#1 2008-10-22 14:31:49

Chuck_McNeil
Member
Registered: 2008-06-05
Posts: 33

Cycling with headphones. Opinions?

My buddy wears his Ipod when he rides solo.  He got sideswiped a couple of days ago.  I told him he prolly wouldn't have gotten hit if he didn't have the Ipod.
Any opinions on riding the streets with headphones?
I'm pretty sure he's gonna get a mirror now, but won't stop rocking the headphones.

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#2 2008-10-23 08:40:12

paulsjv
Member
Registered: 2008-06-02
Posts: 7

Re: Cycling with headphones. Opinions?

I would never wear headphones while riding just like I never wear headphones when I drive.  Just seems pretty dangerous because you can't hear anything coming your way! eek!

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#3 2008-10-23 11:03:07

jmayson
Member
Registered: 2008-06-28
Posts: 46

Re: Cycling with headphones. Opinions?

I absolutely will not wear headphones/earbuds while cycling.  Safety is one reason.  But another is I ride because I like being out in nature.  Okay, Parmer Lane might not be nature, but I want to hear things.  Just this morning someone yelled "Go Lance!" to me.  Another reason is if I am hit I'm certain the driver and police will dismiss the whole thing because I had headphones on, even if the crash wasn't my fault.

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#4 2008-10-23 19:31:24

dougmc
Administrator
Registered: 2008-06-01
Posts: 631

Re: Cycling with headphones. Opinions?

I don't see where it's any more dangerous than driving in your car with the stereo on at a volume that sounds similarly loud.  It's not like the earbuds block the sound to any significant degree.  Of course, if the volume is high enough, it'll drown out sounds around you -- but you get the same effect in your car if you turn the stereo up.

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#5 2008-10-24 09:27:23

plarson
Member
Registered: 2008-05-27
Posts: 42

Re: Cycling with headphones. Opinions?

One key point: in a car you are relatively safe, with tons of other steel cages riding around you. If you don't hear a car coming, or a another bicyclist coming from behind you, then you are more likely to get hit or piss some other cyclist off because you can't hear them.  It would be different if you were actually deaf. You don't realize what you miss when you are huddled in your stereo. You become just like all the rest of the cars out there, oblivious to the outside world. It really is more dangerous.

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