Are iPods, iPhones and bikes a good mix?
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 3:30 pm
From Cycling Australia e-newsletter
Introduction
You know those bunch rides you sometimes go on where someone new comes along and has an iPod in their ear? Or those riders whose mobile goes off at 5.30am when the bunch has just started rolling off? Here’s some research suggesting phones, music and bikes shouldn’t mix.
The Research
25 recreational cyclists (11 men, 14 women) aged between 16 and 26 rode their bikes round a car-free 220m x 2m asphalt path for about 30 minutes. The following different conditions were imposed on them:
1. Normal cycling with two hands on the handlebars
2. Cycling with one hand on the handlebars
3. Normal music (120 beats/min) with two normal iPod-type earpieces
4. Normal music (120 beats/min) with one normal iPod-type earpieces
5. Normal music (120 beats/min) with two in-earbuds that cut off all external sound
6. Fast beat music (180 beats/min) with two normal iPod-type earpieces
7. Normal but loud music with two normal iPod-type earpieces
8. Bluetooth phone earpiece
9. Normal handheld phone
The Dutch scientists measured bike speed using GPS; how many times each cyclists heard a bike bell emitted from a pannier on their bike; how quickly the cyclists stopped and put a foot on the ground when hearing a loud horn emitted 5m from them near the finish of each ride; and how observant the cyclists were noticing safety signs or traffic lights put up randomly on each ride.
The Results
Cycling speed only changed when using either the Bluetooth earpiece or the handheld phone with speed dropping from about 19 k/hr to 17 k/hr. When riding (one- or two-handed) without any devices and when using either of the phone devices, all stop signals were heard. However, stop signals were missed 4% of the time with two earpieces in, 16% of the time with the fast music, 24% of the times when using high volume music, and an amazing 68% with the enclosed earbuds. Braking time increased only in the two phone conditions by 0.29 of a second, especially in the one-hand on handlebar condition. When riding without music or phones, 53% of the riders missed signs. This increased to 66% when using phones but music didn’t affect this measure.
The So What?
The research team concluded that music worsens the ability to hear sounds, especially when wearing in-earbuds that cut out external sounds like cars, trucks and other riders. They also concluded that both handheld and hands free mobile phone use negatively effects perception of sights and sound. The bottom line is ride safe by having all the senses primed for any input that flags danger. Leave the toys at home and communicate with others in the bunch to keep everyone safe.
De Waard, D et al. (2011).Effects of listening to music, and of using a handheld and handsfree telephone on cycling behaviour.Transportation Research. 14: 626-637.
Please note that this information is not prescriptive.
Peter Reaburn is an Associate Professor in sport science at CQUniversity. He races B-grade with Rockhampton Cycling Club and in 2010 completed his second Grafton-Inverell (228 km) race. He has also won the 50-54 years National Ironman Championship at Forster in 2005 and is building to another Hawaii Ironman in 2015. Peter has presented vet rider and coaches workshops for Cycling Australia and Cycling Queensland and has a passion for ‘bridging the gap’ between sport science and sport. He has written the definitive book for veteran riders titled The Masters Athlete available at www.mastersathlete.com.au . He will be writing regular ‘bridging the gap’ articles for E Cycle.
Introduction
You know those bunch rides you sometimes go on where someone new comes along and has an iPod in their ear? Or those riders whose mobile goes off at 5.30am when the bunch has just started rolling off? Here’s some research suggesting phones, music and bikes shouldn’t mix.
The Research
25 recreational cyclists (11 men, 14 women) aged between 16 and 26 rode their bikes round a car-free 220m x 2m asphalt path for about 30 minutes. The following different conditions were imposed on them:
1. Normal cycling with two hands on the handlebars
2. Cycling with one hand on the handlebars
3. Normal music (120 beats/min) with two normal iPod-type earpieces
4. Normal music (120 beats/min) with one normal iPod-type earpieces
5. Normal music (120 beats/min) with two in-earbuds that cut off all external sound
6. Fast beat music (180 beats/min) with two normal iPod-type earpieces
7. Normal but loud music with two normal iPod-type earpieces
8. Bluetooth phone earpiece
9. Normal handheld phone
The Dutch scientists measured bike speed using GPS; how many times each cyclists heard a bike bell emitted from a pannier on their bike; how quickly the cyclists stopped and put a foot on the ground when hearing a loud horn emitted 5m from them near the finish of each ride; and how observant the cyclists were noticing safety signs or traffic lights put up randomly on each ride.
The Results
Cycling speed only changed when using either the Bluetooth earpiece or the handheld phone with speed dropping from about 19 k/hr to 17 k/hr. When riding (one- or two-handed) without any devices and when using either of the phone devices, all stop signals were heard. However, stop signals were missed 4% of the time with two earpieces in, 16% of the time with the fast music, 24% of the times when using high volume music, and an amazing 68% with the enclosed earbuds. Braking time increased only in the two phone conditions by 0.29 of a second, especially in the one-hand on handlebar condition. When riding without music or phones, 53% of the riders missed signs. This increased to 66% when using phones but music didn’t affect this measure.
The So What?
The research team concluded that music worsens the ability to hear sounds, especially when wearing in-earbuds that cut out external sounds like cars, trucks and other riders. They also concluded that both handheld and hands free mobile phone use negatively effects perception of sights and sound. The bottom line is ride safe by having all the senses primed for any input that flags danger. Leave the toys at home and communicate with others in the bunch to keep everyone safe.
De Waard, D et al. (2011).Effects of listening to music, and of using a handheld and handsfree telephone on cycling behaviour.Transportation Research. 14: 626-637.
Please note that this information is not prescriptive.
Peter Reaburn is an Associate Professor in sport science at CQUniversity. He races B-grade with Rockhampton Cycling Club and in 2010 completed his second Grafton-Inverell (228 km) race. He has also won the 50-54 years National Ironman Championship at Forster in 2005 and is building to another Hawaii Ironman in 2015. Peter has presented vet rider and coaches workshops for Cycling Australia and Cycling Queensland and has a passion for ‘bridging the gap’ between sport science and sport. He has written the definitive book for veteran riders titled The Masters Athlete available at www.mastersathlete.com.au . He will be writing regular ‘bridging the gap’ articles for E Cycle.