Who cycles with music?
Discussion
As a sort of off shoot to the "Headphones for Cycling" thread
I wonder how many people listen to music while riding their bike?
Personally, I can't stand it. I like to hear what is going on around me. It gives me an awful lot of information when out riding whether it be dogs, kids, cars, people, other animals, terrain, anything. I like to hear the sound of the ground underneath me like leaves, stones, twigs, water etc. Another thing that can throw me off is the changing beat, sub consciously, i seem to match my cadence to the beat of the music, this, i find is a bad thing and the only way around it would be to get lots of songs with the same timing and beat. Granted, i mostly do XC or trail, but i wouldn't wear headphones even if i was on the road.
My friend hates riding without music. (roadie)
What do you like?
I wonder how many people listen to music while riding their bike?
Personally, I can't stand it. I like to hear what is going on around me. It gives me an awful lot of information when out riding whether it be dogs, kids, cars, people, other animals, terrain, anything. I like to hear the sound of the ground underneath me like leaves, stones, twigs, water etc. Another thing that can throw me off is the changing beat, sub consciously, i seem to match my cadence to the beat of the music, this, i find is a bad thing and the only way around it would be to get lots of songs with the same timing and beat. Granted, i mostly do XC or trail, but i wouldn't wear headphones even if i was on the road.
My friend hates riding without music. (roadie)
What do you like?
I don't run or cycle with music, mainly because I don't want to get used to being motivated by the music when iPods etc aren't allowed in races (running). If I need music to make me run fast/work hard then I'm going to struggle in the big races.
One thing in the future that makes me even more keen not to run/cycle with music is the probable increase in electric cars - they are so quiet that it can be tricky to hear them even without headphones!
As for others doing it, each to their own but don't have a shock when I overtake you (on foot or bike) and you haven't heard me approach (it happens quite a lot along the canal and old railway here in Bath).
One thing in the future that makes me even more keen not to run/cycle with music is the probable increase in electric cars - they are so quiet that it can be tricky to hear them even without headphones!
As for others doing it, each to their own but don't have a shock when I overtake you (on foot or bike) and you haven't heard me approach (it happens quite a lot along the canal and old railway here in Bath).
ewenm said:
As for others doing it, each to their own but don't have a shock when I overtake you and you haven't heard me approach .
YesThis happens a lot to me too, people wearing headphones and when i overtake them, they have a hissy fit. Well if you hadn't have been listening to music then you would have noticed me behind you, waiting for an opportunity to overtake.
Winds me up something chronic
DarrenL said:
I would NEVER ride with headphones, its dangerous and idiotic. I completely agree with you OP, the more information I have to make decisions, the better my chances are of avoiding accidents!
Clearly other people have other views. I usually cycle with headphones on and have never felt more, or less, vulnerable with them in than without. Nor have I had any near misses which I would solely put down to phones.If you feel that it would be 'dangerous and idiotic' FOR YOU, then of course nobody is going to force you to wear them, but do try and avoid forcing your own opinions on others whose anecdotal evidence and experience would appear to contradict same.
Have never worn them as I prefer to be able to hear what is behind me at all times. Then again I never really listen to music anyway.
However, I agree with previous comments about others using headphones. I do most of my riding off-road and have had problems passing people (mainly joggers rather than cyclists) who keep to the centre of the path. Having headphone on have meant they have been unable to hear my bell or me shouting at them from behind!
This results in me having to do a less than desireable dive down one side of them, which they are sometimes less than happy with but tough as far as I am concerned.
However, I agree with previous comments about others using headphones. I do most of my riding off-road and have had problems passing people (mainly joggers rather than cyclists) who keep to the centre of the path. Having headphone on have meant they have been unable to hear my bell or me shouting at them from behind!
This results in me having to do a less than desireable dive down one side of them, which they are sometimes less than happy with but tough as far as I am concerned.
samwilliams said:
After a near-miss with a supertanker (well, not quite, but close enough), I chopped off one earphone and only listen to music in one ear now when out and about.
