Yes, there are some differences. :D Don't think any of those differences are auditory. The field of view is often better than on an upright bike. Can't endorse earplug-wearing unless there is only a modest attenuation of sound levels.

Nope. Wrongo. But then again, I never said that no-one should wear ear plugs. I just don't do it anymore, and if asked, don't recommend it. There are times, for me at least, when not piping music into my ear is a great benefit. And that is my personal choice, based upon my personal experience. What surprised me, was that I found I liked riding without music. I might say that those who ride with music just have not tried hard enough to enjoy the experience of cycling for what it is, but I know that would be wrong.:p I think discussing this topic always degenerates becuase the music proponents see it as a threat, as if the next step is to try and prohibit earphones. Take that threat out of the discussion, and the benefits and limitations of using or not using earphones is easier to deal with. I just happen to be someone who does better without earphones/earplugs.

I rode for 30 years without music. iPods didn't exist. I use one nearly all the time now. Without a doubt, a ride can be enhanced big time with music though not always necessary.

High-functioning autistics could very well be safer without the sounds of traffic, allowing them to focus on what they see. Or some types of post-traumatic stress disorder. But then I'm no expert.

Other than that, hearing == safer.

Ah, daredevil, quoting out of context is disingenuous. Something about the "but I know that would be wrong" part of the quote that wasn't pertinent? LOL.

FWIW, I was trying to remember exactly when music and earphones became possible on bikes, other than with a FM headset of some kind. I suppose the sony walkman's were the first? (I have to ask, becuase I didn't do it then either).

Hey, its easy to believe that something should or should not be done without also believing that everyone else must do it your way. And rather insist that you do or do not use earphones, I would rather insist that everyone must use personal freedom and responsibility when they ride!.

it's all good HP - :beer:

btw, sorry about the quote, I either misread it or skimmed over too fast. I think you actually may be right though. I bet many, with the wide availaiblity of MP3's now, have done little riding without music at all. There certainly is a nice feel to that type of riding as well.

Just read this thread; good responses guys and somewhat more civilized than the thread I started in A+S about the cyclist killed being linked to wearing an MP3 player.

Me I don't wear anything, (around or in my ears :rolleyes:),I suffer from tinnitus and some other hearing loss so I'd rather not stuff my ears up anymore using an MP3 player, (kids don't stick your head in speaker stacks at gigs :thumb:). I never really like the idea anyhow, but I am not pathological in my hatred of earphone wearers.

Mind you when I read the title of this thread I wondered if it was about safety earplugs, (I know there has been a recent thread on this), as the wind is really loud even with my beanie pulled over my ears and I am really wondering if it is contributing to my tinnitus?

Just nice to see a good discussion without everyone getting twitchy :thumb:

No....they don't. =)

And, in addition to wearing the earbuds to hear music...I like to sing while I ride.

Gawwwrsh, thanks!! The front of each lens just tucks under the front strap, while the arm tucks into the rear strap. With the right size pair of recycled glasses, and some foam as I said, they stay surprisingly stable. They don't block out much sound at all, just reduce the howl of the wind, which actually unmasks other sounds.

Cool as they are (I find out), I only need em when road riding consistently OVER 15mph or on very windy days. Stick a little port in the foam for a built-in earbud and we have ourselves a patent! Oops, nevermind!

(Thanks all who are still reading this slightly schizo thread...)

Edited: It looks like a great idea!

Incorrect. Audio clues are just one part of the overall tool kit...and an optional one, unless you are one of those folks who think the deaf and hearing impaired should not be allowed to ride bicycles.

I listen to my MP3 player, in traffic. It's not shutting off your hearing, merely reducing its range.
I can hear cars coming up on me, I can hear drivers talking to me, I can hear the hiss when my tire goes flat.
If you'd ever tried it you'd know that. Why do people who have never tried something always make assumptions and propagate old wives tales?

Freakin MP3 player was the greatest invention since peanut butter - sure beats the transistor radio and earpiece I used back in the 70s.. ;)

I thought so! Hmmm. Mount to the front strap like a slipstreamz, cover the ears and some foam like yours, the next generation?

Anyone ever try the slipstreamz?

http://www.slipstreamz.com/imgs/SpoilerHomepage.jpg

Website says you can simulate how well it works by putting your index finger in front of your ear next time you ride. Gosh darnit, I have never ridden with my index finger in front of my ear, and I won't get the chance to try this out for a few days. But this does show that for some, hearing must be pretty important to try out stuff like this.:D

I still like my big boom box.

