I ride for exercise on a paved trail closed to all vehicle traffic. I have started using my IPod to listen to music and it seems to help. While listening to my IPod I can still hear others riding near me, my cell phone ringing, etc. so I do not have a safety issue and I personally would not use them where I had vehicle traffic. My problem is the earphones always seem to come out of my ears. I use sunscreen so that is part of the problem and I sweat a lot. Does anyone have any recommendations?
I use a pair from sony/nike that have a piece that wraps around my ear a bit. great for running.
but I wouldn’t wear them on a bike at all. weather you realize it or not, it’s a safety issue.
but I wouldn’t wear them on a bike at all. weather you realize it or not, it’s a safety issue.
Completely agree. This issue gets me a bit mad at times, way to go not using them around cars, but that’s only part of the problem.
I ride paths on some rides (road bike not tri), never over 20 mph and off-peak hours. I can’t tell you how many times I have had a close call with a runner/rider I was trying to pass- which would have been incredibly simple were it not for their hearing impairment.
There are idiots who will be trying to do 2x20 on the path. Let’s say they are going 25+, you are going 16-18mph. Depending on trees, turns, etc, they may see you enough in advance, but if you don’t hear them RIGHT AWAY, it might get ugly.
I also see this as an image issue- if I were to wear headphones, drivers may see them and assume I am not extremely attentive to them and my surroundings. Some people on the path (going faster or slower than you, walking with dogs, etc) may assume you have no regard for them, if only because they see your headphones. If they already have a slight bias, you are just another 'hole on a bike.
Blast the music, get pumped up, THEN go for a ride. Please.
-Physiojoe
Thanks for your input. I do not really want to debate the safety issue and I respect your opinion. As I posted I ride on a trail closed to all vehicle traffic and I can still hear with the earphones in place. I do not listen to my Ipod at full or near full volume. I do not and would not use earphones where subject to any vehicle traffic. I would say about 1/3 of all cycle riders I see on my trail wear earphones.
Again I respect your opinion but disagree. I ride for exercise. I do not ride extremely fast, stay to the far right side of the trail and have never had any issues with not hearing approaching riders wanting to pass and letting my know or others on the trail. I ride at off times when there are not a lot of riders on the trail. I have seen riders on occasion oblivious to all others but they are in a minority. The worst offenders seem to be the inline skaters for some reason. Again I was looking for recommendations on earphones and not debating the use of headphones.
I hear you. I train alone. ALOT. On the bike on Texas back roads can be dang lonely. I listen to my iphone alot, and it definitely helps.
I’m also really, really hard on headphones. I sweat buckets. My sweat is very acidic. I’m clumsy and pull the wires. I don’t clean them off (trying to get better about this). Here are the headphones I use. I highly recommend them. http://www.airdrives.com/default.asp?contentID=9
I use the normal, not the sport. The earpiece is moldable so it’ll grab your ear comfortably and won’t let go. They get soaked with sweat and don’t give up. sometimes I’ll even get sweat inside the speaker. I just keep listening and the little speaker clears itself in a minute and keeps on trucking. I’m really really effin’ picky about my phones, and I’m happy with these.
THE BIG THING is they let in ambient noise. That’s their “thing”. I’ll go on a group ride, and listen to a little music in the background, but hold a clear conversation with my ride mates. I can hear traffic behind me, and I don’t feel I’m missing anything.
only two down points:
- bass response is poor because they’re so tiny and because they sit outside the ear. That’s ok for me. I’m not looking for hi fidelity on the ride, just good tunes.
- They’re a little pricey, but they hold up for me and are an essential part of my training toolkit. $59 or so.
Don’t get the Iphone version if you’re really sweaty. The button is too sensitive and will flake out on you. Just get the iPod version. They work great with the iPod or Iphone and cost less anyway.
I understand you were looking for recommendations for earphones, not debating whether or not to use them. I get that. On this site however, you won’t get anything but the debate as to whether or not use them. It always amazes me that some people think that if they listen to the music real low, or have only one bud in, or ride on trails closed to vehicular traffic, etc…the list goes on and on…that they are somehow able to block out the music in their ears because of xxxx. (Usually, it’s something like “I have really good hearing”, “There’s no traffic, so I’m good”, “ETC…”).
