Best Headphones For Biking????
08-13-12 | 05:38 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 353
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From: Gainesville, FL
I wanted to hear music too but didn't want to have anything in my ears. I got this music bullet for $12 and came up with a way to attach to my handlebars. I'm very happy with it. It only gets drowned out when very large trucks go right by. For all the normal traffic going by, I can hear my music just fine. I know you asked about headphones but I thought I'd throw another option at you. The battery lasts over 4 hours.
08-13-12 | 05:55 PM
#27
Still spinnin'.....
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 2
From: Whitestown, IN
Bikes: Fisher Opie freeride/urban assault MTB, Redline Monocog 29er MTB, Serrota T-Max Commuter, Klein Rascal SS, Salsa Campion Road bike, Pake Rum Runner FG/SS Road bike, Cannondale Synapse Road bike, Santana Arriva Road Tandem, and others....
I wanted to hear music too but didn't want to have anything in my ears. I got this music bullet for $12 and came up with a way to attach to my handlebars. I'm very happy with it. It only gets drowned out when very large trucks go right by. For all the normal traffic going by, I can hear my music just fine. I know you asked about headphones but I thought I'd throw another option at you. The battery lasts over 4 hours.
4Rings6Stars you must be a friggin' clairvoyant......
Last edited by Stealthammer; 08-13-12 at 06:00 PM.
08-13-12 | 06:11 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 229
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From: Plano, TX
I swear by Skullcandy. However, I would only ride with one in. For the other, in your case, I would twist tie it to the rest of the cord or something so it doesn't dangle and get caught on stuff. Handlebar speakers are good too. 
I don't have a bike yet, but I walk with many of the same dangers(plus the many sidewalk riders that like to sneak up behind me without even announcing their presence; and I'm not a zombie, I keep one bud out and look behind me frequently) cyclists deal with.
I don't have a bike yet, but I walk with many of the same dangers(plus the many sidewalk riders that like to sneak up behind me without even announcing their presence; and I'm not a zombie, I keep one bud out and look behind me frequently) cyclists deal with.
08-13-12 | 08:49 PM
#29
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Naptown
Bikes: NWT 24sp DD; Brompton M6R
I ride with bluetooth headphones; the lack of cables is very liberating. They are over the ear and don't get particularly loud, though - at some intersections I can't hear any sound from the headphones due to traffic. Which is probably something of a safety feature.
08-13-12 | 10:06 PM
#30
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From: Ontario, Canada
Bikes: Helix, Brompton, Rivendell, Salsa, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
Funny, the OP asks for recommendations for the best headphones to wear when riding and so many people just want to tell him not to wear them because its too dangerous, and noone even bothers to ask him where he is riding and what the road and traffic conditions are. For some reason most of the posters assume that he is riding in an urban setting with lots of traffic, I guess because he stated that he rode "a long stretch that has a lot of trucks that speed late at night", but if he is riding at night the trucks headlight will tell him that a truck is coming long before he would be able to hear it anyway.
The point is, it all depends on where you are riding and the road and traffic conditions as to whether it is dangerous or not. There is no "one size fits all" rule, its a matter of personal choice and personal responsibility, so I still say check out the Sennheiser CX 200 Street II ear buds.
The point is, it all depends on where you are riding and the road and traffic conditions as to whether it is dangerous or not. There is no "one size fits all" rule, its a matter of personal choice and personal responsibility, so I still say check out the Sennheiser CX 200 Street II ear buds.
The dangers of isolating one of your key senses is not what you can see from in front, but what you cannot see constantly from behind or the side. Depending solely on sight is even worse at night: night vision drops off dramatically, but you can still hear in the dark. I'm not exactly a "risk free" kind of guy, but I don't believe in taking unwarranted risks.
