wearing headphones
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 569
Likes: 7
From: Massachusetts
I started riding with my ipod this summer. I'm going to get some handlebar speakers this winter, but untill then, the ear buds work fine. still can hear my bike and whats going on around me if I want.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
I ride like I'm invisible and every car out there is being driven by a cute 16 yr-old blond girl on her cell phone who is fighting back a mouthful of chewing gum to get out her conversation. Doesn't matter what's in my ears, every car is out to get me.
Stage IV
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
I wear earplugs, and dial in outside ambient noise/sounds using the intercom. I can hear dogs barking, cars behind me, etc. I just crank the speakers up on the headset. Interesting thing, when you wear hearing protection, your ears remain far more sensitive than when they are naked in loud environments. Audiologists know this.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,197
Likes: 0
From: USA
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,183
Likes: 4
From: Fennario
Well onaride63, I suspect that you got what you expected: some love it, some hate it, some want to tell you what to do...
I have ridden without any music source, with earbuds, with headset and with speakers. I can't honestly say that any of them are inherently more dangerous. It all comes down to the rider and their level of attention and situational awareness.
A couple of earlier posts pointed to a problem of rider distraction (e.g. fooling with iPod), which is really another matter altogether.
Since light travels much more quickly than sound, visual perception allows much more time than audible cues. Many situations can be avoided using visual cues, whereas often one is reacting to audible cues (that is, the situation has already begun).
Around town it's either no tunes or speakers. On the open road the headset is nice, as it has the benefit of using the CB for communications. Either way, I can hear my surroundings to satisfy my safety concerns.
Ultimately, you are responsible for you. Now, go outside and play...
I have ridden without any music source, with earbuds, with headset and with speakers. I can't honestly say that any of them are inherently more dangerous. It all comes down to the rider and their level of attention and situational awareness.
A couple of earlier posts pointed to a problem of rider distraction (e.g. fooling with iPod), which is really another matter altogether.
Since light travels much more quickly than sound, visual perception allows much more time than audible cues. Many situations can be avoided using visual cues, whereas often one is reacting to audible cues (that is, the situation has already begun).
Around town it's either no tunes or speakers. On the open road the headset is nice, as it has the benefit of using the CB for communications. Either way, I can hear my surroundings to satisfy my safety concerns.
Ultimately, you are responsible for you. Now, go outside and play...
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 862
Likes: 3
From: East Tennessee
Headphones
DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO INTERUPT OR DROWN THE SOUNDS OF MY 96" AND RINEHARTS . FOR ME, GENTLY USING THE THROTTLE, I CAN GENERATE BEAUTIFUL SOUNDS ON THE LONELY ROADS WE PLEASURE RIDE ON. 
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 288
I love my tunes. I don't listen when I'm riding with buddies around town or to the local bike night...we talk at the lights. But on the road or going to work, I listen all the time.
I'm not any more distracted than when I'm in the car. I make playlists so I don't have to fiddle with stuff while riding (THAT I don't do!), and I can still hear cars, sirens, etc.
+1 on checking the local laws!
I'm not any more distracted than when I'm in the car. I make playlists so I don't have to fiddle with stuff while riding (THAT I don't do!), and I can still hear cars, sirens, etc.
+1 on checking the local laws!
TedMan
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