Marc40a

lol. Agreed.

RubeRad

Also agreed; at least anywhere others might be enjoying a peaceful environment.

There does seem to be a general consensus among the speaker users that it is more acceptable in the city than in the wild, and I endorse that as well.

If the environment (sights & sounds) are beautiful and peaceful, keep it that way by eschewing noise pollution.

If the environment is already full of busy cars and construction and other city noises, than a bike speaker at a reasonable volume is not going to make much difference.

Dave Mayer

For the speaker cyclists, I suggest a playlist. Every moment has its music. Nothing better to fill the void when riding in nature than some *****in' tunes:

Sammy Hagar

• I Can't Drive 55

Johnny Paycheck:

• Take this job and shove it

Poison:

• Every Rose Has Its Thorn
• Fallen Angel

Tom Petty:

• Climb that Hill
• I Won’t back down

Joan Jett:

• I Love Rock and Roll

Motley Crue:

• Kickstart My Heart

Styx

• Mr. Roboto
• Renegade
• Rockin' the Paradise
• Show Me the Way
• Suite Madame Blue
• Too Much Time on My Hands

Journey

• Any Way you Want it.

Pretty much anything from Kiss & Meatloaf

megalowmatt

I fixed it in my post

groovestew

I'd make pretty good time trying to get away from someone playing these songs...

50voltphantom

One of the few times I've encountered someone doing this they were on a TT bike (and actually going fast enough to warrant it) with aero bars and rear disc so fortunately I wasn't able to hang

PatrickGSR94

I have a cheap@$$ BT speaker that was given to me, which I carry in the top mesh pocket of my trunk bag. It's awkwardly shaped with no other good way of mounting it anywhere. I have to turn it up to max volume to hear it, and even then sometimes I can't hear it with the wind noise.

On my 31 mile commute I pretty much never see a single cyclist anywhere else at all. So I really don't care who hears what I'm listening to. The motorists will be past me in a split second, and I will be past any pedestrians in a split second (also almost none of those).

Papa Tom

>>>Boombot REX is what I use,<<<<<<

Does that only work on Blue-Tooth? And how sturdy is the handlebar mount?

I like that the "Pro" model has some internal storage.

PaulRivers

I initially thought I would dislike people with speakers on their bikes, but I found it rather enjoyable. Thing was that because they were moving, if I didn't like it, I didn't have to stick with it. It's way better than the "sit on the corner or at the park playing music" people.

Another option is to wear headphones, but just in one ear.

DrIsotope

It also has a 3.5mm in, though I've never used it.

The handlebar mount is very good, with one drawback-- over time, the metal clip on the Boombot itself gets kinda loose, and you'll hit a railroad track or something and speed and just launch the speaker. I launched mine twice before looping two Garmin-mount o-rings together and wrapping them around the Boombot on the mount, so it has an added degree of security.

I also like the internal storage on the PRO, but don't like the decreased battery life and increased weight.

Trueblood

Earphones or earbuds, even in only one ear, as well as speakers, are death in urban riding.

DrIsotope

Good thing I ride in the suburbs and industrial districts, then. Else I'd be long dead by now.

Outnumbered

One advantage of speakers on a MUP is that everyone hears you coming and looks back well before the normal, "on your left" which I have found the majority of people say way too late especially when passing elderly folks. I do ride alone mostly so the music is entertaining and comes from my phone speaker.

As far as my commute the vehicles that pass me are going about 50 MPH with no shoulder I ride the white line all the time. With wind noise by the time I hear the vehicle its too late makes staying all the way over necessary.

Outnumbered

75% of those are on my play list, great choices.

TenSpeedV2

Most of the people walking or biking the MUP that I ride are what I call White Cord Zombies anyway, meaning that I see the dangling white cord of headphones as I pass. My music doesn't affect them.

ganchan

I'm content to listen to the music in my head. Leaves my ears available, and hey, no controls to mess with!

timvan_78

i don't use headphones or speaker (urban riding). Trailed a guy with a speaker a few times last week. Decent tunes, and I stuck around for 30 seconds or so. Longer than I would have had he had no music. He had a beats-pill knockoff strapped under his top tube. Not blasting, but loud enough that he didn't need to say "on your left" at all.

PatrickGSR94

Ridiculous fear mongering. Although I never use headphones for anything like biking, walking, running, hiking etc.

megalowmatt

Good grief. Now we've even moved on to the "my crappy music is better than your crappy music" phase of the thread.

Trueblood

Ha, you are just trolling. Come on up north of the Mason-Dixon to NYC and try it on 5th or 6th Avenue during rush hour. I am originally from the Carolinas, trust me it is a little different here.

Looks like Memphis is fairly safe for cyclists, only three fatalities since 2010 - Memphis Cyclist: Tragic death of a cyclist, south of Memphis, should serve as a reminder of the constant need for caution and safety

There were 20 in NYC in 2014 alone per the embedded graphic in this article - Cycling Deaths Have Doubled Over Last Year In NYC: Gothamist

I hope that provides some much needed perspective.

Hugh Morris

Some musicians I play with use their earbuds when they forget ear plugs and want to save their ears a bit. Sure you can hear traffic but not at the same level, even if your earbuds aren't playing anything.

Whether or not a speaker blocks more sound than earbuds sorta depends on a few variables but I ride with a speaker because I feel more aware than with earbuds.

Yup, another 'that guy' here.

Funny how people could find it rude in cities. I don't litter or smoke or pump exhaust into the air; my music at a reasonable volume in an already loud environment is not RUDE. Guess manners are subjective.

I use it on the noisy city roads and turn it off in smaller neighborhoods.

Some people love it, some people hate it, and I'd like to think most people don't give a ___ either, but it's not as loud as busses, cars, motorcycles, etc, so past being courteous in quieter areas, I don't feel like I'm misusing public space.

(I'm not playing country, electronic music or classic rock)

It's maybe annoying at long stop lights when cyclists line up and traffic isn't roaring right next to us.

I don't use it all the time, but it's great sometimes when I'm in the mood.

kickstart

Like Patrick I don't use them either, personally because I feel it compromises my situational awareness more than I want to, but must agree labeling them as "death" is fear mongering.

kickstart

Farting in an elevator is different from farting in a restroom.

Some people know the difference, some don't, that's the problem.

Trueblood

Good, glad you don't use them. Over the years I have seen many bikes down with the cyclist sitting on the ground and the car who interacted with them stopped by the side of the road. Saw a citibike rider in a suit just last week on 5th Avenue sitting on the ground, looking dazed and wondering what happened. Sadly, I have also seen brains on the pavement courtesy of a bus. I think it is irresponsible to encourage the use of headphones/earbuds in any situation while riding. Paranoia? Fear Mongering? Not to my mind. Don't worry, the war will be over by Christmas.....

f4rrest

I wonder why it's so difficult to actually enjoy Other People's Music?

It's not as if it's a bodily fluid.

If the speaker were moved from their bike to yours, then it's suddenly Your Music, and somehow more enjoyable. Lol.