Headphones whilst Cycling?

[BentMikey]

So no real reasons why cars and motorcyclists don't need to hear then? I thought so. Same goes for cyclists - looking is what counts. That's why National Standards/BikeAbility teaches looking, and ignores hearing.

And it was you who mentioned needing to see and hear what comes up from behind. What you missed is that it's not just from behind that danger approaches, as 5 minutes riding in any urban area makes obvious.

All the pro-hearing and anti-music people are almost certainly hypocritical in this debate. I'll bet that none of you drive with the windows down and never use the stereo.

 

[tdr1nka]

You can count me out as I don't drive or wear headphones as a ped.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I don't tend to have music on while driving, except maybe on long motorway journeys. But I certainly turn it off if I'm trying to navigate through a town centre or anywhere else unfamiliar. I can't imagine cycling while wearing headphones, partly because I like to hear what's coming but mostly because I hate the idea of listening to music just as background noise. I prefer to actually listen to it properly.

 

[totallyfixed]

I suspect BM does not do a lot of out in the sticks cycling because out here you need ears as well as eyes. I'll give you a simple example [emphasis on simple] that happens every Sunday on a club ride.
A group of us, maybe up to 16 or so are riding in pairs on a country lane with bends and hedgerows [with it so far?], a car is approaching from the front [or behind for that matter], and we can tell from the sound of the engine it is approaching fast but he can't see us and we can't see him [stiill following?]. We all take avoiding action by singling out and are now also aware because we heard a problem approaching well before we could have seen it.
The driver would not have been any more aware of us cyclists whether he/she was playing loud music or not. The opposite is true for us, if we had all been wearing headphones [not that anyone would as it's bloody antisocial] potential danger would have approached undetected.
Now then that wasn't too difficult was it?

 

[totallyfixed]

Doh! just noticed the other thread on same subject. Title must have thrown me

 

[Old timer]

I suspect BM does not do a lot of out in the sticks cycling because out here you need ears as well as eyes. I'll give you a simple example [emphasis on simple] that happens every Sunday on a club ride.
A group of us, maybe up to 16 or so are riding in pairs on a country lane with bends and hedgerows [with it so far?], a car is approaching from the front [or behind for that matter], and we can tell from the sound of the engine it is approaching fast but he can't see us and we can't see him [stiill following?]. We all take avoiding action by singling out and are now also aware because we heard a problem approaching well before we could have seen it.
The driver would not have been any more aware of us cyclists whether he/she was playing loud music or not. The opposite is true for us, if we had all been wearing headphones [not that anyone would as it's bloody antisocial] potential danger would have approached undetected.
Now then that wasn't too difficult was it?

If I can just butt in, I have just purchased a rear view mirror becasue there are times when tyre noise and/or wind in trees can sometimes sound like a car approaching and my neck ain`t as young as it once was for keeping on turning around.
IMHO you do need ears all the time when on the road. For instance, when pulling out of our drive(in a country lane with hedges either side) I`m always telling my wife to drop both windows so that you have another sense (hearing) before the nose of the car gets out far enough for your eyes to take over. I always drop at least the drivers window in my car at or near any sort of junction or obstruction and turn down the radio if it`s on.

 

[BentMikey]

LOL at totallyfixed - I do live in Biggin Hill you know. Plenty of country lanes here, and I often take some on a couple of my commute routes. You must have exceptional hearing to hear cars approaching on a club run, that or ride very slowly.

 

[chris__P]

Not two facts, but two opinions and poor ones at that.

Upon hearing traffic around you do you ride any differently than when you don't hear any traffic? Would you cross the road by only listening to see if it's clear?

How can you say that "Being able to hear what is around you makes cycling safer" is a poor opinion?

I'm not saying that it isn't more important to look, but being able to hear as well, obviously, is an advantage, regardles sof if its a small one.

 

[habibi]

I've been commuting 15 miles each way for a long time, on a mix of rural B roads / dual carriageway and common urban. I have a pair of Shure se530s jacked into a Cowon IAudio7. Great bass response, ideal for Detroit techno and Jamaican seventies rockers.

I've thought about it over the years, and I'm quite sure that it makes me a better cyclist overall, in that I look behind literally hundreds of times each commute. Almost continually. The only time I ditch the cans is in extreme weather conditions such as freezing fog.

I wouldn't recommend headphones to anyone else, but as an experienced cyclist, it works fine for me.

 

[shunter]

Is it possible that a distinction can be made between having music as a background noise - much like the rush of wind inside a motorcycle helmet - or instead actively listening to music ie. following the lyrics, guitar solo, listening to radio jocks discussion etc.

Actively listening to something may be more hazardous as it could be a distraction to using your other more important senses for cycle.

Of course I could be entirely wrong

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Is it possible that a distinction can be made between having music as a background noise - much like the rush of wind inside a motorcycle helmet - or instead actively listening to music ie. following the lyrics, guitar solo, listening to radio jocks discussion etc.

Actively listening to something may be more hazardous as it could be a distraction to using your other more important senses for cycle.

Of course I could be entirely wrong

That's why I don't do it. I like music too much to simply reduce it to background muzak. Besides, I find cycling interesting enough in its own right.

 

[botchjob]

I suspect that the people who shout loudest that it's no problem wearing headphones while cycling are the same ones who shout loudly that there's no point in wearing helmets. See also 'stopping at red lights' and 'using lights after dark'.

Each to their own. Darwinism will prevail.

 

[dustystreet]

I suspect that the people who shout loudest that it's no problem wearing headphones while cycling are the same ones who shout loudly that there's no point in wearing helmets. See also 'stopping at red lights' and 'using lights after dark'.

i always wear a helmet without fail. i also listen to music on my weekend long rides. i stop at red lights and use lights in the dark.

so....your suspicions aren't entirely accurate.

 

[Bman]

I suspect that the people who shout loudest that it's no problem wearing headphones while cycling are the same ones who shout loudly that there's no point in wearing helmets. See also 'stopping at red lights' and 'using lights after dark'.

Each to their own. Darwinism will prevail.

Not true. I dont wear a helmet or listen to music while riding.

 

[BentMikey]

I suspect that the people who shout loudest that it's no problem wearing headphones while cycling are the same ones who shout loudly that there's no point in wearing helmets. See also 'stopping at red lights' and 'using lights after dark'.

Each to their own. Darwinism will prevail.

Ignorance and attitude together = very amusing!!!