The following abstract is from:
Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
Volume 14, Issue 6, November 2011, Pages 626–637
The effects of listening to music on cycling behaviour were evaluated. Twenty-five participants completed a track on a bicycle while listening to music with two standard earbuds, with one earbud, and with two in-earbuds. Conditions with high tempo music and loud volume were also included in the experiment, as were two mobile phone conditions, one in which participants operated the phone hand held and one handsfree condition.
Cycle speed was not affected by listening to music, but was reduced in the telephone conditions. In general the response to auditory signals worsened when participants listened to music, in particular when listening with in-earbuds loud auditory stop signals were missed in 68% of the cases. However, when listening with only one standard earbud performance was not affected. In the conditions when participants listened to high volume and to high tempo music, the auditory stop signal was also heard in significantly fewer cases. Completing a task on the mobile phone, using both handheld and handsfree sets, resulted in increased response time to an auditory stop signal and also reduced overall auditory perception. Furthermore, handsfree operation only had minor advantages opposed to hand held operation, with only response time to an auditory stop signal resulting in faster performance. This is likely to be related to the fact that both hands could be used for braking.
It is concluded that listening to music worsens auditory perception, in particular if in-earbuds are used. Furthermore, both handheld and handsfree operation of mobile phones has a negative effect on perception, potentially forming a threat to cyclist traffic safety.
Volume 14, Issue 6, November 2011, Pages 626–637
The effects of listening to music on cycling behaviour were evaluated. Twenty-five participants completed a track on a bicycle while listening to music with two standard earbuds, with one earbud, and with two in-earbuds. Conditions with high tempo music and loud volume were also included in the experiment, as were two mobile phone conditions, one in which participants operated the phone hand held and one handsfree condition.
Cycle speed was not affected by listening to music, but was reduced in the telephone conditions. In general the response to auditory signals worsened when participants listened to music, in particular when listening with in-earbuds loud auditory stop signals were missed in 68% of the cases. However, when listening with only one standard earbud performance was not affected. In the conditions when participants listened to high volume and to high tempo music, the auditory stop signal was also heard in significantly fewer cases. Completing a task on the mobile phone, using both handheld and handsfree sets, resulted in increased response time to an auditory stop signal and also reduced overall auditory perception. Furthermore, handsfree operation only had minor advantages opposed to hand held operation, with only response time to an auditory stop signal resulting in faster performance. This is likely to be related to the fact that both hands could be used for braking.
It is concluded that listening to music worsens auditory perception, in particular if in-earbuds are used. Furthermore, both handheld and handsfree operation of mobile phones has a negative effect on perception, potentially forming a threat to cyclist traffic safety.
08-13-12 | 10:20 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 229
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From: Plano, TX
My point is if people in smart cars can blare music and survive, as a cyclist or walker I can use one ear to listen to music while I ride. And trust me, I've ridden in a smart car, it feels like even the smallest full sized car can mow you down.
((Also, setting it to mono for one earbud helps as well, I'm a little OCD when it comes to music and it distracts me more to not hear a certain part of a song than to have ambient music playing in the 'background'.))
((Also, setting it to mono for one earbud helps as well, I'm a little OCD when it comes to music and it distracts me more to not hear a certain part of a song than to have ambient music playing in the 'background'.))
08-13-12 | 10:33 PM
#32
The space coyote lied.
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: dusk 'til dawn.
Bikes: everywhere
I can hear better with my buds in and at a reasonable level than pretty much any motor vehicle occupant can hear.
Now the OP going for drowning out the trucks, that might no be such a good plan. I don't think I could take it.
Now the OP going for drowning out the trucks, that might no be such a good plan. I don't think I could take it.
08-14-12 | 05:15 AM
#35
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
where I live parking is super tough and really expensive (12USD/day) or 300USD/month for a garage spot, so there's huge competition on the street for spots. I must see a couple of Smart ForTwos parked sideways every day like this, which is legal because they're 2.5m long (8ft or so):
however, the quality is quite crappy, as it is with most Smarts.
the answer is the new Audi A1 with 260hp and quattro which is only a little bigger and the performance is much better (5.7s to 60mph and 155mph top speed)
however, for the eco conscious, you get a version that gets roughly 60mpg in the city and 70mpg on the highway.
but the small city car concept is really nice.
