tunes or no tunes

[monkeyboy]

I gotta admit on the daily commute I sometimes like to listen to my ipod as I ride. I am torn between thinking this is a really stupid thing to do and thinking it makes my ride more enjoyable. I never have the music fully cranking but still it must decrease my hearing of stuff around me pretty substantially. My ride is mostly on bike paths. I wouldn't even think about it if I was on the road the whole time. What do you guys reckon?

[BMAC]

Try the Azonic surround sound helmet and hear both at the same time.A little hot and kind of heavy but only $40

[fxdwhl]

My wandering mind keeps me entertained. That and it's nice to be 'unconnected' for a while.

I've heard of only using one earbud to help with hearing your surroundings though I still wouldn't feel comfortable.

[Teamfubar]

When I commute by bike, I have the same dilema. Most of my commute is on the road, though it is mostly side roads with a low amount of traffic. If I am in an area with a lot of traffic, I'll pull the earbud out of my left ear (near traffic) and I have the music turned down low enough that I can hear even if both earbuds are in. So, in reality, it isn't really worth it. Of the 70+ days I have commuted this year, I have only used my iPod less than 10 times. Most of the time I use the 30 minute commute to think about things in my life. With music, that is drown out.

[manwebi]

I like the tunes when I take the long way to/from work. If I'm doing the direct route (20-30 minutes) and especially at night, it doesn't seem worth it to plug in. But when I do listen to tunes, it's only with one earbud in so I can still hear traffic. I spliced the wires of my headphones so I get full stereo (both channels) in one earbud, cuz I figure what's the use of listening at all if you lose half the sound.

[jerman]

I listen to my iPhone while commuting around campus. Maybe I have big ears or something, but with the volume level mid-way I can hear major sounds around me.

[bellcha]

I try going without tunes to and from work about once every 6 months or so, but it normally only lasts about 2 days.
There's something about riding 1 hr home into a headwind that requires some other distractions.
Plus 95% of my commute is on bike paths, not that that made any difference on my other road commutes, just means I have to miss large ladies pushing prams and swooping magpies.
You need to have the sound level high enough to cut out the wind and the yobos yelling at you to "get off the funting road", but not so loud that you can't hear big trucks and buses.
Plus most people have the advantage of Perry Farrel vision to see all the clowns on the road.
Plus if you are going to get cleaned up from behind by a car, do you really want to hear it coming, or just be blissfully unaware?

[50 Mission Cap]

I gotta admit on the daily commute I sometimes like to listen to my ipod as I ride. I am torn between thinking this is a really stupid thing to do and thinking it makes my ride more enjoyable. I never have the music fully cranking but still it must decrease my hearing of stuff around me pretty substantially. My ride is mostly on bike paths. I wouldn't even think about it if I was on the road the whole time. What do you guys reckon?

Man,

You're already at such a disadvantage w/ all the cars out there... limiting your hearing is putting yourself at a major disadvantage... even if most of your ride is on bike paths, you could get into an accident on the path too man - run into another biker, runner, dog, etc... Unless I'm on my rollers, I leave the i pod at home. I mean, I totally see where you're coming from... kills the monotony and gets you pumped, but I just think it's kinda dangerous. Saw a 24 hour solo guy at the Landahl race a few weeks back using one.... now I can see that... I'd go out of my mind riding solo for 24 hours... this dude barely even stopped for breaks... any way... my $.02

[Mo0se]

Isn't the whole point of riding/commuting
to enj0y the outdoorz? I'll save my p3
player for airplanes.

[fxdwhl]

I sometimes wear a pirate patch over my right eye but only on backroads or bike paths. Everyone gives me more room cause I look tough. :mad: yarghhh!!!

The more I think about it the sillier it is to limit your senses when riding.

