I listen to music while on the road. The cars are constantly present, so I'm not going to hear them "coming" anyway. I do take out the ear buds while on the MUP since I can hear "On your left!" or "Look out!" and then respond accordingly. I use my helmet mirror in both situations.

I agree with the OP. Having plugs or music seems to calm everything down. I can still hear stuff, just not as loudly. As for me....I bring music on nearly every ride; and I ride A LOT. I have yet to be suprised by anything other than a passing cyclist who has not indicated intention to do so. I still hear EVERY SINGLE CAR coming (Oh, except for a high speed & completely out of control pickup truck that slid by me sideways on ice this winter; but it would have done no good to hear that one anyway). Most tires on the road seem to make enough noise that engine noise is not needed to be aware that they are coming even with plugs or headphones.

With all respect, I think you folks who argue that no-one should wear earplugs while riding have not spent much time riding with plugs or music and are just basing your statements on your own unfounded but strongly held beliefs. My father was a banker and when I used to spout my liberal nonsense to him he would say "never underestimate the conviction and power of the uninformed".

+1 for me as well; Sansa MP3 turned up not too high. I still hear cars when they are back 50 yards or so. My commute is rural. I dont have the hazards that you city dwellers have.

Ok, I am having trouble figuring out how you keep them on your ears? When wearing them, at what speed would you say the wind noise drowns out other noises? For me, by 15 mph my unpotected hearing isn't helping much anymore. Having realized that I frequently prefer the abscence of music while riding, I wouldn't mind getting rid of some of the wind noise when road riding.

That looks really cool, actually. Is there a way to attach them to the helmet straps?

Yes, there are some differences. 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. 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 -

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 ),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 ). 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

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?



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.

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. 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.