08-14-12 | 05:41 AM
#36
Still spinnin'.....
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,208
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From: Whitestown, IN
Bikes: Fisher Opie freeride/urban assault MTB, Redline Monocog 29er MTB, Serrota T-Max Commuter, Klein Rascal SS, Salsa Campion Road bike, Pake Rum Runner FG/SS Road bike, Cannondale Synapse Road bike, Santana Arriva Road Tandem, and others....
I admit, I'm on a rant... but I will still disagree......
.....Even though one ear bud suggests that there is "no effect", I say that you're literally decreasing your own chances of cycling and staying alive. And the main point is that loud, auditory stop signals were missed in 68% of the cases with any nominal use case of earphones. So, maybe the one time you miss a signal is the one that you could avoided being hit by a screaming mass of metal.
.....Even though one ear bud suggests that there is "no effect", I say that you're literally decreasing your own chances of cycling and staying alive. And the main point is that loud, auditory stop signals were missed in 68% of the cases with any nominal use case of earphones. So, maybe the one time you miss a signal is the one that you could avoided being hit by a screaming mass of metal.
08-14-12 | 05:50 AM
#37
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 875
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From: New York City
If you had a good quality headphone that outputted excellent audio, you would not use it in an activity where there is exposure to sweat. Very good headphones can cost hundreds of dollars but if you are just looking to create sound regardless of quality, then just get any closed headphones.
FWIW, not everyone can drive with the required attentiveness when the are in a car with loud music. Doing so while riding a bike with both ears covered with loud music is not something I would do, but to each their own.
FWIW, not everyone can drive with the required attentiveness when the are in a car with loud music. Doing so while riding a bike with both ears covered with loud music is not something I would do, but to each their own.
Last edited by ratdog; 08-14-12 at 08:36 AM.
08-14-12 | 05:53 AM
#38
Space for rent
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 278
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From: South East
I admit, I'm on a rant... but I will still disagree. There is a one size fits all rule: if you are on a road with vehicles - 2000 lbs + of metal powered by engines that can mow you down - then I firmly believe no one driving, riding a bike, etc. operating on the road should be wearing earphones. If you are on a sidewalk or multi-use path, sure an errant drunk driver or psychopath can come careening onto it and kill you, but it's far less likely because there is usually some physical separation (curb, barrier, actual distance, etc.). On the road, a faint, painted line is far less comforting.
The dangers of isolating one of your key senses is not what you can see from in front, but what you cannot see constantly from behind or the side. Depending solely on sight is even worse at night: night vision drops off dramatically, but you can still hear in the dark. I'm not exactly a "risk free" kind of guy, but I don't believe in taking unwarranted risks.
The following abstract is from:Even though one ear bud suggests that there is "no effect", I say that you're literally decreasing your own chances of cycling and staying alive. And the main point is that loud, auditory stop signals were missed in 68% of the cases with any nominal use case of earphones. So, maybe the one time you miss a signal is the one that you could avoided being hit by a screaming mass of metal.
The dangers of isolating one of your key senses is not what you can see from in front, but what you cannot see constantly from behind or the side. Depending solely on sight is even worse at night: night vision drops off dramatically, but you can still hear in the dark. I'm not exactly a "risk free" kind of guy, but I don't believe in taking unwarranted risks.
The following abstract is from:
Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
Volume 14, Issue 6, November 2011, Pages 626–637
The effects of listening to music on cycling behaviour were evaluated. Twenty-five participants completed a track on a bicycle while listening to music with two standard earbuds, with one earbud, and with two in-earbuds. Conditions with high tempo music and loud volume were also included in the experiment, as were two mobile phone conditions, one in which participants operated the phone hand held and one handsfree condition.
