Listening to radio while cycling?

D!armu!d

Was wondering what peoples views are on this or if anyone does it?

My commute to/from work is mostly along a dual carriageway with a bus lane which I have to myself most of the time. Was think of getting a cheap headphone radio to listen to on the way at low volume. Is it dangerous or does it make a difference since you would still hear a car horn or ambulance?

DirkVoodoo

I do into college, same as yourself its all dual carriageway. Even at low speeds, wind noise can make you oblivious to surrounding traffic so I personally don't mind a bit of quiet music in the background to hum along to. Nothing can replace a quick glance over your shoulder now and again. I've been behind plenty of cyclists with no headphones visible who had the awareness of lemmings.

I wouldn't do it heading out for a spin up the mountains mind, and the last stretch of my road is fairly quiet and dangerous so i pop them out.

It's really up to yourself anyway, you will get plenty of "yays" or "nays" with various reasons, all of which are probably valid. Basically, if you are the kind of cyclist who finds cars creep up on you without warning, it might be best to leave the headphones at home.

kenmc

used to, but wind noise is too high to hear properly unless the volume is up at a level I'm not comfortable cycling through traffic with.

72hundred

Personally I'd give it a miss. Situational awareness is your best defence on the road against being hit - and I wouldn't do anything to lessen it.

But having said that there's plenty of cyclists I pass everyday that have them in, I'd almost say half during the commuting hours. So they seem to get along with them grand.


72oo

SetOverSet

I used to wear 'em commuting, but feel more aware without TBH. My commute's only 25mins or so - 11.5km, so it doesn't bother me doing without.

I don't mind other cyclists wearing them though, but it does p*** me off when someone is wearing headphones and totally oblivious to everything going on around them...

Gavin

Same as the others. Used to do it, but found it distracting going through town and Ray D'Arcy started really pissing me off.

skim

listen to my mp3 player not a radio but find no problem with them i can here cars coming from behind.but seen as i live in the country i never have 2 worry bout that much traffic i would take it out of one ear on junctions 2 hear if a car is coming from the other junctions.most lads i ride with use them 2 if there trainin on there own

72hundred

Verb wrote: »

....Ray D'Arcy started really pissing me off.

I know this is OT but he's been getting on my nerves too.:P

brayblue24

I thought I'd like earphones while cycling so bought "Slipstreamz" earphones (Google search-can't remember who I got them from) they sit behind the ear attached to the helmet strap and apparently don't drown out external traffic noise. They cost around €15 all in. In the end I chickened out but I'll use the holders as ear warmers for the winter!!

zzzzzzzz

I usually listen to one earphone

christeb

Listen to the mp3 going through town - I know I prob shouldn't but that's a different story...

tunney

I've been thinking about this since the thread started.

How important is your hearing when you are cycling?
Surely if you cycling defensively, constantly look around and don't make any stupid moves that is sufficient?

I never find my hearing much use on the bike in terms of safety.

Caroline_ie

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

I usually listen to one earphone

Me too when I commute. If I am doing laps in the park I will listen to both earphones, and on a time trial, something really noisy with lots of guitars ...:cool:

fletch

I'd be a definite nay....you need all your senses when cycling, way too dangerous IMO

cmyk

tunney wrote: »

I've been thinking about this since the thread started.

How important is your hearing when you are cycling?
Surely if you cycling defensively, constantly look around and don't make any stupid moves that is sufficient?

I never find my hearing much use on the bike in terms of safety.

Have to disagree on this one I'm afraid, I can def hear cars over my shoulder, maybe that's in a kind of sixth sense kind of way but you can hear change in engine pitch etc when cars are moving behind you/slowing down etc. I've tried listening to mp3 player and def did not feel safe, but each to their own.

irishmotorist

I'd definitely say no to it. I find hearing is very important - such as you know whether it's a good time to look over your right shoulder to make sure that there's nothing sneaking up on you. Even with full hearing, sometimes a bus can creep up on you and be on top of you without you hearing it - damned quiet engines! This coupled with a slight waver off your straight line (as we all know can easily happen) could spell disaster.

My thoughts are that it's 100% up to yourself to keep yourself safe - nobody else will. IMO, eliminating or hindering one of your senses is not a good idea.

