I used to listen to music every morning on my commute, now I do maybe once every week or two. I don't notice much of a difference in my riding at all with or without the headphones. I use both earbuds.

You're reading a bit more into my statement than intended, no moral judgements whatsoever, no sweat. I'm a musician too, with a large collection of classical and rock that I enjoy listening to. But there are indications that music especially rock/pop can be addictive and MP3 player sales feed on that as well as perpetuate it. Oboeguy is right, though, it is the playing of music in quiet nature spots that gets me going - that's selfish to an extreme degree.

I sometimes use a radio or MP3 player while commuting. My ears stick out a fair amount, so if I do not wear headphones, I have very loud air rushing noise in my ears. I wear Sony "street style" behind-the-neck open-air phones; with them on and the radio on just loud enough to hear, I can hear better than without the headphones. I have tested by looking how far away cars are when I first hear them, and I can hear around 1/4 mile with headphones, just a touch less without. That's for passenger cars. Pickups obviously sooner; usually I hear them before I can see them (around corners/over hills).

Playing music loud enough to drown out ambient wouldn't be too smart IMHO, but I also think that of radios and CD players in cars, but people do that too.

I should mention that I generally only use headphones in the winter. In the spring/summer, and most of the fall, there's nature to listen to. Birds and the wind in the trees sound better than MP3s.

Creative zen touch 40gig.

Never music while riding unless I'm just coasting along on a sunny day on the sidewalk.

I wear one, know I should not, but it makes the ride that much more fun.

I was wondering what the average speed (mph) for you folks? I seem to be coming out to 15 mph, not pushing it, but not coasting either

How can you hear the birds and wind in trees? When I ride all I hear is the ROAR of the wind in my ears, unless I turn my head to one side or the other.

i wouldn't want to be thethered to my bike like that (via the headphone cord) in case i crashed... don't you think you'd rip your ipod off the bars if you ever became forcibly seperated from your bike???

thats an expensive toy to wreck... i usually keep mine in my bag (attached to me).

The hardrive will take a pretty good beating with that set up.

I have a nice case-logic case with an arm band and waistband option. I use the waistband option which also has pockets for your keys, ID/bank card/licence and some cash