Ipod

Imho, definitely. I love it for training. Contrary to what I have read others post who have dissenting opinions, I can hear approaching traffic just fine. I'm also always looking over my shoulder before making any move that might be unexpected to an approaching vehicle, but that is recommended, iPod or not. I havent experienced a safety issue that's been a result of the iPod in a couple years now riding with one. That said, one has to take one's own riding area, traffic issues and/or concerns, riding habits and iPod volume level into account when evaluating its use during riding.

One note: the shuffle is great. I recommend that over and iPod say dropped in your jersey pocket. The immediate volume control adjustment and pause facilitated by wearing it on the armband has been extremely useful.

Maybe try riding with one and simply see what you think.

If it truly is not a safety hazard, then no harm done. However, in general I do wonder about so many people's inability these days to be alone with their own thoughts. Or no thoughts, as in "a quiet mind."

Up to you. I ride with an ipod. Of course, it is more of a risk than riding without one... up to you to decide. I love riding in the early morning listening to my favorite tunes...

graf zeppelin said:

Imho, definitely. I love it for training. Contrary to what I have read others post who have dissenting opinions, I can hear approaching traffic just fine.

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There are some vey quite cars on the road. The type tires make a big differents. You may not be hearing all the cars that you think.

dougadam said:

There are some vey quite cars on the road. The type tires make a big differents. You may not be hearing all the cars that you think.

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Certainly true, but I dont find hearing compromised much at all during use. I think it does depend on a balance of play volume, the headphone type and how you have them in your ears, general safety of your riding area/route as a whole, your riding awareness sans the sense of hearing. I have while using it occasionally met a rider on the road and been able to hold a normal conversation without turning it off, ditching it if we stay together, so I'm not using it at an absurd level of volume, nor do the ear buds really ever get full sound closure. I agree with you though, and as Powerful Pete said, its not as safe certainly as riding without.

There are some routes and some times too I simply prefer to ride without it. There's the nice zen-like feeling on a bike you can of course only acheive when its simply you and the environment.

dougadam said:

There are some vey quite cars on the road. The type tires make a big differents. You may not be hearing all the cars that you think.

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That`s true but it really doesn`t matter if you don`t see a car. If it`s comming from behind you don`t know where one is driving. If it`s too close or not it will probably sound the same. If you don`t set it too loud you will still be able to hear a horn.

Pendejo said:

If it truly is not a safety hazard, then no harm done. However, in general I do wonder about so many people's inability these days to be alone with their own thoughts. Or no thoughts, as in "a quiet mind."

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I was actually always think the same thing. I can't stand listening to music while riding, but that obviously is my opinion. When I listen to music, I wanna be doing that, listening to it. When riding, I just want to have a clear mind, and enjoy the "quiet" as you mentioned.

Oh well, what ever floats people's boats, I guess.

-on the subject of the thread, I don't think I could ride with earphones on. It would freak me out mentally more than anything. I need to be able to hear the traffic.

I used it once, and I found that I couldn't really hear oncoming traffic, but that could be b/c of the type of earphones I use.

I don't expect to change anyone's mind, but I think that people who say "I can hear just fine with my headphones" are just about as sensible as people who say "I've just had a little to drink, I can drive just fine" - even if you can hear it is way to easy to tune everything out when you've got on headphones. Anyway, around here at least, you can get a ticket for riding a bike wearing headphones.

I tried the stock headphones, but wind noise was drowning out the sound. So I tried the improved Apple headphones that have seals on the end. They block the wind noise, but also block car noise. That made me nervous - granted, you're already at the mercy of cars, but if you can't hear them coming up behind you, you're really at their mercy. Not sure I trust the motoring public with my life to that degree...

Either you cant hear cars because of the tunes your listening to or if your ear phones aren't good you cant hear anything but wind. Personally i ride without my ipod because its a good place to think while your riding

I used to ride with the headphones on, but actually feel less stressed coming home from work with them off. If I feel in the need of a tune, I'll start singing ... much to the dismay of the person I'm following!

One headphone in, one out, no super loud volume. its a compromise

Nope. None. I like listening to the wind, the environment, and my thoughts. If I'm so bored that I need music, then riding a bike must not be that interesting to me.

i alternate, if its a ride or a place i go alot, then i might rock the ipod, but if its uncharted territory or somewhere with a lot of hotties, i leave my ears unfettered and available for numbers to be shouted at me...

I am astounded at how often this thread pops up, all over the place.


I guess the serach function is not working.

If you want top ride with an iPod - go ahead and do it - who cares.

You will contribute to Charles Darwin's ongoing research. Good for you.

Eden said:

I don't expect to change anyone's mind, but I think that people who say "I can hear just fine with my headphones" are just about as sensible as people who say "I've just had a little to drink, I can drive just fine" - even if you can hear it is way to easy to tune everything out when you've got on headphones. Anyway, around here at least, you can get a ticket for riding a bike wearing headphones.

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heh.. if 'around here' is Seattle thats something i'll bear in mind if my trip goes ahead

My take on it usually is that I can only do something about cars that I can see ahead of me; any sort of pulling out is preceeded by looking over ones shoulder, which i try to do quite regularly anyway.
As mentioned elsewhere i find they help fire me up in the morning (i'm not naturally a morning person).

I am trying to ween myself of the headphones though (as much for the sake of my hearing as anything else), e.g. only bothering to use them out in the countryside on dedicated longer rides rather than on the regular commute.
I'm lucky enough to have a waterfront commute route that is 2/3rds traffic free.