I don't know where you ride, but I ride on country roads with no shoulders, out in the middle of the lane. I have to hear cars so I can pull over and wave them by.

Think Twice
 

I have mixed feelings about listening to music while riding. I do it, but I hesitate to condone it for anyone else.

First of all, the argument against is that you can't hear approaching vehicles, which might be hazardous. Maybe that's true, but even when I didn't listen to music, I've often been startled by vehicles passing me which I never heard. Furthermore, just because you can hear a vehicle approaching doesn't mean you can determine whether it's about to smash you or pass safely.

To me the more important factor is getting a rearview mirror and learning to use it. I prefer a handlebar mount to a sunglasses mount. I try to glance at it every few seconds to keep an eye on overtaking traffic. To me, that's a lot more definitive way of knowing whether danger is approaching than simplly listening. Sure, if an idiot is going to swerve at the last minute and wipe me out, there's not much I can do about it. But if there's some nimrod coming up from behind who's halfway into my bike lane, I can start planning to bail out. Of course, I often forget to look in my mirror and get startled by passing traffic (especially when they have a dog who barks at me just as they draw even - God, I hate that, as much as I love dogs.)

I never listen to music when I'm riding with anyone, and on long tours I only listen to music about half the time. I also enjoy listening to the world going by, and the bike whirring under me.

I have a little Sony Minidisc player, with Sony ear buds - the kind with the soft silicone plugs in my ear - I can't remember the model number. They were around $40 at BestBuy. They sound really good and the silicone does a good job of keeping out wind noise. You can fit around 4 cd's on a mini disc, but the best part is that you can run it for around 50 hours on one AA battery. That's awesome!

On a long tour I carry two or three little plastic "6-packs" of minidiscs. That's enough music that I don't have to listen to anything twice for several days, at the rate I listen.

Speaking of helmets - my feeling is, who cares if it's labeled a mountaing bike helmet or a road helmet, as long as it's comfortable, light, ventilated, and protective? I ride 99% on the road, and I use a Giro Xen (mountain), because the back section goes down a little further on my large melon than the road helmets I've had. The visor doesn't bother me so I haven't removed it. Sometimes I like how it shades my eyes from the sun, but sometimes I feel like I have to lift my head a little to see potential hazards in the distance. It's a wash I guess.

I ride in a city, with an hour commute thru heavy rush hour traffic each way. From the time I leave my house, till the time I pull into work, I have 1, 2 or 3 lanes of solid traffic going past me at speeds from stopped to 70 kph. I ride on the ride, not the sidewalk or mup.

I hear cars comming from behind me non stop. What is removing my mp3 player and hearing them at 300 ft back instead of 250 feet back going to do ? I already ride a straight line along the right hand side, taking the lane when needed due to safety. A car that is goign to go past me at 2 ft clearance sounds the exact samn as one that will hit me. I cant pull over, look over my shoulder, or do anything different when I hear a car coming, or I wouldnt make it 2 blocks in an hour.

If your lack of spatial awareness and bike handling skills are so poor you cant handle music in addition to the bike/traffic/wind sounds, then you shouldnt be on a road to begin with. Get some training wheels, and ride the mips at a leasurely pace. Me, im gonna plug in my ipod and ride in traffic.

FutureSex/LoveSounds the new justin album. haha

What gets me about this debate is the condescending attitude of many of the non-music crowd. If you don't want to listen to music, don't. Why do you feel the need to berate those of who do? Frankly, it's none of your business. Riding is supposed to be fun and enjoyable. We're not cheating death everytime we clip in. If you are that uncomfortable riding in traffic go find a bike path.

As far as hearing cars approaching, at 20mph the wind noise in my ears masks cars approaching from behind almost as much as wearing earbuds.

To the OP, give it a try. You may or may not like it. Just because some Dudly Doright isn't comfortable riding listening to tunes doesn't mean it won't work for you. I listen to music if I'm riding solo and I don't when I'm riding with my buddies because I'd rather converse with them. Try it for yourself and make up your own mind. My guess is that as your riding skills improve you'll feel more confident riding with music.

Actually the "condescending attitude" comes from both sides. Just look a few post up. And there have been plenty others that are similar in other threads.

Actually it is my business when someone else listens to music where I ride. Your rights stop (at least in the US) when you start affecting the rights of others. If you can't hear me because of music, when I warn to pass and you cause a problem during the pass then you have stepped over the line. This is not to say that people not listening to music are never oblivious. As long as someone does not create a problem for me then I really don't care what they do.

Wrong. If you're passing somebody it's 100% your responsibility to make sure you don't hit them or cause them a problem. You don't have a 'right' to pass, but you may do so if you can do it safely. Just because you verbally warn me doesn't absolve you of the responsibility to execute the pass without intefering with me. You have the cart before the horse.

Not quite correct. I have absolutely no problem with people who dont want to listen to music. I do have a problem with people who make claims that it is wrong for others to listen to it. If you cant undertsand the difference.......

Music would make it harder for me to hear the buses and taxis that are attempting to kill me.