Cycling to Music - Against Etiquette?

[tri-ing hard]

I am new to this sport and I know that riding on the road with headphones on is far too dangerous to be sensible but I think solo rides would be better with a few tunes in the background.

Would I be breaking any cycling etiquette rules if I was riding along with a sports MP3 player with speakers playing?

[sumgy]

I ride with music while solo but only have the ear bud in my left ear so I can still hear through my right ear.
Mind you if a car has you in its sights it wont matter if you hear it coming or not IMO.

[il padrone]

I am new to this sport and I know that driving on the road with the sound system on is far too dangerous to be sensible but I think solo drives would be better with a few tunes in the background.

Would I be breaking any driving etiquette rules if I was driving along with a duff-duff player with speakers playing?

*fixed

Hmmm, well now I'm not so sure ???

[Redbull]

Depends.

What's the tunes?

[sogood]

What's the tunes?

Looney Tunes... Of course!

[blossy84]

I walk with a co-worker some lunch times and I use my phone on loud speaker for some tunes...I don't know the etiquette with this. Sometimes I feel like a bit of a dork walking through Subi with my "walking playlist" on loud speaker, so I'll sometimes pause it if there are a lot of people around, and play it again when we're outside of the lunching office crowds.

[Schmenz]

i do the left ear trick too. i can hear things coming on the right.

although i have the music so low i can only ever hear it on the uphills when im hurting.

[blossy84]

I used to do that too (music so low you can only hearing whilst you're riding uphill), but then I thought why bother, why not listen to just the wind and the traffic, because that's all I mainly hear even with the earphone in

[Schmenz]

hahaha true - i used to have nothing but after 100km of mainly hills my head starts messing with me... so the music distracts me from the "i just stop for a sec" or "maybe ill just finish now" thoughts.

[blossy84]

I haven't come across that problem yet. Mainly cause I haven't done 100km of any terrain let alone mainly hills, but I do understand where you're coming from and I'd probably be the same if I ever get there.

[Schmenz]

you'll get there

your probably just stronger mentally than me!

[blossy84]

Haha thanks I'm sure I will if I try hard enough. Ive just got to realise it takes time and stop expecting it to just happen now

[winstonw]

Back in the 80s when I was living in the USA and touring the back roads of New England a lot, I used a Sony Walkman and listened to things like National Public Radio (I got hooked on a regular book reading, and various excellent interview segments).

However, now that I am older, riding a roadie for fitness and competition, and generally on busier roads and paths, I'd find the sensory overload of headphones uncomfortable. In fact, it annoys me somewhat when I am about to pass another cyclist and say bike back or ring my bell and the dude doesn't hear cos of earphones.

[Redbull]

The only doof-doof bass sound I hear, is my pulse beating in my ears as I go up to the observatory.

[blossy84]

Where is the observatory? In the hills I take it?

[Redbull]

Back of Kalamunda in the Bickley Valley (I think thats what its called).

Flying Pork Pies introduced me to "The Redbull Challenge" which is a fair bit of climbing. The road up to the observatory is steep at the start but eases off and long. The hard one is Hummerston Road - down to 10kph in the pinch.

[blossy84]

Maybe I can put that on my to do list. I struggle up the "hills" near me.

[Aushiker]

Hi

Here is an option



More information from Ken here.

Andrew

[heanous]

You'll probably find there is enough happening around you in a group ride, so adding the extra dimension your own music would seem superfluous. It wouldn't enhance my riding experience if you rode with me. I'd prefer to ride with people using earbuds really, music low, if you need to chat just yell and pull the buds out/hit pause for the inline control headsets.

I've seen a mates unit which fits in the bottle cage - for an ipod/iphone - got it in Canada I think - not sure if it got past the novelty stage.

[trailgumby]

I think it's poor form. to ride with speakers. There's enough noise and clutter at home and work. I ride to leave that behind.

If you had speakers on a group or pairs ride, you probably wouldn't be invited back, and if I ran across you with them in the bush I'd have to make a decision whether to give you a piece of my mind, or tag along and sing along ... off key

Riding with ear buds... not smart on the road. Sure, wind noise blocks out soem traffic noise, but there are other situations where being able to hear makes an important safety difference.

+1 for those getting the irrits with iPood zombies... it's times like these you need an Air Zound

[il padrone]

Riding with an mp3 player or speakers when riding with others is for diots, I'd agree.

Riding with ear buds... not smart on the road. Sure, wind noise blocks out soem traffic noise, but there are other situations where being able to hear makes an important safety difference.

Well, I haven't struck any such situation. Eyes are what matters for hazard awareness.... eyes and sensible use of a rear-view mirror.

I don't generally use an mp3 player while riding, but did use one for most of a year of commuting once, and never had any concerns with traffic awareness.

[trailgumby]

Not disputing that vision is the primary requirement, but if you're saying that hearing is unimportant I'm sorry, we'll have to agree to disagree. Especially for those riders who go without mirrors (the majority).

[ColinOldnCranky]

I listen to the radio sometimes but not thru headphones.

On a road I never used a radio or anything that would compromise my situational awareness, even to the point that I seldom rode in company. But I concede that I was also anal about this. It is good that you ask the question as that indicates an appropriate awareness. I expect therefore that whatever you do, it will be balanced and sensible. Prove me right and get out and enjoy your riding.

[il padrone]

Not disputing that vision is the primary requirement, but if you're saying that hearing is unimportant I'm sorry, we'll have to agree to disagree. Especially for those riders who go without mirrors (the majority).

Now there's a hint!

Rather than taking a negative perspective (making music-player use a safety gaff) try for a positive initiative that boosts everybody's safety (set use of a mirror as a default norm). There is a wide range of suitable mirrors about on the market, if you choose to look.

[sogood]

Here is an option

That's just noise pollution!

I'd prefer to pass a rider using a single ear bud adjusted to an appropriate and safe volume than riding past a rider with ghettoblaster on volume. So given the title of the post, I'd suggest this is a real breach of cycling etiquette.