DIY ipod "boombox" on bike?

perstephanie

Hey guys

Has anyone attached an ipod (probably a shuffle) onto your bike with speakers? Or does anyone actually make some kind of custom bike speakers?

I don't want to wear headphones because it's dangerous, but those 9 hour rides get kind of long without music!

Thanks,

Steph

reub2000

If you use open air headphones, then they should allow most of the outside noises in. On the other hand, speakers mounted on your bike might not go so well with others.

perstephanie

Most of them are passing me rather quickly anyway

kakman

If the file attachment works, this will show my 3yo son wearing what I use. It allows outside sound as the headphones aren't directly on the ears. It's also completely self-contained so easy to get on and off - simple to control too.

of course over about 20kph there are wind noise issues from the basic helmet but I can live with that.

//k

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kdelong

Most but not all? Any music on a multi-use trail should be kept to yourself. A lot of your fellow users will not appreciate having to listen to your music when they would rather listen to the birds or the hum of their tires. I like to get out away from the distactions of civilization on my rides and get rather annoyed when they follow me out there .

9 hour rides? Wow, you must rack up some monster mileage on these rides. At a very slow 12 MPH you will be doing a century+ . To fight the boredom, find a cycling buddy.

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perstephanie

Thanks for sharing, kakman! That's a pretty cool set up

perstephanie

Your points are taken, but I think reasonable volume and common courtesy would work nicely here. The times I'm thinking of, I'm riding by myself in between regroups in more remote areas. Thanks to the suggestions on this thread though, I'll look again at an headphones option as well

I also do generally ride with people, but we go at our own paces and regroup. We're training for the MS150 in California, so we did the first 40 miles and back yesterday over CA-1 along the coast from San Francisco. It went along the foothills of Mt. Tam - I don't know exactly how many feet of climbing it was, but I'd estimate about a hojillion

alienator

Well, golly, if you're bored on those "9 hour rides," maybe you should find a different hobby. Anyone that gets bored riding really doesn't get cycling very well.

perstephanie

I wouldn't say I'm bored, I'd say music helps me keep going when the going gets tough It's what I miss about running vs. cycling.

Thanks to everyone who's given suggestions, I'd rather not defend myself anymore here though :P

Cycler6n

I agree, I like the sound of the road, no music better

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alienator

That's all I listen to. And sometimes, out in the desert or in the mountains, the silence is deafening and a joy to hear.

Powerful Pete

Personally, I love the sounds my bike makes, especially on quiet roads. The whirring of the wheels, the clicking sound when changing gears, all that.

Lovely.

Of course, squeeks and funny noises that should not be there annoy me to no end...

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killthecar

I have an mp3 phone with external speakers, a generic cell phone holster, and the strap of my chrome messenger bag. The strap puts the music within inches of my ears when bent over my drops. but i can straighten up to get away enough to hear the traffic.

I know a giant messenger bag probably isn't practical for someone does long distance rides, but couldn't you rig up a simple strap (or maybe use a belt) slung around your shoulders messenger style, and find a used mp3 phone/mp3 player with external speakers on ebay/craigslist?

kdelong

I am not trying to denigrate any one but there is something here that I don't understand. Why must some people always have music going? It seems like every time I go on a picnic or to the beach, someone has to be there with a boombox blaring, seemingly oblivious to the fact that there are other people there that do not appreciate having either to put up with their noise or leave. What is wrong with natural sounds instead of man made guitars, drums, and keyboards ?

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