Ross520

I will typically drift out a bit into the traffic lane, gauge the drivers attentiveness, and then move as far right as possible. It's also good to know if a car is approaching in-case I have to avoid shoulder debris, so I don't end up swerving into said vehicle.

Also, nobody has a decibel meter in their head, and your sensitivity to sound changes depending on how loud your environment is. As someone with hearing damage and loud tinnitus, I know this all to well.

And I thought that might be a joke, I need to loosen up a bit. Weird times.

texaspandj

I'm already as far right as possible, for courtesy, in case a cyclist needs to pass.

When I drive I use the same basic principles as when I ride and despite being in a "metal cage" I still try not to be cavalier in my way of driving.

I listen to earbud music while riding my bike and still able to gear horns and sirens too.

I'm not trying to convince anyone my way should be their way. And I can understand the reason some feel riding with earbuds will make them feel less safe. I think most who don't ride with earbuds have tried it. You can't hear anything and it can be overwhelming. You are double careful when crossing a street, you look left then right then left again then right again then while crossing left again. You feel like you have to be extra vigilant because one of your senses is gone. Well that would be a good argument as to why I believe riding with earbuds may actually make you more attentive and a safer cyclist.
We're not idiots because we wear earbuds, just music lovers or podcast listeners or different language learners and would rather hear listen to that than hear Wind Noise. Just as those who don't wear earbuds are NOT frightened, or scared to wear them.

Oso Polar

Yeah, until you'll notice some obstacle and suddenly swerve left. But of course there will be never ever another bike or motor vehicle right behind you at this moment that will hit you. And then, possibly, go to hospital or jail because of you. Because you are so special!

Riding with both ears closed puts not only rider in danger but others as well. IMHO it should be strictly illegal and I'll not be surprised if it already is (e.g. driving with headphones is illegal in many places). If you want to listen to the music, answer phone calls etc. then just use something like Aftershokz Aeropex.

I beg to differ.

texaspandj

My apologies, I meant to post Not scared on my previous post. I've corrected it. I couldn't understand where your emotion was coming from. No need to get personal.
I post by a simple rule, I don't post anything I wouldn't say to you in your face. I think that's a good rule to go by.

Oso Polar

It is coming from first hand experience with cyclists who ride with in-ear headphones: How to ride on Multi-use paths (a rant)

Racing Dan

Cars are inherently and purposefully noise dampened. You need to open the door to have a conversation. Should they be illegal too? Its a weird double standard, imo.

Oso Polar

To start, cars on a road typically move at speeds close to each other - unlike bikes and cars at the same road. Then modern cars typically have way, way more and better accident prevention systems than a bike: several mirrors (usually 3), blind spot detection and rear cross-traffic alerts, rear/side cameras, automatic emergency braking etc. Cars have way better alerting systems as well - big bright lights and loud horns (which are very audible inside other noise dampened cars - unless, of course, driver wears headphones - which is illegal in many places). In case if an accident does happen cars are equipped with way better safety equipment: seat belts, air bags - not to mention passengers are protected by car body itself - which means that severity of injuries and probability of death in a car to car collision is typically way lower (compared to car hitting bike at the same speed). And then, after all, at typical car speeds wind and road noise without dampening will be actually so high, that you'll not be able to hear anything anyway - in fact you'll hear less "useful" noise compared to "silenced" car.

The Big Wheel

I tried the cat ears and they don't work very well if you wear glasses. I also tried noise cancelling ear buds and they work a bit but there is still a loud whooshing sound.

I think I might try just regular ear plugs. What are some quiet helmets that don't cost a lot of money? I need name brand/model number. I know the way a helmet is built can make wind noise worse or better.

Racing Dan

Testing helmets for wind noise should be standard, but often its not even mentioned. From my experience the only thing that helps without blocking the hearing is covering the ears with a thin skullcap. This reduces wind noise and lets your hear much better than without. Im sure that knowledge can be adapted to not winter riding.

MattTheHat 

So, if a driver hits me and I’m wearing headphones, it’s MY fault? What if a rider is hearing impaired or completely without hearing? I suppose they shouldn’t be allowed to ride? It’s a driver’s legal requirement to pass safely. If they fail to do that, it would be THEIR fault, not mine. I will admit the result for me would be the same but I’m not going to lose any sleep worrying about the affect the accident had on the driver!

Swerve left? No, you swerve right (unless you’re in the U.K.)! Cars and faster cyclist should always pass on the left. I take the lane as I’m allowed to by law in my state. If something is in the road, I swerve to the right.

If I were to somehow know a car approaching from behind was going to hit me, I would without question make an attempt to jump the curb to avoid it. Here’s the question: HOW DO YOU MAGICALLY KNOW AN APPROACHING CAR IS GOING TO HIT YOU? Simply put, you don’t. And even if you did, it’s possible because of the speed differential, that you could not react quickly enough. So, am I supposed to swerve to the curb every time a car passes? That doesn’t make sense.

Riding a bicycle on the road is a matter of trust. I’m trusting that drivers don’t want to hit me. If I thought otherwise, I wouldn’t ride on the road. And I certainly wouldn’t think that riding without headphones or ear buds would make any difference whatsoever.

I don’t *recommend* folks ride with headsets. I figure others can determine for themselves what they should or should not do. If you’re going to insult people for wearing headsets, could you at least please provide some logical reasoning?