Headphones?

Crizzy · 28 Sep 2018 at 07:02

I couldn't find an actual thread on this and thought it would be interesting to see how many OcUKers wear headphones whilst out on the road?

I don't, but I am considering getting a single Bluetooth earphone or maybe give those Aftershockz a try.

Shadowness · 28 Sep 2018 at 08:17

Most of time yes, when commuting or out on solo rides.

I rarely ride in any built up areas (as I live in a very rural area), if at all I'm just passing through.

I don't see any issue with it, except when riding with others.

Begbie · 28 Sep 2018 at 09:56

Nope, I like to hear what the traffic is doing.

Also it's my escapism, to get away (as much as possible) from electronics etc.

bimbleuk · 28 Sep 2018 at 11:48

I do wear in ear Bluetooth phones but I don't listen to music just audiobooks so I'm always aware of what's around be. They can get a bit sweaty on a long ride but for my hour each way commute they are fine.

One More Solo · 28 Sep 2018 at 20:17

I’ve got a set of Aftershokz I wear sometimes, they work well albeit it’s never going to be hifi quality. I train outside a lot more these days and they help keep it interesting since there are only so many roads you can make a decent 90-120 minute training loop out of! I don’t feel any less safe using them.

BennyC · 28 Sep 2018 at 21:00

Yes, discussed in the road thread every so often.

In ear for me, partly for effects on RPE but also to stop deafening wind noise.

As a result my conscious awareness in increased due to having essentially almost lost one of my senses. If riding on notoriously dangerous, windy or fast roads (A roads temporarily) I'll usually turn it down or off.

Even without anything in your ears you should still be monitoring your surroundings, much like checking mirrors when driving.

MegaMasher · 28 Sep 2018 at 21:05

I'm a never headphones guy. Had headphones in when I was a kid and got hit by a car so since then I haven't used them. Plus on reflection its pretty unsafe.

prj1865 · 28 Sep 2018 at 21:07

Begbie said:
Nope, I like to hear what the traffic is doing.

Also it's my escapism, to get away (as much as possible) from electronics etc.

Same for me

DanF · 30 Sep 2018 at 22:51

yeah just have the one headphone in when riding. Picked up a mono headphone off amazon to try out, saves the right ear just dangling around

Calpol · 22 Oct 2018 at 20:37

Went out on the CX bike yesterday. 90% off road and I really enjoyed my AC/DC playlist. However as soon as I was back on the road I hit the pause button. Too dangerous to ride on the road with any distraction.

lemonade · 25 Oct 2018 at 11:24

I think you have to be a bit silly to wear HP commuting in say a city like London.

I have seen some close calls of people who completely engrossed in their music and paying no attention to environment around, such as a ambulance trying to get through...

BennyC · 27 Oct 2018 at 18:20

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/should-you-cycle-with-earphones-in-297887

Food for thought.

Would you forbid deaf people from cycling on the road? The Deaf & Hard of Hearing can drive.

mattyfez · 29 Oct 2018 at 19:26

Of course not, still doesn't mean I'd hamper a sense for the sake of it.

lemonade · 31 Oct 2018 at 13:06

Completely different case with deaf people, on top of that deaf people develop methods of sensing the environment around them, which your non deaf person won't have.

BennyC · 31 Oct 2018 at 14:16

lemonade said:
Completely different case with deaf people, on top of that deaf people develop methods of sensing the environment around them, which your non deaf person won't have.

Deaf people develop a 6th sense?

One More Solo · 31 Oct 2018 at 16:29

I think:
a) people overestimate how much they can hear on a bike
b) overestimate how much difference it actually makes

If you're about to be hit from behind, hearing a car coming makes no difference, believe me.

lemonade · 31 Oct 2018 at 16:41

It's not about unavoidable situations, but situations where you can actually avoid by using your hearing, and its more than just that being able to hear your environment aids your awareness of what is around you.

kiteloopy · 1 Nov 2018 at 15:13

BennyC said:
Deaf people develop a 6th sense?

They become lawyers and fight crime.

BennyC · 1 Nov 2018 at 19:54

kiteloopy said:
They become lawyers and fight crime.

Specialising in RTC's involving road users and headphones?

Shoeyuk · 30 Jan 2019 at 20:35

I use aftershockz titanium’s and use them out on my runs. The majority of mine are off road when there is roads involved I can hear the traffic around and if I was really worried I’d just pause the music. I don’t have the tunes too loud I can still hear the birds singing.