I do this too (Well without the chopping) - always have earphone in the left ear, so can hear cars etc overtakingYeah, anytime I'm riding Solo.
Had a cheeky uplift at Cwmcarn yesterday, played on the Freeride bit on my Cove and came down the XC trail listening to the 'anything agressive' playlist on my iPhone. Usually Thrash Metal, Hip Hop, Electronic music.. fapping great it was.
Wouldn't do it on the road, but then I don't ever ride on the road, or when I'm riding with Mates, that's just rude.
Had a cheeky uplift at Cwmcarn yesterday, played on the Freeride bit on my Cove and came down the XC trail listening to the 'anything agressive' playlist on my iPhone. Usually Thrash Metal, Hip Hop, Electronic music.. fapping great it was.
Wouldn't do it on the road, but then I don't ever ride on the road, or when I'm riding with Mates, that's just rude.
Not for me when out and about as I like to hear all the other things going on out there. It's not a safety nazi thing it's more about hearing and seeing things as I ride. For instance earlier this spring I heard a young bird of prey screeching and stopped to have a look at this lovely bird which I could otherwise have missed.
I do it in the gym to help with the boredom for those sessions on the trainer.
I do it in the gym to help with the boredom for those sessions on the trainer.
I wouldn't listen to music on my bike as it's dangerous enough cycling through central London without effectively being deaf at the same time.
I don't listen to music when running either as I use my hearing to tell when vehicles are approaching from behind/from the side when I'm crossing the road (which I have to do a lot).
Pedestrians with headphones on can be a real risk in London as they happily stride out into the traffic...
I just use mine on tubes, trains and (when I occasionally fly) planes
I don't listen to music when running either as I use my hearing to tell when vehicles are approaching from behind/from the side when I'm crossing the road (which I have to do a lot).
Pedestrians with headphones on can be a real risk in London as they happily stride out into the traffic...
I just use mine on tubes, trains and (when I occasionally fly) planes
I always run with earphones whether I am doing a casual 5k or a timed marathon. I find it massively motivates me to the extent that if I am planning to go on a run and find my Ipod has a flat battey I won't go until it is charged. I would love to do the same with cycling, but don't purely for safety reasons. I run on the pavement but cycle on the road. IMHO it is as simple as that
ewenm said:
I don't run or cycle with music, mainly because I don't want to get used to being motivated by the music when iPods etc aren't allowed in races (running). If I need music to make me run fast/work hard then I'm going to struggle in the big races.
One thing in the future that makes me even more keen not to run/cycle with music is the probable increase in electric cars - they are so quiet that it can be tricky to hear them even without headphones!
As for others doing it, each to their own but don't have a shock when I overtake you (on foot or bike) and you haven't heard me approach (it happens quite a lot along the canal and old railway here in Bath).
Well, nobody overtakes me on that bike path (apart from one tosser who slipstreamed me for about 6 miles at the end of my 30 miles route and then fOne thing in the future that makes me even more keen not to run/cycle with music is the probable increase in electric cars - they are so quiet that it can be tricky to hear them even without headphones!
As for others doing it, each to their own but don't have a shock when I overtake you (on foot or bike) and you haven't heard me approach (it happens quite a lot along the canal and old railway here in Bath).
ked off when I got tired - hoping it wasn't you 
) so I don't have those issues when listening to my music 
I ride road (and occasionally the bike path described above) and will usually put my headphones in when I'm on my own (which I'm generally not when I'm on the bike path) and like to have the company of a bit of music but not too loud. If I thought I was missing traffic noise, which I don't seem to, then I'd turn it off or not wear them! As a side note, my new cycling tops actually have a hole in the back specifically designed to hold mp3 players! Unfortunately the hole is big enough that my ipod fits through it, not just the headphone cable
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