Ear Phones for Cycling

Cheapo

Hi Folks, I am going to start back at cycling to work and i was just wondering if there are any new ear phones out there that are suitable for cycling.....ie dont drowned out the outside noise so as not to compromise on safty.....Their are probably nothing out in the market like this but i though id ask just in case......And to those who are going to scream and shout saying dont be listen to music while on the bike as its very dangerous.....dont worry as i wont be unless their is a very safe way of doing so.....thanks

monument

Cheapo wrote: »

Hi Folks, I am going to start back at cycling to work and i was just wondering if there are any new ear phones out there that are suitable for cycling.....ie dont drowned out the outside noise so as not to compromise on safty.....Their are probably nothing out in the market like this but i though id ask just in case......And to those who are going to scream and shout saying dont be listen to music while on the bike as its very dangerous.....dont worry as i wont be unless their is a very safe way of doing so.....thanks

Many of us who do cycle with earphones only use one ear bud.

If you're new to urban cycling or starting after a long break I would hold off using them at all for a while until you get used to it again.

abcdggs

monument wrote: »

Many of us who do cycle with earphones only use one ear bud.

If you're new to urban cycling or starting after a long break I would hold off using them at all for a while until you get used to it again.

+1

Trojan

Use common sense when it comes to volume and using music on the bike, but don't be scared off either. A lot depends on your own level of experience on the bike and in traffic.

I love my Sennheiser MX75 Sport's - they don't fall out when running or cycling, are sweat-resistant and can be rinsed under the tap.

Spiritoftheseventies

Consult your local garda station. Sure they will advise on best model

biomed32

i generally never wear headphones out on the bike at all, i dont find it all that safe, if i do wear them its generally 1 ear

AstraMonti

Oh jesus, he didn't ask advice for when/if it's safe using the headphones, he asked about which headphones to pick.

On topic: Atm i am using the ipod defaults one, but it's not really good for cold days, it hurts my ears I was looking for something rubbery and soft (that sounds weird) but i haven't find anything suitable yet.

DirkVoodoo

bayviewclose wrote: »

Consult your local garda station. Sure they will advise on best model

?

I use standard ipod ones. Like Trojan says, common sense prevails in all circumstances, turning down the volume when necessary is the best solution. As long as you aren't wearing massive headphones, it doesn't really matter what earbuds you pick, just be sure they are comfy.

youcancallmeal

I use these which can be had in argos for around €10.

Trojan

youcancallme>al wrote: »

I use these which can be had in argos for around €10.

I used to have those - pretty good. I prefer the Sennheisers because they get caught up in my h****t straps less.

poochiem

youcancallme>al wrote: »

I use these which can be had in argos for around €10.

I've always used those (when running not cycling) and they are cheaper in the Philips store on the corner of Dame & George's Sts. than in Argos generally. they have a slightly more durable set for around the €20 mark as well.

the good thing i find is that you can pop them out of your ears but they can still hang there by the hook - if you need to listen but not take them off completely.

cruizer101

There are headphones available known as open air headphones which as the name implies are open to the air and so would allow for a lot of external sound.
Now they are on ear as opposed to in ear and have a headband also, so may not be to comfortable to wear on bike and you probably wouldn't be able to wear with a Helmet, but just thought I'd throw the idea out there anyway.

cdaly_

I have seen open-air earclip phones without the headband. Dunno would they tend to fall off tho.

I use a cheap pair of in-canal clip phones about €5 from Lidl. A bit sound isolating so I tend to look around me more...

72hundred

bayviewclose wrote: »

Consult your local garda station. Sure they will advise on best model

That's great. Can you refrain for posting if you're going to add so little.

biomed32 wrote: »

i generally never wear headphones out on the bike at all, i dont find it all that safe, if i do wear them its generally 1 ear

That wasn't the OP's question.


@OP: Standard iPod earphones leave plenty of background sounds through. Since loads of people have iPods I'd ask friends could you have their's before shelling out yourself.

niceonetom

I wear these: PX100s



but not in heavy traffic.

They're nice and open so you can hear quite a lot while wearing them while still getting a decent sound. The band sits nicely around the back of my helmet. I also like sennheiser's more middle-rich tone compared to bassheavy sony earbuds and dead-as-hell ipod buds.

Cheapo

Brilliant......thanks to all the Posters who offered solutions....ill look further into these and see which ones may suit best.......

thanks again...:)

Spiritoftheseventies

Just as long as you can hear a car beep nothing to do with me. Sure Gardai might take a different view of things though.

mockler007

its not illigal to use earpones, peoples in there cars have music up full blast, so why not us, just once you look around you, use your head like.
i keep it at half so i can still hear noise around me;) trojan suggest is good washable is always good, don't want candles forming:rolleyes:

Spiritoftheseventies

mockler007 wrote: »

its not illigal to use earpones, peoples in there cars have music up full blast, so why not us, just once you look around you, use your head like.
i keep it at half so i can still hear noise around me;) trojan suggest is good washable is always good, don't want candles forming:rolleyes:

Do you have eyes on the back of your head. You going to hear a police car coming behind you with the sirens on. Or an Ambulance. Like I said its up to you. Not as if you will pick up any penalty points

DirkVoodoo

bayviewclose wrote: »

Do you have eyes on the back of your head. You going to hear a police car coming behind you with the sirens on. Or an Ambulance. Like I said its up to you. Not as if you will pick up any penalty points

I have never not heard an emergency siren, either with headphones on the bike or listening to the radio in the car. I think that's possibly why they are designed to make LOUD noises and have BRIGHT lights. In fact, I nearly fell off my bike when an ambulance turned on it's sirens as it was passing me, the earphones helped cushion the blow, I think they saved my life.

nomadic

bayviewclose wrote: »

Do you have eyes on the back of your head. You going to hear a police car coming behind you with the sirens on. Or an Ambulance. Like I said its up to you. Not as if you will pick up any penalty points

I have in ear earphones and try to block out as much sound as possible. You can still hear sirens and cars sadly.

72hundred

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I have never not heard an emergency siren, either with headphones on the bike or listening to the radio in the car. I think that's possibly why they are designed to make LOUD noises and have BRIGHT lights. In fact, I nearly fell off my bike when an ambulance turned on it's sirens as it was passing me, the earphones helped cushion the blow, I think they saved my life.

nomadic wrote: »

I have in ear earphones and try to block out as much sound as possible. You can still hear sirens and cars sadly.

Please lads, its not Friday - worst of all its Monday, and its not Tim so...

DirkVoodoo

I don't think he's trolling, just misinformed.

I respect anyone's decision to wear or not to wear earphones. As long as you don't let it grossly impair your ability to ride the bike safely.

If bayviewclose doesn't wear them, that's dandy, just please don't try to scare people with total fabrications about supposed legality and hearing impairment. Like I said before, common sense prevails. If I were riding in a low traffic area, with roads that are unfamiliar, then I would either turn them off or turn the volume down. Along the N11 with a route I am familiar with, I turn them up to around medium. I can still hear everything, the faint melodies of whatever pop I'm listening to barely rise above the background noise. I still check over my shoulder regularly, check again at junctions, obey the red lights, etc.

Please, step down off the soapbox.

Spiritoftheseventies

Yes used to cycle myself. Lads get rid of the chip off the shoulders. If a cop stopped you would you take the same attitude.

niceonetom

bayviewclose wrote: »

If a cop stopped you would you take the same attitude.

No, but then you don't have the ability to arrest or fine anyone, do you? So you, and your opinion can be summarily dismissed, ignored or derided (or, admittedly, listened to) without consequence.

Do you expect people on the internet to take you as seriously as they would a guard in real life? 'Cause that's not going to work.

Spiritoftheseventies

niceonetom wrote: »

No, but then you don't have the ability to arrest or fine anyone, do you? So you, and your opinion can be summary dismissed, ignored or derided (or, admittedly, listened to) without consequence.

Do you expect people on the internet to take you as seriously as they would a guard in real life? 'Cause that's not going to work.

If you wont heed my call at least heed the call of others. Will leave it at that.

http://ocaoimh.ie/cyclists-beware/

DirkVoodoo

What kind of sheep/morons post on that site: "Even walking with earphones makes me feel unsafe". Christ, it's like Lemmings all over again. I'll put down some girders, you start them digging, we'll find a way for them to safely cross the street.

If putting a bit of sound between your ears suddenly makes all your faculties of observation shut down, then I think yes, you are the kind of person who should never wear headphones, or step outside their house for that matter.

Anyway bayview, you are entitled to your opinion. Just don't be like the old man who tried to clothesline me as he stood in the cycle lane (one of those bus stop cycle lane/footpath hybrids) for using the bus lane on a saturday morning.

nomadic

Do the standard ipod type earphones not annoy people. I wore them for a while but with any sort of wind annoyed the hell out of me. You couldn't hear the music or anything else. In ear one's all the way for me.

DirkVoodoo

nomadic wrote: »

Do the standard ipod type earphones not annoy people. I wore them for a while but with any sort of wind annoyed the hell out of me. You couldn't hear the music or anything else. In ear one's all the way for me.

Sometimes. They fall out easily enough, but they are the only buds I can wear indefinitely without my ears feeling swollen afterward. I just go for something I can hum along to or pass the boredom of a commute, high fidelity is not really an issue for me.

That's also another thing, especially this time of year, wind noise rises above nearly all other ambient sounds. Should we ban the wind? (yes!).

cdaly_

I loved this reply:

Jason Dunsmore wrote:

It's an epidemic in LA. I’ve seen a head-on collision between two pedestrians who were both listening to their ipods and looking at their cell phones

youcancallmeal

They must be taking the p*ss

I /never/ wear headphones while walking

ScottStorm

youcancallme>al wrote: »

They must be taking the p*ss

Not at all, but it is perfectly safe to walk through a construction sight while reading a book guided by the senses of touch and sound.............. as far as the use of superpowers go his use of echolocation is lazy, surely he should be out battling the powers of evil?