Cyclists and headphones.

[smokeysmoo]

Almost agree entirely with TheDoctor

Been wearing headphones off and on for twenty years.
Always wear a helmet.
Never been hit by a car.
If you don't notice a couple of tonnes of metal, then being able to hear isn't going to save your bacon.
Honestly, it's one of the more pointless topics out there...

 

[User6179]

I used to ride listening to music. Everything from Classical to pop and (real) punk (none of this greeday sh@t) I find I could hear everything I needed to hear, and it didn't cause me any problems on the road. But I also found it slowed me down, and meant I was not working as hard as I wanted to. So I stopped about 8 months ago, I don't miss it. AS if is it safe, as safe as a car radio or bluetooth phone, or drinking coffee and driving a car.

If its slowing you down i would suggest listen to something with a quicker tempo, perhaps american idiot

 

[edwardd67]

Almost agree entirely with TheDoctor

Been wearing headphones off and on for twenty years.
Always wear a helmet.
Never been hit by a car.
If you don't notice a couple of tonnes of metal, then being able to hear isn't going to save your bacon.
Honestly, it's one of the more pointless topics out there...

So the safety of others is pointless?
So if we all start going through lights while listening to music cycling like we're in a world of our own it will be ok!

 

[User6179]

So the safety of others is pointless?
So if we all start going through lights while listening to music cycling like we're in a world of our own it will be ok!

Are you reading the same thread?, where does anyone say going through a red light listening to music is ok?

 

[smokeysmoo]

So the safety of others is pointless?

No, and at no point have I ever suggested otherwise.

So if we all start going through lights while listening to music cycling like we're in a world of our own it will be OK!

Again no, and to correct your wild assumption of my riding style, I don't RLJ either thank you very much.

Oh yes, out of morbid curiosity, why do you aim this only at me and completely fail to include TheDoctor in your riposte?

Now wind your neck in and calm down. We're all different, what suits you and I wont suit a lot of others, c'est la vie, ride safe.

 

[gavroche]

I tried riding with earphones once. Hated it so will never do it again.

 

[User6179]

I tried riding with earphones once. Hated it so will never do it again.

Yes better riding a bike!!

 

[edwardd67]

Smokeysmoo sorry falied to notice you were Quoting The Doctor.

 

[StuartG]

If you don't notice a couple of tonnes of metal, then being able to hear isn't going to save your bacon.

Not being able to hear 10kg of carbon can do for you too (and them!). The swish is a sound particularly prone to being filtered out by anything covering the ear. Those of us who have suffered from headphoned folk being unaware of what's behind may think you a little selfish.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Sorry SG but I don't fully understand that from the way you have written it.

I get the gist but it doesn't scan well.

At the end of the day I ride with headphones, I've never had a reason to stop doing, and I've never caused a situation that would make me reassess what I do.

C'est la vie, que sera and all that jazz.

Ride safe.


PS: I always wear a helmet too

 

[green1]

If you check your 6 regularly as you should 99% of the time you'll be aware of them. If they are not aware and you do give them a scare which causes a wobble/accident you've not given them enough room as you've gone past.

 

[green1]

[QUOTE 2034694, member: 45"]Sorry, but no. We should not have to make allowances for cylists who have their music turned up so loud that they jump as you pass them giving the normal amount of space.[/quote]
I'm not saying you should, but I've been passed a couple of times where if I had stuck my arm out to signal a right turn the person passing me would have been clotheslined straight off the back of their bike. The highway code rule about leaving sufficient room when passing doesn't just apply to motor vehicles. If you do leave sufficient room then it won't matter if you make them jump that's the whole point of leaving room in the first place.

 

[Bromptonaut]

The trouble with this debate is that 'headphones' is used generically. At one end are the sort that are open backed and loose in the ear. At the other are those that hermetically seal to the ear canal AND have electronic noise reduction. As a train pax I've tried the range and found that open backs are useless; background noise from mechanicals and other pax audible even when you're pi**ing them off with full volume boom tish boom tish. OTOH with the sealed sort you can miss the announcement for your station.

On the bike I prefer hearing everything and won't listen at all.

 

[TheDoctor]

Not being able to hear 10kg of carbon can do for you too (and them!). The swish is a sound particularly prone to being filtered out by anything covering the ear. Those of us who have suffered from headphoned folk being unaware of what's behind may think you a little selfish.

Smokey was quoting me there.
Listening to music is one thing, hearing nothing but the music is quite another. Anyway, it's unwise to rely purely on hearing - you do need to look.
The look over your shoulder before turning isn't called a Lifesaver for nothing.

 

[srw]

I'm not saying you should, but I've been passed a couple of times where if I had stuck my arm out to signal a right turn the person passing me would have been clotheslined straight off the back of their bike. The highway code rule about leaving sufficient room when passing doesn't just apply to motor vehicles. If you do leave sufficient room then it won't matter if you make them jump that's the whole point of leaving room in the first place.

Do they stiill teach "mirror, signal, manoeuvre"? It's the same on a bike - except that it's "look, signal, manoeuvre".

If you stick your arm out without making sure that it's safe to do so - that's your problem.