ear phones

dafman

lads .now I know it is not recommended but can anyone let me know a good set of ear phones to use while on bike ,ones I have that came with phone just wont stay in and can be dangerous when I trying to put them back in when they fall out while on the move ,nothing too expensive,middle of the road stuff. thanks

goldencleric

I know you didn't post looking for advice on why not to wear them but maybe reconsider it, listening to your surroundings can go a long way toward your safety.

Wearing a helmet (not saying you do) and having two earphones in while cycling is the most blatantly stupid thing I have ever seen, and I yes that includes the time I saw myself doing it in a car window.

... oh and only Freds wear earphones

07Lapierre

Sennheiser are excellent headphones. I use the "in ear" type which give excellent sound. Also, they dont block out road noise which means you can still hear traffic ( not sure if being able to hear a HGV coming behind you is an advantage though ! )

johnciall

As a reccomendation on style more than anything, Avoid noise cancelling & headphone/over ear phones as they'll significantly impair your ability to hear your surroundings.

as for good makes, Sennheiser or skullcandy

Sam Kade

goldencleric wrote: »

I know you didn't post looking for advice on why not to wear them but maybe reconsider it, listening to your surroundings can go a long way toward your safety.

Wearing a helmet (not saying you do) and having two earphones in while cycling is the most blatantly stupid thing I have ever seen, and I yes that includes the time I saw myself doing it in a car window.

... oh and only Freds wear earphones

How true, I knew a man that was struck by a vehicle while he was cycling and was killed. He had earphones on at the time and apparently never heard the vehicle coming around the bend.

07Lapierre

Sam Kade wrote: »

How true, I knew a man that was struck by a vehicle while he was cycling and was killed. He had earphones on at the time and apparently never heard the vehicle coming around the bend.

Confused?? Was the cyclist on the wrong side of the road?? If not, what happened? Was the cyclist cycling too far out from the kerb when the truck came around the bend, (behind the cyclist) if the cyclist had heard the truck coming, what difference would that make? I hear trucks coming along the road behind me all the time.

Icyseanfitz

if your cycling at a fast pace chances are you wont hear much anyway with wind noise and all, if im cycling on a road il have only the left earphone in, then again i dont do much road cycling

Satanta

goldencleric wrote: »

... oh and only Freds wear earphones

What's a Fred?

Edit... never mind. I realized I had the power in my fingers to use google.

BostonB

Even without earphones it can be hard to hear things around you with wind noise. I'm think that distraction by the content of what you are listening too, would be more an issue.

ryan_sherlock

I use Shure SE220s when training - they are reasonably expensive but have an excellent 2 year warranty (had to use their warranty about 5 years ago - great company to deal with) and are resistant to all the training (crap weather, cold, hot, sweat) I throw at them. Sound quality is pretty good (comparing to other 'expensive' earphones) - if all you have used in the past is the white 'ipod' earphones, you will be welcomed to a whole new world of music.

My Shure SE530s are MUCH better, but I only use them at the desk. (http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/shure-se530-sound-isolating/4505-7877_7-32327764.html)

I don't use earphones while in the city. Out in the countryside I don't find that they change my ability (or lack of when riding fast) to hear other road users.

Chips Lovell

Was resistant to using headphones for years but have recently come around to them. I guess it's no more dangerous than listening to the radio in your car and I'd never have them at a level where I couldn't hear what was going on around me.

My iPhone headphones recently packed it in (bass seems to have gone in both ears) so I'm considering new ones. I quite like the fact that they function as a handsfree as well, so wondering if there's any more sturdy third party ones available.

Lumen

goldencleric wrote: »

only Freds wear earphones

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

I use Shure SE220s when training

:pac:

07Lapierre

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

Was resistant to using headphones for years but have recently come around to them. I guess it's no more dangerous than listening to the radio in your car and I'd never have them at a level where I couldn't hear what was going on around me.

My iPhone headphones recently packed it in (bass seems to have gone in both ears) so I'm considering new ones. I quite like the fact that they function as a handsfree as well, so wondering if there's any more sturdy third party ones available.

These are excellent!

oh and These"]These[/URL]

pmcd22

true point made above.. didn't hear a truck. sure if he did and the truck was behind him then what could he have done.