If it's boredom you're trying to stave off, try a different route every day. It will help the fitness too

cmyk

irishmotorist wrote: »

If it's boredom you're trying to stave off...

Try singing out loud to yourself...that way people do their best to avoid you!

blorg

I do it myself, especially climbing up hills, generally in low traffic areas. Also on my commute which is cycle track 100% of the way. Would depend on the circumstances though.

Raam

I used to do it all the time purely for motivation. Now I find that cycling itself is enough motivation. On a recent long distance solo cycle abroad I brought the mp3-player and had one ear in. I tried with both for a bit, but I didn't like not not being able to hear as much.

PeadarofAodh

I have my mp3 player in for even the shortest of commute cycles. I never use it when I'm out training though, climbing/descending etc is ever so slightly more interesting than cycling in straight lines alongside cars.

Trojan

tunney wrote: »

I've been thinking about this since the thread started.

How important is your hearing when you are cycling?
Surely if you cycling defensively, constantly look around and don't make any stupid moves that is sufficient?

I never find my hearing much use on the bike in terms of safety.

Agree 100% with tunney.

I generally wear them on longer trips, and my choice of listening is seminars (spoken word) from Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Dan Kennedy (anything business related). I find the spoken word never interferes with my ability to hear cars. At the same time I have no problem with listening to music but I prefer it on shorter trips.

When I'm on short trips (in traffic in town), I find that I can listen to music no problem because there's no need for situational awareness - there is ALWAYS a car coming up behind, and there is always someone turning in etc. I'm not a "passive" cyclist in traffic.

I guess it depends on your own personal cycling style, but for those of you who think "it's not for me", please remember that it is for some of us, and we can still be very situationally aware.

TinyExplosions

I tend not to on my commute, because it's so short -but would have no problem listing to music when up in the wicklow mountains for example -I have it no louder than the wind noise generally is, and it's a great motivator!

Gavin

Ditto, agree with Tunney. Relying on hearing to know if something is behind you is dangerous. As said, buses can be very quiet as of course can cyclists. Much better to occasionally check behind than rely on hearing.

I might even go so far as to say that listening to audio reminds one to check over their shoulder more than someone who is not. Although frankly, an idiot cyclist is an idiot cyclist, listening to music or not.

Raam

Verb wrote: »

Ditto, agree with Tunney. Relying on hearing to know if something is behind you is dangerous. As said, buses can be very quiet as of course can cyclists. Much better to occasionally check behind than rely on hearing.

I might even go so far as to say that listening to audio reminds one to check over their shoulder more than someone who is not. Although frankly, an idiot cyclist is an idiot cyclist, listening to music or not.

Much better to use hearing AND occasionally check behind

blorg

Had a similar experience to Raam- I do tend to listen to music if solo-ing up climbs I know well in Wicklow. Brought it with me to the Pyrenees but found I didn't want to use it at all climbing up the Cols there.

brayblue24

Raam wrote: »

Much better to use hearing AND occasionally check behind

That's pretty much why I didn't use the earphones in the end. Decided I was at more risk as a cyclist than as a motorist so if I'm gonna be hit I at least want to be in the right so I figured if I was hit while wearing earphones and even if I was in the right I wouldn't have a leg to stand on (no pun intended!).

vektarman

With Brayblue on this, what happens if you're involved in an accident while wearing earphones? The other party might have a case that you weren't giving 100% attention.

blorg

vektarman wrote: »

With Brayblue on this, what happens if you're involved in an accident while wearing earphones? The other party might have a case that you weren't giving 100% attention.

What if the other party had their radio on and windows closed?

vektarman

blorg wrote: »

What if the other party had their radio on and windows closed?

Yes, the earphone wearing cyclist might also have a good case.

Raam

vektarman wrote: »

Yes, the cyclist might also have a good case.

What actually happened in this fictional incident?

Deisetrek

No chance , wouldn't dream of it ....too many idiots on the road , need every one of your senses to survive out there . I even have a small handle-bar mirror so I won't have to glance over my shoulder too often . Love listening to my walkman whilst walking the dogs but on the bike? ....too dangerous IMHO .

