ThisJauntyGent

I want a gadget that attaches to my bike and plays music (i.e. not headphones). Something like a set of battery-powered speakers.

I've seen some products around (iHome makes a version), but they all seem kinda chintzy. Does anyone have any personal experience with this kind of thing?

coquearaujo

I'll give you an idea:

Don't use anything that makes others listen to your music.




And i'll also give you some insigh: some people doesn't like the same music you do and some people enjoy silence.

My $0.02.

Coque.

ThisJauntyGent

I appreciate your response, but it looks like you're confused.

How many people are going to be listening to the music coming from my dinky bike speakers while they're driving? It's not like I'm rolling through a movie theater with a ghetto-blaster. Do you also have a problem with people who listen to music with their windows down?

Mr. Cranky

This isn't quite what you're talking about, but at an event last year there was a guy who had a pair of speakers in his jersey pockets and he was blasting some tunes for everybody around to hear. I liked the songs at first and deliberately stayed right behind him for several miles. Then the music changed to something less to my liking and I moved on past him. I thanked him for the tunes as I went by.

RhythmRider

I have this...from CycleSound...works great, and plenty loud (if you want)

twobadfish

barturtle

I use an mp3 player with a built in speaker (an older model Creative Zen Stone Plus with Speaker) it's loud enough to enjoy the music, but not loud enough to overcome heavy city traffic. Can be annoying to fellow riders during club rides. Currently the sell the Zen Mozaic which has a built in speaker. Sadly there just aren't many choices with this feature.

If you already have an mp3 player that you like, but it doesn't have a speaker you can get The Audio Bike

coquearaujo

Yes, i hate people who listen to music with their windows down and with enough volume that makes me hear it. I think it is of poor taste making others to listen to your music. It's annoying to me. I like listening to music. I'd love to be able to listening to music while riding my bike, but i wont do it if i don't find a way that isn't using headphones or making others to listen to my music.

I mean, i don't feel like i have the right to make you hear my music while you're walking or cycling.


Obviously, it's just my opinion.
Coque.

sleizure

I won't wear headphones while riding, and most of the time when I am riding it is in secluded or highwayish areas, where it doesn't matter. I feel weird when I roll into a small town with my music blasting.

That being said, I'm using the Ihome HM77 speakers on my bike. I'll post pictures in a day or so when I can get some new ones.
They've lasted over a year 17000km across Canada, the wires got a bit ragged, but they sent me a new pair when I gave htem suggestions on new features.

chvid

I use a DC powered amplifier from https://www.veloamp.com/ to drive two 50 watt RMS per channel marine waterproof speakers from Westmarine, mounted in two bamboo kitchen boxes. The amp runs on DC from my hybrid e-trike battery pack (48 volts), but has a wide DC input range for powering it up. I just jack in my mp3 player on the boom of the trike and voila - awesome sound. It doesn't lead to any noticeable reduction in range on the trike. Available from ebikes.ca The marine speakers are waterproof and are 6" in size. They sound excellent.

ScottStr

This is the best setup I've seen. It's a buddy of mine who brings this along for the tunes on our Critical Mass rides.

Whiteknight

I have a Philips GoGear Aria MP3 player. Then a Philips battery powered speaker I picked up at Target. Uses two AA batteries. Made up a bracket for both that goes on the handlebars. When my wife and I ride she is about 3 feet in front of me. We both can hear the music. But the little speaker does not kick out much base so 10 feet away you can barely hear it.

The problem is with loading music into the MP3 player and getting enough signal strength out of it to work in the speaker. Use a music program in the computer to boost the volume of the music stored in the player.

This replaced a cheap Sony AM/FM radio that will go on the same bracket. Now I am waiting for a better AM/FM radio I picked up off Amazon.

We see several bike commuters on the trail that have small radios on their bikes.

jgrosser

I used to use my cell phone speaker to play music, but I was concerned about disturbing other riders, etc. when riding on the Capital Crescent Trail. Now I use an iPod Shuffle. I attach it to the back of my helmet with velcro. It's tiny and easy to operate by feel. I use a single earbud in my right ear so I can still hear road noise.

Parabolous

Well I don't think that you should worry about disturbing anyone else with the music, simply because if they are concerned with your music then they're not concerned with what they're doing at that moment (along the same lines of someone in a car thinking they are more safe causes them to act less safe). I have used an MP3 in my pocket with the right earbud in but I was still out on routes and not the streets. I have seen the combination of an MP3 hooked up to a speaker that is placed in a handlebar bag which works fairly well depending on the speaker.

tarwheel 

Yeah, don't.

sleizure

As promised - my speakers are here:

And here is a closeup of how they are mounted on my bike. I bought two plumbing caps, burned a hole in the PVC with a knife and stuck some hose clamps through it and put it on my Second Handlebar. Drilled some holes in the back to get the wires in and a hole in the bottom to get drain it.

They put out a surprisingly loud amount of sound and last a full day (8-10hr) of riding. Charge quickly too via USB. Carry a spare USB charging battery or find an outlet. They pack up easily, fit in pocket and have magnets on bottom to hold each together.

If you can get over the fact that these ones are in purple, you save $12: IHome HM77 Purple Speakers

digger531

I have been looking for something like this for at least a year. The cycle sound system seems to be the best option currently. I talked with them about a handle bar bag system. The one above is designed to be under the seat so I was concerned about the volume being load enough at 20mph ect but they claim it is plenty load. I just dont like the way it looks on the bars. there is another system that mounts to the handle bars stem area that is blue tooth so no wires at all but if its on the handle bars i thought it would be better suited with an mp3 mount on it. I hope this post stays active because I am certain plenty of people are interested. And as for people concerned about it being to loud and bothering them..UNPUCKER!!

ItsJustMe

https://www.dealextreme.com/p/usb-rec...-red-2gb-35067

slide23

Tunebug Shake surface excitation system.

fietsbob

Whistle, Hum the music to your self, or sing ..

batteries not required, and weighs nothing extra.

AdamDZ

Yes. I keep my music to myself and I wish others would to the same simply because I most likely don't like their music or just want some peace and quiet.

ItsJustMe

https://www.theonion.com/articles/i-h...my-mind,10912/

jskrenes

I have a sirius radio boombox that I strap on to my luggage rack. It's loud as hell with a pair of stereo speakers and a subwoofer, and will no doubt upset those of you who want to ride like you're going through a library. My only problem is that it takes 6 D cell batteries and only lasts about 45 minutes at full volume, which is the only way to run it. So I'm looking for a way to stretch out the battery life.

For the record, I don't always ride with the boombox, but for party rides like RAGBRAI, you've got to go big or go home.

zoste

I found a single ear-bud that combines right and left stereo channels. I'm not missing half the music using only one ear bud, and my left ear is still clear to hear traffic, etc.

That being said, I don't usually have the mp3 player with me on the bike, but the 1-bud is a good option for when I want to have music:

https://www.scansound.com/right-bud-deluxe.htm

Spoll__

There's an app for exactly this called Interrupt. Works on Android phones.