Wind noise. You can hardly hear your own thoughts when wind is making such noise. Worse if its coming against ya then all you can hear is F**k this and F**k that.

i did use headphones but mainly when i got to a good quality road where it has a hard shoulder. My country lanes here are not the ideal place really to have them on. need to stay out in the middle of the road so no chance of hearing a car coming from behind. Even if you have it turned down so you can hear cars. There is always one that is running so smooth you could barely hear it without the headphones.

Music does help though. well depends on the song and Tempo but in saying that. I havent brought it the ipod out in awhile.

07Lapierre

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

I use Shure SE220s when training - they are reasonably expensive but have an excellent 2 year warranty (had to use their warranty about 5 years ago - great company to deal with) and are resistant to all the training (crap weather, cold, hot, sweat) I throw at them. Sound quality is pretty good (comparing to other 'expensive' earphones) - if all you have used in the past is the white 'ipod' earphones, you will be welcomed to a whole new world of music.

My Shure SE530s are MUCH better, but I only use them at the desk. (http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/shure-se530-sound-isolating/4505-7877_7-32327764.html)

I don't use earphones while in the city. Out in the countryside I don't find that they change my ability (or lack of when riding fast) to hear other road users.

Shure, "Won't let you down"

ryan_sherlock

Lumen wrote: »

:pac:

Guess that makes me a fred... anyone want to race a 'fred'

ryan_sherlock

07Lapierre wrote: »

These are excellent!

oh and These"]These[/URL]

I got those for Mel - they last her about 9 months before they die (heavy usage) - she also doesn't treat them that well (i.e. puts them into a bag/pocket without putting them into the little pouch - which is why she gets disposable €30 earphones and I get the good ones )

goldencleric

07Lapierre wrote: »

Confused?? Was the cyclist on the wrong side of the road?? If not, what happened? Was the cyclist cycling too far out from the kerb when the truck came around the bend, (behind the cyclist) if the cyclist had heard the truck coming, what difference would that make? I hear trucks coming along the road behind me all the time.

I don't want to start speculating about the death of this unfortunate person but I would like to think that in a lot of other situations it would beneficial to hear what is going on around you.

If you are on a straight doing a decent speed or have the wind swirling around you, then yes earphones probably won't make much of a difference. However, when it comes to junctions, roundabouts, merging roads etc it is essential imo to be able to hear things that are around. It may not be the most important sense for cycling but it is definitely a positive and can go along way in avoiding incidents.

I don't intend to start a debate, I take no real issue with people doing it although think of how stupid you think the people who drive with their ipod earphones in look.

To be fair to the OP he did not mention whether he was referring to urban cycling or not and I think my point is only more or less valid for that purpose.

Also a good point to remember is that if you have music blasting in your eyes, you may not be able to hear emergency response vehicles and could possibly be completely unaware that they are speeding up behind you or that cars from the right may dart into your path without warning.

furiousox

I don't wear 'phones while cycling.
I have tried many pairs of phones for the ipod (shure, grado, klipsch, etymotic, beats etc) before settling on these, highly recommended.

http://www.whathifi.com/review/beyerdynamic-dtx80

BostonB

goldencleric wrote: »

......However, when it comes to junctions, roundabouts, merging roads etc it is essential imo to be able to hear things that are around. It may not be the most important sense for cycling but it is definitely a positive and can go along way in avoiding incidents.

...


Also a good point to remember is that if you have music blasting in your eyes, you may not be able to hear emergency response vehicles and could possibly be completely unaware that they are speeding up behind you or that cars from the right may dart into your path without warning.

Thats an argument not to have radio's in cars.

I cycle and don't wear earphones. But I'd have to say hearing is of very little use in those scenario's. You can't trust your ears over your eyes in a noisy urban environment, sound bounces off everything walls, building, traffic. Its very hard to get any useful directional information.

If something is going to dart into your path, or from behind at speed, there's very little you can do about it.

goldencleric

BostonB wrote: »

Thats an argument not to have radio's in cars.

At least a car radio is not directed straight into your ear. I'm not really interested in car safety so I take your point but it is not relevant in this case. Its also worth bearing in mind that in a motor vehicle you are surrounded by a tonne of metal and protected in the slightest manner by other drivers' respect for your method of transport (couldn't resist at dig at the motorist :P).

BostonB wrote: »

I cycle and don't wear earphones. But I'd have to say hearing is of very little use in those scenario's. You can't trust your ears over your eyes in a noisy urban environment, sound bounces off everything walls, building, traffic. Its very hard to get any useful directional information.

