Headphones Megathread

yannakis

Personally I am both a cyclist and a driver. As a driver, I came across many cyclists wearing headphones (listening to music) who have no idea that a car is approaching.

Let me hear your opinions on this matter..

Germancarfan

I am also both driver and cyclist and have used both.
personally i use the music to a level where by i still have ambient noise coming through.

I know in my car with radio on I can hear feck all outside.
Just have to be even more aware of what's going on around you visually with the headphones in. I find it a useful tool when i need to push my pace harder.

Borderfox

I have one headphone in my left ear to hear to splits/segments from Strava. No music though

simonrooneyzaga

I use headphones mainly for split times. Usually throw on a podcast for periods of climbing but can hear cars/ external noise very well.

07Lapierre

YanisK wrote: »

Personally I am both a cyclist and a driver. As a driver, I came across many cyclists wearing headphones (listening to music) who have no idea that a car is approaching.

Let me hear your opinions on this matter..

WHAT??*


* i know ... That joke is getting a bit old now.!

carthoris

People have more than one sense and do not need to rely on hearing alone - otherwise would hearing impaired people be allowed out on the road at all? And radios should be banned from vehicles.

And a conundrum; how can you ensure that your vehicle is 'loud' enough to ensure others can hear you without drowning out the noise of the other vehicles!

miller82

must admit i always cycle with ear phones and music on

davidsatelle100

On the commute, headphones all the way makes no difference to hearing traffic because its everywhere.

On a weekend spin, i'd have the left one in with a podcast\audiobook low enough to hear anything coming

Each to their own, but OP if you know the cyclist is listening to music from inside your car my guess is your car is very quiet and the cyclist is listening to music way to loud to be good for their hearing

BadCharlie

God help us when all cars are run on batteries

carthoris

BadCharlie wrote: »

God help us when all cars are run on batteries

I am gonna invent spokey-dokeys for electric cars ...

Alek

I cycle only with the left earbud quite often, both on long rides and in city traffic.

07Lapierre

I like to listen to music...drowns out car tyre roar and wind noise.

AdMMM

I'm a one earbud guy myself when commuting. I probably wouldn't wear them on roads I haven't been on before though!

petethedrummer

YanisK wrote: »

Personally I am both a cyclist and a driver. As a driver, I came across many cyclists wearing headphones (listening to music) who have no idea that a car is approaching.

and do dey be doin' de wibblin' and de wobblin' all over de roaid and de splatterin' into de big truck?

furiousox

I have a house phone, personal mobile and work mobile.
My daughter likes Nicki Minaj.
My son likes to play Call of Duty on an xbox.
I NEVER use earphones on a cycle and I fecking LOVE the quiet solitude of a solo spin

Darkglasses

I never use headphones cycling. Where I cycle I can usually hear a car long before I see them, so I'd rather not impede that.

Chips Lovell

You gotta have a bit of music for the commute or those solo training spins.

Reg002

If a car is going to whack you from behind then the wearing of earphones is going to make no difference!

Ole Rodrigo

Drum n Bass when the weathers bad. House when its sunny.

Its called pathetic fallacy, apparently.

Borderfox

Nearly got knocked down by a Nissan Leaf coming out of a driveway, needed a crystal ball for the electric cars

I don't like using earphones when cycling. Some of the roads I travel on are quite narrow & bendy so it helps to hear if something is coming behind me. The one earbud thing is a good idea though, I might start doing that.

VR46

I'm a lone wolf so I'd rather retire from cycling than go musicless.

Maybe I should join a club and get some cycling mates.

yop

Solo training is 1 ear bud in the left ear. Its always newstalk, RTE 1 ( I know, I'm a boring fat kid!!)

Never caused me any issues .

carthoris

yop wrote: »

Solo training is 1 ear bud in the left ear. Its always newstalk, RTE 1 ( I know, I'm a boring fat kid!!)

Never caused me any issues .

I have had many issues with Newstalk ...

RoadhouseBlues

If I'm cycling on my own I always listen to music. Its not loud enough to drown out the sound of the cars though. Anyway I'm not going to be cycling in the middle of the road so its not really making me less safe.

Ole Rodrigo

If a motorist is going to rear end you, heaphones wont make any difference. They might even put the foot down if you're listening to Newstalk.

The only instance Ive found where they can be an annoyance is not hearing traffic build up behind you on some back roads, where as if you did you would pull in a bit and let them past etc

But I can see how that might make them reach for the Joe Duffy speed dial !

irishmotorist

I had a Nissan Leaf take off from the lights beside me recently and it frightened the crap out of me when it passed me as I was settling into my stride. I had no idea it was about to pass me. Engine noise usually gives a great idea of what the driver is thinking and about to do.

To answer the OP, no I don't wear headphones. I think it is too valuable a sense on the road to reduce or to do without. Regarding electric cars, previously I would have laughed at the notion of introducing a 'rev' sound to them. After the aforementioned experience, I think it's a very good idea.

Trojan

I listen to either web & business related podcasts, or hour+ long trance sets (single large mp3, less hassle to get onto device).