I listen to music on my IPhone but only put the ear piece in my right ear. My left ear faces the traffic and I want to be able to hear whats going on around me.

Not for me thanks. I go through residential areas on my commute and like to hear the scamper of paws as larger dogs run after me. Some dogs don't bother barking at all, but if I hear them I can put on the speed and get away. Most dogs are sleeping in the morning darkness and don't sense me until I'm several feet away.
Ernest

I absolutely despise "cyclists" that have earplugs/headphones in their ears. They almost never nod to you & I never nod to them even if they do. 90% of them are not cyclists but weekend warriors. The other 10% can be called cyclists until a big truck/Toyota Prius kisses them from behind. They can't fool the Nature in the long run, it's just the natural selection at work: weeding out the morons that is. Who said that riding a bike makes you smart?

I remember listening to the 69 world series with a small (for the time) handheld FM radio. I could strap it to the sissy bar (remember those things as a kid???) but the small speakers distorted terribly when you turned up the volume. I ended up holding the radio to my ear riding with one hand. I didn't have an ear plug, and I am not sure ear jacks were even standard then. But I bought a car when I was 16, so that the bike got very little use during the early years of portable music development, I was too busy wiring up my 8 track.:lol: I forget when the headset FM things came out. The first personal music player I had was a sony walkman in cassette, mid 80's? Never used the walkman on the bike or, ahem, even walking around, it was for studying at the library. I guess locomotion, music, and I never was a winning combination.

Those that can, do (as I have been for over 40 years), while those that cannot, "despise" those that can.
I don't nod to you because you look like a peckerwood, not because of the music. :roflmao2:

can you atleast hear someone if they yell "to the left?" or "watch out" because if you cant then i dont think you should be wearing them and i would definitely not recommend it to a noob

I used to listen to ballgames all the time on my old AM/FM transistor radio...mostly on AM, on the bike or under my pillow for night games.

When the walkmans came out, it didn't take them long to come out with the 'sport' headphones (ear buds)...but the only walkman that was suitable for riding were the am/fm only jobs. Cassettes were too bulky and went through batteries too fast - and fogetaboud CDs...even bulkier and they skipped with every bump.

I remember wiring up the old 8-track to my first cars...thing is, driving didn't get me away from biking for long...I was always getting in trouble for drag racing, smoking, drinking, drugs, etc. and Dad would take the car keys from me...so my bike was still important to me! ;)

Listening to music while riding really isn't any different that doing so while driving. Indeed, as a teen, the music in my car was much louder and impaired my hearing (and the hearing of anyone near me) much more than anything ever did riding a bike. I wonder how all these folks that consider hearing overtaking traffic as so important to safety manage to drive a car, where you can hear overtaking traffic even less than you can listening to music?

Not many car drivers holler out "on your left". :lol:

The original poster wanted to hear less, I want to hear more, and another wants to hear music. Its all good though, or should be all good, at least in the land of the free.

edit: it was a measly nine bucks to have the slipstreamz sent right to my door. I couldn't resist. Might try the hacked up sunglasses in the meantime though.

no reason to have to hear someone say "to the left" if you LOOK before you move left and I do.

Ha, my hearing is shot anyway...too many years of things going BOOM around me with no ear protection and bouncing in bars that had live music.

We do agree...to each his/her own, screw the safety nannies. :beer:

...not to mention being able to hold a line. Arrrr mate, ye makes to much sense for a pirate! ;)

91.333% of statistics are made up.
Your anger makes you ignorant. GRRR! :mad:

I don't ride with earphones. I have an mp3 player with a speaker on it. It is a zen stone. I like being able to hear my music, but also listen out for cars, peds, and other cyclist.

Usually I can hear a cyclist coming up on me...this is important because my road in filled with rocks here, screws there, nuts and bolts...dirty diapers..glass..etc. So I am constantly moving my wheel to get out of the way of some of this stuf...oh and potholes...
some things i can do a sharp little move that barely pushes me off my line, but other times I really have to make a move

Now if another cyclist was coming up and didn't say on your left or good morning etc..we would ram into each other. Because I am usually not looking behind me in the bike lane. Or sometimes things come upon you suddenly..and listening out for a car to know if you need to brake or you can make that slight move is something that comes in handy for me during my commute.

I use an isolation earbud in my right ear to listen to audiobooks. I could ride fine with both ears plugged too; I use a mirror very heavily and see cars many seconds before they get to me, whether they're making noise or not.