I am not saying that is the prime mode of safety but it can help, even if you here something a split second away it at least gives you that little bit extra response time.

BostonB wrote: »

If something is going to dart into your path, or from behind at speed, there's very little you can do about it.

If you can hear an ambulance siren coming from down the road then you can anticipate the actions of other drivers surely, as opposed to, for example, cycling on the inside of traffic only for a driver to suddenly panic upon hearing an ambulance siren from behind and pulling suddenly to the left.

Chips Lovell

I regularly cycle with headphones and have never failed to hear an ambulance siren.

goldencleric

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

I regularly cycle with headphones and have never failed to hear an ambulance siren.

A few years ago I was cycling with earphones, I did not hear an ambulance siren coming from behind until it was nearly upon me and nearly crashed due to the panic of traffic around me.

Chips Lovell

Most music playing devices come with volume control.

BostonB

Many drivers seem to be able to ignore the siren even directly behind them. I know one guy hearing a knock at the windows rolled it down to have the bus driver behind tell him the traffic lights had changed and could he not hear the bus horn right behind him.

If you have music loud enough to block siren's you're probably half deaf anyway.

Any I don't wear earphones. But would have to admit, even on a vaguely windy day you can hear sod all, especially from behind you on a bike.

michael196

I use in-ear models as shown along this thread, Seinnheiser, Philips, Sony. if I get a year, thats good going.

Seinnheiser cables wore at the jack point whereas other brands the sound just died.


Legally, you are allowed wear earphones while cycling.

at the same time, legally you dont have to wear a helmet.

I hear most traffic, but can be surprised by the odd vehicle which i do not hear.

blorg

Sam Kade wrote: »

How true, I knew a man that was struck by a vehicle while he was cycling and was killed. He had earphones on at the time and apparently never heard the vehicle coming around the bend.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article686724.ece

goldencleric

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

Most music playing devices come with volume control.

Thanks for the contribution.

goldencleric

BostonB wrote: »

If you have music loud enough to block siren's you're probably half deaf anyway.

Some people are all about the bass

BostonB wrote: »

Any I don't wear earphones. But would have to admit, even on a vaguely windy day you can hear sod all, especially from behind you on a bike.

I agree, I don't want to come on pontificating (made this mistake in my first point :rolleyes:) just want to point out that listening can be an important element of cycling. I have to admit, if I was to grab a DB in town, I'd probably leave the earphones in and turn them way down.

blorg

I have used Sony in-ear headphones since I was a teenager. Occasional Phillips but they were dodgy in recent years, I think they have licensed the brand. I'm sure there are other brands that work as good but this is what I am used to and they are consistently good for less money than other options like Sennheiser. I was a major MiniDisc user but have sworn off Sony now for everything but headphones. Something like these. I am riding in countries incomparably worse than Ireland and I can hear still hear problems when I want to.

Lusk Doyle

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

I regularly cycle with headphones and have never failed to hear an ambulance siren.

Ah yes but you can also navigate through junctions safely and not get "forced" to the kerb. Not all "riders" on here are as fortunate with skills as you :rolleyes:

Lusk Doyle

goldencleric wrote: »

A few years ago I was cycling with earphones, I did not hear an ambulance siren coming from behind until it was nearly upon me and nearly crashed due to the panic of traffic around me.

Sounds to me like you were in the right place at the right time there

seamus

Sony Ericsson MW-600. Bluetooth headset w/FM radio.

I love it so much I have a spare one at home just in case they discontinue it.

I haven't been able to find anything which is equivalent. Connects handsfree to your phone so you can receive calls while on the bike (and theoretically make them though the iPhone voice control is ****e so I've never done it), and you can choose to listen to the radio or music from your phone with full forward/back/pause/volume control.

And to top it all off you don't have cables hanging all over the place. Phone can be totally packed watertight into a sandwich bag.

If you're a complete audio nerd you can change the earphones for whatever you want.

goldencleric

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Sounds to me like you were in the right place at the right time there

CramCycle

Sam Kade wrote: »

How true, I knew a man that was struck by a vehicle while he was cycling and was killed. He had earphones on at the time and apparently never heard the vehicle coming around the bend.

Apparently, someone talked to him after he died? If his road position was the issue then it has nothing to do with the earphones.

goldencleric wrote: »

A few years ago I was cycling with earphones, I did not hear an ambulance siren coming from behind until it was nearly upon me and nearly crashed due to the panic of traffic around me.

