I have noticed recently that more and more people are plugged into their iphones/mp3 players. I am not just talking about commuters, but also people fully kitted out. Headphones looped through helmets, etc. You can’t hear other riders, are distracted, and are a danger to yourself and other riders. I almost crashed when I tried to pass someone on a climb after shouting “on your left”, and the rider didn’t hear me, and then started to slide to the left. If you are going to be plugged in, stay on the trainer at home.
I have noticed this more recently as well. What happened to enjoying being outside?? Music on the trainer…I get it, I need it as well… Music outside is unnecessary and dangerous.
I agree. Not just safety but socially I think it retards out society. I ran a marathon yesterday (the Mount Desert Island marathon near Acadia Maine) About half the people on the course were in their own world totally self absorbed.
During the 3 to 4 hours it takes the average guy or gall to complete the marathon can’t you be present in the moment and aware of your surroundings???
I disagree. I always ride with headphones when solo. Always have. Likely always will. I enjoy it and it doesn’t hinder my ability to hear much more than wind noise does.
I have noticed recently that more and more people are plugged into their iphones/mp3 players. I am not just talking about commuters, but also people fully kitted out. Headphones looped through helmets, etc. You can’t hear other riders, are distracted, and are a danger to yourself and other riders. **I almost crashed when I tried to pass someone on a climb after shouting “on your left”, and the rider didn’t hear me, and then started to slide to the left. **If you are going to be plugged in, stay on the trainer at home.
I’d say that was your fault if you were so close that them “staring to slide over” put you in their immediate vicinity.
I have noticed recently that more and more people are plugged into their iphones/mp3 players. I am not just talking about commuters, but also people fully kitted out. Headphones looped through helmets, etc. You can’t hear other riders, are distracted, and are a danger to yourself and other riders. I almost crashed when I tried to pass someone on a climb after shouting “on your left”, and the rider didn’t hear me, and then started to slide to the left. If you are going to be plugged in, stay on the trainer at home.
No thanks. I’ve done hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of solo hours with earbuds and not had issues with other riders or vehicles.
Solo riders should be reasonably expected to hold line and check their corner before making big movements but they have the right of way. Passing riders should be expected to pass and give the person ahead (who has right of way) enough room to ride their line with some grace for movement. Also, it can be pretty hard to make out what people yell out from behind even in the best of times.
You wouldn’t tell a deaf rider to stay at home on the trainer would you?
I disagree. I always ride with headphones when solo. Always have. Likely always will. I enjoy it and it doesn’t hinder my ability to hear much more than wind noise does.
You must play your music very quietly then. Otherwise, there is no way it doesn’t hinder your hearing as much as wind noise does…c’mon man!
Is it illegal? This chart suggests only three states have made it illegal to wear at all (some it’s illegal in both ears, but not one).
http://img.gawkerassets.com/post/17/2012/04/infograpgic_final_2.jpg
I wouldn’t tell a deaf rider to stay home, but I would certainly tell someone to take out their headphones. Willingly being distracted is different than being deaf. Some states have laws against wearing headphones while driving due to the inability to hear the surroundings. And my guess is that you have also driven hundreds and hundreds of hours without an accident- do you still wear your seatbelt every time you get in a car?
I disagree. I always ride with headphones when solo. Always have. Likely always will. I enjoy it and it doesn’t hinder my ability to hear much more than wind noise does.
You must play your music very quietly then. Otherwise, there is no way it doesn’t hinder your hearing as much as wind noise does…c’mon man!
Maybe so. I have it loud enough that on most days I can hear it all times, but there are times on descents when I can’t hear it due to wind noise.
There are times I can hear cars with headphones on and I can’t hear cars without headphones on. Wind noise can be pretty significant. I’ve done rides where someone pulls up just a bit behind me on the side and I can’t hear them due to wind.
If you’re going to tell the world to unplug please tell the world when it’s acceptable “to you of course” to have headphones on.
I wouldn’t tell a deaf rider to stay home, but I would certainly tell someone to take out their headphones. Willingly being distracted is different than being deaf. Some states have laws against wearing headphones while driving due to the inability to hear the surroundings. And my guess is that you have also driven hundreds and hundreds of hours without an accident- do you still wear your seatbelt every time you get in a car?
