To pod or not to pod?

[BearPear]

I am a newbie who is thoroughly enjoying the freedom of the road, but I was wondering what the opinion is on music while out and about?

I love my iPod and always have it on at the gym, I load up some trashy dance pap, but the beat is good for a workout. I am dubious about using it on the road, but I do miss having something to listen to. Is it considered unsafe to use while cycling?

 

[addictfreak]

Lots of people do it. Personally its not for me, too dangerous I like ti hear whats going on around me

 

[PastyPower]

If this isn't a level then may i suggest you get some 'Police' on your ipod and pehaps the calming sound of an ambulance doing 60mph with sirens blasting. Then you can just chill out on your ride

 

[MajorMantra]

Not a good idea, though if you insist on doing it then consider using just one headphone. You can even get single headphones that route both channels into one ear.

Matthew

 

[BearPear]

Ha! So that's a no-no then?!!

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i know joggers who do because it's "boring" otherwise…

i am never bored on the bike, and i have to say i'd prefer to hear what's behind me, not to mention also the sounds of the countryside.

 

[aJohnson]

Not a good idea, though if you insist on doing it then consider using just one headphone. You can even get single headphones that route both channels into one ear.

Matthew

Isn't having one headphone in worse? I read that it confuses your brain.

 

[PastyPower]

Sorry for being a little rude, I only stopped for a rider tonight who had been knocked off his bike, virtually smashed through a windscreen. By the look of it the woman had misjudged the blokes speed and he hit the car full on coming down a fastish part of the road as she obviosly either didn't consider him 'on coming' or couldnt see him. Point is i'd want to have all my senses available whilst on a commute. Too many people in a rush for my liking.

Matt

 

[the_bing]

personal preference, i think. if you're tackling a big hill, the 'rocky' soundtrack is 2nd to none, but i suppose there are safety issues on busy roads. awareness is the key, i find. if i'm riding my local towpath, for instance, and there's someone going much slower than me, plugged into a ipod, then if they don't know i'm there, then they can just hold me up and get in the way . kinda annoying. similar issues when you're on the road but the consequences can be a bit more severe...

i'm not one to tell anyone what to do but i would say, on the road, don't get too swept up in those block rocking beats to forget to keep an eye (preferably two!) on idiots in cars!

bing

 

[MajorMantra]

Isn't having one headphone in worse? I read that it confuses your brain.

Might be, I don't know.

By the way, google 'Rachel Atherton crash' to see what listening to music whilst riding can lead to.

Matthew

 

[gaz]

Depends totally on the situation you are in, 90% of my cycling is in central london, your always right next to a car and thus being aware of whats coming via hearing is not necessary, as the engine next to you is the only thing you can hear. Thus listing to my iphone on half volume means it's only a backing track to the engine noise i hear consistently.

 

[HJ]

I am a newbie who is thoroughly enjoying the freedom of the road, but I was wondering what the opinion is on music while out and about?

I love my iPod and always have it on at the gym, I load up some trashy dance pap, but the beat is good for a workout. I am dubious about using it on the road, but I do miss having something to listen to. Is it considered unsafe to use while cycling?

Depends on how busy it is and how much you want to hear what is going on around you. Personally I don't feel the need for an iPod as I enjoy being out and about, not like being trapped in a boring gym...

 

[marzjennings]

I pretty much always wear an ipod while riding. There's nothing to say that riding with music makes it any more dangerous.

 

[zacklaws]

I pretty much always wear an ipod while riding. There's nothing to say that riding with music makes it any more dangerous.

You will find the following in the highway code under general advice:-

>>>Safe driving and riding needs concentration.
Avoid distractions when driving or riding such as

• loud music (this may mask other sounds)<<<

Note the word safe, means opposite to dangerous. But there again under the same heading there are other things that I do like eating and drinking whilst riding and theres nothing worse than try to open that stubborn gel or energy bar as you race along to give you a good wobble at times

 

[Sittingduck]

I pretty much always wear an ipod while riding. There's nothing to say that riding with music makes it any more dangerous.

Never heard of common sense?