Turn them down or wear earphones that do not block out noise. Also I would recommend looking behind you once in awhile as often you cannot hear everything behind you, some emergency vehicles forget the siren and only use the lights, no harm in being vigilant

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Ah yes but you can also navigate through junctions safely and not get "forced" to the kerb. Not all "riders" on here are as fortunate with skills as you :rolleyes:

Admittedly some may have hearing problems but I don't think he was bragging about having the ability to hear, nor do I think the ability to hear changes what another road user is doing if you are getting forced into the curb.

tomasrojo

This seems an ok place to put this: headphones that allegedly are more suitable for cycling.

With Chilli Technology's bone conduction headphones (£49.99), the clue is in the name. Where conventionally sound is projected directly into the ear by creating air pressure waves, bone conduction headphones use the cheekbones to transfer auditory signals to the cochlea. The benefit is that the ear is not covered.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2012/mar/26/bike-headphones-music-cycling

studiorat

+1 for the Shure in-ears. Everything they make seems to be bullet proof. The one's I've heard sound good. good enough for MP3's anyway.:cool:

You could also get yourself a pair of Westone ES5's http://www.hearingmusic.ie/ coming in at a cool €1,200!

BTW bone conduction has very poor frequency response not suitable for music I think.

You could try this though > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BAHA_Day_4.jpg


Finally I hate wearing headphones out and about on or off the bike. It's like going around in a friggin' fish bowl.
Try extended listening excercises instead much more civilized.

jayjbe

Headphone in left ear, outside world in the other. Dats evolution for ya.

Btw. Ipod shuffle clipped onto HRM strap gives full access to music selection.

Tayto2000

I used to use in ears but found them a bit isolating. Also, depending on the model and shape I found they they can make the wind noise a lot worse as it whistles over the buds.

I'm using a cheap pair of folding, on-ear back of the neck headphones from Koss now. I've been through two sets in just over three years and had to get my latest pair on amazon as Tower stopped stocking them, they're great. They go on the ear and fix the wind noise problem but since they don't seal there's no isolation from the traffic environment. They've got in-line volume control and fold up for easy carrying. Only downer really is that sound quality isn't amazing, but that's to be expected from a €12 pair of headphones and I don't really think it should be the primary consideration when cycling...

Colonialboy

Tayto2000 wrote: »

I'm using a cheap pair of folding, on-ear back of the neck headphones from Koss now. I've been through two sets in just over three years and had to get my latest pair on amazon as Tower stopped stocking them, they're great. They go on the ear and fix the wind noise problem but since they don't seal there's no isolation from the traffic environment. They've got in-line volume control and fold up for easy carrying. Only downer really is that sound quality isn't amazing, but that's to be expected from a €12 pair of headphones and I don't really think it should be the primary consideration when cycling...

+1
the cheaper option is the better option in this case. you dont want to isolate all the background noise , I just want the music or radio at a level where its adds to the fun of cycling but doesnt create an huge saftey issue. I cycle mostly in the country anyways so when a car comes along its more noticeable.

and theres another advantage
wasnt Gadret using a cheap ear-piece during a race last year when he conveniently didnt hear that Nico needed a wheel...

paulo6891

Originally Posted by Sam Kade
How true, I knew a man that was struck by a vehicle while he was cycling and was killed. He had earphones on at the time and apparently never heard the vehicle coming around the bend.

CramCycle wrote: »

Apparently, someone talked to him after he died?

Should a moderator really be speaking (typing) like that to someone who was talking about the death of a road user that they knew?

cococoady

Any recomendations for earphones to use when out cycling.

I have tried both the plug type and the ones that sit in your earlobe but the noise from the wind kills both or they keep falling out.

Thanks
Coco

Blikes

Was just about to write the exact same post. weird :P

*follow thread

07Lapierre

Do what the pros do....use tape to keep the ear-plug in

piston

The health and safety people will be along in a minute to say why this is dangerous.:P

Tayto2000

Thread on this a few days ago, there's a few good recommendations and tips in there

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056411080

Lucifer-0

piston wrote: »

The health and safety people will be along in a minute to say why this is dangerous.:P

Ye, it's dangerous because loud music can damage your ears.

Dowee

Lucifer-0 wrote: »

Ye, it's dangerous because loud music can damage your ears.

What?

Lumen

Dowee wrote: »

What?

It's dangerous because loud music can damage your ears.

ednwireland

thread merged with previous earphone thread

you know you shouldnt though