Tales from today's commute....

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C R

Guru
Location
Worcester
You don't drive a bright yellow 2015-plate Fiat 500 by any chance, do you?

I drive as little as possible nowadays.
 

Alex321

Guru
Location
South Wales


While I normally have the radio (or CD) on when I'm driving alone, I cannot imagine ever wanting to be playing music while cycling. I could if I wanted, I always have my phone with me, and if I kept my hearing aids in I could play through them using bluetooth - I don't usually keep them in for cycling, as they go crackly if I sweat too much.
 

wafter

I like steel bikes and I cannot lie..
Location
Oxford
access to your clandestine sausage dossier.
To confirm we're still talking about breakfast...? :tongue:

Here's a not very cryptic clue:

IMG_20260527_082813.jpg



Summer's over. Cold and wet. (Not actually that cold, but penetrating drizzle all the way in)
Tbh I think we've been spoilt - it does seem like we've had a lifetime of hot, dry weather that we've all forgotten what it's like to suffer in the cold / wet.

I've just looked at some ride photos from February and it seems like a desolate, alien landscape in comparison to the current lush green-ness of everything.

Every year the prospect of having to endure another bleak winter seems to get harder to deal with...


While I normally have the radio (or CD) on when I'm driving alone, I cannot imagine ever wanting to be playing music while cycling. I could if I wanted, I always have my phone with me, and if I kept my hearing aids in I could play through them using bluetooth - I don't usually keep them in for cycling, as they go crackly if I sweat too much.
Sometimes it's nice; sometimes it's not. I haven't for months since my headphones died but I do miss it on occasion.

As music does it can work to "enhance" a situation. One of the biggest rushes I've experienced was thanks to an old skool hardcore drop while going full gas on the gravel bike on deserted Covid roads - causing waves of euphoria to wash over me :becool:
 

Arjimlad

Tights of Cydonia
Location
South Glos
I rode along a quiet country lane with passing spaces and as she rounded a bend in front of me, an oncoming driver seems to be rather fond of being on my side of the road rather than getting over!

It became clear that she was using a handheld mobile phone for a lovely natter.

After about twice the usual reaction time she did get back over to the left, and I got some good footage of the handheld phone to send in. She nearly had me a couple of weeks ago on the same road in the opposite direction, coming round a bend & not keeping left enough, phone in hand again, so I was pleased to be able to send this one in.

And we wonder why country lanes are statistically more hazardous?!
 

C R

Guru
Location
Worcester
While I normally have the radio (or CD) on when I'm driving alone, I cannot imagine ever wanting to be playing music while cycling. I could if I wanted, I always have my phone with me, and if I kept my hearing aids in I could play through them using bluetooth - I don't usually keep them in for cycling, as they go crackly if I sweat too much.

I have some cheapo blue tooth open earphones, and play the music at quite a low volume, so that I still hear the ambient sound.
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
I did try headphones. Both in ear and bone conducting. I just found out that listening to music on a bike is not for me.
It may have something to do with my job having to listen to music all day.
 
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Andy in Germany

Legendary Member
While I normally have the radio (or CD) on when I'm driving alone, I cannot imagine ever wanting to be playing music while cycling. I could if I wanted, I always have my phone with me, and if I kept my hearing aids in I could play through them using bluetooth - I don't usually keep them in for cycling, as they go crackly if I sweat too much.

I understand that, but I do ride for several hours a week and I find sometimes having some music or a podcast is a pleasant way to use these hours to learn something, or just bring some variety to a ride when I'm following the same route for the umpteenth time.

On the other hand, I've noticed the type of music affects the speed I (try to) ride, so I have to consciously dial it back when listening to heavier, louder tracks.
 

Alex321

Guru
Location
South Wales
I understand that, but I do ride for several hours a week and I find sometimes having some music or a podcast is a pleasant way to use these hours to learn something, or just bring some variety to a ride when I'm following the same route for the umpteenth time.

On the other hand, I've noticed the type of music affects the speed I (try to) ride, so I have to consciously dial it back when listening to heavier, louder tracks.

I understand some people like to listen to music while riding, and so long as they can do so without drowning out oter sounds, that is fine. I just find I have no interest in doing so personally.
 

Andy in Germany

Legendary Member
I understand some people like to listen to music while riding, and so long as they can do so without drowning out oter sounds, that is fine. I just find I have no interest in doing so personally.

Pardon?

I get that. I don't generally like listening to music, and honestly outside of towns and trains I often unplug to enjoy the surrounding sounds, and also think through things I'm working on. I think having a longer commute made a difference because I wanted to use the time "productively" when I'm riding, and podcasts worked well for that, but a voice can be drowned by the wind, so I started listening to more music.
 
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