+1 I do this on occasion.

to those questioning why I made this post...i just wanted to see what others do. Whether or not they rode with earphones, and if so, safety measures they took.

i'll make sure to purchase some cheap, non-noise cancelling buds.

:popcorn

I'm with those who believe in maximizing their sensitivity to their environment. Cager's drive in their own little world; consequently, it calls for heightened vigilance.:(

Wheeee!!
Some rippin' background music make me push the limit!
Not too loud and I use the buds that have the ear hooks so they don't go in and I can hear fine...

I will admit.. on the trainer I'll put the ipod on and get results like I wish I could on the road cause of listening to metal...

A musician, I have tunes in my head, and an added benefit, whistling,
them is better than a ringing bell.

unless they have their earplugs in..

25 years ago, on a coast bike tour, so, 4 pannier bearing bike,

Gidget, oblivious, in a bikini, on rollerblades,tunes cranked up ..

taking the width of the LA HB MUP

with just dry sand on either side, so very.. wanted to 'introduce my self'
by placing my front wheel .. :innocent:

+1
When riding your bike, safety is most important.
It's better to first reach your destination and listen to music afterwards, than to listen to music while riding and have an accident.
What to you think is more important: music or your life? It's your choice, but I wouldn't keep my head in the clouds at the wrong time...

Single earbud, non-noise canceling, on the right (non-traffic) side. With this setup I can still hear traffic better than when I'm in my car with the windows rolled up. I have a mirror to keep track of traffic behind me, I can hear every car that overtakes me, and l get some tunes when I'm sitting at a stoplight waiting for a light change. No heavy metal, though; that stuff makes me ride like a maniac.

If a little bit of music distracts enough of your attention from operating a vehicle to make said operation unsafe, then I sincerely hope that you don't have a radio in your car.

If when riding your bike safety is the most important thing, we should all stick to our front yards and keep it under 5mph. Enjoying your ride within acceptable personal and legal standards should be the most important thing.

Music is not nearly as important as my life, but that does make them mutually exclusive or provide a analogous relationship that my life will be directly threatened by introducing music to it. Statistically we are more likely to die in the home anyway, so even with headphones in the bike could be viewed as relatively safe. Its a risk assessment exercise. it does increase risk, but an individual can mitigate that risk to an acceptable level within their own standards.

This thread makes me feel like I died and went to A&S.

That is really good advice though

AKA the 9th circle of hell.

I used to ride with headphones sometimes. Now I consider it dangerous. I may try to rig a small speaker of some sort though. I loved having music while I biked.

Wait a sec...I always pegged that area as the 7th circle. :D

I wouldn't but I'm sure some of my deaf friends ride a bike and drive a car. You are going to have to do what you got to do. I like the mini speaker suggestion. I use to play songs from my cellphone on speaker while riding. Although it was low, I felt comfortable with it being it that volume. On the other hand, someone that would hear you coming down the road with music would be more incline to see you vs. nothing. Good luck.

I wear iphone earbuds and listen to music for every ride I take. I commute so I ride everyday with them. I am still able to hear everything around me.

I wear them on a multi-use path. I don't wear them on mountain bike trails or while riding in traffic.

I sometimes wear them when on low/no traffic roads, or fire or logging roads or while trail riding. I have tried to wear them when riding on roads where cars do go and I always wind up distracted and drifting to the middle of the road just as a car is approaching from behind.

THere are definitely risks involved in wearing headphones in traffic. You have to make up your own mind.

I used to listen when riding on trails & MUPs when I was in college. When I started spending time on the road I'd do as mentioned above, and have my right earbud in. Now that I'm commuting I don't want any distractions, and don't listen to anything.

I purchaced one good ear bud - gives you both channels in one ear - best of both worlds !

Put me in the "no" category. A bud in just one ear is better than one in both ears, but I still think it's a bad idea. Headphones are a disaster waiting to happen.

As for whether A&S is the 7th or 9th rung of hell: You say toe-May-toe, I say toe-MAH-toe.

Ipod? No. Android phone, yes :)

Holy cow, I didn't know that this was a thing! Thanks!

I always find it amusing how people are so concerned about hearing when they are on a bike, but not when they are in a motor vehicle. I guess when people are not protected by a steel cage they tend to be paranoid.

Yea.

Ride like you're deaf. Deaf people ride bikes, too.