Listening to music whilst riding?

[hackbike 666]

It's extremely dangerous; you can't hear vehicles approaching from behind. And I tried listening to music once when skiing; I was shocked at how reckless I became.

Do you have cars behind you when skiing then?

 

[Martok]

Where do deaf cyclists fit in to this world view? I ride as I ride, in primary or strong secondary. I look before I indicate and indicate before I manouver. The wearing of headphones changes my behaviour not a bit.

Deaf cyclists, like any deaf person, have other senses heightened to compensate for their disability. I'm sure they make full use of their senses whilst riding. Unlike the iPod wearing cyclists I've encountered, who appear to have had their senses dulled in the musical bubble.

Those who argue against the use of earphones might be also want to campaign for the compulsory use of rear view mirrors by cyclists.

Actually this is a rather useful mirror for cyclists:

http://www.bike-eye.com/

A useful addition (though not a substitute) for checking and looking over your shoulder.

 

[montage]

I clicked no seeing as I don't actually ride a bike at the moment - and haven't for about 9 or 10 months

 

[palinurus]

The wearing of headphones changes my behaviour not a bit.

It changes mine, I check behind more frequently.

I definitely risk-compensate. I brake earlier when riding a Brompton in the wet for example.

 

[bauldbairn]

MP3 player on my phone, every time I go out on my own.
The only downside in my opinion is the inability to hear the bike

+1,

No change from last time...I still use headphones and have been since 1985.

+1, same amount of time as me - although I prefer earbuds.

No problems whatsoever with hearing cars/vehicles approaching as I'm always aware of what's going on around me all the time wherever I am - whether walking on the pavement, driving my car or riding my bike.

The vast majority of pedestrians who walk out into the road in front of me when I'm cycling/driving aren't wearing headphones just unaware of their surroundings/dangers. -

 

[potsy]

I find I can still hear the traffic anyway,but like palinrus said I compensate by looking round more when wearing ear-phones,also have a mirror so am quite aware of what's behind anyway.
Surprised at how the poll is going though,thought it would be much more 1 sided in favour of against going off previous threads on the subject.

 

[hackbike 666]

The vast majority of pedestrians who walk out into the road in front of me when I'm cycling/driving aren't wearing headphones just unaware of their surroundings/dangers. -

I try to compensate for that....

I've seen cyclists recently who don't even bother looking and find that scary.

 

[bauldbairn]

I find I can still hear the traffic anyway,but like palinrus said I compensate by looking round more when wearing ear-phones,also have a mirror so am quite aware of what's behind anyway.

I find the new "in ear" buds allow more surrounding noise in than previous(older) designs - including the dreaded/deafening wind rush. I just don't have any problems hearing vehicles or being aware of them, that's all.
I've got a helmet mounted rear-view mirror now too. -

I try to compensate for that....

I've seen cyclists recently who don't even bother looking and find that scary.

I always expect the "peds/cars" to walk-out/pull-out and mentally prepare for it anyway.

I agree, regards other cyclists - there's been an noteable increase in them round my way(good weather/fitness etc). I sit behind them on the road for a while - waiting for looks behind or "life savers" and they just plod along blissfully unaware of their surroundings or traffic(no headphones). I even kept pace with a couple of local "lycra clad" local bike club(Falkirk CC-blue checks) members last week for 8 miles on a country road and they never once looked behind them(no headphones though). -

 

[Over The Hill]

We are plonking ourselves in front of two ton lumps of metal that go along at great speed. We are trusting that they see us and manage to drive around us.
We only have our eyes and ears to tell of any danger. Even if we are looking behind or have a mirror we are still looking ahead 95% of the time at least so we rely on hearing what is behind mostly.
Obviously everyone's journey is different. Perhaps on a cycle track through the park headphones may be safe but out there in the traffic I want every advantage available to me.

Generally in my experience, cyclists on organised rides who wear headphones are going around completely unaware of what is behind them and seem to wander around the road in their own little world and get shocked when you are suddenly passing them.

Peds are similarly shocked when you go past them - this seems to indicate they do not know what is happening around them.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

Would you ever consider listening to music whilst riding

NO WAY,your ears are your rear end guards, keep them free of clutter and likely you will ride another day.Would you ride with eye patches on both eyes?,I don't think so.Happy & Safe Riding to You All.

 

[zimzum42]

I wouldn't ride with music in the countryside, but hammering along the A13 to Barking, it's a must!

 

[Headgardener]

I voted no as at 50 I know that my hearing isn't what it was twenty years ago so I need all the advantages I can get in order to ride safely.

 

[buggi]

it doesn't make any difference at all. i never turn right without looking. and you can hear the traffic anyway, not that hearing it tells me whether it's going to knock me off or not, i would only know that by looking behind, and why would i look behind when i'm going straight ahead?? Just because i hear a car behind me, doesn't tell me whether it's going to hit me or not. don't see why people have got a problem with it. they don't have a problem with loud music when people are driving.

 

[zimzum42]

don't see why people have got a problem with it. they don't have a problem with loud music when people are driving.

I get the more anal on here do. Still, the more anal on here want to get rid of cars altogether and have us never moving more than a few miles from where we were born...

 

[longers]

One ear for me on the odd occasion I do it. It's good on an overnight ride if you're flagging a bit and I have done it a couple of times on the commute if I've got a very bad earworm.