Cycling with earphones?

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Replies

  • Entroopia
    Entroopia Posts: 32 Member
    jacksonpt wrote: »
    I doubt anyone will get this, but there is something to be said for no music simply to get the full experience of the ride. There is something almost religious about riding... get on a good road (rural if possible), get into a good cadence, with good breathing... and then just be in the moment. No music, no cell phone, no GPS... just you, the bike, and the road.

    I've only ever had a couple of moments in my life where I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be, exactly when I was supposed to be there. Both times it happened on my bike with no electronics in sight.

    I have always wondered if I was the only person to really understand this or feel this. It's not even just for bike riding, it can apply to many areas. It's like all focus and none at the same time. Just your body working, your mind wandering. It's hard to explain for sure...
  • happycauseIride
    happycauseIride Posts: 536 Member
    (Sheepishly raises hand) Guitly, here. I ride with headphones. But... they are not so loud I can't hear something behind me, I put a rear-view mirror on my bike, I never ride on trails, I ride 90% on rural gravel roads and I will take one bud out if I'm on a highway or in town.
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    I used to use headphones, but it's really illegal in NYC. Now I have a little bluetooth speaker on my handlebars. I thought people would notice, but even in traffic it's pretty much directed towards me. I use it when I use the bike for commuting. When I'm on a group ride I'm more involved with the social aspect.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    A little OT but because so many people walk or run with loud music or are oblivious while texting & walking I ride with one of these....

    hwot0tk9z73h.jpg


    140db gets peoples attention.....
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    BrianSharpe wrote: »
    A little OT but because so many people walk or run with loud music or are oblivious while texting & walking I ride with one of these....

    hwot0tk9z73h.jpg


    140db gets peoples attention.....
    I've heard of these - Hornet, right? That must be funny to make people almost crap their pants LOL

  • kcjchang
    kcjchang Posts: 709 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    lpherman01 wrote: »
    jacksonpt wrote: »
    I doubt anyone will get this, but there is something to be said for no music simply to get the full experience of the ride. There is something almost religious about riding... get on a good road (rural if possible), get into a good cadence, with good breathing... and then just be in the moment. No music, no cell phone, no GPS... just you, the bike, and the road.
    I think that you under-rate us. The tires humming, the chain quietly clicking along, the pedals turning over as smooth as silk. I get that completely.

    Me too:)

    From pedal creaks, rear hub clicks incessantly when coasting, carbon rattling from any imperfection in the pavement, my heavy breathing, and the wind, I'm entertained for majority of the ride. The new stuff is so noisy - I miss my old DA 7400 and C-Record setups on steel frames and my youthful fitness where the music can be heard with fidelity. Now it's just another distraction, a dangerous one at that, from getting into the zone.
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    kcjchang wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    lpherman01 wrote: »
    jacksonpt wrote: »
    I doubt anyone will get this, but there is something to be said for no music simply to get the full experience of the ride. There is something almost religious about riding... get on a good road (rural if possible), get into a good cadence, with good breathing... and then just be in the moment. No music, no cell phone, no GPS... just you, the bike, and the road.
    I think that you under-rate us. The tires humming, the chain quietly clicking along, the pedals turning over as smooth as silk. I get that completely.

    Me too:)

    From pedal creaks, rear hub clicks incessantly when coasting, carbon rattling from any imperfection in the pavement, my heavy breathing, and the wind, I'm entertained for majority of the ride. The new stuff is so noisy - I miss my old DA 7400 and C-Record setups on steel frames and my youthful fitness where the music can be heard with fidelity. Now it's just another distraction, a dangerous one at that, from getting into the zone.

    Put me in this camp as well.

    Honestly it seems a little strange to me that so many people seem to need music wherever they go. I seriously love music, and when I'm doing cardio in the gym I almost always have headphones in. But being outside? I'd miss hearing the breeze and the birds singing. And the truck coming up behind me.
  • mwyvr
    mwyvr Posts: 1,883 Member
    No. Just no.
  • labohn91
    labohn91 Posts: 113 Member
    I've biked 10 plus years with headphones in, never had a problem. Just use your better judgement if you choose to use headphone they should be on the lowest setting.

