Headphones anyone?

[Wheeledweenie]

It is one of these 'issues' like mudguards, helmets, triple chainsets or hi vis. Do whatever floats your boat. If you don't like them - fine, but please do not get religious about it and try to convert the perceived heathen.

Totally agree. I wore headphones for a year before stopping recently. If I'm brutally honest it wasn't because I couldn't hear motorised traffic, it was because I couldn't hear cyclists and after one nearly took me off because he overtook too close at the precise moment I had to swerve round a pothole I decided to forego them.

I miss them a bit sometimes. I have 'musician's ear' (audiologist's name for it as there's not one yet). My brain is programmed to hear everything at once and I get migraines in the form of ringing in my ears if my brain is overloaded with sound. It often happens when I'm cycling in heavy traffic. The music gives my brain a clear noise to focus on and I don't get the migraine.

It's a personal choice and if my migraines were more frequent I'd probably have to wear them.

 

[Jonathan M]

On a personal note, I don't use headphones when riding. I find peds plugged into an i-pod irritating enough when they cross the road in front of me as their cursory glance has failed to clock me and their hearing is occupied so they don't hear the rush of my slipstream as I bear down on them.


With respect the discussion, there have been court cases where a lack of helmet on the cyclist has been raised by the driver charged with a traffic offence as a way of reducing the "blame" on the motorist.

Surely a cyclist with headphones could be deemed to have been a contributing factor when hit by a motorist?

 

[colinr]

Surely a cyclist with headphones could be deemed to have been a contributing factor when hit by a motorist?

What about those stealthy hybrid SUVs? I've not met one when cycling but I watched one park the other day, it was as good as silent. Not sure what speed they switch to petrol mode though. Headphones aren't going to make much difference there, looking behind frequently is the answer

 

[MrGrumpy]

can`t hear nothing with headphones out anyway :/ Wind noise etc blocks everything out on my route, with headphones in there really is very little differance ?? Now if I was cycling in town centres etc it may be a differant story but my route in and out is very quiet normally anyway.

 

[Jonathan M]

What about those stealthy hybrid SUVs? I've not met one when cycling but I watched one park the other day, it was as good as silent. Not sure what speed they switch to petrol mode though. Headphones aren't going to make much difference there, looking behind frequently is the answer

Agree, I'm only raising the headphones point for discussion because we know the helmet issue has already come up in court.

 

[garrilla]

I only wear headphones when I have my pin-hole glasses on

 

[nigelnorris]

I personally won't choose to 'blank' him because he chose a whimsical posting style.
So don't worry if he posts asking for help, you don't decide who is and who is not supported around here.

There was a time when I was a lazy cyclist, and it was nigh on impossible to adjust the squeaks out of my 5000+ mile Halfords Apollo Hybrid. So I choose to make a joke out of it, ain't no thing.

I think maybe jimbo's a little bit short on humour today.

 

[J4CKO]

Not for me, even when in a car when pulling out I wind the windows down, we have five senses, two of them are very useful for cycling, the others less so, so I just think I am not that bothered about a particular piece of music enough to not hear bin wagons, Saxo's with fart cans, big off roaders etc etc. I am sure some can do it and comepensate well, am sure some cant ride properly without headphones, in fact for some it may actually help by tuning out excess information but for me, no.

 

[zacklaws]

There can be no argument about it, that wearing headphones reduces one of your most important sences, hearing. If you cannot hear what's behind you, you have to make up for it by more constant checking by looking behind, and if you get a slight wobble on in doing so, that vehicle behind you that you did not know was there so close could end up clipping you. In effect your situational awareness is seriously downgraded.

Oddly enough coming home from work last night, I came up behind a cyclist riding on the cycle path who was veering from side to side, eventually I got to his off side to pass but he kept ignoring my bell and warning call, so slowly I started to creep up past him when all of a sudden he veered right into me as I anticipated he would, nearly knocking me into the road. At the same time he got a shock as he saw me, his face was a picture, swerved back to the left and I saw why he could not hear me, earphones stuck in his lugs.

 

[dodgy]

I assume all those that see headphones as a bad thing while riding also have mirrors on their bikes? After all, you wouldn't want to deprive yourself of a useful visual aid while cycling?
I have used headphones in the past, but now don't anymore, not because of any perceived safety issues but because of sweat and also that I get bored listening to the same tunes all the time.

 

[wyno70]

I don't but not really from any safety issue, I just like to hear whats going on around me and listen to the countryside!!

 

[BentMikey]

There can be no argument about it, that wearing headphones reduces one of your most important sences, hearing. If you cannot hear what's behind you, you have to make up for it by more constant checking by looking behind, and if you get a slight wobble on in doing so, that vehicle behind you that you did not know was there so close could end up clipping you. In effect your situational awareness is seriously downgraded.

The headphone issue aside, this paragraph is a clear indication that your Cyclecraft skills need some serious work. Oh, I fully realise that mine need loads of improvement, but this is one example that I would want to sort out immediately as both important and urgent.

You *should* be looking behind yourself often, you should be able to do this quickly and easily without a wobble. Secondly, if cars are always coming so close and surprising you, then I think your positioning is probably also too far left.

 

[gaz]

If i'm cycling at 20mph without headphones, the only thing i'm going to be hearing behind me is something real fracking loud! i'm going to be able to hear the same thing with headphones on

 

[Perry]

Heaphones/iPod while jogging is a must for me, as for the bike I prefer to ride without as I feel more aware of whats going on around me.

It's just my opinion though.

 

[bryce]

I only use the left earphone and can still hear most noises through that ear so I don't think it's too dangerous. The right ear kind of compensates and listens to things on the left for me.