Cycle speed was not affected by listening to music, but was reduced in the telephone conditions. In general the response to auditory signals worsened when participants listened to music, in particular when listening with in-earbuds loud auditory stop signals were missed in 68% of the cases. However, when listening with only one standard earbud performance was not affected. In the conditions when participants listened to high volume and to high tempo music, the auditory stop signal was also heard in significantly fewer cases. Completing a task on the mobile phone, using both handheld and handsfree sets, resulted in increased response time to an auditory stop signal and also reduced overall auditory perception. Furthermore, handsfree operation only had minor advantages opposed to hand held operation, with only response time to an auditory stop signal resulting in faster performance. This is likely to be related to the fact that both hands could be used for braking.
It is concluded that listening to music worsens auditory perception, in particular if in-earbuds are used. Furthermore, both handheld and handsfree operation of mobile phones has a negative effect on perception, potentially forming a threat to cyclist traffic safety.
Volume 14, Issue 6, November 2011, Pages 626–637
The effects of listening to music on cycling behaviour were evaluated. Twenty-five participants completed a track on a bicycle while listening to music with two standard earbuds, with one earbud, and with two in-earbuds. Conditions with high tempo music and loud volume were also included in the experiment, as were two mobile phone conditions, one in which participants operated the phone hand held and one handsfree condition.
Cycle speed was not affected by listening to music, but was reduced in the telephone conditions. In general the response to auditory signals worsened when participants listened to music, in particular when listening with in-earbuds loud auditory stop signals were missed in 68% of the cases. However, when listening with only one standard earbud performance was not affected. In the conditions when participants listened to high volume and to high tempo music, the auditory stop signal was also heard in significantly fewer cases. Completing a task on the mobile phone, using both handheld and handsfree sets, resulted in increased response time to an auditory stop signal and also reduced overall auditory perception. Furthermore, handsfree operation only had minor advantages opposed to hand held operation, with only response time to an auditory stop signal resulting in faster performance. This is likely to be related to the fact that both hands could be used for braking.
It is concluded that listening to music worsens auditory perception, in particular if in-earbuds are used. Furthermore, both handheld and handsfree operation of mobile phones has a negative effect on perception, potentially forming a threat to cyclist traffic safety.
Now, I can understand you folks that prefer to ride in the middle of the lane pretending you are a car (maybe you can hear the driver cussing you out before he runs you in a ditch for blocking the lane), however I tend to ride as FRAP and assume that there is always a car behind me and that I need to hold my line and ride smooth.
08-14-12 | 05:55 AM
#39
Space for rent
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 278
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From: South East
I prefer to wear earbuds made by skull candy. I loop them through my helment straps to keep them from being yanked out of my ears. Listen to them at a reasonable volume not because I am listening for the car that is about to run me down, but because I need to protect my eardrums.
When I am riding in a group I do not wear them as I do need to listen to the voices around me as we ride.
When I am riding in a group I do not wear them as I do need to listen to the voices around me as we ride.
08-14-12 | 06:06 AM
#41
Still spinnin'.....
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 2
From: Whitestown, IN
Bikes: Fisher Opie freeride/urban assault MTB, Redline Monocog 29er MTB, Serrota T-Max Commuter, Klein Rascal SS, Salsa Campion Road bike, Pake Rum Runner FG/SS Road bike, Cannondale Synapse Road bike, Santana Arriva Road Tandem, and others....
Ratdog, try the Sennheiser CX 200 Street II ear buds. Seriously. They are easily the best $30 earbud you can buy and they certainly oerfom as good as many $100-$200 sets.
08-14-12 | 06:23 AM
#42
dazed and confused
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Ireland
Bikes: 2011 Cube Hyde Team Alfine 8 IGH, 2007 Giant Rock hardtail mtb
I've had good luck with Klipsh Image S4s. Great canalphones which both stay put and block out noise. They aren't earplugs tho, I still hear wind and traffic but in fairness don't crank the volume that high.