The simple fact of the matter is it’s looked down on for a reason. Regardless of how well you think you are attention span wise, it’s just dangerous. I don’t care to hear that it’s closed to traffic. That’s irrelevant. Why do you think they are banned at most running events, most triathlons, most bike rides (if not all of these events)? It’s because it’s a safety issue. There are events that I just listed that are closed to all vehicular traffic (many marathons) yet iPods are still “outlawed” (maybe not enforced, but why take the chance?).
With all that said, I like skull candy buds that actually go in my ear. I use them when I am on my trainer at home and when I run.
Kevin
Thanks. I will take a look at these.
Thanks for your recommendation. I also would not use earphones in any competitive or areas where there were a lot of other riders or congestion. I certainly see the reasons for those areas and I and see the reasons for not using them around vehicles. The argument could be made for not using them for running, walking or anything outside but again that is not the reason for my post. I also ride a motorcycle in Florida which did away with a helmet requirement while riding motorcycles. There is also no requirement for anyone other than juveniles to wear bicycle helmets. I choose to always wear a helmet riding my motorcycle as well as my bicycle. Everyday I see countless motorcycle and bicycle riders with no helmets. Thanks again.
I’m always curious what the safety issue crowd have to say about deaf cyclists.
With that said, I like Sennheiser’s sport headphones like the PMX90 and MX85. The PMX wrap around your head and may cause helmet interferences whereas the MXs use an inner ear clip. Kind of weird at first but comfortable when I run.
Thanks. I will take a look at these. I agree there are some well founded objections to earphones in certain situations but I really did (do) not intend on turning this post into that debate. I will wear them in my limited situation. I am very respectfull and to cycle riders and others that use the trail I ride on and I have never had any problems or issues with others on the trail based on my performance. Over the years I have witnessed other riders, walkers, inline skaters, etc. that seem oblivious to everyone else on the trail and endanger others. We all have those stories and I am certain most situations have been fully discussed in this forum in other posts. I will say that as a whole the individuals that cycle on my trail are very respectful and helpfull to others. I have yet to change a tire tube on the trail where most cyclists that pass offer a helping hand. Don’t get me started though on the walkers that always seem to use the ENTIRE trail instead of simply staying to the right when there are 2 or more. When you are clipped into your pedals and the walkers are oblivious - well you know what I mean. 
Thanks again.
Phillips over the ear… cheap and they can take a beating. I usually get 6 months from a pair. About $15-20 bucks. I use them on my bike and when I run. Unless you are mentally handicapped and crank the volume up to the max, you can hear cars and people coming up behind you. At least I can. I usually save them until the ride home, it gives me some incentive to keep moving. Enjoy.
Thanks.
Best buy has these things that just clip onto your normal iPod earbuds and turn them into earphones with an over-the-ear design so they stay on. I haven’t tried them, but they’re $10 and you don’t need to get new earphones.
Great idea! Thanks.
I use Sonys ear phones. They have different size ear inserts to accomidate bigger/ smaller ears. My old apple ones always fell out. I also agree its a little dangerous, but I do it as well. But only on roads i am fimilar with and there is little to no traffic.
Thanks. I have logged over 6,000 miles (based on my cycle computer) cycling on this trail with no issues and I know it very well. I am pretty conservative and not prone to doing dangerous things. I ride alone and not in groups. Thanks again.
I’m ok if you want to listen. But would vote for the right ear piece only…
I’ve been using an ipod on the road for years and these stand up as well as any. I wrap the bud around my ear before putting it in my ear. That seems to help the life span quite a bit as the wiring does not have as much of a chance of pulling from the ear bud. Also, if they do pop out of your ear they are easy to put back in as the bud does not fall down your back. They seem to stand up to sweat as well. Finally, at $20 and available at Best Buy they are easy and cheap to replace if you should need to.
I’ve been using Sure E3s and Sure E4s on the bike for the last 6ish years. They are “in ear canal” ear buds with replaceable tips of different size and material (i use the tips that are like earplugs). I sweat a medium amount and do believe I killed a pair of E3s with a particularly sweaty roller ride. They are not cheap but I’ve probably spent more on nasty$30 headphones that I ended up throwing way because they sucked so bad.