Headphones anyone?

[jonny jeez]

I'm seeing an increasing number of riders wearing headphone whilst on the move (either MP3 players or Mobile phones I guess).

I personally cant do this, maybe its the bloke in me that refuses to allow my brain to multi-task...or maybe i just dont like to cut off one of my most valuable senses whilst riding throught London's congested roads.

But, clearly many people (that I've seen) disagree.

Just wondered if you all had any experiences/opinions

 

[ianrauk]

Well, looking down below there a few threads about the same thing already, last one in June.
.
Personally I don't wear them. Tried and just did not like not hearing what's going on around me when I am cycling

 

[gaz]

i cycle through london with them on. very quite so i can hear both the music and the road.
i like to sign when i overtake people

 

[jonny jeez]

i cycle through london with them on. very quite so i can hear both the music and the road.
i like to sign when i overtake people

How do you know if they are deaf?

or did you mean ...sing

 

[jonny jeez]

Well, looking down below there a few threads about the same thing already, last one in June.
.
Personally I don't wear them. Tried and just did not like not hearing what's going on around me when I am cycling

really?...oops...I couldnt see one...actually I still cant see one.

please dont post a link...you gonna post a link aren't you...DONT DO IT!!

 

[gavintc]

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.

 

[nigelnorris]

All the time. My last bike was pretty crap and made loads of scary noises as I was riding along. You know the rule, if there's a red warning light, change the bulb. So I listened to loud music to drown out the squeaks and grinding noises. Now I'm accustomed to having tunes on I get a bit bored without.

I have deep in-earcanal types and occasionally can't hear traffic behind, but in the rush hour I always find it to be good practise to just assume that there's a homicidal maniac in a futuristic death-tractor just behind me and ride accordingly, whether I can hear said maniac or not.

Plus 150+ bpm Techno makes for a great training aid, pedalling to the music gives a nice steady 75 and up cadence.

 

[fossyant]

I never use them - use my ears to hear road traffic approaching, drive chain efficiency (yes I am that bad......(sad)......)...... and the general environment.....

Love the sound of a well 'oiled' machine...... hence why some folk don't notice the groans and stuff...

On the Blackpool Ride the Lights, there were a massive amount of squeaky bikes......

Early on, my daughter shouts "my bike's making noises" - me next to her..."oh..it's definitely not your bike.....".... it wasn't and it won't happen.....

 

[kyuss]

I never use them - use my ears to hear road traffic approaching, drive chain efficiency

I guess that works better in the countryside than it does in the city where there is always road traffic approaching. I don't always wear headphones (very rarely these days to be honest) but on the occasions I do I use my eyes a lot more and, weirdly, feel a bit safer/more aware. Being able to hear screeching tyres isn't going to give you a lot of time to react enough to make a difference and if I'm going to get rear ended by some maniac I'd rather not know about it till it's over.

 

[theboytaylor]

Hmmmm, I don't use them because I fear they would be generally too distracting - maybe not the volume blocking out other noise, but maybe the track that came on, maybe the earphones not sitting right, etc, etc, etc.

But having said that, in my experience of commuting through London traffic, I'm not too sure that you hear much more that would help you than when NOT wearing 'phones. With the almost constant swoosh of traffic going both ways it takes quite a bit to pick out other dangers around you - m'bikes and scooters that might try to squeeze between you and the cars, maybe, because of the different engine note. I think you start to get a "spidey-sense" of when something's likely to happen and adjust your riding accordingly - whether that's because all your sense are available to you, I couldn't say (chicken and egg).

What I can say is I very rarely see a headphone-wearing cyclist look over their shoulder or signal or take any other action showing they are aware of anything around them.

<resumes sitting on fence>

 

[mustapedalafaster]

i love listening to my tunes while cycling. I agree with the above I think I use my vision alot more. I do sometimes cycle with one earphone in if I am not 100% sure about where I am going or new roads etc.

I also did not notice that my bike makes a really really bad noise until I cycled with a friend!!

 

[tordis]

I hardly ever cycle with my iPod, as I tend to focus on the music too much while I should be focusing on the road. When I go on a local ride along the river, I do put my earphones in, though - no traffic makes cycling with music safe enough.

 

[Keith Oates]

I never cycle with earphones and music, I also don't walk around with ear phones on either. I like to listen to music when sitting peacefully in a chair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

 

[jimboalee]

All the time. My last bike was pretty crap and made loads of scary noises as I was riding along. You know the rule, if there's a red warning light, change the bulb. So I listened to loud music to drown out the squeaks and grinding noises. Now I'm accustomed to having tunes on I get a bit bored without.

I have deep in-earcanal types and occasionally can't hear traffic behind, but in the rush hour I always find it to be good practise to just assume that there's a homicidal maniac in a futuristic death-tractor just behind me and ride accordingly, whether I can hear said maniac or not.

Plus 150+ bpm Techno makes for a great training aid, pedalling to the music gives a nice steady 75 and up cadence.

So next time you come on here with a mechanical related querie, don't be surprised if you are blanked.

 

[BentMikey]

Yeah I ride with headphones and music. I have some Nokia bluetooth ones that don't block out external noises so I can easily hear traffic noises around me. Lets face it, I can still hear better than a cager with the windows done up, and all without his/her stereo on.