    § 375 24-a. Use of earphones while driving or riding a bicycle. It shall be unlawful to operate upon any public highway in this state a motor vehicle, limited use automobile, limited use motorcycle or bicycle while the operator is wearing more than one earphone attached to a radio, tape player or other audio device.
  • mwyvr
    mwyvr Posts: 1,883 Member
    BrianSharpe wrote: »
    A little OT but because so many people walk or run with loud music or are oblivious while texting & walking I ride with one of these....

    hwot0tk9z73h.jpg
    140db gets peoples attention.....

    You'd be surprised. A youth walking along a train track listening to music was killed despite a train blasting its horn repeatedly. A person walking along the street in a town in my province was killed, oblivious due to music playing, by a chopper failed above and crashed.

    One doesn't have to be completely oblivious as these two incidents would indicate in order to be put at greater risk out there on the road.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited July 2015
    ktsjourney wrote: »
    If you cycle, do you use earphones? I just bought a bike and will probably start tomorrow. I love listening to music when i'm working out but it seems quite unsafe on a bike? I've googled it and theres a mixed reaction between people.

    Yes, I do, but I'm on pretty empty roads.

    I've already put myself at significant risk just by being on a bike, on a road. The small extra risk from headphones is irrelevant.
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    edited July 2015
    un0clruoteyp.jpg

    this sucker is loud. I've actually used it as a speaker when I teach a class, but when I use it on my bike, it directs the sound primarily to me and not everyone around me. Also it's super easy to pair or re-pair when you get disconnected. And a lot cheaper than Beats.
  • beemerphile1
    beemerphile1 Posts: 1,710 Member
    jacksonpt wrote: »
    I doubt anyone will get this, but there is something to be said for no music simply to get the full experience of the ride. There is something almost religious about riding... get on a good road (rural if possible), get into a good cadence, with good breathing... and then just be in the moment. No music, no cell phone, no GPS... just you, the bike, and the road.

    I've only ever had a couple of moments in my life where I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be, exactly when I was supposed to be there. Both times it happened on my bike with no electronics in sight.

    Some people require constant stimulus, they fear that without it, they may need to have an original thought. :)
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    I don't think riding with headphones is a particularly great idea.

    However, as a compromise you could look into headphones which conduct sound through the cheekbones and as such leave your ears uncovered so you can hear what is going on around you.
  • SlimEsq
    SlimEsq Posts: 45 Member
    I only wear ear buds in the weight room or when I run. I actually enjoy the quiet, meditative quality of cycling.
  • moesis
    moesis Posts: 874 Member
    Wearing headphones while biking is asking for trouble.

    My wife has a small bluetooth speaker mounted to her handlebars, myself, I am with jacksonpt, except I need a GPS to not get lost.
  • eliezalot
    eliezalot Posts: 620 Member
    Nope. Never. Super unsafe. It drives me crazy to see other cyclists (and drivers!) wearing earbuds/headphones. I just want to reach over and yank them out as I go past. On the rare occasions that I drive, I am always extra alert when cyclists have earbuds in. Can they hear me? Are they even aware of me? If you must have music, as others have mentioned, you can get a handlebar mounted speaker.
  • ragto
    ragto Posts: 1 Member
    Everyone is different, some people use music for motivation, some people are just out enjoying an occasional ride and bring music along. Myself I never wear earphones, earbuds etc or listen to music but I'm aware and ok with the fact that people listen to music while cycling, I'm just into concentrating on my goals and listening to my body versus listening to music.
  • brocantrs
    brocantrs Posts: 273 Member
    beemerphile1 wrote: »
    I wear a single bluetooth earbud in my curb side ear. I do this walking and running also, I want to hear what is going on around me.

  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    Never. Too dangerous even with one earbud in. Your brain need both ears fully functional to locate the source of a sound. One ear isn't enough.

    That said even if I wanted to I don't think I could. Music and training is unnatural to me. I prefer to listen only to the sound of my own suffering.
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