[RickB]

Man,

You're already at such a disadvantage w/ all the cars out there... limiting your hearing is putting yourself at a major disadvantage... even if most of your ride is on bike paths, you could get into an accident on the path too man - run into another biker, runner, dog, etc... Unless I'm on my rollers, I leave the i pod at home. I mean, I totally see where you're coming from... kills the monotony and gets you pumped, but I just think it's kinda dangerous. Saw a 24 hour solo guy at the Landahl race a few weeks back using one.... now I can see that... I'd go out of my mind riding solo for 24 hours... this dude barely even stopped for breaks... any way... my $.02

That works both ways, though - I came up on a couple people at the Seven Springs 24 Hour race who were happily rocking out to their MP3 players, but were oblivious to the fact that people were yelling "on your left" and trying to get by...that was pretty uncool. I think a hybrid approach where you can still hear what's going on around you is needed.

[plume_mtb]

yeah I'm not a fan of ear buds and riding in general

[monkeyboy]

hmmmm I think I see the light! Riding with the earbuds in is a freakin stupid idea:p

[tryandgetme]

Isn't the whole point of riding/commuting
to enj0y the outdoorz? I'll save my p3
player for airplanes.

downtown smog and gridlock don't count as outdoors :D

[tryandgetme]

I've got a pair of open air earbuds that work really good for letting in outside noise. as long as I'm not drowning everything out with high volume, I can still hear wether that car behind me is in a good position to pass me or not. can't remember what they're called, it just takes some brand experimentation (a long and expensive process for me).

Also if I take my big studio style headphones, I can hang them around my neck (not on my ears) and still hear the music.

[robcycle]

Admitedly, I do ride with earbuds. That being said, when I don them I do "the snap test." Basically, I put in the earphones and adjust the volume so that I can hear a moderately loud snap at waist level. This still allows me to hear road noise from cars beside and behind me, and I can still hear the music. I'll also catch Morning Edition, All Things Considered, or Market Place if I'm in the mood. :p

-Rob.

[monkeyboy]

The snap test Sounds interesting robcycle. I was thinking maybe a really big carrot or a snow pea:p, nah really, what do you snap?

[RandomV]

I alternate between riding with earphones and a blindfold... Gotta keep it fresh!

Just kidding. Sometimes I'll wear my 'phones on the local railtrail, but I don't even do that often.

[HempKnight]

Tunes on a training run certainly provide extra motivation. Of course you have to pay extra attention, look more often, be more aware of your situation.I actually concentrate harder and am more alert when riding with them on.You have to be-you cant take anything for granted.On a trail ride they stay home. I enjoy the sounds of nature and good conversation. Besides, once I'm pretty well winded, my ears are ringing and I cant hear shit anyway. I guess if you can compensate for the hearing, then by all means use them. If you zone out, like you do on the bus/ subway/ other. Leave em home.

[bellcha]

This thread is under the commuting section right?
So all those comments about not using them on the trails and being out in the wild, don't really make that much sense in a commuting section right. Unless you are luckily enough to be able to commute off road, good luck to you.
So I'm assuming that all those people that are suggesting to ride blind folded drive their cars around (if they use one, again it's the commuting section) with the windows down and the stereo off so they can enjoy the wild and be able to listen to all the noise that is going on around them?
It's commuting people, it's the same path to and from work, or a slightly different route, 5 days a week 50 weeks a year. You do it in the quickest possible way to spend more time with the family in the morning and you do it in the fastest possible way on the way home to do the same again.
I understand the perceived loss of attention, but we're not all alike, some people care for others and not just themselves, Some people cummute like dicks and they don't use ear plugs.
I guess I use ear plugs everyday and I love riding to and from work, I don't cut red lights, I don't cut pedestrians on the bike path and I find when I use ears plugs I keep my mouth shut and don't swear at stuff as much so my anxiety is lower.
Just my 10 cents worth or 9 cents US now.

[real_ss_budgie]

mate the produce flowing thru my head whilst commuting is one big flip tingle egg bat..

[hitekrdnk]

I've got a pair of open air earbuds that work really good for letting in outside noise. as long as I'm not drowning everything out with high volume, I can still hear wether that car behind me is in a good position to pass me or not. can't remember what they're called, it just takes some brand experimentation (a long and expensive process for me).

