycling doesn't interfere with their situational awareness. And I enjoy proving it at every opportunity.

RichC

Allister

You should try that same experiment with passing a cyclist that isn't wearing headphones as well. I dare say you'd get a similar reaction.

velocipedio

One thing I see around Montreal is slow "leisure" riders [or "landriders"] with radios on their handlebars. Every now and then a whole family will go by with three radios set to different stations. What an utter crime! Aside from ruining it for the rest of us with obnoxious Celine Dion, I can't imagine why anyone would WANT to listen to the radio while riding. Riding is enough.

VegasCyclist

I like it quiet, (as quiet as you can get in a city with cars zooming by you) but anyways a person can get a lot of thinking done while not having any distractions.

Rich Clark

I always announce myself when I pass. I can't scare the ones who hear me.

RichC

wabbit

The last thing I'd do is plug in and be oblivious when riding. WHy is is that people feel this need to have music accompanying them for every single second of their lives? ARe they afraid they may actually get a thought running through their heads?

Inkwolf

I take my dog on 4-6 mile walks. I wear a walkman. The music helps me keep up a quick pace and not get bored, and provides a soundtrack for my thoughts. I'm sure SOME people would say 'walking should be enough' but I know from personal experience that when I don't have my music, I walk slower and feel my sore feet very much more. And the main thought that runs through my head is 'How much farther?!' I'm pretty sure commuting on my bike will be the same way, once the novelty wears off.

Congratulations on being a superior human being who doesn't want to listen to music on your bike! Guess we lower lifeforms will just have to watch in awe as you pedal by...
(Inky pumps up the ghetto blaster)

Allister

If it's playing Talking Heads, I'm right there with you, brother.

It's kind of comforting to know that even amongst fellow cyclists, prejudice isn't dead.

Inkwolf

Actually, it's probably playing Gilbert & Sullivan, movie scores, and old-time French jazz singers, but bring your Talking Heads CD and we'll take turns.

Roughstuff

How odd...I thought this thread was gonna be what tunes we SANG while we were riding! Don't you guys/gals SING while you ride? On my world tour I spent hours,days, months, singing "Both Sides Now" by Joni Mitchell. Why spend all your own time and energy riding only to surrender your 2nd most important sense to some DJ or Record company?

roughstuff

Chris L

I sing when I get bored on long descents. The Screaming Jets usually. As far as headphones while riding goes, I don't bother. I can listen to music when I get home.

Inkwolf

I prefer silence when I'm home, audio books on long drives, and music when I'm exercising. Sing? Me?? In PUBLIC??? AAAK!

Roughstuff

Hmmm...I am an UPhill singer; i think it cheers me on as I work my way up the passes. Sometimes I sing U2 songs (I will follow,etc.) on the way downhill.

Usually I am alone while riding so no one has to endure my voice. It has the added benefit of scaring off dogs, bears, and other such creatures.

roughstuff

Joe Gardner

I find my self singing the "da da da" song on long boring rides Luckly, i dont go on many long boring rides!

Chris L

I have to say I never thought of that.

Amir R. Pakdel

I don't see what's wrong with having tunes along.

You don't have to have it cranked up so you do hear a thing. Driving for one needs more concentration that riding bikes, and people normally have music in their cars.

On busy roads, I don't hear anything anyways no matter how loud the volume, so I take them off. But most of my ride is in the hills with very few cards going by, so I have my beats with me.

This is my portable unit:
https://www.ratedpc.com/review.asp?id=50

The coolest mp3 player there is. It's weighs less than 10 grams and is no bigger than a ciggarett lighter. Also, it has a cool arm band strapso it doesn't get in the way of anything.