.ak

TBH I'd be terrified to use headphones when cycling. I probably use my ears more than anything else on the road, or atleast equal to my eyes!

yop

Now now fuppers, nothing wrong with Newstalk and listening to stories about bankers to get the BPM up for the hills!

yop

.ak wrote: »

TBH I'd be terrified to use headphones when cycling. I probably use my ears more than anything else on the road, or atleast equal to my eyes!

What about your wheels, I use them more than anything else, I reckon my ears would chaff badly if I had to brake with them.

victor201

Wear them all the time just pop them out if im at a dangerous junction where i need to hear approaching traffic

Tenzor07

Would not use standard headphones, though if i wanted to listen to music i'd buy a set of these: aftershokzBone conduction headphones...

07Lapierre

victor201 wrote: »

Wear them all the time just pop them out if im at a dangerous junction where i need to hear approaching traffic

I've never come across a junction so dangerous that I've had to remove headphones to HEAR traffic. If its dangerous I'd make sure i can see any other roadusers that might be a problem.

loyatemu

A cyclist wearing headphones is still going to be far more aware of his surroundings than any driver.

Alanstrainor

loyatemu wrote: »

A cyclist wearing headphones is still going to be far more aware of his surroundings than any driver.

Why not call drivers cagers while you're at it...

yop

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Why not call drivers cagers while you're at it...

Oooohh, who stepped on your accelerator :P

Peter T

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Would not use standard headphones, though if i wanted to listen to music i'd buy a set of these: aftershokzBone conduction headphones...

Friend of mine bought a cheap pair of similar headphones before, they worked but not great. Id like to give a more reputable brand a go, although I felt like Professor Xavier putting them on.

blobbie

BadCharlie wrote: »

God help us when all cars are run on batteries

Don't joke about it. Electric mopeds are everywhere in China and an absolute nightmare to be cycling near. You have to adpat from listening for an engine noise to listening for a hack & spit noise.

Maximus Alexander

I'd be partial to having an an auld tune in my ears when I'm cycling. But I only cycle in the city and I'm very familiar with the routes.

I can see why unimpaired hearing would be a major benefit on country roads, I'm not sure it would it would make any appreciable difference in my case.

victor201

07Lapierre wrote: »

I've never come across a junction so dangerous that I've had to remove headphones to HEAR traffic. If its dangerous I'd make sure i can see any other roadusers that might be a problem.

Lucky for you that you have no such junctions then .i do have one where line of sight is not good so i use my ears as main sensory alert

mal1

i listen to music when cycling in town and sometimes when on open road if bored slightly or climbing lots. Didn't for years and just started recently, it hasn't made a difference in my opinion. Been badly knocked off the bike twice, once from behind and once from the front. My ears wouldn't have saved me for either knocks. Although, if i do ever feel unsafe my natural reaction is to pull them out.

desertcircus

Have worn headphones once on the bike, but the music I tend to listen to (aggressive and speedy) fired me up too much and I took risks I shouldn't have been taking. I could probably listen to something more soothing, but I have no interest in doing so, so instead I write short stories in my head on solo spins.

Brian?

Never listen to music on a spin. I quite enjoy the peacefulness of no music.

donkey balls

I have always worn headphones while cycling either to work or going for a spin without any problems,I am also aware of my surroundings at all times do to the previous job I did as a tanker driver.

Trancechick

Trojan wrote: »

I listen to either web & business related podcasts, or hour+ long trance sets (single large mp3, less hassle to get onto device).

I listen to my dictated college notes or trance sets. SoundCloud is excellent for long sets and it saves me rooting at the device. Noting like the build of a trance set to keep you motivated

Like many others here I only have the left earbud in.

afishyfish

I almost always listen to music/podcasts. I know it's not the safest but long cycles would be a real bore otherwise.
Generally keep the volume low enough to hear when a truck behind me blows it's horn. (You have to be sensible)

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

I hear more around me when cycling with headphones than I do listening to the radio in my car.

Don't put the volume too loud when cycling and you should be able to hear what's going on around you.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Headphones and music loud, ie Korn, Slayer, NIN, Prodigy, Buckcherry etc and can still hear good enough to be full aware of my surroundings.

My motorbike has an exhaust note which would waken the dead, and apart from my sight my car affords me no sense of hearing to outside noise.

I jog and lift weights to music too, I can't function without it ~ life would be boring to me without my music.

Capt'n Midnight

YanisK wrote: »

Personally I am both a cyclist and a driver. As a driver, I came across many cyclists wearing headphones (listening to music) who have no idea that a car is approaching.

Let me hear your opinions on this matter..

As a driver do you ever hear cyclists ?

As a driver you'll appreciate that a loud radio can drown out all external noise. In fact the absence of external noise is used in advertising for cars

what's the point in cyclists having bells when motorists can't hear them ?


In practice you'd want to be stupid to have head phones that blocked car noise as effectively as cars block the noise of other traffic

but in theory that reinforces the Cycling is Dangerous and it's up to cyclists to get out of the way of motorists mentality

macnab

last week I was behind a cyclist who was wearing large white headphones, as we aproached the Eastlink bridge I was aware that the siren was going off to alert traffic that the bridge was about to lift. The lights were red at this stage too. The cyclist with the headphones cycled on unaware as I repeatedly shouted "BRIDGE" at him with increasing levels of volume. He made it accross the bridge none the wiser. He cant have been in too much of a rush as he was watching the boat race when I passed him on the other side.