Markok765

I use a 2nd get ipod shuffle for biking!

Grun

seems dangerous like

especially in traffic you know

Markok765

Yeah, I go mostly on trails.

BearsPaw

This still might be a bad idea. My daily commute here in Philly takes me through the MUP on Kelly Drive. Sometimes people with iPods can't hear others approaching them, which can create a dangerous situation. Maybe the trails you go on are not as crowded?

Jarery

I ride in rush hour traffic an hour each way, no trails, no mups. I use earbuds style headphones.

Cant hear someone approaching? I've never been passed by a cyclist in 3 years of commuting daily so I've never held anyone up by not hearing them wanting to pass. Cars and every other motor vehicle I hear just fine. Fellow cyclists i pass and say hello to I hear say hello back just fine.

I listened to the morning radio when i commuted by car, i do the same when i commute by bike. When i do group rides, i leave it at home.

Oh and to the original question, i go up hills a lot faster with a good tune on.

Markok765

Actually, even on the most crowded day, I saw 2 bikers and 2 joggers Its a pretty big trail.

wrafl

I don't listen to my MP3 when I'm riding. I try to keep alert at all times for any hazard while on the saddle and focus more on riding safely. I always bring with me the MP3 but never use it while riding except when I take a break.

Jarery

I find it interesting everyone replying has tried to impose their own set of rules on the original poster, and no one bothered to actually answer his question

BearsPaw

The reason my post did not contain an answer is because I don't ride with an mp3 player, for reasons I mentioned. And I didn't impose any rules, I just suggested that it might not be a good idea.

Here's another suggestion: If they do make you bike harder, that is an even better reason not to use them. Riding quickly while deaf to the outside world is not a great position to be in.

Jarery

Deaf ? Why in the world would one be deaf ? Are your ears only capable of hearing a single sound at a time ?

Zero_Enigma

I don't notie a difference when I ride with (my mp3 player is bricked ) radio on my Skullcandy bag with the speakers on. I don't listen to music. I'm more a news/weather/traffic guy. I can head incoming riders from my six no problem. If I was to use a ear bud setup in traffic I old only recommend using the RIGHT earbud only and at low volume so you can just hear the audio and the left ear hears all the traffic.

Markok765

Possibly the volume is too loud?

wrafl

Imposing? I thought the forum is for sharing common sense info. To each his own with his/her riding style.

VeganRider

I find standard ear buds let in noise from the wind and you can't hear the tune. So for me it's either wear standard ones that only work when I stop or use the type that go deep into the ear canal like Sony makes and hear your music and music only. I use the Sony when I ride and look always and use a eyeglass mirror check it everytime I'm going out of my line or plan to turn. No problem now for years; I ride harder and longer probably because I like music!

Jarery

Exactly. Common sense dictates that playing music in both ears so loud that you are deaf to anything else, is unsafe while riding. But is there only two options? No sound at all, or 100% volume in both ears such that no other sounds can be heard.

I wear one earbud, listen to the radio, and can hear every vehicle that approaches me, and can carry on a conversation with other cyclists i meet. Its called moderation, you know like everything else in life, extremes usually are bad, moderation is good.

Jarery

Ok so maybe imposing was too strong a word. It doesn't change the fact that the OP never asked if it was safe or not, or if he should or not, he asked if people tend to ride faster to music. He has already chosen his/her riding style.

Don't worry, I understand that most threads go multiple directions, it was just an interesting observation of the safety nannies.

Carusoswi

I sometimes ride on Kelley Drive, and, often, I do so wearing my Ipod . . . but, I can hear traffic approaching from a half mile back. The issue isn't the use or non-use of an MP3 player. It's a question of whether or not you use open air headphones and whether you turn the volume loud enough to hear the music over any and all outside noise, or if, like me, you sacrifice hearing the music all together whenever there is wind noise in favor of being able to clearly hear traffic approaching from the rear.

When I use my Ipod while riding, I find it a welcome companion during long, slow, uphills.

Caruso

Sporkinum

On the trail I use my ancient 20gb mp3 player. Just don't have the volume up so high I can't hear stuff around me. On the road and/or Ragbrai I have an amp with speakers called a BikeTunes that I bungie to the rear rack. I zip tied the neoprene pouch my mp3 player came with to the BikeTunes. The mp3 player gets about 15 to 20 hours on a full charge, and the amp will go about 10 hours or so with a fresh set of 8 alkaline c cells.

The answer to the original question is yes, depending on the song, I sometimes end up riding harder than I should.
These are a couple of pics of the uber-unit put together by a couple of guys in our group. A BoB trailer with a cooler converted into a 100watt car-amp/speaker setup. It rocks the tunes for a good 3-4 hours of riding each day.

G-Whacker

I see two coolers in that second pic. Tunes AND Beer!?

I find music affects cadence more than effort, but it can be used for inspiration when needed.

chephy

I don't necessarily ride harder when listening to music, but it does make it easier to ride harder if I want to.

In fact, if I'm going uphill and don't have my mp3 player with me I go through songs in my head to help me climb.

chephy

Actually this sort of behaviour can be observed in any thread remotely connected with safety (or rather what the nannies perceive as crucial to safety). The nannies jump on the thread and derail it turning it into another pointless tunes vs. no tunes or helmet vs. no helmet war. Poor dead horse... all that flogging...

bdcheung

Music helps me focus and, as a result, increases my motivation and performance.

Sporkinum

Actually, you are correct! The beer cooler starts out really heavy, but gets lighter the further down the road you get. By the last 10 miles or so, it's the lighter of the 2 trailers.

tt1106

I ride in the morning, so traffic is not a factor. I've got a Sansa loaded with a couple of different playlists.
For hammering hills, Black label society, static-x and NIN. I think there is a reason most aerobic instructors look for a beat of aournd 130-140 bpm.
I have two mirrors and I only turn it up loud enough to hear, unless I'm on rollers....then watch out!

cLin

I wonder why


I've always wanted to listen to my mp3s when i ride my bike but it seems so dangerous compared to when I listen while running. Especially since I usually ride in urban areas or just areas with traffic.