Tip: if riding with your pod in your pocket be sure to get a half dozen of these short headphone extension cables. As your riding you are bending the cable back and forth and you don't want to wreck your expensive earphones. Using these, the cheap extension cable takes the punishment.
Tip: if riding with your pod in your pocket be sure to get a half dozen of these short headphone extension cables. As your riding you are bending the cable back and forth and you don't want to wreck your expensive earphones. Using these, the cheap extension cable takes the punishment.
08-14-12 | 06:26 AM
#43
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
most nice urban headphones only have 4-6" of cable attached to the unit directly and usually come with a prepackaged color-matching extension.
08-14-12 | 06:39 AM
#44
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 74
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This is probably not what the OP is looking for since the aim was to block out truck noises, but here's a product with speakers designed for mounting in bike helmets: https://www.o-tus.com/
08-14-12 | 07:58 AM
#45
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 229
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From: North Attleboro, MA
Bikes: 2011 Steamroller; 1998 Cannondale F-400; 1981 Motobecane Jubilee Sport
Aren't these always fun?
I have used one headphone before and didn't feel measurably less safe (but then I wouldn't know what I was missing, would I?). In the end, the dangling unused earbud caught on things and I had to react to it enough that I decided that riding with musing wasn't for me, but if I had an earbud with only one wire/bud, I might consider trying it again.
I have used one headphone before and didn't feel measurably less safe (but then I wouldn't know what I was missing, would I?). In the end, the dangling unused earbud caught on things and I had to react to it enough that I decided that riding with musing wasn't for me, but if I had an earbud with only one wire/bud, I might consider trying it again.
I rode in to work with one earbud this morning. I had the volume so low all I could hear was the guitar.
08-14-12 | 08:26 AM
#46
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 875
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From: New York City
Thanks, but not interested.
I'm currently listening to a Head Direct HE-6 via an Audio GD Interface->Audio GD Ref 1->Audio GD Phoenix. For portable listening, I listening to a set of Head Direct RE272's through an iPod and a Ray Samuels SR71A portable amp. I'm pretty happy with my desktop set up & my current portable set up and am not sure I would be happy reverting back to an iPod & Senn CX200 Street II. perhaps the OP may be interested in them though.
Last edited by ratdog; 08-14-12 at 08:37 AM.
don't forget to ride the wrong way while you are at it
08-14-12 | 08:49 AM
#48
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
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From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
I use skullcandy. Not too expensive, good sound quality but I only use one ear so I can still ear exterior noise.
I also think that when car audio will be banned and every car as an outside microphone to ear everything I will then agree with a law forbidding headphone on a bike.
I also think that when car audio will be banned and every car as an outside microphone to ear everything I will then agree with a law forbidding headphone on a bike.
08-14-12 | 08:59 AM
#49
The space coyote lied.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 48,792
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From: dusk 'til dawn.
Bikes: everywhere
I use the cheap-o Skullcandy NIB. I try not to pay more than $8 for them. Once they were on sale for $5.
I only wish the cables were a little beefier. I wreck my cable at the plug end often.
I only wish the cables were a little beefier. I wreck my cable at the plug end often.
08-14-12 | 09:27 AM
#50
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From: Nashville TN
Bikes: Trek 7.3FX, Diamondback Edgewood hybrid, KHS Montana
I'm not comfortable with earbuds. One, I'm concerned about the limiting of my awareness of my surroundings. Secondly, even when riding through my neighborhood with the iPod, I kept fussing with the earbuds. They fall out, the wires get caught on any/every twig or branch i brush by. It was more trouble than it's worth.
[product needed]
handle bar mount capable speaker that allows for an iPod connection.
[product needed/]
I've been pondering on this for a while, even thinking of customizing existing products for this application.
[product needed]
handle bar mount capable speaker that allows for an iPod connection.
[product needed/]
I've been pondering on this for a while, even thinking of customizing existing products for this application.