Well I went out for 24miles yesterday and finally tried out my new, had them a few months, Salsa clip MP3 and Seinnheiser earphones. these are the type that hook over your ear and sit on the outside rather than insert into ear canal. I'd like to report that there were good, bad and embarrassing results:-
Good - could still hear traffic, really enjoyed the experience and didn't feel at all cut off from reality, possibly did even more shoulder checks than normal, no bad thing. Some of the tracks seemed to have some interesting accompaniment until I realised it was wind noise.
Bad - I'd bunged on(proper way of saying ripped) all music in the house and haven't organised proper playlists etc yet. There was some pretty dire stuff of which the worst was suddenly listening to a song from an old western musical about Liberty Valance. This was followed by some of my eldests heavy thrash metal, not a good mix.
Embarrassing - bit of Motown came on as I approached some lights and, before I knew it, I was doing a semi track stand(ie rolling very slowly) while jigging on the pedals. Not known for my dancing or rythm I can only apologise to the motorists who had to witness this. A fat bloke in red Spanish national team bib shorts, brown fleece, blue socks and black trainers. I may even having been singing along, badly, at one point as well
So I pronounce cycling with headphones as safe though I may be risking arrest by the fashion, and good taste, police.