If you won’t tell a deaf rider to stay at home then you have no basis for telling someone else to take out their headphones riding solo.
You have a false claim: Wearing headphones (with music) does not mean you are distracted. You can claim that headphones prevent you from receiving outside auditory stimulus but not that a rider is distracted. How could a I, as a rider, be “distracted” and yet I avoid potholes/road debris, pass other riders, hold my lines on the road, watch out for traffic, check for traffic when I come to possible conflicts at intersections and crossings?
You can’t hear jack shit when driving a car, windows up, A/C and the radio on. If hearing were a safety requirement for driving radios and windows would be against the law. Get real with your arguments. You think truck drivers can hear anything in their cabs over the diesel engines?
Lastly, just because a state has a law doesn’t mean the law has any basis in safety or reason.
There is no reason to say on your left anymore. Most people are wearing headphones and the ones that aren’t just swerve into you.
I never say anything, I just assume they can’t hear me coming and are going to do something stupid.
jaretj
I have noticed this more recently as well. What happened to enjoying being outside?? Music on the trainer…I get it, I need it as well… Music outside is unnecessary and dangerous.
Music outside is very necessary during tough workouts alone.
I live in the northern 'burbs of Chicago. There is ALWAYS a car behind me. Why do I need to “hear it”? How does a car that is passing you sound differently than a car about to plow into you? Moreover, how are you gonna react fast enough to do anything about it?
If you passed a rider w/o ensuring they were aware of you, that is on you.
When I ride solo, I ride with music. I do so because 1) I love riding and 2) I love music. Put the two together and it is a wonderful experience for me. When I ride in groups, or on more empty roads, the ear buds come out.
Yes, my risks increase slightly…slightly…by riding with buds. I have discussed this with my family and we accept that risk increase. So it really doesn’t concern you.
But I also ride with the volume fairly low, and as someone else noted, there are often times when I can’t hear the music because of wind noise. But I can almost always hear a car passing me before it does.
I have noticed recently that more and more people are plugged into their iphones/mp3 players. I am not just talking about commuters, but also people fully kitted out. Headphones looped through helmets, etc. You can’t hear other riders, are distracted, and are a danger to yourself and other riders. I almost crashed when I tried to pass someone on a climb after shouting “on your left”, and the rider didn’t hear me, and then started to slide to the left. If you are going to be plugged in, stay on the trainer at home.
+1
And all the negative responses just show how little people know about being distracted. And the argument about “it being the same as being deaf” is totally ludicrous. Deaf people know they can’t hear and compensate for it. Yahoos with ear buds have no concept of what is happening around them - they hear one loud vehicle and now figure they can hear everything. I pass close because I don’t want to get run over by the car behind me. Maintain your line and I don’t have a problem. When I can hear your crap as I cycle by, it is far too loud. At least when I’m out running, I can put a shoulder into you when you decide to wander across the pathway while having no idea what you are doing.
I agree. Not just safety but socially I think it retards out society. I ran a marathon yesterday (the Mount Desert Island marathon near Acadia Maine) About half the people on the course were in their own world totally self absorbed.
During the** 3 to 4 hours** it takes the average guy or gall to complete the marathon can’t you be present in the moment and aware of your surroundings???
L
O
L
“Cat 1 pedalbiker”.
What is that? I have to admit I’ve never heard that term.
but also people fully kitted out. Headphones looped through helmets, etc. You can’t hear other riders, are distracted, and are a danger to yourself and other riders. No I’m not a danger to myself or other riders.
Oh, and you don’t have to shout or say anything to me if you’re passing me. If I’m going to move, I look first. Always.
And shouting is kind of douchey BTW. Please don’t. Please. Shut up with the shouting.
Solo riders should be reasonably expected to hold line and check their corner before making big movements but they have the right of way. Passing riders should be expected to pass and give the person ahead (who has right of way) enough room to ride their line with some grace for movement. +1
I’ll add that when people in front of me swerve toward me, I’m annoyed about the swerving. Not their hearing or music or whatever. Don’t turn without looking. It’s pretty simple.
“Cat 1 pedalbiker”.
What is that? I have to admit I’ve never heard that term.
Just me. I pedal a bike. 