nevermore1701

I have a bag on my bars that has a built in speaker. Sounds good can use phone or ipod.. Would never use ear phones... If you want a pic ask me

DrIsotope

I rode 75 miles today with the Boombot REX on the entire time, over 40 of it on a MUP. I passed less than 10 cyclists during the whole trip.

megalowmatt

I ride through a couple school zones and when there's a bunch of people & cars around I turn it down to a point where it's no louder than what you'd hear maybe coming out of a car. I can understand in crowded areas like you ride that it would be annoying.

quadripper

headphones in both ears while riding is actually illegal in CA
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1.../c5/a3.5/27400

TenSpeedV2

I love mine. Get several compliments from other people on how good it sounds. People start dancing on the sidewalks when I ride by on the street or the bike lane. I wish I was kidding, but it happens.

Papa Tom

I get the same result when I ride by people and I'm playing music. Why do you wish you were kidding?

kickstart

Our local MUT is through mostly wet lands and is very peaceful. I often enjoy a slow twilight ride on it listening to the sounds of nature, and someone playing music out loud takes away that experience.
Normally I don't care, to me music is just another random noise that's an expected part of life, but it would be nice if some people used a bit more discretion in when, where, and how much noise they make.

QuakerProf

I tried a handlebar mounted speaker once, but found that I could no longer hear it after I was going about 18mph. When does the wind noise drown out the REX, in your experience?

TenSpeedV2

As long as they are not going as slow as you, they will be gone in less than a minute and you will no longer hear it. My MUP is pretty much a straight shot crossing one street. Just shy of 3 miles I think. It is a quiet wetland area with some nice nature to be seen. I am through the entire thing in like 5 minutes. Sorry if we bug you, but that is life.

chas58

Coming up on pedestrians without announcing your presence is annoying. Bells don't always work well. I always yell on your left, but even then some people don't hear it (most are grateful). But people tend to smile when they hear me biking with speakers, and I never startle them on my approach.

Eric S.

I listen to podcasts or talk radio as well. I have found that using over-the-ear headphones (the ones that go around the back of your head) cuts a lot of wind noise, allowing me to listen at a lower volume and actually hear much more around me.

Cyclosaurus

Speakers on a bike? Don't be that guy. Peace out.

Papa Tom

I agree with those who think playing music on the bike (over speakers) is OK, but that you need to practice not being a jerk about it. I am 52 years old and I have been very "other-oriented" all my life. I have finally realized that it's OK to do what makes me happy, as long as I know when it's affecting someone else negatively.

When I'm zooming along alone on my way to work and nobody is around, I keep my speaker at a good volume. When I'm out on the open road in the middle of an inter-state tour, I keep it at a good volume and I might even sing along if the mood hits. But when I'm on a bike path or a quiet street and I come within earshot of other people, I always use my best judgment to determine whether my music is going to ruin anybody's peaceful walk, scare anybody's dog, or just impinge on a conversation between two people. In those cases, I will either mute the speaker with my hand or turn it off until I am out of range. Simple as that.

So, assuming that cyclists who ride with speakers on their bikes are not bad people, what brand and model of speakers do you guys recommend for them?

megalowmatt

Here's what I use: Bluetooth Speaker

I cut an old water bottle so I can drop the speaker right in and then push the top part I cut off down inside to hold it in. It actually acts almost like a bullhorn, amplifying the audio.

Papa Tom

Link did not work for me.

DrIsotope

Boombot REX is what I use, and what I recommend to everyone. Fantastic sound, versatile speaker, excellent battery life, and the bike mount is pretty good out of the box, even better with a couple of mods. If the new Boombot Pro had more battery life, I'd probably have one of those too.

I-Like-To-Bike

Hmmm.
Please provide your playlist for evaluation if it is really can't help yourself dance music or you are only kidding about anyone liking Johnny-six-pack hillbilly caterwauling emanating from a nearby bicyclist.

TenSpeedV2

My playlist usually consists of electronic music from progressive house to chill to dubstep and everything in between. If it has a good beat, I can listen to it while I ride. There are no country music stations on my Pandora, or MP3's on my phone, or on my computer, or preprogrammed into my car. I don't do the whole hillbilly deluxe thing.

chefisaac

Airzound horn is great!

MulliganAl

I tried once but didn't like the disconnect I felt from the enjoyment of my commute. It was also kinda' dangerous since I have an urban commute and need to be aware of cars and sounds around me. I did try it once on the trails but again I enjoy the sounds around me and the connection I have with the world around me when I ride.

Edit

That being said I'm finding these little bluetooth speakers that folks have mentioned kinda interesting. You can have the tunes on low and still connect with the world around you. I may have to give this a try.

kickstart

So basically what you're saying is its ok to not exercise some discretion when sharing public assets? Is respecting the few serene locations left for those who want to enjoy them is too much to ask?

TenSpeedV2

Basically what I am saying is that before you know I am there, I have just passed you, and will be gone from your sight within a minute, and you won't hear me in seconds. No different than an airliner passing overhead or a train going by.

kickstart

So in other words, a couple of miles an minutes of silence in a few rarified locations and circumstances is too much to ask.

TobinH

I see/hear people with speakers on their bikes sometimes. The rest of us just sort of endure it, kind of like when there's a smoker in a line up. It's annoying, but annoying people are inevitable.

I use ear buds. They do not block the sound of traffic, which is virtually never useful information anyways.

TenSpeedV2

Luckily you live on the other side of the country so you won't have to worry about me riding on your absolutely silent MUP.