Also if I take my big studio style headphones, I can hang them around my neck (not on my ears) and still hear the music.

So we have to go through the long and expensive process also because why?

A picture please of the latter.

The worst part about headphones is the people that wear them but don't seem to be aware of the fact that they can't hear anything else, like "on your left", or a bell, or even in some cases a car horn. Or like there may be anyone even wanting to get by them for any reason whatsoever. For this reason I have never been a fan of them.

Until I got a free iPod with the purchase of my macbook and downloaded a friends playlist. So now I do use it on longer solo rides, but the simple thing for me is to adjust the volume up for when it needs it and down when required. Simple and effective. Plus it gives you something else to do besides just push the pedals round and round:) If I had to commute any further than my own home for the most part I am sure I would use them to break the monotony of the daily grind to and fro the cubicle.

[robcycle]

The snap test Sounds interesting robcycle. I was thinking maybe a really big carrot or a snow pea:p, nah really, what do you snap?Uhhmmmm .... my fingers? :rolleyes:

Seriously, I figure if I can hear my fingers snap at waist level that I can hear cars. And it works ... I can hear the road noise from cars approaching from behind, as well as tell which side they are on. I'm not saying that riding with head phones is a good idea, but I feel comfortable doing it. And just for sh!ts and giggles, how many of you who would never ride with headphones on would ride home from the bar after a few beers? :p

-Rob.

[hitekrdnk]

And just for sh!ts and giggles, how many of you who would never ride with headphones on would ride home from the bar after a few beers? :p

-Rob.

Heck, I had a few pints down at the Irish Pub the other night and cranked it loud for the ride back to the harbor. It was fun I thought at the time anyway I remember.

[monkeyboy]

Uhhmmmm .... my fingers? :rolleyes:

Seriously, I figure if I can hear my fingers snap at waist level that I can hear cars. And it works ... I can hear the road noise from cars approaching from behind, as well as tell which side they are on. I'm not saying that riding with head phones is a good idea, but I feel comfortable doing it. And just for sh!ts and giggles, how many of you who would never ride with headphones on would ride home from the bar after a few beers? :p

-Rob.

Right I'm with ya now Rob:D
Yep, I'm a reformed headphone rider (at the moment anyway) and have ridden pissed on occasions. (though not on the commute to work, maybe on the way home once or twice).
I think people who have headphones on too loud and have no idea what's going on around them are dangerous, I see em all the time. Funny though, I haven't worn them since this thread started.

[tryandgetme]

So we have to go through the long and expensive process also because why?


You don't have to, it's just long and expensive for me because I'm a sound perfectionist. I find it much harder to find good sounding earbuds than ones that let me hear traffic.

[WunSpeedWunder]

I may have a reputation for making too much noise myself:p...But if I am out on the roadie by myself there's a good chance I'll pack the lil' radio thingy or pod type sound making device and the bud type speaker system just to help the monotony...some years ago I was out ,heard a siren over my local radio stations blabber with the buds in my ears while sitting at a red light ,could not see any vehicle coming from any direction for a minute or two,turns out the Ambulance was way behind me around the corner,yes ,even with buds at a tolerable volume I could still hear a siren from behind,just the same I don't use it that often on the streets..

[free spirit]

When I commute to the bus stop, I listen to the birds, cows getting milked and other sounds of wildlife. It's fairly rural around here and I only have a short 3mile stretch on a somewhat busy road, the rest is pretty clear and not busy at that time of day.

I like to keep it simple.

[Rev.BudGreen]

I rock the iPod on every commute unless it is raining. I don't ride on bike paths or sidewalks, either. Road only. Just don't crank it too loud and you can still hear plenty.

[AllMtnKat]

I rock the iPod on every commute unless it is raining. I don't ride on bike paths or sidewalks, either. Road only. Just don't crank it too loud and you can still hear plenty.

i agree i commute a couple of times a week and my i-pod is a little helpful. Plus just keeping common sense and an eye out on things surrounding you works too.

[real_ss_budgie]

coz music is my sanctuary........