DirkVoodoo

It seems to be blown out of proportions in a lot of media reports. Its almost akin to drink-driving from what a quick google shows. headlines involving accidents such as "cyclist killed while wearing headphones", etc. I don't think it is fair to link cycling+headphones=death in a headline when the accident is still under investigation and there are still multiple other factors that could have contributed.

This one caught my eye though:

Are headphones dangerous?

I for one would not expect a helicopter to fall out of the sky in a quiet neighbourhood, but sure blame it on the headphones! The advice about being aware of your surrounding still applies regardless.

blorg

vektarman wrote: »

Yes, the earphone wearing cyclist might also have a good case.

My point is that radio on and windows closed is pretty much standard for the majority of motorists and no-one holds it against them.

vektarman

http://dvice.com/archives/2006/07/slipstreamz_earwear_safer_cycl.php
This might work

vektarman

blorg wrote: »

My point is that radio on and windows closed is pretty much standard for the majority of motorists and no-one holds it against them.

That's a fair point.

DirkVoodoo

vektarman wrote: »

http://dvice.com/archives/2006/07/slipstreamz_earwear_safer_cycl.php
This might work

Yes, but to wear those I would also have to be wearing a helmet.

On a side note, does anyone have a tin-opener so I can open up this can of worms?? :rolleyes:

SerialComplaint

WOuldn't do it. You need all your senses. Don't forget that hybrid cars/SUVs will have no engine noise in suburban traffic.

DirkVoodoo

SerialComplaint wrote: »

You need all your senses

No way am I going to start licking cars on my commute!!!

bealbocht

I think people use their hearing a lot more than they think, which would explain (to me anyway) why you see pedestrians regularly walk out on the road with out looking( behind them, ) because they dont hear a car... (and naturally dont hear my bike) Have seen this a lot more that I would like.. probably have done it myself..

More to the point.. tried listening to the radio on the bike, but found , could not hear it when buses and trucks passed me, if I did not have it really loud, which seemed to be most of the time, and the headphones were another thing to be fiddeling with, when I should be paying attention.. so just gave the whole thing a miss.

estebancambias

when i'm boming home from college i take the ipod out but when im just sauntering up killiney hill and through estates to get to college then the ipod goes in.

'68 Fastback

Headphones bad juju. I hate giving anyone(drivers) a legitimate reason to have a go and if you get a clip while wearing them its the first thing the driver will tell the gaurds.

Signal_ rabbit

I wear just one ear piece, I searched everywhere to get a one ear piece that plays both sides of stereo through the one channel instead of only half of stereo. I hear the traffic just fine.

arybvtcw0eolkf

If I'm training I listen to some good upbeat dance music, for commuting listening to the radio is nice.

Either way, I never cycle without my iPod.

estebancambias

cycling just isn't fun without the Ipod...so booring.

zzzzzzzz

Signal_ rabbit wrote: »

I wear just one ear piece, I searched everywhere to get a one ear piece that plays both sides of stereo through the one channel instead of only half of stereo. I hear the traffic just fine.

Did you have any luck?

Lumen

'68 wrote:

Headphones bad juju. I hate giving anyone(drivers) a legitimate reason to have a go and if you get a clip while wearing them its the first thing the driver will tell the gaurds.

You need stealth:

Muller_1

'68 wrote:

Headphones bad juju. I hate giving anyone(drivers) a legitimate reason to have a go and if you get a clip while wearing them its the first thing the driver will tell the gaurds.

I totally agree with this. I used to use mp3 on commute player but I don't want to give drivers any reason to have a go. Still use it on solo training spins in the mountains.

Signal_ rabbit

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

Did you have any luck?

Try this. And they are cheap!

brayblue24

vektarman wrote: »

http://dvice.com/archives/2006/07/slipstreamz_earwear_safer_cycl.php
This might work

These are the ones I have. Never used the earphones as such but these keep the ears warm anyway!!

zzzzzzzz

Signal_ rabbit wrote: »

Try this. And they are cheap!

Nice one. must give these a go.

zzzzzzzz

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

Nice one. must give these a go.

ffs... delivery on that site is $24.50 for those headphones! :eek: